Leadership

 

GFPI Board of Directors

GFPI President and CEO

GFPI Executive Directors

David William Kennedy Acheson

Managing Director, Food and Import Safety, Leavitt Partners

Dr. David William Kennedy Acheson is the Managing Director, Food and Import Safety Practice, at Leavitt Partners. Founded by former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and EPA Administrator Michael O. Leavitt, the partnership advises clients in the practice areas of health, environment and trade. As the chief medical officer, Acheson helps clients enter new markets, enhance the value of their products, navigate dynamic regulatory and reimbursement systems and improve health conditions around the world.

Dr. Acheson graduated from the University of London Medical School in 1980, and after practicing internal medicine and infectious diseases in the United Kingdom, moved to the New England Medical Center and Tufts University in Boston in 1987. As an Associate Professor at Tufts University, he undertook basic molecular pathogenesis research on foodborne pathogens, especially Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. In 2001, Dr. Acheson moved his laboratory to the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore to continue research on foodborne pathogens.

In September 2002, Dr. Acheson became the Chief Medical Officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). In January 2004, he was named Director of CFSAN’s Food Safety and Security Staff. In January 2005, the mission of the office was expanded and renamed the Office of Food Safety, Defense and Outreach; in January 2007 it was further expanded to become the Office of Food Defense, Communication and Emergency Response. In May 2007, Dr. Acheson was appointed as the Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection to provide advice and counsel to the FDA Commissioner on strategic and substantive food safety and food defense matters. In January 2008, he was named Associate Commissioner of Foods, which provided him an agency-wide leadership role for all food and feed issues, including health promotion and nutrition.

Dr. Acheson has published extensively and is internationally recognized both for his public health expertise in food safety and his research in infectious diseases. Additionally, Dr. Acheson is a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians (London) and the Infectious Disease Society of America. Acheson lives in Glenelg, Maryland with his wife and four dogs and has one son.

Jim Aiken

President and Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology

Jim Aiken is President and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology, a 40 year old, nonprofit, educational organization that conducts 50 to 60 life science conferences annually attended by about 14,000 scientists. He was born in Burlington, Vermont in 1943, obtained an undergraduate degree in Biology from Dartmouth College in 1965 and his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Vermont in 1969. He completed his early training as a fellow of the American Thoracic Society, studying in the Laboratory of Professor Sir John Vane, Nobel Laureate, at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Jim had a distinguished career spanning 32 years as a research scientist and research executive in the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently, he was Senior Director of Therapeutic Area Strategy for Pharmacia Corporation until the company was acquired by Pfizer in 2003. Before that he was Director of Biology in Stockholm and Uppsala for the Swedish branches of Pharmacia & Upjohn, Director of Metabolic Diseases Research for The Upjohn Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and held various research positions at Upjohn in the areas of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and diabetes. Earlier, at Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, he conducted research in the field of smooth muscle function, especially as it relates to vascular biology and hypertension as well as uterine physiology and parturition.

Throughout his career, Jim has received honors and served on committees influencing research direction. He was a member of the Pharmacology Advisory Committee of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures Association Foundation; a former member of the Board of Directors and on various committees of the Michigan Affiliate of the American Heart Association; a member of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research Boards for Cardiovascular Diseases and Biopolymers and Biocompatible Materials; an adjunct Professor of Pharmacology at Michigan State University, and adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. He was given the Graduate College Alumni Scholar Award by the University of Vermont in 1997. Jim Aiken currently lives in Breckenridge, Colorado and enjoys skiing, fly fishing, and painting.

Marion F. Aller

Acting Deputy Commissioner, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)

Marion F. Aller, DVM, DABT is Acting Deputy Commissioner, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Previously, she was Director, Division of Food Safety, a position in which she has served since 1998. As Division Director she oversees a comprehensive food protection program that includes food inspection and compliance activities, as well as two food laboratories which analyze food samples for microbiological and chemical contamination.

Dr. Aller began her career in FDACS as a toxicologist in the Bureau of Pesticides and served as Bureau Chief for six years. She has served on numerous food safety work groups and several national advisory groups, including the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Advisory Committee, Contaminants and Natural Toxicants Subcommittee.

She is a past president of the Association of Food and Drug Officials and currently chairs a work group developing a model code of practices for produce safety at the farm and packing house. Dr. Aller is a member of numerous professional associations including the Society of Toxicology, the International Society of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, the Institute of Food Technology, the Florida Public Health Association, and the American Veterinary Association. She became a Diplomat of the American Board of Toxicology in 1992 and has since maintained her board certification.

Dr. Aller received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stetson University in 1975 and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Georgia in 1983.

