Presenters

	Dr. David Acheson, President & CEO of The Acheson Group, brings decades of experience across the entire food and import safety sector, helping clients enter new markets, enhance the value of their products, and navigate dynamic scientific and regulatory systems. David’s background in medicine, food safety, molecular pathogenesis and the regulatory environment of both FSIS and FDA provides a unique depth of experience that is shared with our clients. Prior to forming TAG, David served as the Chief Medical Officer at the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service and then in 2002 joined the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the Chief Medical Officer at the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). After serving as the Director of CFSAN’s Office of Food Defense, Communication and Emergency Response, David was appointed as the Assistant and then Associate Commissioner for Foods which provided him an agency-wide leadership role for all food and feed issues and the responsibility for the development of the 2007 Food Protection Plan, which served as the basis for many of the authorities granted to FDA by the Food Safety Modernization Act.
	Paul Benson, Partner at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, specializes in product liability defense, class action defense, insurance litigation, and complex commercial litigation. He is particularly well known for his work in the class action and food and beverage sectors, where he is a nationally and locally recognized speaker and thought leader on product liability issues and regulatory trends.
	Brian Grant, Director of Food & Agribusiness at Cottingham & Butler, has been focusing on risk management consulting for commercial businesses for 13+ years and has built a niche focus in the food and agribusiness space. Brian has worked with all size companies at all levels of the supply chain from ingredient importers and distributors to large candy and mustard companies. His expertise lies in understanding the inherent risks within the business and keeping a pulse on changes and regulations that constantly change the risk landscape. Brian continues to further his knowledge with HACCP certifications and numerous risk and insurance designations.
	Matt Coldagelli, based in Edelman’s Chicago office, is Senior Vice President in the crisis and risk practice and is the U.S. lead for Edelman’s issues work in the Food and Beverage sector. Matt is a 10-year agency veteran, with a focus on food, foodservice, agriculture, food science and agribusiness. From foodborne and animal disease outbreaks to product recalls to animal rights activists, Matt has been engaged at every part of the food supply chain helping leading commodities, ingredient companies, restaurant chains and CPG companies prepare for issues and manage crisis scenarios. Over his time at Edelman, Matt has also spent time in the brand and corporate affairs practice, and has additional extensive experience in sectors including higher education and manufacturing. Before his time at Edelman, Matt was a TV and radio journalist, with his most recent stop being Central Illinois’ Champaign-Decatur-Springfield market. This background continues to serve him well as one of Edelman’s media trainers.
	Christopher Snabes, Senior Manager of Food Safety with The Acheson Group (TAG), has over 18 years’ experience in the food industry. He has extensive food microbiology laboratory experience specializing in proficiency testing of food pathogens.