The Food Factory of the Future: Session Panelists / Speakers
Keynote Speakers
- Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State
- Mike Foley, Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska
- Dan Curran, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
Featured speakers/panelists for the workshop include the following (as of May 5):
Charles Alpuche, Independent Consultant, ALPS Consulting, LLC: Alpuche was with PepsiCo for 30 years, most recently as the Senior Vice President of Supply Chains Operations of North American Beverages from October 2005 until February 2012. Since joining PepsiCo in February of 1982, Mr. Alpuche has held numerous roles in Field and Headquarter Operations, most notable, positions of Vice President of Concentrate Operations, Manager of Operations Training, Director of Process Improvement, and Production and Plant Operations Manager. He has extensive experience in starting up supply chains in emerging markets, working with global company owned and franchise bottlers, product partnering, developing package innovation, and working with categories including sodas, juices, energy drinks, sports drinks and even squeezable applesauce. He is currently an independent consultant with ALPS Consulting, a firm he has headed since February 2012.. Mr. Alpuche received his Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration and Management from Deleware Valley College and his Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Stephan Baenziger, Professor and Nebraska Wheat Growers Presidential Chair, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Tracy Baker, Vice President of Innovation - Mattson
Dean Bartles, DMDII
Nick Brozovic, Director of Policy, Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska
Jim Costa, Managing Director, SSBA China Engineering and Project Management; Former VP PepsiCo/Berkshire Global Principal/SSBA China MD: Costa is a 30-year veteran of PepsiCo and has worked in Domestic and Int’l Operations, where he has served as Director of Operations Pepsi International Central Europe, Vice President of Supply Chain PepsiAmericas, Vice President of Operations Russia Pepsi Beverages International, Vice President of Operations Central States and Caribbean PepsiAmericas, and various other corporate, field related roles. He has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Bentley College, an MBA in Finance from Pepperdine University, and a Certificate in Logistics, Supply Chain from Michigan State University. Most recently, Jim oversaw the Global Capital, Maintenance, Repair and Operations, Marketing Equipment, and International Procurement Center China for PepsiCo worldwide. Currently Jim is serving on several advisory boards working in a assortment of areas ranging from Foods, Beverages, Equity Investors, and International start ups. Post PepsiCo, Jim established Berkshire to do various consulting works for operations and selected private equity groups. Following this Jim, along with his partners in China established a engineering services group in Shanghai, and now Beijing, to focus on Consumer Goods, Food and Beverage Industrial infrastructure. Jim continues to be active with USPAACC, a American Asian minority business group, Engineers without Borders, and the CSCMP, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.
Theresa Kotanchek, Evolved Analytics LLC
Mike McCarthy, University of California Davis
Brad Morgan, President of the American Meat Science Association, Sr. Director of Protein for the Performance Food Group
Jim Prunesti, Campbell Soup Company
Mike Robach, Cargill
Craig Weiss, VP Supply Chain Planning, Programs & Logistics - ConAgra Foods
Mary Wondolowski, owner of OpsUnleashed: Wondolowski has extensive experience in leading food manufacturing organizations. Over more than 30 years, she held roles at Quaker Oats/PepsiCo in supply chain functions, supply chain strategy and marketing including VP Supply Chain roles leading production plants across North America. For the past 6 years, she was Sr. VP Supply Chain and Retail BU Leader at World's Finest Chocolate. From 2012-2015 she served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Manufacturers Association. She has a BS degree in Fermentation Science from The University of California, Davis and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Mary is now the owner of OpsUnleashed, a consulting company focused on operational improvements, productivity gains and employee engagement.
Charles Alpuche, Independent Consultant, ALPS Consulting, LLC: Alpuche was with PepsiCo for 30 years, most recently as the Senior Vice President of Supply Chains Operations of North American Beverages from October 2005 until February 2012. Since joining PepsiCo in February of 1982, Mr. Alpuche has held numerous roles in Field and Headquarter Operations, most notable, positions of Vice President of Concentrate Operations, Manager of Operations Training, Director of Process Improvement, and Production and Plant Operations Manager. He has extensive experience in starting up supply chains in emerging markets, working with global company owned and franchise bottlers, product partnering, developing package innovation, and working with categories including sodas, juices, energy drinks, sports drinks and even squeezable applesauce. He is currently an independent consultant with ALPS Consulting, a firm he has headed since February 2012.. Mr. Alpuche received his Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration and Management from Deleware Valley College and his Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Stephan Baenziger, Professor and Nebraska Wheat Growers Presidential Chair, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Tracy Baker, Vice President of Innovation - Mattson
Dean Bartles, DMDII
Nick Brozovic, Director of Policy, Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska
Jim Costa, Managing Director, SSBA China Engineering and Project Management; Former VP PepsiCo/Berkshire Global Principal/SSBA China MD: Costa is a 30-year veteran of PepsiCo and has worked in Domestic and Int’l Operations, where he has served as Director of Operations Pepsi International Central Europe, Vice President of Supply Chain PepsiAmericas, Vice President of Operations Russia Pepsi Beverages International, Vice President of Operations Central States and Caribbean PepsiAmericas, and various other corporate, field related roles. He has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Bentley College, an MBA in Finance from Pepperdine University, and a Certificate in Logistics, Supply Chain from Michigan State University. Most recently, Jim oversaw the Global Capital, Maintenance, Repair and Operations, Marketing Equipment, and International Procurement Center China for PepsiCo worldwide. Currently Jim is serving on several advisory boards working in a assortment of areas ranging from Foods, Beverages, Equity Investors, and International start ups. Post PepsiCo, Jim established Berkshire to do various consulting works for operations and selected private equity groups. Following this Jim, along with his partners in China established a engineering services group in Shanghai, and now Beijing, to focus on Consumer Goods, Food and Beverage Industrial infrastructure. Jim continues to be active with USPAACC, a American Asian minority business group, Engineers without Borders, and the CSCMP, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.
Theresa Kotanchek, Evolved Analytics LLC
Mike McCarthy, University of California Davis
Brad Morgan, President of the American Meat Science Association, Sr. Director of Protein for the Performance Food Group
Jim Prunesti, Campbell Soup Company
Mike Robach, Cargill
Craig Weiss, VP Supply Chain Planning, Programs & Logistics - ConAgra Foods
Mary Wondolowski, owner of OpsUnleashed: Wondolowski has extensive experience in leading food manufacturing organizations. Over more than 30 years, she held roles at Quaker Oats/PepsiCo in supply chain functions, supply chain strategy and marketing including VP Supply Chain roles leading production plants across North America. For the past 6 years, she was Sr. VP Supply Chain and Retail BU Leader at World's Finest Chocolate. From 2012-2015 she served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Manufacturers Association. She has a BS degree in Fermentation Science from The University of California, Davis and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Mary is now the owner of OpsUnleashed, a consulting company focused on operational improvements, productivity gains and employee engagement.