Food Safety Forum Speakers

Elizabeth Fawell is a Partner with Hogan Lovells, where she practices in the Global Regulatory group. Ms. Fawell has worked with every segment of the food industry, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, and food service operators, as well as their trade associations. Her work on behalf of food industry clients with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) since its inception and her understanding of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems provides her with the experience and perspective needed to counsel clients on how to comply with new requirements under the law. Ms. Fawell is also a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) and has completed the FSPCA PCQI training.

Ms. Fawell helps clients stay informed of and ahead of public policy issues and develops strategies for effective advocacy before regulators. She earned her J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law. She is a member of the Food and Drug Law Institute’s Food and Dietary Supplements Committee.

Brian Ronholm is the Director of Food Policy for Consumer Reports. He leads CR’s advocacy efforts to advance a safe and healthy food system. Brian brings deep legislative and regulatory experience in food policy to CR.

During his tenure as Deputy Under Secretary, Food Safety, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Brian provided leadership, management, and oversight of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the public health agency with more than 9,000 employees responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, catfish, and processed egg products.

In addition to overseeing FSIS, he chaired the U.S. Codex Policy Steering Committee, an interagency partnership that engages stakeholders in the advancement of science-based international food safety standards to facilitate fair trade, and served as Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), which provides impartial scientific advice to federal agencies for use in developing integrated food safety systems.

Roberta Wagner is the Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs for the International Dairy Foods Association. Prior to IDFA, Roberta served as vice president of regulatory and technical affairs for the Consumer Brands Association, formerly the Grocery Manufacturers Association since 2019.

Wagner spent 33 years in public service, most recently as the assistant administrator of the Office of Policy and Program Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Previously, Wagner served as the deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Field Operations at FSIS where she oversaw a workforce of 7,800 inspection program personnel, including consumer safety officers, public health veterinarians and food inspectors. Wagner also spent more than 25 years with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working in a variety of roles from analytical chemist to associate commissioner for Food Safety Modernization Act implementation.

Frank Yiannas is a renowned food safety leader and executive, food system futurist, author, professor, past president of the International Association of Food Protection, and advocate for consumers. Most recently, he served under two different administrations as the Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a position he held from 2018 to 2023, after spending 30 years in leadership roles with two industry giants: Walmart and the Walt Disney Company. Through his career, Frank has been recognized for his role in strengthening food safety standards in new and innovative ways, as well and building effective food safety management systems based on modern, science-based, and tech-enable prevention principles.

Sean McBride is the founder of DSM Strategic Communications, a full-service communications, public relations, and issues management firm. For more than twenty years, he has worked closely with CEOs and C-suite executives in the fast-moving consumer goods sector to develop marketplace and public policy solutions that help provide more than 330 million Americans with safe, nutritious, convenient, and affordable food choices. His perspective on breaking news and events and his opinion-editorials have appeared in the Washington Post, Politico, Bloomberg, Southeast Produce Weekly, Food Dive, Supermarket News and Grocery Dive. He also served as Executive Vice President of Communications for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (now the Consumer Brands Association), Vice President of Communications for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform and as Director of Communications for the American Beverage Association.

Mitzi Baum joined the team at Stop Foodborne Illness (STOP) as the Chief Executive Officer in May 2019. Prior to her tenure at STOP, Mitzi cultivated a 23-year career at Feeding America rising to the senior level position of managing director of food safety. Ms. Baum earned a Master of Science in Food Safety and a certificate in Food Law from Michigan State University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University and has obtained certificates in Non-Profit Management from the University of Chicago, Quality Management from DePaul University, and Food Safety Management from Cornell University.

Mitzi is the 2021 Joseph Leiter Lecturer of the Medical Library Association and National Library of Medicine, an adjunct instruct or for Michigan State University’s Online Food Safety Program, a certified seafood HACCP instructor, a certified PCQI, is on the National Restaurant Association’s Food Safety Advisory Council, and is an ANSI board member.

Kristine (Kris) Butler is the Deputy Director of the Communications and Public Engagement Staff in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Previously, she served as a Senior Advisor for Risk Communication in the FDA’s Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine, and was the Deputy Director for Health Communication in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Before joining the FDA in 2005, Kris worked in the non-profit community designing communications strategies for a wide range of social and policy initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason 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. With the goal of reducing foodborne illness, his group researches food handling and food safety systems; designs and implements food safety strategies; and, evaluates messages and media from farm-to-fork.

Since February 2020, Ben has been providing guidance to the food sector on issues related to food safety and COVID-19. Ben is the 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 as well as participates in social media. Find him at @benjaminchapman on Twitter.