Fred Beyerlein

Consultant & Board of Directors, NeuroNexus Technologies

Mr. Beyerlein provides consulting services to the Life Science, Molecular Diagnostic, and Medical Device marketplace. Drawing on his thirty years of experience in early stage enterprise development, early and mid-stage product and market strategy, financial systems and overall business strategy he provides his clients with workable solutions to support their successful development and growth.

Prior to his consulting activities, Mr. Beyerlein served as President and CEO of Rubicon Genomics, a DNA and RNA amplification and molecular diagnostic company, he has also held the positions of Chief Operating Officer for NSC Technologies as well as senior management positions at Advanced Resin (CEO), Sandaro Industries (COO/CFO), and the Hexcel Corporation (VP, Chemicals & Resins Division). Additionally, Mr. Beyerlein has held multiple Board of Director positions and currently serves on the Board of NeuroNexus Technologies as well as their Executive Management Committee. Mr. Beyerlein serves as the Executive Director of the Emerging Technology Accelerator, part of the Global Center for Food Protection.

Mr. Beyerlein received his MBA in Economics and Finance from Fordham University.

Robert E. Brackett

Vice President and Director of the National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST), Illinois Institute of Technology

Robert E. Brackett serves as Vice President and Director of the National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST), at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Dr. Brackett is responsible for executive leadership of NCFST and enhancing its stature and reputation as a national and international leader in food safety, technology, and nutrition.

Prior to coming to NCFST, Dr. Brackett served as Senior Vice President and Chief Science and Regulatory Affairs Officer at the Washington-based Grocery Manufacturing Association (GMA), where he oversaw all of the association’s scientific and regulatory activity, including the operation of its in-house food safety laboratory.

Dr. Brackett has also served in various positions within the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, eventually attaining the position of Center Director. As Center Director, he provided executive leadership to the Center’s development and implementation of programs and policies relative to the composition, quality, safety, and labeling of foods, food and color additives, dietary supplements and cosmetics

From 1994 until 2000, Dr Brackett served as Professor of Food Science and Technology in the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia, where he was an active researcher in the area of food microbiology, specializing in microbiological safety of foods. Dr. Brackett has also served on the faculty of North Carolina State University where he held the title of Extension Food Safety Specialist and Assistant Professor. Dr. Brackett received his B.S. in bacteriology and his M.S. and Ph.D. in food microbiology, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Brackett has served elected leadership positions in several professional associations, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the International Association for Food Protection. He is also the recipient of numerous professional awards and serves on the Advisory Boards of the National Center for Food Protection and Defense, and the Food, Drug, and Law Institute.

Julia E. Bradsher

President and Chief Executive Officer, Global Food Protection Institute

Julia E. Bradsher, Ph.D., MBA, is President and CEO of the Global Food Protection Institute (GFPI). GFPI’s family of global initiatives includes the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) which is building the training infrastructure for the national integrated food safety system, the Emerging Technology Accelerator (ETA) which is advancing the development of novel food protection technologies, and Imagined Food Futures (IFF) which is facilitating the adoption of policies and practices that will lead to improved public health.

Previously, Dr. Bradsher served as CEO of FAAN™ (the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network). Founded in 1991, FAAN is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy, educating people about the condition, advocating for public policy that will benefit those with food allergy, and advancing research on behalf of all those affected by it.

Julia has extensive knowledge of anaphylaxis, a severe, potentially fatal allergic reaction. Prior to joining FAAN in January 2009, she was the senior director of marketing for Dey, L.P. At Dey, she led the marketing team and strategic planning for all Dey Pharmaceutical products, including EpiPen®, an autoinjector device containing epinephrine (a drug that can stop an anaphylactic reaction). In that role, she dealt extensively with leaders in the allergy-related scientific community. She has also conducted research on the needs of those who suffer from food allergy and anaphylaxis.

Julia holds a Ph.D. in medical sociology from the University of Miami, and a master’s in business administration from the Sawyer School of Management at Suffolk University in Boston. She has authored 10 journal articles, seven book chapters, and other solicited publications, and she has held research and faculty appointments in private research institutes and universities.

Joseph Corby

Executive Director, Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO)

Joseph Corby is the Executive Director, Association of Food & Drug Officials following a 37-1/2 year career with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of Food Safety and Inspection. After receiving his Environmental Health degree in 1970, Mr. Corby became a Food Inspector with the Department in the Syracuse, NY area. Following promotions to Senior Food Inspector in Buffalo, NY in 1975, Supervising Inspector in Albany, NY in 1984, Director of Field Operations in 1989, and Assistant Director in 1994, he was appointed Director of the Division of Food Safety & Inspection in 1999 until he retired in May of 2008. His service with the Department included the development of numerous food safety training programs for regulators and industry, the design of the Division’s risk based inspection system, and authoring the state's smoked fish regulations. He was nominated four consecutive years for the Governor’s Productivity Award.

