Speakers
N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler
N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler was raised in the Guilford County community of Browns Summit, and has spent his entire career in agriculture as founder, owner and operator of Troxler Farms. Over the years, the family-owned farming operation has produced tobacco, wheat, vegetables and soybeans.
Since taking office in 2005, Troxler has focused on developing new markets for N.C. farm products, preserving working farms and protecting the state’s food supply.
Troxler has held leadership positions in numerous agricultural and community organizations. His service includes the Board of Directors of North Central Farm Credit Association; the Board of Supervisors of the Guilford County Soil and Water Conservation District; board member and vice president of the Guilford County Farmers Organization; the Guilford County Extension Advisory Board; the State Extension Advisory Council at N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University; and the boards of the North Carolina Tobacco Settlement Phase II Entity and the Guilford County Farm Bureau.
In addition, he was a century member, director and secretary of the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina. He also was a spokesman for the group on local, national and international television.
Troxler is active in the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, serving as chair of the Tobacco Task Force and vice chair of the Food Regulation and Nutrition Committee.
He also serves on the boards of the N.C. Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation, the Rural Economic Development Center and the N.C. Biotechnology Center. He is a member of numerous organizations, including the N.C. Tobacco Research Commission and the Southern United States Trade Association.
In the community, Troxler was founder and president of the Browns Summit-Monticello Youth Association, a youth sports organization. He established the BSM Community Center and raised funds to improve facilities. He also served as a volunteer host for the Greensboro Visitors Bureau, working with international visitors, journalists and various school groups and summer programs.
During his career, Troxler has been recognized with the Conservation Guardian Award of the Guilford County Soil Conservation Service; the Phillip Morris Outstanding Young Tobacco Farmer Award; the Outstanding Young Farmer Award from the North Carolina Jaycees; the N.C. Agricultural Extension Service’s Outstanding Service Award; the Certificate of Merit from the NCSU chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta agricultural honor society; and an Honorary State FFA Degree. His family was named “Tobacco Farm Family of the Year” by the Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina.
Troxler graduated from N.C. State University in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science degree in conservation, with a concentration in environmental studies. He and his wife, Sharon, have two grown sons, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter. In his spare time, Troxler enjoys restoring antique farm equipment and playing with his dog, Kate, a Labrador/golden retriever mix.
David William Kennedy Acheson, M.D., F.R.C.P.
Associate Commissioner for Foods, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Dr. David William Kennedy Acheson graduated from the University of London Medical School in 1980, and following training in internal medicine and infectious diseases in the United Kingdom, moved to the New England Medical Center and Tufts University in Boston in 1987. As an Associate Professor at Tufts University, he undertook basic molecular pathogenesis research on foodborne pathogens, especially Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. In 2001, Dr. Acheson moved his laboratory to the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore to continue research on foodborne pathogens.
In September 2002, Dr. Acheson became the Chief Medical Officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). In January 2004, he was named Director of CFSAN’s Food Safety and Security Staff. In January 2005, the mission of the office was expanded and renamed the Office of Food Safety, Defense and Outreach; in January 2007 it was further expanded to become the Office of Food Defense, Communication and Emergency Response. In May 2007, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Andrew von Eschenbach, appointed Dr. Acheson the Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection to provide advice and counsel to the Commissioner on strategic and substantive food safety and food defense matters. In January 2008, Dr. von Eschenbach expanded Dr. Acheson's portfolio by naming him Associate Commissioner of Foods, which gives him an agency-wide leadership role for all food and feed issues, including health promotion and nutrition.
Dr. Acheson has published extensively and is internationally recognized both for his public health expertise in food safety and his research in infectious diseases. Additionally, Dr. Acheson is a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians (London) and the Infectious Disease Society of America
Brenda Bacon, Director of Quality Assurance, Harris Teeter
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology (1986) and a Master of Science degree in Food Science and Technology (1990) both from Mississippi State University.
