Speakers

Expert insights. Real-world experience.

Hear from food safety leaders who are driving change, sharing lessons learned, and advancing excellence across the global supply chain. SQF Unites speakers deliver actionable takeaways to help you strengthen food safety systems, prepare for what’s next, and lead with confidence.

 

Daniel Akinmolayan

Director of IT Systems and Customer Support, SQFI

Daniel Akinmolayan is the Director of IT Systems and Customer Support at the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), where he has led technological advancements since 2017. With a Master’s degree in Information Technology specializing in Database Systems Technology from the University of Maryland, Daniel oversees SQFI’s IT ecosystem, including the Audit Assessment database. His work has helped position the SQF program as a leader in food safety certification technology.

Daniel specializes in leveraging advanced technologies such as predictive analytics and artificial intelligence to enhance audit management systems. An experienced speaker, he frequently shares insights on machine learning and data analytics at industry events. He is passionate about mentoring teams, driving innovation, and fostering global collaboration to create meaningful change.

Rachel Anderson

Vice President Business Development, SQFI

As vice president of business development, Rachel Anderson oversees strategic partnerships, market expansion and program engagement with a focus on amplifying the value of SQFI certification for stakeholders across the global food supply chain.​

Anderson also brings firsthand experience with food safety standards, having previously been on the team responsible for food safety management and improving audit performance at a beverage manufacturer. She has consistently integrated safety, quality and operational excellence into her leadership roles across both retail and manufacturing. ​

With a foundation in both domestic and international markets, including leadership roles at Reeds Inc., Cost Plus World Market and Williams-Sonoma, Anderson brings a strategic and customer-centric approach to her role at SQFI.

Shelby Biggerstaff

SQF Certification Manager and SQF Auditor, AIB International Certification Services (AIBI-CS

Shelby Biggerstaff is the SQF Certification Manager and a Lead SQF Auditor at AIB International Certification Services (AIBI-CS), where she oversees the integrity and consistency of SQF certification activities across a wide range of industries, including agriculture, meat, dairy, baking, seafood, processed foods, distribution centers, and packaging materials. Prior to joining a certification body, Shelby spent time working in the beverage, confectionery, and dairy food sectors, giving her a strong understanding of manufacturing operations and food safety systems from an industry perspective. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Saint Francis and an MBA from Indiana University and is known for her energetic, practical, and solutions-driven approach focused on clarity, consistency, and collaboration in advancing effective and credible food safety certification programs.

Ben Channon

Director, Xcluder

Ben Channon, Director of Xcluder, has 17 years of experience in the pest management industry, specializing in food manufacturing and distribution environments and other third-party-audited facilities.

With a dedication to continued education, Channon has participated in Bobby Corrigan's Rodent Academy as well as the AIB and Purdue Integrated Pest Management courses.

Ben is an Associate Certified Entomologist and certificated pesticide applicator. A former member of the NPMA Commercial Committee and Greater Chicago Pest Management Alliance Board, Ben studied business at Northern Illinois University and Loyola University Quinlan School of Business.

Ben Chapman

Department Head and Professor - North Carolina State University

Dr. Ben Chapman is department head of the department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, professor and director of the Safe Plates food safety extension and research program at North Carolina State University. Ben is the past Co-Chair of STOP Foodborne Illness board of directors, an advocacy group for individuals affected by foodborne pathogens. Ben also co-hosts two podcasts, Food Safety Talk and Risky or Not.

LeAnn Chuboff

Vice President, Technical Affairs, SQFI

LeAnn has more than 30 years of foodservice experience specializing in supply chain food safety and quality assurance. She is currently the Vice President of Technical Affairs for the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Institute, where she is responsible for the technical elements of the SQF program, including development, maintenance, and technical support of the SQF Code and supporting materials.

Prior to joining SQFI, LeAnn served as Director of Science and Regulatory Relations for National Restaurant Association Solutions, where she oversaw the technical accuracy of the ServSafe food safety program and developed food safety and food defense services for all segments of the restaurant industry. LeAnn holds a B.S. in Food Science from Iowa State University and is active with organizations including GFSI, AFDO, and the International Association for Food Protection.

Vanessa Coffman

Stop Foodborne Illness

Coming soon!