Mr. Corby was an FDA Commissioned Officer and a Cornell University Certified Instructor for Human Resources Development. He also served as Faculty Advisor for Food Processing Technology at SUNY Morrisville and was a member of Cornell University's Institute of Food Science Advisory Council. He was a frequent lecturer for the Food and Drug Administration’s State Training Branch where he spoke on Seafood Safety, Vacuum Packaging, Meat and Poultry Processing, and Retail Food Protection issues.

Mr. Corby has been a member of the Central Atlantic States Association of Food and Drug Officials (CASA) since 1975 and has served as the Niagara Frontier Conference President, North East New York Conference Executive Board Representative, and CASA President. He was awarded the coveted CASA Award in 1991, CASA Service Recognition Award in 1992, and CASA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. The New York State Association of Food Protection awarded him the prestigious William V. Hickey Award in 1995 for outstanding service in the field of food sanitation and the Emmitt Gauhn Award which is the association’s highest award.

With the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) since 1985, Mr. Corby was the Chairperson for the Food Committee, where he spearheaded the development of several model codes, food processing guidelines for industry and government regulators, training programs, AFDO’s Food Code Pocket Guide, and official AFDO comments to national food safety issues. In addition to the Food Committee, he continues to serve on AFDO’s Seafood Committee, International and Government Relations Committee, Meat and Poultry Committee, and FoodSHIELD Steering Committee. He was awarded AFDO’s Distinguished Service Award in 1995 and 2000 and became President of AFDO in June of 1998. He has also received the prestigious Harvey W. Wiley Award on June 19, 2001 and AFDO’s Lifetime Achievement Award on June 16, 2008.

Mr. Corby currently serves as the Executive Director for the Association of Food & Drug Officials and continues to work on a part time basis for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s State Training Branch. He is also a member of the University of Florida Food Science & Human Nutrition Advisory Council.

Karl Dehn

President and Chief Executive Officer, Battle Creek Unlimited

Karl Dehn serves as the President & CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited, a position he has held since January 2009. He previously served as the organization’s Marketing Director for 12 years. Karl came to Battle Creek after serving as the Economic Development Director of the City of South Haven, Michigan for five years. Karl has extensive experience in business retention and expansion, domestic and international business attraction, tax increment financing, brownfield redevelopment and community development.

During his work with Battle Creek Unlimited, he has led efforts to successfully attract over 30 new companies and over 90 expansion projects. During his career he has secured ten successful economic development grant and loan projects, funded through state and federal sources, totaling over $5.8 million for infrastructure and public facility enhancements necessary to support private development projects.

Karl holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Management from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he was a four-year letterman in baseball. Karl is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council. He was recognized in 2004 by Business Review as one of West Michigan’s Top Business Leaders Under 40.

Karl’s community and state leadership positions include:

•Board Chair, Legacy Scholars

•Board Chair, Global Food Protection Institute

•Board of Directors, Battle Creek Health System Community Partners

•Board President, Calhoun County Economic Development Corporation

•Board of Directors, Neighborhoods, Inc.

•Collaborative Development Council, Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Karl is also a member of the Battle Creek AMBUCS service club. His personal interests include fishing, cooking, golf, college sporting events and coaching youth baseball. Karl and his family reside in the City of Battle Creek.

Jim Fernandez

Executive Director, Stephenson National Center for Security Research and Training (SNCSRT) and Co-Chairman, Food & Agriculture Protection Training Consortium(FAPTC)

Jim Fernandez is Executive Director of the Stephenson National Center for Security Research and Training (SNCSRT), and he is also Co-Chairman of the Food & Agriculture Protection Training Consortium (FAPTC). Mr. Fernandez became SNCSRT Executive Director in 2003, left Louisiana State University (LSU) in late 2006 for a little over a year and returned to his current position in early 2008. Jim started his career with LSU in 1991.

In addition to his position with SNCSRT, Mr. Fernandez served LSU as Business Manager in Physics and Astronomy, Chief Financial Officer and Administration Interim Assistant Director at CAMD, Assistant Graduate School Dean and Graduate Admissions Director, Director and Principal Investigator of Law Enforcement Online, Executive Assistant to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost and Vice Provost for Fiscal Affairs in the Office of Academic Affairs.

Mr. Fernandez has also held senior management positions at the University of Vermont, the State University of New York, Arizona State University, LSU Health Sciences Center and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Department.

Mr. Fernandez earned Bachelor of Science degrees from LSU in Quantitative Business Analysis in 1983 and Management in 1985 and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota in 1988. At LSU, Mr. Fernandez was in ROTC and later served in the U.S. Air Force as missile combat crew commander at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.