I began my career in the food industry working in the Quality Assurance Department for Kraft Foods in Springfield, MO. (Feb 1990 to Nov 1991). After working in a Kraft manufacturing facility, I went to work as a Quality Auditor for Kraft General Foods in Glenview, IL (Nov 1991 – Jan 1994).
Tropicana Products in Bradenton, FL hired me to oversee the quality operations of the various juice co-packers for the company. (Jan 1994 – Feb 1997)
In March of 1997, Harris Teeter hired me as Director of Quality Assurance. As the Director of Quality Assurance I’m responsible for programs related to food safety, regulatory interface, private label quality, recall/withdrawals, product complaint handling, sanitation and pest control. I also play an integral role as the chairperson for Harris Teeter’s Special Situation Team preparing for and handling special situations.
Member of Food Marketing Institute’s Food Protection Committee. Currently Chairperson.
Member of Conference of Food Protection. Served on Council III in 2004, Council I in 2006.
Member of the Food and Drug Officials of the Southern States.
Jim Corby, Food Lion Vice President of Produce Merchandising
As Vice President of Produce Merchandising, Jim Corby oversees all aspects of Food Lion’s fresh produce program, including quality assurance, product assortment, new item selection, product presentation, and advertisement planning. He is also charged with developing produce merchandising strategies to serve and meet the needs of customers at Food Lion’s 1,200 stores.
Corby is an industry veteran, with more than 30 years of supermarket experience. He joined Food Lion in 2000 as director of produce category management. During his career, he has worked as a store manager, produce buyer and produce specialist.
Corby and his wife Cindy have been married more than 25 years and have three grown children. They reside in Salisbury, N.C. He attended the University of California - Riverside.
Gary Gay, Director of Food Distribution, NCDA&CS
Gary W. Gay was named Director of the Food Distribution Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services on April l, l994. The division is headquartered in Butner, North Carolina.
Gary graduated from N. C. State University in l983 with a field crop technology degree. He has been employed with the N. C. Department of Agriculture for the past twenty-three years.
Gary is active in several civic and professional associations. He is past president of the Pilot Lions Club. He is a deacon and member of Pilot Baptist Church. He also serves as a coach in the youth recreation league. Gary recently received his certification through the American Fitness Professionals Association as a Personal Fitness Trainer.
Professionally, he belongs to and is past president of the American Commodities Distribution Association (ACDA). Currently, he is president-elect of ACDA. He also belongs to the School Nutrition Association. Gary has testified twice before Congress on USDA commodity issues.
The Spring Hope native is married to the former Kimberly Denton of Pilot. They live in Pilot and have a daughter, Meredith.
Debbie Hamrick, Director of Specialty Crops, Farm Bureau
Debbie Hamrick is Director, Specialty Crops with the North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation. She has responsibilities for emerging agricultural enterprises; aquaculture; apiculture; ornamental horticulture and sod; fruit, vegetables, nuts and viticulture; and forestry. Debbie joined the Public Policy Staff at North Carolina Farm Bureau in November 2004.
Prior to joining Farm Bureau, Debbie enjoyed a high-profile international career in the ornamental industry with Ball Horticultural Co. Most recently, Debbie served as a member of Ball Publishing’s Leadership Team, as Editor of FloraCulture International magazine, and Manager of conferences. She also was the founding Publisher/Editor of FloraCulture International magazine and set up the joint venture that founded that magazine in 1989. She served as Ball Publishing’s Editorial Director and oversaw editorial development of Green Profit magazine for American ornamental plant retailers. Earlier she was Editor of GrowerTalks, the most respected American trade journal for commercial greenhouse growers. She edited the 15th edition of the Ball Redbook, Vol. II . In addition to writing for Ball Publishing titles, she has contributed many articles and chapters to other agricultural and horticultural journals and books. Debbie also briefly worked for Ball Seed Co. where she had marketing responsibilities in Eastern North Carolina.