Wendy Edwards

Director, Product & Quality Assurance, Exemplar Global

Wendy Edwards, a former SQF Practitioner of the Year, has a professional background in food sector auditing, certification, and quality assurance. She is Director, Product and Quality Assurance at Exemplar Global and played a key role in the development of the Certified SQF Practitioner credential. Exemplar Global services and supports the conformity assessment industry, including acting as administrator of credentials such as SQF Auditors and Technical Reviewers, SQF Consultants, SQF Trainers, and Certified SQF Practitioners.

Ashley Eisenbeiser

Vice President, Food & Product Safety Programs, FMI

Ashley Eisenbeiser is the Vice President of Food and Product Safety Programs at FMI – The Food Industry Association. With a background in food science and food safety, Ashley supports FMI’s members on scientific and technical issues, food and agriculture regulatory policy, and food safety training programs.  Ashley is a Certified Food Scientist, serves on the Board of Directors for the Partnership for Food Safety Education, and is a member of several professional associations. Ashley received her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Food Science and Technology from Virginia Tech.

Gwen Farley

Vice President of Product Integrity & Compliance, Catania Oils

Gwen Farley is Vice President of Product Integrity and Compliance at Catania Oils, where she leads food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, and regulatory compliance programs supporting edible oil manufacturing. With over 30 years of experience across food, beverage, and laboratory environments, Gwen brings deep, hands-on expertise in SQF systems, regulatory compliance, product authenticity, and continuous improvement.

She has held senior quality and R&D leadership roles at Catania Oils and Downeast Cider House and is known for building strong quality cultures through cross-functional collaboration and practical, risk-based decision making. Gwen holds an MBA focused on leadership and organizational development and is passionate about helping organizations successfully move from planning to practice.

Martin Fowell

Director of Auditing Operations, Merieux NutriSciences

Martin Fowell is the Director of Auditing Operations for Mérieux NutriSciences Certification LLC in Chicago, Illinois. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business with a minor in Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. Early in his career, Martin worked as a Quality Assurance Manager in the cheese industry and later in a regulatory food safety inspection role with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.

Martin joined Silliker/Mérieux NutriSciences in 2001 as a Food Safety Auditor and has since advanced through multiple leadership roles, including Regional Auditing Manager and Certification Manager. In his current role, he is closely involved in auditor recruitment, training, calibration, and credential maintenance, actively participates in GFSI working groups, and continues to conduct SQF audits.

Kristie Grzywinski

Technical Director, SQFI

Kristie Grzywinski is an accomplished Technical Director responsible for Learning and Development for the SQF Institute. With extensive experience in designing and managing global training programs, Kristie excels at creating innovative education solutions, developing competency-based curricula, and driving learning initiatives that generate significant organizational impact. Known for their strategic vision, Kristie has successfully SQFI’s expanded learning programs to reach diverse audiences, fostering professional growth and upholding industry standards. Her expertise includes curriculum design, certification development, and the development of implementation tools that support measurable success.

Prit Hora

Senior Auditor/Certification Manager, Bureau Veritas

Dr. Prit Hora holds a Ph.D. in Animal Sciences and a Master’s degree in Food Sciences and works with Bureau Veritas Certification North America. With more than 20 years of experience in food safety and quality assurance, he has held roles in both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the private sector.

Dr. Hora specializes in developing and implementing Food Safety Management Systems, with expertise in process improvement, operational excellence, training, and regulatory compliance across bakery, dairy, meat, and grain processing sectors. He is a Certified HACCP Auditor, SQF Lead Auditor, and holds BRC Global Standards certifications. His consulting, training, and auditing work for SFCR, SQF, and BRCGS standards has helped organizations strengthen regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, and preventive control programs.


Jonathan Lackie

Manager, Business Development & Sales, SQFI

Jonathan Lackie has over 14 years of experience in the food certification industry. Previously specializing in organic certification for the fast-growing natural foods market, he has worked with a wide range of clients, from startup entrepreneurs to multinational consumer packaged goods companies. Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Business Administration from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.

Karen Leacock

NSF

Coming Soon!

Renee McVey

Food Safety & Quality Assurance Manager, Redbarn Pet Products

Renee McVey is the Food Safety and Quality Assurance Manager at Redbarn Pet Products, bringing 6 years of industry experience as an organically grown practitioner who began at the farm harvest level. She is one of the first Certified SQF Practitioners and holds certificates in HACCP, PCQI for Human Food and Pet Food, and Internal Auditing.