Heather Garlich is the senior vice president of communications, marketing & consumer/community affairs for FMI – The Food Industry Association. At FMI, Garlich oversees marketing programs, media relations and the association’s digital strategy, managing and directing communications outreach and activities related to FMI’s imperative issues, which include government relations; regulatory; food safety; consumer outreach; research; products; services; programs; and events. In addition to supporting FMI subject matter experts and the industry’s broader voice, Garlich served two unique functions in 2020 that continue to shape the organization. First, she played a principal role in repositioning FMI’s brand and subsequent brand launch. Second, Garlich led FMI’s proactive crisis communications strategy through the COVID-19 pandemic that bolstered the essential nature of the food industry.

Garlich was previously a part of Porter Novelli’s food, beverage and nutrition practice in Washington, D.C., where she worked on major food brands and commodity boards. She served in leadership roles and participated in multiple initiatives regarding her clients’ health professional and global marketing programs.

Earlier in her career, Garlich worked at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (now known as Consumer Brands Association), where she served as the manager of membership communications. She played an integral communications role in the merger between GMA and the Food Products Association, effective 2007. Before joining GMA, Heather was an analyst for CARMA International, Inc., a global media analysis firm covering food, agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

Garlich graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in journalism and a minor in French.

Mark Goldman is the Head of Corporate Communications, Public Relations & Sponsorship/Events at Schwan’s Company. His 20+ years of leadership spans numerous complex and highly regulated industries, including banking and financial services; consumer and industrial paints and coatings; cleaning, hygiene and sustainability technologies; and food and beverage, as well as some of the world’s most recognizable consumer brands (Sara Lee, Valspar, Hillshire Farm, Ziploc, Windex, and Glade). Mark partners with CEOs and executive teams in business decisions and transformations where successful outcomes depend on clear, consistent, and coordinated internal and external communications to multiple stakeholders. He builds communications teams and process infrastructure, leads crisis communications, creates omnichannel communications strategies and builds strong community affairs and sustainability communication programs to enhance corporate image, and leverages digital and social media technologies to inspire and engage employees and external stakeholders. Mark received his BSS in Communications and Political Science from Northwestern University. He lives in Edina, Minnesota and is an avid Ironman triathlete and marathon runner.

Anita Kambhampati is an epidemiologist with the Viral Gastroenteritis Epidemiology Team in the Division of Viral Diseases at CDC. Her work focuses on the epidemiology, surveillance, and prevention of norovirus. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

Steven Mandernach is the executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). Prior to becoming executive direct or in 2018, he was the bureau chief for food and consumer safety at the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. Mandernach is a past president of AFDO. He has also served as the chair and co-chair for the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Alliance. Mandernach has co-authored many articles related to retail food safety, foodborne illness detection, and the integrated food safety system, and he’s a frequent contributor to many food trade publications including Food Safety Magazine, New Food Magazine, and Quality Assurance and Food Safety Magazine.

Mandernach has a J.D. from Drake University Law School. He has completed graduate work in Food Safety at Michigan State University.

Emily Moyer is the Vice President of Regulatory Compliance and Global Food Safety Standards at the International Fresh Produce Association. In this role, she leads various initiatives to support the association’s scientific and policy objectives at a global scale. Emily helps develop technical resources and provides member support on a variety of topics including Listeria and environmental monitoring, FSMA implementation, import regulations, organic policy, and chemical food safety hazards such as heavy metals.

Emily earned her B.S. in Food Science and Technology from Iowa State University and her Ph.D. in Food Science from Cornell University. Outside of IFPA, Emily serves on the Technical Committee for CPS, she is a member of the U.S. Delegation for Codex Committee on Food and Hygiene (CCFH), and she chairs the Regulatory Affairs Working Group for the Food and Beverages Issues Alliance (FBIA).

Brian Ronholm is the Director of Food Policy for Consumer Reports. He leads CR’s advocacy efforts to advance a safe and healthy food system. Brian brings deep legislative and regulatory experience in food policy to CR.

During his tenure as Deputy Under Secretary, Food Safety, at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Brian provided leadership, management, and oversight of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the public health agency with more than 9,000 employees responsible for ensuring the safety of meat, poultry, catfish, and processed egg products.

In addition to overseeing FSIS, he chaired the U.S. Codex Policy Steering Committee, an interagency partnership that engages stakeholders in the advancement of science-based international food safety standards to facilitate fair trade, and served as Chair of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), which provides impartial scientific advice to federal agencies for use in developing integrated food safety systems.

Dr. Hilary Thesmar is chief science officer and senior vice president of food and product safety programs with FMI – The Food Industry Association. With over 20 years of experience in food science, food safety, and food and agriculture policy, Dr. Thesmar provides leadership for FMI’s retail, wholesale and product supplier members on scientific and technical issues related to food safety, food science and human nutrition. Dr. Thesmar earned a Ph.D. in Food Technology from Clemson University, a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from Winthrop University, a bachelor’s degree in Food Science from Clemson, and she is a Registered Dietitian. Dr. Thesmar is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists, an active member of the International Food Protection Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.