June 1-4, 2025
This was an in-person event, open to any and all food safety professionals and policy makers in local/state/federal government, industry and academic sectors.
Hotel Information
Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center
670 Verdae Boulevard
Greenville, SC 29607
Agenda
View the 2025 Annual Educational Conference agenda here.
Monday Presentations
- AFDO Update – Angela Montalbano, AFDO President
- AI and Emerging Technology Use in Environmental Health – Cameron Garrison, HS Gov Tech
- Busting Food Myths – Dr. Paul Dawson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Food, Nutrition and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University
- Microbiological Safety and Quality of Quail Eggs – Dr. Julie K. Northcutt, Ph.D., Professor and Interim Department Chair, Department of Food, Nutrition, & Packaging Sciences, Clemson University
- High-Path Avian Influenza: Current Status and Impact on Food Industry & Public Health – Dr. Julie Helm, DVM, dACVP, Poultry Programs Director, Clemson University Livestock and Poultry Health
- Developing Active Partnerships Between Regulators, Culinary Programs, and Retail Food Establishments – Joseph Bonaparte, Executive Director, International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach at Horry Georgetown Technical College
- Restaurant Traceability Resources – Kate Piche, Sr. Director, Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance, National Restaurant Association
- Choosing a Qualified Laboratory – Brad Stawick, Senior Director, Research Institute AOAC International
Tuesday Presentations
- 2024 Hurricane Season Response Challenges Panel – Joan Sims, Compliance and Response Manager, NC Dept. of Agriculture; Natalie Hobbs, Rapid Response Team Operations & Recall Coordinator, GA Dept. of Agriculture; Eyamba Sowers Scott, MSHSEM, RRT Coordinator, SC Dept. of Agriculture; Jessica Silver, Environmental Health Administrator, Buncombe County Health & Human Services
- Food Safety and Quality Considerations for Freeze Dried Food Products – Dr. Alexis Hamilton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech
- Thermal Processing Fundamentals – Dr. Scott Whiteside, Ph.D., Professor, Food, Nutrition & Packaging Sciences Department, Clemson University
- Mushrooms in the Food System: How Do We Approach a Food That Most of Us Don’t Understand? – Ernie Wheeler, Founder of The Fungal Network Mushroom Farm and Mycology Lab
- AFDO Metrics Presentation – Steve Mandernach, Executive Director, AFDO
- From Compliance to Culture: Enhancing Food Safety in the Industry – Francine L. Shaw and Matt Regusci, Co-Hosts, Don’t Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast
- Design and Evaluation of Cold Fill Hold Process Applications for Acidified Foods – Melissa Wright, Associate Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech Dept. of Food Science and Technology
Wednesday Presentations
- Understanding Hot and Cold Smoked Fish Processing and Safety – Eugene Evans, CFP, Supervising Food Inspector, New York State Dept of Agriculture and Markets
- Budgetary Impacts Roundtable: Standing Strong in Lean Times – Moderated Open Discussion
- HPAI H5N1 in Dairy Cattle: Lasting Impacts? – Dr. Jamie Jonker, Ph. D., Chief Science Officer, National Milk Producers Federation
Continuing Education
The 2025 AFDOSS AEC was granted Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) through NEHA. Attendees were eligible for 17.5 CEU contact hours. Forms to claim CEUs were available at the registration desk for conference attendees
Conference registration is NOW OPEN, and is available via our membership platform, Wild Apricot. To register, please click this link – REGISTER HERE.
Please ensure your membership status for 2024 is up to date before registering. This will ensure you can register at the Regular Member Conference Rate.
Live Auction
Our 2025 Live Auction benefitting the Mary Logan Scholarship was able to raise $10,000 in winning bids and generous contributions!
A very special Thank You! to all who supported the scholarship fund; either by donating an item for auction, placing bids, or simply pledging a donation to the fund. Your generosity was vital to the overwhelming success of the auction!
Sponsors and Exhibitors
THANK YOU! to our 2025 AEC Sponsors:
And a HUGE THANK YOU! to AFDO. Their continued support to our association is integral to our success! Please check out their website and see the important work they are doing. Become a member of AFDO to gain access to even more benefits and resources.