Currently completing a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with a minor in Food Science from Kansas State University (May 2025), Renee returned to school to expand her knowledge and advance her career while working in the industry. She is also actively involved with the SQFI Technical Work Group for Pet Food and Animal Feed for Edition10. Known for her leadership, integrity, and focus on continuous improvement, Renee has built food safety systems from the ground up and is committed to driving innovation and fostering a culture of transparency while always striving for both personal and professional growth.

Kris Middleton

Senior Director of Consulting, Intertek Alchemy

Kris is devoted and passionate about delivering value in any work that he conducts within the food industry.  Whether this be through audits, training, or consulting, customers and those in the industry greatly appreciate his style, knowledge, and positive attitude & energy. Kris feels it is important for food safety professionals to look at a food safety and quality management system as a whole and focus on not only product quality and safety, but also brand quality and safety. 

Brian Neal

Technical Manager, Eurofins Food Assurance

Brian Neal is the Technical Manager at Eurofins Food Assurance, where he oversees audit programs and accreditation. He has spent the past eleven years working as a food safety auditor and technical manager and has served on the SQF Technical Advisory Committee, as well as committees for other certification programs. Prior to joining a certification body, Brian worked for ten years in food manufacturing in the meat and produce sectors. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his wife and three children.

Pooja Patel

Brimich Logistics

Coming soon!

John Paul

Sr. Food Safety Consultant, Intertek Alchemy

Coming Soon!

Christina Ramsey

EAGLE Certification Group

Coming Soon!

José Sabal

President/Owner, Sabal Food Safety Consulting

Seasoned food safety and quality consultant with over 30 years of global experience specializing in operational efficiency, impactful training, and compliance with rigorous food safety and quality standards. Adept at applying HACCP principles, risk-based assessments (ISO 31000), and regulatory requirements across diverse food processing industries.
Known for delivering practical solutions to complex challenges in food safety, including hazard identification, risk analysis, and control development. Skilled in leveraging analytical tools to predict and mitigate potential processing deviations.

Don Schaffner

Extension Specialist in Food Science & Distinguished Professor - Rutgers University

Dr. Don Schaffner is Extension Specialist in Food Science and Distinguished Professor at Rutgers University. He is the current Chair of the Rutgers Department of Food Science. Don was the president of International Association for Food Protection in 2013-2014. He co-hosts the Food Safety Talk and Risky or Not podcasts.

 

Stefanie Sonneveld

Consultant and Business Development Representative, SQFI

Stefanie Sonneveld is an experienced food safety professional with more than 25 years in the food industry, spanning the full supply chain from farm to fork, including manufacturing and food safety certification management. She supports organizations of all sizes in opening market opportunities by applying her in-depth knowledge of retailer requirements and GFSI-benchmarked standards.

Stefanie’s technical expertise and leadership experience in food safety certification help drive success across primary production, processing, distribution, retail, and foodservice operations.

 

Alan Tart

Principal Consultant, Tart Strategic Consulting Group

Alan Tart is a principal consultant at Tart Strategic Consulting Group, where he advises industry executives, regulatory leaders, and national organizations on modernizing governance models, strengthening workforce capability, and leading complex, high-pressure change. Prior to consulting, Alan spent nearly 30 years with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, including more than a decade in senior leadership roles within the Human Foods Program and partnership-focused offices. His work reflected a systems-level approach to building workforce capability, implementing the FDA Food Code, strengthening risk-based inspection models, responding to food safety incidents, and working across regulatory, industry, and academic environments. Alan is known for turning adaptive challenges into durable system improvements.

Hilary S. Thesmar, PhD, RD, CFS

Chief Science Officer and Senior Vice President, Food Safety Programs, FMI

With over 20 years of experience in food science, food safety, and food and agriculture policy, Dr. Hilary Thesmar provides leadership for FMI’s retail, wholesale, and product supplier members on scientific and technical issues. Her work includes food safety training programs, regulatory strategy, recall planning and management, crisis management, research initiatives, and health and well-being programs.

