Speakers
FEMA is proud to host the following speakers at this year's Fall Symposium (to see full schedule, click here):
Fall Symposium Dinner Speaker |
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| Adam Gertler | |
| Host of "Will Work for Food" and "Kid In A Candy Store" Food Network |
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As a contestant on season four of "The Next Food Network Star," Adam Gertler revealed his energetic passion for food and fun-loving sense of humor. Now, as the host of Food Network's primetime series, "Will Work for Food," Mr. Gertler gives Food Network viewers behind-the-scenes access to countless food jobs as he fearlessly learns how to do everything from ice sculpting and truffle foraging to competitive eating and cranberry harvesting. On July 12, 2010 his new show "Kid In A Candy Store" premiered for The Food Network, featuring Mr. Gertler traveling throughout the United States for more behind-the-scenes explorations, this time focusing on desserts. Mr. Gertler has also channeled his love for food and acting into volunteer work, from teaching theater to grade-school children to catering for non-profit organizations like the Philadelphia Red Cross. When not cooking or performing, Mr. Gertler enjoys an eclectic mix of hobbies including harmonica, karaoke and a 20-year-and-counting comic book collection. |
General Session Speakers: |
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| Roger T. Lawrence | |
| Corporate Vice President
Quality Assurance & Regulatory McCormick & Company, Inc. |
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Roger Lawrence is responsible for Quality Assurance, Food Safety and Defense, Regulatory Systems and Programs throughout McCormick's worldwide operations and supply chain. The Corporate Quality Assurance Group provides strategic direction and operational guidance to subsidiaries, joint ventures and licensees. They also provide quality, regulatory, and food safety support to retail, food service and industrial customers.
Previously, at McCormick, Mr. Lawrence held technical and quality assurance Vice President positions in the US, Asia, and Europe. Mr. Lawrence is the past President of the Board of Directors for the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA). He serves on the Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Council (SRAC) of GMA (Grocery Manufacturers of America) and is a member of the Executive Committee for SRAC. |
| William A. Barrier, Ph.D. | |
| Vice President of Research and Development American Dairy Queen Corporation |
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Dr. William (Bill) A. Barrier, Vice President of Research and Development, is responsible for the worldwide management of all research and development functions for American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ) including product development, quality assurance, food safety, regulatory and international research and development. He joined ADQ in January 2006.
Dr. Barrier earned a Ph.D. in food science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and has more than 20 years of experience in the foodservice and packaged goods food industries. He has worked for Burger King, KFC, General Mills, Pillsbury and most recently, Firmenich, an industry flavor supplier. Dr. Barrier resides in Maple Grove, Minn., with his wife, Judith and their two daughters, Alexandra and Adrienne. |
| Jennifer C. McEntire, Ph.D. | |
| Research Scientist & Director,
Technology Projects Institute of Food Technologists |
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Dr. Jennifer McEntire is the Senior Staff Scientist and Director of Science and Technology Projects with the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). She is responsible for all of IFT’s technical grant and contract work and directed IFT’s product tracing work done for the U.S. FDA.
A food microbiologist by training, Dr. McEntire also currently leads contract work in the areas of food safety and defense. She has authored or co-authored numerous peer reviewed publications and book chapters, and has presented her work nationally and internationally. In addition to being an IFT member, she is also a member of the International Association for Food Protection and the Phi Tau Sigma Honor Society for Food Science. Dr. McEntire received her BS, Magna Cum Laude, with Distinction, in Agriculture (majoring in Food Science) from the University of Delaware. She conducted her doctoral work in the Department of Food Science at Rutgers University as a USDA National Needs Fellow in Food Safety, which provided the opportunity to complete an internship at the National Food Processors Association (now GMA), and serve as a Visiting Scientist at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at FDA. Dr. McEntire also serves as a spokesperson for IFT on issues related to food safety. |
Luncheon Speaker: |
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| FEMA Excellence in Science Award Luncheon Speaker | |
| Terry Acree, Ph.D. | |
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Dr. Terry Acree is the recipient of the 2011 FEMA Excellence in Science Award. He has devoted his professional career to flavor science as a researcher and professor at Cornell University. For more than 40 years, he has been recognized domestically and internationally as a major contributor to methods for assessing the contributions of individual flavor chemicals to the collective aroma and flavor of the food we enjoy.
Click here for more information about Dr. Acree and the Excellence in Science Award. |
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