Throughout her horticultural career Debbie visited more than 20 countries on five continents and is recognized as an industry leader. She has been a frequent, respected speaker and served as keynote at horticultural conferences in Canada, China, Colombia, Japan, Taiwan, the Netherlands, the Philippines and the United States.
Debbie has been and continues to be active in many state, regional, and national industry associations. Among them, she has served as President (2004-2006) and Board Member, of FloraStar, a North American pot plant trialing organization; and President (2003) and Board Member of the NC Commercial Flower Growers Association. Additionally, Debbie’s board experiences include the Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation Alumni, Ivy Acres, Professional Plant Growers Association, North Carolina Green Industry Council, NC Aquaculture Development Conference Board and the Raleigh Women’s Professional Forum. She is also a member of the JC Raulston Arboretum Advisory Board. As an active member of Raleigh’s International Affairs Council, she regularly entertains out-of-country guests in her home.
In her role with NC Farm Bureau, Debbie interfaces with more than two dozen agricultural, ag-related and sustainable organizations across the state and maintains an active network of agricultural, forestry and specialty crops leaders in the state. She is a frequent speaker at Farm Bureau meetings and industry gatherings across North Carolina.
She is an alumnus of North Carolina State University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Horticultural Science, with a minor in Agricultural Economics. In 2003, Debbie received the Department of Horticultural Science’s Outstanding Alumnus Award. She is also a 1998 graduate of the Illinois Ag Leadership Program.
Debbie spent her high school years in Lumberton, North Carolina and currently resides in Raleigh’s Hayes Barton neighborhood.
Shaun Kennedy
Mr. Kennedy is Director of the National Center for Food Protection and Defense (NCFPD). He also serves as Director of Partnerships and External Relations of the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine. Since joining the University, he has taken a leadership role in facilitating grants and contracts that advance research on animal health, food safety, and food-system biosecurity. He also coordinates research programs awarded in these areas and lectures on these topics.
Mr. Kennedy came to the University of Minnesota with a strong background in research, organizational leadership, and project management based on global executive positions with Ecolab and Procter & Gamble. At Ecolab he was vice president of global food and beverage research and development, charged with leading his organization in developing a wide range of animal health and food safety technologies. These included novel sanitizers, FDA-approved process additives, new sanitation technologies, and animal health products. Earlier at Ecolab Mr. Kennedy was director of strategic and emerging technologies, guiding internal and outsourced technology programs. At Procter & Gamble his positions included assignments in Japan and China leading research and development organizations.
Through these experiences, Mr. Kennedy has developed expertise in heading research and development initiatives; commercializing new technologies; working with state, federal, and international regulatory agencies; and managing intellectual property. He has a comprehensive understanding of farm and plant operations and the full range of the food chain from farm to fork. His professional activities have included co-chairing the Industrial Research Institute's Committee on New Methods of Investing in Research, which focused on academic/industrial research partnership models.
Mr. Kennedy graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Science & Engineering in Chemical Engineering degree. He has received six patents and has several additional patents pending.
Sharron Stewart, Director of Emergency Programs, NCDA&CS
- Currently, Director of Emergency Programs, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, served as Assistant Director 2 years prior
- Program Manager within State Government for 23+ years- Pesticide Regulatory Program
- Graduated from NCSU with BS in Horticultural Science
- Certified Public Manager
- Certified Emergency Manager through Community Preparedness and Disaster Management-Master level program at UNC Chapel Hill
- Commissioner on the State Emergency Response Commission
- Liaison to the State Emergency Operations Center and State Emergency Response Team member for NCDA&CS
- Project Lead for NCDA&CS’ Agricultural Weather Related Assistance Program (AgWRAP)
- Ag Task Force Chair for the Drought Monitoring Advisory Council
- Worked with agricultural emergency response issues since Bertha and Fran in 1996
- Deployed to Hattiesburg, Ms in 2005 to work with the animal disaster issues