SPEAKERS
Tim Lombardo, Senior Director for Food Consulting Services, EAS Consulting Group
Mr. Tim Lombardo, Senior Director for Food Consulting Services for EAS Consulting Group is a widely regarded expert in food safety and microbiology with over 30 years of experience leading these programs in manufacturing facilities. Tim’s direct experience includes dairy, infant formula ingredients, baked goods, nuts and nut products, fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, spices, color flavors and other ingredients and many others. He is a Lead Instructor through the Food Safety and Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) in Preventive Controls for both Human and Animal Foods, Lead Instructor for the HACCP Controls Alliance, and is certified in Thermal / Aseptic Processing and Sterilization through the Better Process Control School.
Tim is an international speaker and long-time member of many food associations. He is also a decorated combat Veteran, having served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Jay Alappat, PhD, Chief Science Officer – Chemistry, Certified Group
Dr. Jay F. Alappat is an innovative analytical chemist with more than 20 years of experience in method development, validation, and implementation for food quality, safety, and sustainability. He serves as the Chief Science Officer – Chemistry at Certified Group, leading scientific strategy, technical innovation, and business growth initiatives across North America.
Dr. Alappat is internationally recognized for developing and validating advanced methods for allergen, contaminant, and nutritional analysis, including the implementation of next-generation technologies such as PCR and HPLC-MS. He has played a pivotal role in expanding laboratory capabilities, optimizing facilities, and ensuring compliance with FDA, USDA, and international regulatory standards.
Dr. Alappat holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, with postdoctoral specialization in natural products and molecular biology. He is an accomplished author of peer-reviewed research and industry guidelines and is passionate about elevating the standards of food safety, quality, and sustainability in a rapidly evolving global market.
Alex Brandt, PhD, Chief Science Officer, Certified Group
Dr. Alex Brandt is the Chief Science Officer for Microbiology for Certified Group and has been with the company for the past 12 years. In his role, Dr. Brandt is responsible for all microbiology technical services and contract research operations for the company.
His primary duties include assisting Certified Group laboratories with technical matters and validations for microbiological methods, helping laboratory customers with troubleshooting microbiological results, and providing on-site assistance for customers that are experiencing processing issues or sanitation challenges, including Listeria contamination issues.
In addition, he is in charge of all three sites that perform contract research services including shelf-life studies, challenge...
SPEAKERS
Tim Lombardo, Senior Director for Food Consulting Services, EAS Consulting Group
Mr. Tim Lombardo, Senior Director for Food Consulting Services for EAS Consulting Group is a widely regarded expert in food safety and microbiology with over 30 years of experience leading these programs in manufacturing facilities. Tim’s direct experience includes dairy, infant formula ingredients, baked goods, nuts and nut products, fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, spices, color flavors and other ingredients and many others. He is a Lead Instructor through the Food Safety and Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) in Preventive Controls for both Human and Animal Foods, Lead Instructor for the HACCP Controls Alliance, and is certified in Thermal / Aseptic Processing and Sterilization through the Better Process Control School.
Tim is an international speaker and long-time member of many food associations. He is also a decorated combat Veteran, having served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Jay Alappat, PhD, Chief Science Officer – Chemistry, Certified Group
Dr. Jay F. Alappat is an innovative analytical chemist with more than 20 years of experience in method development, validation, and implementation for food quality, safety, and sustainability. He serves as the Chief Science Officer – Chemistry at Certified Group, leading scientific strategy, technical innovation, and business growth initiatives across North America.
Dr. Alappat is internationally recognized for developing and validating advanced methods for allergen, contaminant, and nutritional analysis, including the implementation of next-generation technologies such as PCR and HPLC-MS. He has played a pivotal role in expanding laboratory capabilities, optimizing facilities, and ensuring compliance with FDA, USDA, and international regulatory standards.
Dr. Alappat holds a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, with postdoctoral specialization in natural products and molecular biology. He is an accomplished author of peer-reviewed research and industry guidelines and is passionate about elevating the standards of food safety, quality, and sustainability in a rapidly evolving global market.
Alex Brandt, PhD, Chief Science Officer, Certified Group
Dr. Alex Brandt is the Chief Science Officer for Microbiology for Certified Group and has been with the company for the past 12 years. In his role, Dr. Brandt is responsible for all microbiology technical services and contract research operations for the company.
His primary duties include assisting Certified Group laboratories with technical matters and validations for microbiological methods, helping laboratory customers with troubleshooting microbiological results, and providing on-site assistance for customers that are experiencing processing issues or sanitation challenges, including Listeria contamination issues.
In addition, he is in charge of all three sites that perform contract research services including shelf-life studies, challenge studies, process validation studies, and method validation studies. Dr. Brandt is a member of several industry organizations, serves on several industry technical panels, and has a passion for working with customers to solve their microbiological issues.