Rick Foster

Tenured Professor, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources & Endowed Chair in Food, Society and Sustainability at Michigan State University

Rick Foster is a tenured professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and holds an Endowed Chair in Food, Society and Sustainability at Michigan State University. Dr. Foster joined the faculty of Michigan State University in January, 2010 after 15 years as Vice President for Programs at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. Dr. Foster’s interests lie in helping to bring integrative sustainability solutions to long-term problems impacting the social, economic, and environmental systems affecting Michigan communities. Dr. Foster focuses on the contribution collaborative models around food, water, and alternative energy systems have on future development scenarios for the future of Michigan and the nation.

Dr. Foster received his Bachelor of Science (1972), Master of Science (1974) and Ph.D. (1978) in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University in Ames. Previously, he taught at Iowa State University (1976-78), the University of Idaho (1978-83), and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln (1983-92). He also was a Group VIII Kellogg National Fellow from 1987 to 1990, and a Thornton F. Bradshaw Fellow at the Claremont Graduate School in 1990. Dr. Foster worked at the Kellogg Foundation from 1992-2009 as a Program Officer (2 years) and as a Vice President for Programs (15 years) in the areas of Food Systems, Rural Development, Environmental Programs, and Leadership. Dr. Foster was instrumental in establishing the School of Agriculture for the Humid Tropics (EARTH University) in Costa Rica (1987-91), and the National Center for Food Protection and International Food Protection Training Institute in Battle Creek, Michigan (2008-2010).

Dr. Foster has received many awards and honors, including the E.B. Knight Award from the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture for outstanding scholarly publication. He received a Distinguished Teaching Award, Distinguished Advising Award, and the Outstanding Young Professor Award at the University of Nebraska; the Outstanding Student Advisor at the University of Idaho; and received the Justin Morrill Award of Distinguished Service from the National Association of State and Land-Grant Universities. He has received distinguished service recognition from the National FFA Organization, the Iowa State University Alumni Association, the National Board on Agriculture, Iowa State University College of Education, and the Michigan State University. He was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree by the University of Maryland – Eastern Shore (2002) and the Spirit of Leadership Award (2005). He served as Commencement Speaker at the 2009 Graduation ceremonies at EARTH University in Costa Rica.

He serves on several national boards and councils, including that of the World Agricultural Forum, the National Food Security Advisory Council, the Rural Funders Working Group, the New Economy Initiative Governing Board and Executive Committee, the National Rural Funders Collaborative, the National Center for Food Protection, and the International Food Protection Training Institute in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Dan S. Smyly

Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Director, Coca-Cola Company

Dan S. Smyly, Ph.D. currently holds a position of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs Director with The Coca-Cola Company, North American Division in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to joining the Company in 1998, Dr. Smyly served as the Director of the Division of Food Safety in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Tallahassee, Florida. He also held the position of State Chemist and Director of the Division of Chemistry, as well as other scientific and administrative positions during his 28-year career with that state agency.

Dr. Smyly is an active member and has served in leadership roles in several scientific and professional organizations. He served as president of the Association of Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States (AFDOSS) in 1993. In 1998, he served as president of the national Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). He currently serves as a member of the AFDO Associate Members Committee, the AFDO Endowment Foundation Board of Trustees, and is a past industry representative to the AFDO Board of Directors. Dr. Smyly also served as Chair of the Science and Technology Council (Council III) of the Conference of Food Protection (CFP) in 1996, as Vice Chair of the CFP in 2000-2002, and as a past member of the CFP Executive Board of Directors (term expired in 2008).

Dr. Smyly received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Mississippi College in 1964 and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Florida in 1970.

Gerald Wojtala

Executive Director, IFPTI
Gerald Wojtala is Executive Director at the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI). Previously, he was Deputy Director of the Food & Dairy Division with the Michigan Department of Agriculture where he managed the food protection programs in the state of Michigan (107 division employees and oversight and accreditation of 45 local public health programs). In addition to program oversight, Mr. Wojtala was responsible for liaison on legislative issues with lawmakers and completed the legislative effort in 2007 to amend the State’s Food Law.

Mr. Wojtala is the Past-President of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO). AFDO is the premier professional organization for regulatory food, drug and medical device officials from local, state and federal agencies. Prior to government service, he worked as a microbiologist in Detroit. He is a long standing member of the Institute of Food Technologists and is also a current lead instructor with the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training, Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education at Louisiana State University.

Mr. Wojtala received the FDA Commissioner’s Special Citation for his role in investigating an outbreak of Hepatitis A among school children from the consumption of strawberries and also for managing the response to the Power Blackout of 2003 that occurred in the N.E. United States. He has worked with Michigan’s apple industry in efforts to implement safe cider production practices and with the Michigan food processing industry on process water discharge issues. Mr. Wojtala recently coordinated a multi-agency, four-state effort to assess food safety transportation practices and response. Mr. Wojtala holds a degree in microbiology from Eastern Michigan University and graduate work in food science at Wayne State University.