Johnna Hepner

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Johnna Hepner

Vice President, Business Development & Partnerships, Starfish

Johnna Hepner brings over 30 years of experience in the food safety and supply chain sectors. Prior to joining Starfish, she held leadership roles at the Produce Marketing Association, Markon Cooperative Inc., and most recently at iFDS, where she continued to build strong industry relationships and champion initiatives focused on food safety and the adoption of innovative technologies in the produce industry.

A graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, Johnna also holds a B.S. in Food Science, Minor in Chemistry from California State University Fresno. Her career reflects a deep commitment to advancing food safety standards and driving digital transformation within the agricultural sector.

Sonia Salas joined Western Growers in October 2007 and currently serves as Associate Vice President of Food Safety & Regulatory Affairs. In this role, she leads the identification, development, and advancement of scientific, technical, and compliance-based food safety strategies that support Western Growers members and the broader fresh produce industry. Her work spans commodity standards, guidance and policy development, audit strategies, and industry outreach, education, and training.

Sonia also manages strategic partnerships with federal and state agencies, universities, and agricultural coalitions to strengthen collaboration and promote practical, science-based solutions. She has nearly 25 years of experience in the food industry, with deep expertise in fresh produce safety. Before joining Western Growers, Sonia worked in the private sector, managing food safety and quality systems and implementing federal and state regulatory requirements. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Zamorano University (Honduras) and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Joelle Mosso is an entrepreneurial scientist with a passion for pathogenic food microbiology, risk assessment, and working towards practical solutions for the food industry. Joelle currently is Western Growers Assoc. VP of Science Programs, working alongside growers to develop improved approaches to food safety and sustainability challenges. She has a background in Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA), building microbial testing laboratories, evaluating and designing microbial diagnostic tools/approaches, and firsthand produce experience, managing food safety for complex international supply chains. Before Western Growers, she was Sr. Director of Technical & Regulatory Affairs for the Organic Trade Association (OTA), was the chief scientific officer for the Eurofins Produce, and held food safety and business leadership roles at Earthbound Farm and Olam Spice & Vegetable Ingredients. She holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland in Microbiology with honors in Molecular Biology and a M.S. in Food Science focused on pathogenic food microbiology from the University of California, Davis. Joelle has served on numerous industry technical groups including the Center for Produce Safety Technical Committee, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Food Safety Council, USDA National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF), and the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). 

John Gurrisi is Vice President of Food Safety & Quality at Fresh Express Incorporated, a leading manufacturer and innovator of value-added fresh produce products. John has broad food safety responsibility for growing, harvesting, manufacturing, supplier management, and regulatory compliance. He leads a multi-disciplinary food safety and quality team covering the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

John holds several industry-critical food safety certifications and has contributed his technical expertise to wide-ranging industry initiatives. Among these, John currently serves as an active contributor to the Center for Produce Safety’s Technical Committee and the International Fresh Produce Association’s Food Safety Council. Prior to joining Fresh Express, John led global fresh produce food safety and quality initiatives for Darden Restaurants Inc.

Trevor Suslow, Ph.D.

Trevor Suslow, Ph.D. formed Trevor Suslow Consulting, LLC in 2021 and holds an Emeritus faculty position at UC Davis with an emphasis on preharvest to postharvest quality and safety of fresh consumed specialty crops. Trevor still devotes substantial time to Extension service and effort across the U.S. and internationally. His former full-time position at UCD included statewide responsibilities in quality and safety on diverse whole fresh and minimally processed horticultural foods from annual row crops to tree and vine commodities. Before his tenure at UCD, Trevor held a Senior Director of R&D position at DNA Plant Technology, Inc. in Berkeley, CA for 15+ years He served in a technical committee role at the Center for Produce Safety Technical Committee from its creation in 2008. He transitioned to a CPS technical advisory role to the CPS Executive Director in 2021. Trevor received the United Fresh Produce Association Technical Award in 2012 and received The Packer 25 Profiles in Leadership Award in 2014. He was named to the Food Safety News list of The Best of Food Safety in Education and honored with the National Steinbeck Center’s Valley of the World Award in Education in 2017. Trevor served as Faculty Director for the UC Postharvest Technology Center from 2016 to October 2018. Dr. Suslow was recognized by the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) with the 2018 Elmer Marth Educator Award and in 2019 the IAFP President’s Award. Most recently, he was selected as one of AFDO's The Food Safety Set: 16 People Who Have Shaped the Last 30 Years of Food Safety.

