Speakers

Dr. Bob Whitaker

Chief Science & Technology Officer, PMA

In April 2008, Dr. Bob Whitaker became the Chief Science Officer of the Produce Marketing Association (PMA). In this role Dr. Whitaker has responsibility for food safety and security, environmental sustainability and technical innovations for the produce supply chain, from field to fork.

Dr. Whitaker's real world experience in the produce industry combined with his formal education as a scientist makes him uniquely qualified to connect a food safety culture to increased ROI, through analysis of company practices from field management, operations, and all the way to the board room. He is a trained microbiologist with more than 35 years' of industry experience working with farmers, processors, transportation, and breeding programs globally and within the United States.

In 2007, Dr. Whitaker was named to the Executive Advisory Board for the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) and has taken on the role of Chairman for the CPS Research and Technology Council (2008) which oversees the solicitation and awarding of funds for research projects focused on produce food safety.

Dr. Whitaker received his Ph.D. in Biology from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1982.

Lorna Christie

Executive Vice President & COO, PMA

As Executive Vice President and COO for PMA, Lorna Christie directs the activities of PMA staff responsible for continually enhancing member value and revenue production, including membership recruitment and retention, events, product development, government relations, marketing communications, and business development.

Her 20-plus years of experience in crisis management and mitigation coupled with her understanding of business processes allows her to appropriately analyze communications programs. Her business experience gives her the ability to understand the business implications of communications techniques and strategies that allow you to build appropriate business structures to tell your story.

An accomplished industry spokesperson, Christie spent the majority of her career in Washington, D.C., as Vice President, Consumer Affairs for the Direct Marketing Association. She also served under the George H.W. Bush Administration in the Office of the Special Advisor to the President, United States Office of Consumer Affairs, where she held the position of Associate Director/Industry and International Affairs.

Elliot Olsen

Partner, Prizker Olsen, P.A.

Attorney Elliot Olsen is a partner at the Minnesota law firm of Prizker Olsen, P.A. His practice areas include products liability, medical malpractice, and foodborne illness litigation. As a recognized leader in these areas, he has taught a number of continuing legal education courses on a broad range of topics, including insurance coverage, appellate advocacy, trial advocacy, various personal injury topics, and tort reform. He has frequently been named a "Super Lawyer" by Law and Politics, a publication dedicated to promoting excellence in the legal field.

Mr. Olsen received his undergraduate degree from Carleton College and his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.