Jon Greenberg, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Director, Division of Food Safety and Inspection

Jon Greenberg currently serves as New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Director, Division of Food Safety and Inspection.  He previously worked for 35 years in Food Processing. In 1984, Jon began working in Food Processing in a 230,000 square foot plant that was processing Ready-to-Eat salads, such as potato salad, tuna salad and baked products. First working in processing and packing, the company eventually expanded into other food offerings and the need for quality Assurance and Quality Control took on a major role, that he was thrust into he had found his niche.

Over the subsequent years, Jon worked with several large and small manufacturers, as a second party auditor, to verify that copackers were following correct protocols, maintaining Good Manufacturing Practices, assist in national recalls and to write Corrective Action Plans for their continuous improvement. He also served as the Quality Assurance Manager and Director of Food Safety for other organizations in the Northeast, first leading the implementation of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), which was a major change for the Food processing Industry as science based Food Safety programs officially replaced the old “scratch and sniff” method previously used by the USDA, and more recently when the Food Safety Modernization Act was put into effect, as the FDA was also mandated to move the entire food chain in the direction of risk based, science based procedures.

Maile Hermida, Partner, Hogan Lovells

Maile Hermida is a Partner at Hogan Lovells and also serves as ASTA’s General Counsel. She has considerable experience with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), having worked with numerous companies and trade associations on all aspects of the law since the day it was signed. She translates her in-depth knowledge of FSMA into practical solutions for companies working on implementation strategies. She also frequently presents trainings related to FSMA compliance and preparedness. Reflecting her deep involvement with all things FSMA, Maile is a Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Lead Instructor for the Preventive Controls for Human Food training and an FSPCA Trainer of Trainers and Lead Instructor for the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) training.

Maile is known for helping companies become and remain compliant with regulations overseen by federal agencies such as the FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). She helps companies navigate tough situations involving product recalls, government inspections, and other enforcement actions such as Warning Letters and import detentions.

Maile also provides clients with advice on public policy issues and strategies for affecting regulatory change. She has vast experience advocating to FDA, including preparing comments on agency rulemakings. Additionally, Maile helps clients with food labeling requirements and development of label and advertising claims.

Maile is a frequent speaker and contributor to industry publications. Prior to joining us, she served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Charles F. Lettow of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Maile graduated with high honors from The George Washington University Law School, where she served as executive editor of The George Washington Law Review.

Shawn Marie Jarosz, Founder and Chief Trade Strategist TradeMoves LLC

Shawn Marie Jarosz is Founder of TradeMoves LLC and its Chief Trade Strategist. Shawn has over 25 years working with US companies and industry associations on their cross-border trade priorities. She advises clients on export strategies and import compliance matters and provides tools and resources in support of global supply chains. As an export expert, Shawn helps seasoned US exporters access new markets, remove barriers to their American-made products, and capitalize on the benefits of cross-border trade. As an import expert, Shawn is a licensed US Customs broker since 2007 and Certified Customs Specialist. Shawn has been a cleared advisor to the US Trade Representative on trade issues affecting US small businesses (Industry Trade Advisory Committee for Small and Minority Businesses/ITAC 9) since 2008, and food and agriculture exporters (Agriculture Trade Advisory Committee for Processed Foods) from 2007 until 2015.

Larry Lichter, Vice President, Global Quality & Food Safety, McCormick & Co., Inc.

Larry Lichter has over 31 years of food industry experience with more than 29 of those years at McCormick.  Larry has held significant roles in the Quality Assurance, Supply Chain and Commercial functions. In his current role as Vice President of Global Quality and Food Safety for McCormick, Mr. Lichter leads the global efforts to assure food safety excellence, quality systems performance, quality/business partnership and technology development. He is currently President of the Board of Directors of the American Spice Trade Association and is very active with charities supporting the homeless population of Baltimore. Larry graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelors in Biology and previously served 6 years on the Board of Directors of the Supply Chain Council. McCormick Brings the Joy of Flavor to Life as a global leader in flavor with more than $4.8 billion in annual sales. McCormick manufactures, markets and distributes spices, condiments, flavors, seasoning mixes, and many other flavorful products to the entire food industry in more than 140 countries and territories.

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

Sharon Lindan Mayl, J.D. has been with FDA for more than 25 years and currently serves as Senior Advisor for Policy in the Office of Food Policy and Response. In this position, she oversees and manages significant policy initiatives in the foods area. Among other issues, Ms. Mayl is the implementation lead for FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative. She also represents the foods program on issues related to cannabis and co-chairs the Marijuana Working Group at FDA. Previously, she co-led the team that developed and implemented the FSMA import rules and guidance documents, including those related to the Foreign Supplier Verification Program, Voluntary Qualified Import Program, and Accredited Third-Party Certification Program. Ms. Mayl is a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School.

Jessica G. Ramsey, MS, CPE, Industrial Hygienist/Ergonomist, Hazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, Division Field Studies and Engineering, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Jessica G. Ramsey has been an Industrial Hygienist and Ergonomist in the NIOSH Division of Field Studies and Engineering, Hazard Evaluation and Technical Assistance Branch for 15 years. Jessica has led Health Hazard Evaluations in a variety of facilities such as poultry processing, postal service, and border patrol. Mrs. Ramsey is a Certified Professional Ergonomist. She received her Master’s degree in industrial hygiene from the University of Cincinnati and her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Cumberland College.

Laura Shumow, Executive Director, American Spice Trade Association (ASTA)

Laura Shumow has been with the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) since September, 2018. She works with the ASTA Board of Directors to set the strategic direction of the association and with the ASTA staff to ensure the goals are met.

Prior to joining ASTA, Laura worked at the National Confectioners Association as the vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs. In this role, she also oversaw the Chocolate Council, a decision making body that handles issues specific to the cocoa and chocolate industry. She has a strong background in domestic and international regulatory issues, and a proven track record of success addressing challenges related to the supply chains of food ingredients sourced from developing countries. Laura received her master’s of health sciences from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and bachelor’s degree in food science from the University of Wisconsin. She is an active member of several professional societies, including the Institute of Food Technologists, where she serves as chair of the Food Laws and Regulations Section.

Will Wagner, Associate Greenburg Traurig

Will Wagner focuses his practice in the areas of consumer product defense and regulatory enforcement litigation, particularly on issues involving California’s unique Proposition 65. He defends companies such as food and beverage producers, personal care product manufactures, and garment and accessory companies in lawsuits relating to Prop 65 chemicals of concern including heavy metals, acrylamide, DEHP, DINP, PFOA, styrene, formaldehyde, and many more. Will also regularly advises clients on Prop 65 compliance and risk mitigation, including regulatory and chemical listing issues involving California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).

Additionally, Will defends consumer product companies against allegations of deceptive, misleading, or unsubstantiated label and advertising claims, including actions brought under California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) and Unfair Competition Law (UCL). His experience includes defending companies against punitive or threatened class action lawsuits based on nonfunctional slack-fill allegations, structure/function claims, and ingredient content claims.

Further, Will has broad experience navigating California laws and regulations that regularly impact consumer product companies. This includes advising and defending companies in connection with California’s regulation of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), which often involves the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). He also counsels clients on CARB and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations pertaining to formaldehyde in composite wood products. His practice also includes advising clients regarding California’s Cleaning Products Right to Know Act, Safe Cosmetics Act, Transparency in Supply Chains Act, and the Organic Products Act.