Pam Young brings an uncommon, practical voice to conversations about food safety, transportation, and accountability across the supply chain. Raised in a fresh produce family, Pam grew up immersed in the real-world pressures of moving food safely—long before it became the regulatory focus it is today. 

Her career path—spanning law, education, and food safety operations—has given her a unique ability to translate complex compliance requirements into clear, human-centered action. After earning her law degree and becoming a member of the California State Bar, Pam spent over a decade in the classroom, where she learned firsthand that structure, clarity, and accountability are what move people forward—whether they’re students, drivers, or operations teams. 

Today, Pam is the co-founder of Healthy Trailer LLC and the creator of FSMA Transportation Compliance Plans requested by shippers, carriers, and receivers nationwide. Her work focuses on one simple truth: food safety failures often come from a lack of application of proven food safety science and protocols—and wrong assumptions. 

Pam speaks to the moment where responsibility is often ignored, questions go unasked, and risk quietly enters the supply chain. 

Her message is simple but uncomfortable: ignoring risk doesn’t make it go away. And in food transportation, it only takes one overlooked detail to change everything. 

Kerry Cooper earned his doctorate from the University of Arizona studying the pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in poultry, and then he spent four years as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Arizona focused on the genomics, epidemiology and pathogenesis of the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. He conducted a second post-doctoral fellowship at the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA, where his research focused on the comparative genomics of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli.  In 2013, Dr. Cooper became an Assistant Professor at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in Northridge, CA, where his research laboratory centered on bacterial foodborne pathogens.  In 2017, Dr. Cooper moved back to the University of Arizona, where he is now an Associate Professor of Food Safety and Epidemiology in the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, and his research focuses on the genomics, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of bacterial foodborne pathogens, produce safety, and agricultural microbiomes.

Donna Clements, Produce Safety Alliance Coordinator; Senior Extension Associate, Cornell University

Donna Clements has worked with the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) since 2015, first as the Southwest Regional Extension Associate, and now as the PSA Coordinator and Northeast REA. Donna’s role with PSA is to offer training courses on the FSMA Produce Safety Rule, provide technical assistance to growers and produce safety educators, and develop resources. Donna’s specialty within the PSA has been developing resources on soil amendments and sanitizer use.

Donna's involvement in the fresh produce industry began while working on her family's fruit and vegetable farm. She has experience in produce production, harvesting, postharvest handling, and direct marketing. Donna received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Plant Science from the University of Maryland.

Oscar Galagarza is a produce safety expert with the Produce Safety Engagement Branch in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Human Foods Program. Since joining FDA in 2022, he has provided outreach and technical assistance to fresh produce growers in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and US Tribal lands helping stakeholders better understand and implement the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and other regulations affecting fresh produce. Oscar also serves on FDA's Cyclospora Task Force, where he leverages his expertise to strengthen international engagement strategies. Throughout his FDA career, Oscar has worked to bridge communication gaps on produce safety between the agency and its international and tribal partners.

Prior to joining FDA, Oscar spent two years at Purdue University conducting extension work on good agricultural practices for small-scale producers in Peru and Trinidad and Tobago. He also completed five years of research at Virginia Tech, where he evaluated the antimicrobial properties of probiotics relevant to the food industry.

Oscar holds a B.S. in Biology from Berry College, an M.S. in Applied Microbiology from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from Virginia Tech.

Jeana Cadby is the Environment and Climate Director for Western Growers, a non-profit agricultural trade association that represents family farmers growing fresh produce. She supports growers to lead the industry in sustainability and produce the freshest, safest, and most affordable fruits, nuts, and vegetables. She has her BS and MS in Plant and Soil Sciences and a PhD in Sustainable International Agricultural Development. Jeana leads Western Growers’ agronomy work to include soil health, pollinators, endangered and invasive species, packaging, streamlining technologies, and improving access to much-needed pest control tools, including novel biologicals and biopesticides. Western Growers co-leads the Sustainable Produce Packaging Alignment (SPPA), comprised of fresh produce industry members committed to developing comprehensive resources and a guide for fresh produce growers and packers, retailers, and industry stakeholders, as well as assessing current alternatives' accessibility, sustainability, functionality, and affordability for fresh produce packaging.