Dr. Thesmar earned a Ph.D. in Food Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Food Science from Clemson University, as well as a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from Winthrop University. She is a Registered Dietitian, a Fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists, and an active member of the International Food Protection Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Jennie Thomas

FSQ Sr. Manager, Compliance Programs, HP Hood LLC

Jennie Thomas has 15 years of industry experience in meat processing, produce processing, and dairy manufacturing. She is currently the Food Safety and Quality Senior Manager of Compliance Programs with HP Hood. They have 12 manufacturing facilities making dairy milk, oat milk, aseptic beverages, cottage cheese, dairy dips, ice cream and sour cream. She has held all positions in the quality and food safety department in her 12 years with HP Hood. Her current role is in coporate to ensure supplier compliance through the supply chain and understanding raw material risks in the Hood manufacturing facilities. 

Elizabeth Tierno

Technical Specialist - Compliance, SQFI

Elizabeth currently is the Compliance Specialist at Safe Quality Food Institute where she supports the technical team and helps ensure compliance of the integrity program. Her 10 year working experience in the food industry as an SQF Practitioner has been valuable to her current role.

Elizabeth experience in food manufacturing was in the follow food sector categories dairy, beverage, bakery, and honey processing. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University. 

Tammie Van Buren

Manager, SQFI Compliance, SQFI

Tammie Van Buren has more than 25 years of experience in Quality Control and over 10 years in the food industry as an SQF Practitioner. She has been responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining SQF systems at multiple certified sites, including TreeHouse Foods and D&W Fine Pack.

She currently serves as SQF Compliance Manager, overseeing the management and evolution of SQFI’s Compliance and Integrity Program using data-driven insights and statistical analysis. Tammie holds a Master’s degree in Science and Engineering Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.

Gigi Vita

Chief Food Safety Assessment Officer & SVP, SQFI

Gigi Vita serves as Chief Food Safety Assessment Officer at SQFI and Senior Vice President at FMI, where she leads the strategic direction and global impact of the SQF Program. She is responsible for advancing food safety and quality standards that protect consumers while strengthening trust across the global food supply chain.

Under her leadership, SQFI has reinforced its position as a science-based, globally recognized certification program. Her work has focused on modernizing the SQF Codes, strengthening certification rigor, and aligning programs with emerging industry risks, regulatory expectations, and stakeholder needs. These efforts have expanded the program’s relevance and value for retailers, manufacturers, and foodservice operators operating in more than 50 countries.

Gigi brings extensive global experience from senior leadership roles at leading consumer packaged goods companies, including Fonterra, PepsiCo, Kraft, Campbell Soup, Nestlé, and Procter & Gamble. Throughout these roles, she consistently delivered enterprise-level transformation by integrating market insight, operational discipline, and cross-sector collaboration.

Her leadership is defined by a disciplined, innovative-focused approach and a deep commitment to continuous improvement in food safety systems worldwide.

 

Penny Vyskocil

Global Foods International

Coming soon!

Rod Wheeler

Founder and CEO, Global Food Defense Institute

Homeland Security, Global Food Defense and Law Enforcement expert Rod Wheeler is the founder and CEO of the Global Food Defense Institute which provides educational, training and certification programs in Food Defense and Crisis Management for the food, agricultural and chemical industries to ensure confidence and protection and to guard against intentional contamination or sabotage. He is a former “all-star” Homicide Detective with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC and former investigator for the State of Ohio Attorney General.  Rod has also previously served as a Senior Crime/Law Enforcement and Domestic Terrorism Expert for the Fox News Channel since 2002. Rod has assisted dozens of US-based companies in developing Global Security Plans, Vulnerability Assessments and Procedures and corresponding training programs.

Martin Wiedmann

Professor, Cornell University

Martin Wiedmann, Dr. med. vet, Ph.D. is the Gellert Family Professor of Food Safety at Cornell University. Martin received a veterinary degree and a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, and a Ph.D. in Food Science from Cornell. His research interests focus on farm-to-table microbial food quality and food safety and the application of molecular tools and quantitative and modelling approaches to study the transmission of foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms. His team has published > 500 peer reviewed publications, which have been cited >40,000 times. He and his team are regularly asked to help industry across the world with a range of microbial food safety and quality challenges. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), and the International Academy of Food Science and Technology.

David Williams

SGS

Coming soon!