Experience

• 

  Ferrero

  • Luxembourg
  • Manufacturing
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Auditor, Raw Material Quality at Ferrero North America

    • Jan 2022 - Present

  • Laboratory and Incoming Ingredients Supervisor

    • Jan 2021 - Jan 2022

  • Food Safety Microbiologist

    • Oct 2017 - Jan 2021

    • Develop and implement incoming ingredients' and finished products' and microbiological testing programs.• Define, manage, and document Good Laboratory Practices including personal safety, laboratory maintenance, supplies management, instrument calibration, third party laboratory certification, testing methodologies, results documentation, and analysts training and proficiency testing.• Deliver incremental improvements to Environmental Monitoring Program.• Continuously investigate Food Safety and Quality issues to decrease product holds and customer complaints.• Work with sanitation and operation departments on continuous improvement of sanitation procedures and equipment design• Lead Sensory Evaluation program to improve product quality and support product maintenance and development.• Support SQF/ISO/GFSI accreditation, cGMPs, HAACP, and pre-requisite programs.• Continuous microbiology testing, root-cause analysis, and collaborative modifications in sanitation practices and equipment design resulting in considerable decrease in product destruction.

• 

  Metropolitan Community College

  • Omaha, Nebraska, United States

  • Adjunct Faculty

    • Jan 2008 - Jan 2016
    • Omaha, Nebraska, United States

    • Taught Sensory Science and Food Science courses to undergraduate Culinary Science students to increase students marketability to the Food Industry• Mentored research projects of undergraduate students

• 

  Southwest Minnesota State University

  • Marshall, MN

  • Adjunct Faculty

    • Jan 2007 - Jan 2010
    • Marshall, MN

    • Taught Sensory Science and Food Science courses to undergraduate Culinary Science students

• 

  Schwan's Company

  • Marshall, Minnesota, United States

  • Food Science Consultant

    • Aug 2005 - Nov 2005
    • Marshall, Minnesota, United States

    • Reviewed factors influencing shelf-life in refrigerated pizza

• 

  Nestlé Purina North America

  • St Louis, Missouri, United States

  • Microbiology Project Leader

    • Jan 1995 - May 2003
    • St Louis, Missouri, United States

    • Worked as consultant and project leader of a multidisciplinary research team and an analytical service laboratory.• Studied the effects of nutrition and environmental stress on the intestinal health of dogs using microbiological and molecular markers (7 publications, 3 patents).• Lead microbiological studies related to oral and kidney health. • Assisted with design and set up of multiple microbial shelf stability studies.• Supported the efforts of the Microbiology Analytical Laboratory in conducting food and environmental microbiology testing.