MARÍA TERESA VIANA

UABC

Graduated in Biology at UNAM (Facultad de Ciencias, Ciudad Universitaria) in 1982. D. in science from the University of Tromso, Norway (1989). She is a researcher at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Full-time Researcher "C") since 1990.

It has a commercial extrusion pilot laboratory (LINDEAACUA) to develop formulated foods, with EXTRUTECH equipment. This laboratory is unique in its kind and there is no other like it in Latin America.

During the last few years, apart from research, it has been dedicated to providing services to industry and national and international universities.

DALILA AGUILAR

CFS DRESEN

Dalila Aguilar, rendering plant technician at CFS DRESEN. She has 13 years of experience in rendering plants.

She has developed sanitization standard operating procedures, process, collaborating in continuous improvement, conducting audits and strengthening the development of documentation and field performance plant.

Also she has tested the use of bactericide in raw materials for preservation.

CARLOS BACAL

KEMIN

Carlos has a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires and a Master's degree in Food Technology. He later obtained a degree in Flavor Engineering from Firmenich, Geneva-Switzerland.

Responsible for creations in Firmenich Argentina for the region, and developed for Willmor S.A. of Argentina its line of flavorings for pets. Since 2001 he has been the Technical Services Manager of Kemin Nutrisurance Inc. for Latin America.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Argentine Chamber of Animal Nutrition and led its Additives Commission. He has participated in numerous congresses and meetings in the area of livestock by-products and pet food.

SERGI VIDAL RODRÍGUEZ

HAARSLEV

Area Sales Manager. 

Degree in Industrial Technologies Engineering in Barcelona, with a Master in Industrial Engineering specialized in Mechanics. More than 3 years of experience as Project Manager in Haarslev, managing projects in Spain, Portugal and Saudi Arabia.

Currently working as Sales Area Manager in the Central American market. Previously he has also worked in the automotive sector and during his university years he led a solidarity project in Morocco.

JOAN ANTONI VIDAL

HAARSLEV

Senior Sales Manager. 

More than 20 years in the rendering industry working in different positions. During the last 14 years in HAARSLEV, starting his career as Project Manager managing mainly projects in Mexico, Spain and Portugal and dedicating the last 7 years as Area Sales Manager to manage the Spanish and Portuguese market.

Previously he held positions as Maintenance Manager and later as Plant Manager in two factories in the northeast of Spain. His professional beginnings started in a family business dedicated to the execution of installations and industrial maintenance, working in different sectors such as the food sector, the chemical sector and the pharmaceutical sector.

CHARLES STARKEY

NARA

Charles Starkey, Ph.D., is NARA’s Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs. In this role, Dr. Starkey also acts as Director of Research for the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), the rendering industry’s research organization.  

The position of Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs serves as an advisor to the North American rendering industry on science, animal disease, and feed safety issues, and oversees all animal food safety research, training, and policy. The FPRF Research Director leads all research efforts for the foundation, assists FPRF members, and plays an active role in FPRF funded research programs.

POUL SIMONSEN

FOSS

Global Meat Industry Manager, FOSS 

Poul Erik Simonsen started at FOSS in 2002 and has during the years always been involved in developing FOSS’s business and position in the meat industry.

During his career at FOSS he has taken part in securing that FOSS has developed analytical solutions which today are recognized globally for their leading performance and where the well-known FoodScan 2 and MeatMaster II are examples. 

In recent years Poul Erik Simonsen has been one of the drivers at FOSS in developing and improving the analytical solutions, that FOSS offers to the rendering industry, both for in-line analysis and for laboratory use.

ADRIÁN GUTIÉRREZ

DUPPS

Adrián Gutiérrez holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Management from Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Querétaro and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Universidad Anáhuac Campus Querétaro. He has more than 18 years of experience in the industry and almost 9 years in The Dupps Company and the Rendering Industry. 

He has been involved in many aspects of project management, technical service and sales. His current responsibilities within the company as responsible for Sales and Customer Service Mexico and LATAM; The Dupps Company are: customer service, including technical visits and advice in Mexico and Latin America, as well as sales of spare parts, equipment and complete lines for all rendering plant needs.

JUAN RUANO ORTIZ Ph.D

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, NUTREO

Guatemalan, graduated in Food Agroindustry from the Escuela Agrícola Panamericana "Zamorano" (Honduras) in 2005 with a scholarship granted by the Nippon Foundation (Japan).

She worked under the Industrial Technical Development modality at the Laboratory of Thermoplastic Extrusion and Cereal Processing of Embrapa Agroindustria de Alimentos until starting her doctoral studies with a scholarship granted by Embrapa Instrumentación Agropecuaria together with the National Network of Nanobiotechnology.

He is currently responsible for the Design, Innovation and Development of new food products at Nutreo.

JESÚS YATACO

OESTERGAARD

Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria (Peru), Master's degree in Project Management from the Universidad ESAN and PMP certification from the Project Management Institute.

More than 12 years' experience in the processing sector (meat and fish).

He currently works as Area Sales Manager for the Mexican market, having previously been Project Manager for rendering projects and participated in the start-up of rendering process equipment in Latin American countries.

JAVIER LEÓN

CONAFAB

Executive Director of the National Council of Feed and Animal Nutrition Manufacturers (Conafab).

Originally from Mexico City, he graduated from the Faculty of Economics at UNAM. He worked in teaching and research support within the UNAM combining activities with journalism. Subsequently, he continues as an independent professional in the area of editorial economic analysis, collaborating with the edition of supplements for various national print media.

In 2004, he became a member of Conafab, where he was in charge of the executive management and coordination of the Pet, Aquaculture and Premixes sections.

RICK GEISE

DARLING INGREDIENTS

Rick Geise is the Director of Compliance & Business Development for Nature Safe Fertilizers, the organic fertilizer division of Darling Ingredients. In addition to Organic Agriculture sales, Rick is responsible for all national account and turf fertilizer sales, regulatory/compliance as well as product development and new market development initiatives for Nature Safe Fertilizers.

Rick currently serves on the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) Board of Directors where he is the Treasurer and Chairs the Finance and Personnel Committees. He is also a Founding Board Member of Come Alive Outside, a non-profit organization connected to the Green Industry that advocates outdoor engagement and investment.