6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Welcome Drinks Reception for the Evening of June 3rd

7:00 am - 7:50 am

Registration & Light Breakfast

7:50 am - 8:00 am

Chair’s Welcome Address

Maria Wedel
VP of Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory Affairs
Cargill

9:15 am - 9:50 am

How We Verify that Our Supply Chain is Fit for Purpose

• Discussing the various approaches taken to assure a safe, wholesome food supply chain
• Acknowledging the role of food safety culture and how to elevate with the food safety and quality system
• Discussing some of the challenges encountered in verifying supply chain’s FSMA compliance
• Collaborating with suppliers on written Preventive Controls safety plans
• Creating a feedback system based on metrics to monitor supply chain health and performance

Phil McMillan
Director of Operations Quality
Land O’Lakes

9:15 am - 9:50 am

Validating the QA/QC Processes of M&A Candidates and New Partners

• How do we bring new organizations into the fold and preserve what they do best?
• Identifying the key capabilities and best practices your organization requires of a potential partner
• Strategies that deconstruct the issues and create transformational solutions
• Raising the bar in communication and collaboration: Ensure continuous improvement in productivity, safety, and regulatory compliance

Peter Begg
VP Quality & Food Safety
Glanbia

9:55 am - 11:35 am

Pre-Arranged One-to-One Meetings

• 10:00 am – 10:20 am: Meeting Slot 1/Networking
• 10:25 am – 10:45 am: Meeting Slot 2/Networking
• 10:50 am – 11:10 am: Meeting Slot 3/Networking
• 11:15 am – 11:35 am: Meeting Slot 4/Networking

11:40 am - 12:15 pm

Leading Food Companies: Case Studies on Deploying Automation and AI for Quality, Supply Chain, and NPD

Technology transforms the way companies operate their business and accelerates development that creates massive efficiency gains. Hear how leading companies are using emerging technologies in radical ways.

• Learn how to update your quality management processes in ways that are economical and scalable
• Gain insight on how to harmonize extreme growth, acquisitions, and SAP
• Hear how to accelerate and harmonize PLM, Nutritional Labeling, and Supplier Data
• Explore how to accelerate complaint resolution and reduce overall complaint numbers

Gary Nowacki
CEO
TraceGains

11:40 am - 12:15 pm

Taking the “Crisis” Out of Crisis Management: How Sonic Drive-In Manages Product Incidents, Withdrawals, and Recalls

In this joint session with CMX, learn how Sonic:

• Streamlined the reporting, resolution, and credit/replacement process for product-related incidents from days to hours
• Actively monitors incident trends and performs investigations with automated record keeping
• Automated hold, withdrawal and recall communications via email, voice, and text to Distributors, Drive-Ins, Area Managers, and Franchisees
• Monitors and measures the effectiveness of withdrawal and recalls in real-time

David Abney
VP of Quality Assurance
Sonic Drive-In

Jim Hardeman
EVP, Product Management
ComplianceMetrix

12:20 pm - 12:55 pm

Leadership and Food Safety: Let’s Talk About You For a Minute

• Understanding how your leadership impacts the day-to-day operations of your company:
  • What are your really trying to accomplish in your programs and projects?
  • Are you planning and communicating those goals to your leadership team and workforce effectively?
• Identifying what you need in terms of tools and culture change to achieve your objectives
• Using the soft skills of ‘people power’ to win hearts and minds
• Seeking out new ways to motivate and empower your team
• How does your role evolve as your forward-looking goals become reality?

Cloeann Durham
VP, Quality
Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated

12:55 pm - 1:55 pm

Building the Next Generation of Quality Leaders

Natalie Hadley
VP, Quality & Food Safety
Ferrara Candy Company

12:55 pm - 1:55 pm

Building Quality Culture into the Core of your Company

Catherine Templeton
VP Global Quality & Food Safety
Tate & Lyle

12:55 pm - 1:55 pm

Effective Management of Food Safety Data to Drive Decision-Making

R.M. Karr
Director Food Safety & Quality
Clif Bar & Company

12:56 pm - 1:55 pm

Leveraging Digital Traceability to Mitigate Food Fraud and Protect Your Brand

12:56 pm - 1:55 pm

Shared Learning from FDA FSMA Inspections

John Budin
VP Product Safety & Quality
FONA International

12:56 pm - 1:55 pm

Conventional Food Versus Dietary Supplements – Comprehensive Take on Regulatory and Quality Challenges, Consumer Expectations

Nihan Chiquinquira
Director, Quality Excellence
The Nature’s Bounty Co.

