Houda Reggad is a strategic consultant and problem solver renowned for her accomplished and self-motivated approach. Her education and diverse work experiences have shaped her into a versatile professional with a profound impact across various industries, including Food industry. With a solid background in Food Science, Houda has honed her expertise as a quality and food safety auditor. This specialized knowledge has enabled her to implement rigorous standards and practices that ensure the highest levels of food safety and quality within organizations. Houda's career is marked by her ability to achieve significant results through creative initiatives that enhance productivity, quality systems, and customer satisfaction. Her approach is rooted in a meticulous process of weighing pros and cons using factual data before making informed decisions. This methodical strategy ensures that she can establish priorities and develop SMART action plans that address root cause technical issues, ultimately solving broader business challenges. In her work, Houda emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and innovation. She believes in proactive quality and food safety measures that not only safeguard consumer health but also positively impact company profits. Her commitment to excellence drives her to implement quality systems that are both efficient and effective, fostering a culture of ongoing enhancement within organizations. Through her dynamic career, Houda Reggad has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge technical expertise with strategic thinking, making her a valuable asset in any industry she engages with. Her dedication to improving systems and processes has solidified her reputation as a leader who drives meaningful change and delivers tangible results.

Mara Burr serves as vice president, regulatory and technical affairs at Consumer Brands Association, providing strategic and tactical regulatory policy leadership on issues impacting the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry and CBA’s strategic priorities, as well as proactively identify emerging regulatory policy issues, concerns, and opportunities that enhance the intersection of advancing the CPG industry’s agenda and meeting expectations of the American consumer.

Born in a country hit by an interminable economic and sociopolitical crisis, Misha has become passionate about the idea of how entrepreneurial energy of some can in time raise economic status for all. To put it into practice, Misha spent two decades honing market-based solutions in international development and management consulting industries. He currently works for CARE USA as a senior Technical Advisor overseeing improved food safety practices and certification scheme solutions for smallholder women farmers worldwide. Previous to CARE, Misha served as a senior technical manager for private sector engagement at Food Enterprise Solutions where helped improve food safety culture of small and medium-sized food businesses in Senegal, Nepal and Ethiopia. He has expertise in market research and analysis, strategic marketing positioning, enterprise development, and go-to-market planning, and has worked with various certification schemes, including Global G.A.P. and Fairtrade. Misha holds an MBA and a master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University. In addition to English, he is fluent in Spanish and in Russian.

Steven Foster is a distinguished executive with over two decades of leadership experience in food safety and quality assurance. As Vice President of Food Safety and Quality at Wholesale Produce Supply, Steven has spearheaded the transformation of food safety protocols, resulting in significant operational improvements and enhanced product quality. His implementation of continuous improvement methodologies and a seven-step lean sanitation program has notably reduced customer credits and improved sanitation processes. Steven’s expertise encompasses Preventive Controls, HACCP, GMP, FSMA, and CFIA regulations. He is a Six Sigma Black Belt, skilled in identifying root causes and driving effective corrective measures. His strategic vision has consistently led to successful quality improvement initiatives, bolstering the overall performance of the organizations he serves. In recognition of his contributions to food safety, Steven was appointed to the Minnesota Food Safety and Defense Task Force by the Governor and serves as Co-Chair and speaker at the Food Summit. His role involves developing state-wide food safety policies and sharing industry insights. Steven has also held senior leadership roles at Post Holdings-Michael Foods and South Mill Mushroom/Champs. His strategic planning and organizational effectiveness initiatives have driven significant performance improvements and fostered a culture of continuous improvement. Steven holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Madison University, graduating magna cum laude. His extensive certifications include SQF Practitioner and Lead Auditor 9001. He is actively involved in food safety research and education, serving as a research reviewer for the Center for Produce Safety and hosting educational sessions for international participants at the Food Protection and Defense Institute. Steven Foster’s career is marked by a steadfast commitment to excellence in food safety and quality assurance, making him a respected leader and a driving force in advancing food safety standards and practices.

Title: Seafood Supplier Approval Food Safety, Quality, Social, and Sustainability Compliance Abstract: TBC

Title: Creating a “Quality” Management Abstract: • My story • Safety • Quality • Team work/ collaboration • Q&A