Wyatt Maysey has been in sustainability for over a decade now and currently serves as the Director of Sustainability at Taylor Farms, leading the management and implementation of the company’s corporate sustainability strategy. He works on an array of sustainability projects, including natural resource use, regenerative agriculture, and social accountability. Wyatt sits on several sustainability committees through associations such as IFPA, CPMA, and the Consumer Goods Forum and is proud to be an advocate on behalf of the industry. He is a firm believer that you cannot manage what you don’t measure and that a good sustainability program is built on good data. 

Email: wmaysey@taylorfarms.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyatt-maysey-0a519092/

De Ann Davis, PhD, DABT, is the Senior Vice President, Science at Western Growers Association.  Western Growers members grow, harvest, and ship over 50% of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts. Dr. Davis has more than 30 years of experience in the development and execution of technical global programs, including food safety, quality assurance,e and regulatory compliance. 

Before Western Growers, her previous roles include Vice President of Food Safety and Quality for both Church Brothers Farms and Earthbound Farm, as well as Chief Food Safety Officer for Kraft Foods Group.

Dr. Davis earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Chemistry from Point Loma Nazarene University and her PhD in Biochemistry from Texas A&M University. She was a certified Diplomat of the American Board of Toxicology from 1996 to 2021.

Dr. Davis holds several committee appointments within the produce industry and recently completed her second term on the USDA National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Food. 

Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packaging

Kevin has been the chief executive officer of Emerald Packaging since 1999. During that period, the company grew from $ 15 million to $ 100 million by focusing on flexible packaging for the produce industry. Kevin has championed sustainable packaging options through product innovation and lobbying against anti-plastics policies, while remaining a critic of industry stonewalling. He sits on the boards of the Western Plastics Association and the Flexible Packaging Association. He has been active in California packaging issues for over 25 years, most recently with the Western Growers Association. Kevin began his career as a journalist with Witness Weekly Magazine, where he worked for 10 years. He holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

Madu brings more than 10 years of experience in the strawberry industry. She began her career in strawberry processing, working with Cal Pacific and The J.M. Smucker Company, where she gained foundational experience in quality systems and production operations. She later joined the California Strawberry Commission, contributing to various field research initiatives that supported industry-wide advancements. Madu joined Gem-Pack during its startup phase as a Quality Assurance Analyst and steadily advanced through leadership roles, ultimately becoming Senior Vice President of Operations. She has spent the majority of her career at Gem-Pack, playing a central role in scaling operations, driving innovation, strengthening compliance systems, and supporting global market expansion. She has also been widely recognized for her work in exploring and implementing sustainable solutions. Her background in agriculture, combined with an MBA, enables her to integrate operational expertise with strategic business decision-making. She continues to serve on committees addressing policy and regulatory changes impacting the fresh produce sector. Madu’s background and career trajectory position her as a next-generation leader in the strawberry industry.

Becky Unwer currently serves as Vice President of Food Safety and Social Compliance for Driscoll’s. In her role, Becky provides strategic leadership across food safety, regulatory compliance, and social compliance programs. Becky brings to Driscoll’s deep expertise in building and governing compliance systems to protect consumers and brands across large-scale supply chains.

Becky’s career includes senior leadership roles at Walmart and Chipotle, where she played key roles in advancing food safety and compliance programs within highly visible, fast-paced environments. Becky also has auditing experience, having worked at PrimusLabs and spent six years with C.H. Robinson building food safety programs for grower-shippers across the Americas. Her experience working in retail, foodservice, auditing, and growing operations provides her with a unique perspective on the food safety continuum.

Becky holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Science from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Information Systems from the University of South Florida. Becky and her husband, Jonathan, currently reside in Salinas, CA.