12:57 pm - 1:55 pm

Listeria by the Numbers: Keeping It Clean

Scott Wright
SVP Food Safety & Government Relations
Star Produce

12:57 pm - 1:55 pm

Last Mile Food Safety Controls in the Meal Kit Market

Brian McEvoy
Director of Operations
Gobble

12:57 pm - 1:55 pm

How to Leverage Suppliers to Improve Your Brand

Bryce Romney
Sr. Product Manager
RizePoint

12:58 pm - 1:55 pm

Food Safety Execution for Continuous Improvement and ROI

12:58 pm - 1:55 pm

Avoiding a Recall: Sanitary Design Benefits of Anti-Microbial Flooring and Wall Systems

12:58 pm - 1:55 pm

1:55 pm - 2:30 pm

Starting Fresh: Insights, Best Practices and the Achievement of Greater Results Through New Initiatives

• Discussing the role of the leader in successful and compliant project completion
• Learning how organizations align new initiatives and projects with their strategic plans
• How has the current Regulatory climate changed the way new projects and programs are brought online?
• Understanding all the moving pieces of your project and how to rationalize and document them for optimal results
• Exploring the leading causes of project failure and what can be done to proactively mitigate them

Joan Menke-Schaenzer
Chief Quality Officer
Van Drunen Farms

1:55 pm - 2:30 pm

Best Practices in Creating a Modern Culture of Quality: An Interactive Discussion

• Exploring strategies and lessons learned as our industry continues to adapt to a new age of quality

Stacey Popham
VP Quality Assurance
Barry Callebaut

2:35 pm - 3:10 pm

Injecting Connected Workflows into Your Quality System

• Learn why you need to go beyond digitizing existing processes to building true dynamic workflows
• Hear how connected workflows can improve traceability and responsiveness
• See real-world examples of how connected digital work can reduce risk and enhance quality

Jaime Urquidi
Head of Latin America, CPG Industry Lead
Parsable

2:35 pm - 3:10 pm

The Essentials of Food Safety Compliance: 15 Legal Tips in 30 Minutes

This fast-paced overview of legal tips and topics impacting your food safety operations will include:

• Regulatory tips from experts at the top of their fields
• Labeling issues to understand and anticipate
• Class actions that are changing the way the industry works
• FSMA standards that have become the new normal
• And more!

Stuart Pape
Chair Food & Drug
Polsinelli PC

Dennis Dobbels
Co-Chair Food & Ag
Polsinelli PC

Kathy Hardee
Co-Chair Food & Ag
Polsinelli PC

4:30 pm - 5:05 pm

Regulator Keynote: Updates, Progress Reports, and Looking Forward to the Future

Offering updates on the FDA’s policies and priorities.

Sharon Lindan Mayl, J.D.
Senior Advisor for Policy, Office of Food Policy and Response
FDA

5:05 pm - 5:40 pm

Building a Global Food Safety Program: Risk Management in Complex Systems and New Markets

• Food Safety through global connectivity: Balancing changes in expectations around the world
• Strategies to navigate the complexities currently shaping the International food system
• Building a responsible Supply Chain: Sourcing, Safety, and Sustainability
• Transformative Leadership and setting the tone on a global scale

Clive Newton
Chief Food Safety Officer
Yum! Brands

5:40 pm - 5:50 pm

Chair’s Closing Remarks

Maria Wedel
VP of Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory Affairs
Cargill

5:50 pm

Drinks Reception

7:30 am - 8:20 am

Registration & Light Breakfast

7:50 am - 8:25 am

A Risk-Based Approach for Your Food Safety Program

• The connection between people, culture, and embedding risk awareness
• Insights behind regulators’ expectations and the increase in recalls
• Navigating risks and opportunities across the global supply chain
• Being risk aware and achieving sustainable growth
• The buck stops with you – how to build consumer trust in the age of allergens

Dr. Bob Strong
Senior Consultant
SAI Global

8:30 am - 8:40 am

Chair’s Welcome Address

Maria Wedel
VP of Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory Affairs
Cargill

8:40 am - 9:15 am

Collaborating to Drive Food Safety Across the Global Value Chain

• Food Safety is driven by pre-competitive activities.  We should support the active sharing of best practices between companies
• Global standards provide a framework that can help drive improvements across the industry
• Food safety is realized through a combination of robust design and strong culture
• The largest food companies have the reach and the capabilities to raise food safety performance around the world

Mark Fryling
VP Global Food Safety & Quality
General Mills

9:55 am - 10:30 am

New Innovations in Managing and Integrating Supply Chain Business Partners

• Best Practices to Develop a partnership strategy that guarantees an effective Food Safety Program across the Supply Chain
• Obtain a deeper understanding of the vendor programs and their impact on every point of the supply chain
• Mitigating risks posed by suppliers versus in house manufacturing processes
• Best practices in identifying opportunities for innovation that support a safe and sustainable food supply
• Showcasing innovations and ideas that are changing the way our industry does business

Andrea Maio
Regional Director, Quality Flavors Americas
International Flavors & Fragrances

Jean Deamond
Director Global Vendor Quality
International Flavors & Fragrances

9:55 am - 10:30 am

Canada’s Safe Food Regulations: What Does Industry Need to Know?

• Discussing how Canada’s final regulations have rolled out and how food safety executives can stay informed to meet the new requirements
• Illustrating new objectives focused on outcome-based regulations that enable innovation and flexibility to introduce new technologies, processes, and procedures
• Understanding how the new licensing, preventive control, and traceability requirements help align the domestic food industry with international safety standards, increasing trade opportunities
• Offering compliance promotion resources to clear information and share what is needed from businesses to comply under the new regime

Lyzette Lamondin
Executive Director, Consumer Protection and Food Safety
Canadian Food Inspection Agency

10:30 am - 11:20 am

Pre-Arranged One-to-One Meetings

• 10:35 am – 10:55 am: Meeting Slot 8/Networking
• 11:00 am – 11:20 am: Meeting Slot 9/Networking

10:45 am - 11:20 am

Tackling the Unique Challenges of Retail and Foodservice Supply Chains

Hsing-Yi Hsieh
Director, Food Protection and Regulatory Affairs
Festival Foods

10:45 am - 11:20 am

FS&Q Metrics in Manufacturing – A Collaborative Discussion on Benchmarking Metrics

Spir Marinakis
VP Food Safety, Quality & Technical Services
Maple Leaf Foods

Shannon McCoy
Director Food Safety & Quality
Maple Leaf Foods

11:25 am - 12:10 pm

Global Collaboration: Unifying International Food Safety Regulation

Mary Lou Valdez
Associate Commissioner for International Programs
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

12:15 pm - 12:50 pm

How the Right Approach to Food Safety Delivers Visibility, Speed, and Revenue

• How to solve the data disaster that prevents fast and easy data exchange
• Leveraging enhanced safety and quality programs as a center-point to your brand story
• How gaining Active Transparency™ increases speed, agility, and performance

Elliott Yama
VP, Product Marketing
ICIX

12:15 pm - 12:50 pm

Effective FSQA Data Collection in Large-Scale Supply Chains

• Designing and scaling programs to meet FSQA and transportation needs
• Collaborating with key partners for implementation success
• Practical examples of data capture technology and data analytics

Andres Preciado
Program Manager – Food Industry
Sensitech Inc.

12:50 pm - 1:50 pm

Maintaining Foodservice Cold Chain Integrity and Visibility

Rajesh Shah
VP, Quality & Food Safety, North America
dnata Catering North America

12:50 pm - 1:50 pm

Allergen Controls at Retail – Back to Basics

Nancy Wilson
Director, Quality Assurance,
Risk Management and Safety
Wawa Inc.

12:50 pm - 1:50 pm

Fake Foods on the Rise, How Do We Effectively Manage the Risk?

Ulli Gerthholtz
Food Safety Consultant
NSF Africa

Kannappan Manickam
Global Managing Director
TraQtion

12:51 pm - 1:50 pm

Food Defense for FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule

Ray Kosmicki
Manager, Quality Assurance
Prinova USA

12:51 pm - 1:50 pm

Specifications in COAs

Dwayne Eymard
Director of Quality Assurance
Diversified Foods & Seasonings

Melody Bennett
Sr. Director of Quality Assurance and Commercialization
Diversified Foods & Seasonings

12:51 pm - 1:50 pm

1:50 pm - 2:25 pm

Food Fraud Risk Management Strategies to Ensure Consumer and Brand Protection

• Discussing ways to collaborate up and down your supply chain to foster transparency and ensure authenticity from farm to fork
• How regulatory and GFSI requirements on food fraud shape– but should not solely define –your food fraud strategy
• From the viewpoint of the fraudster –how stepping into the shoes of the fraudster can help you implement meaningful food fraud mitigation controls
• From the customers’ perspective: What do they want to see in your food fraud strategy?
• Walking through real-world examples of food fraud to find commonalities and lessons learned

Melanie Neumann
EVP and General Counsel
Matrix Sciences

2:30 pm - 3:05 pm

Panel: The Future of Food Safety: Building Leaders and Taking Ownership

• Inspire ownership of Food Safety across your organization
• Exploring the importance of timing, ongoing training, and strategy
• When change is necessary, how do we get the buy-in that we need?
• Decision-making in the Digital Age: Balancing innovation and efficiency
• Leading a culture of Continuous Improvement

Don Jones
VP, Quality, Food Safety & Regulatory
Atkins Nutritionals

Stacey Popham
VP Quality Assurance
Barry Callebaut

Donna Garren
EVP of Science and Policy
American Frozen Food Institute

3:05 pm - 3:15 pm

Chair’s Closing Address

Maria Wedel
VP of Food Safety, Quality and Regulatory Affairs
Cargill