Cold food & beverage industry experiences slew of personnel changes
ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS: AOAC INTERNATIONAL, Rockville, Md. Dr. Palmer Orlandi was appointed deputy executive director and chief science officer, effective Dec. 17, tasked with overseeing the AOAC Research Institute, standards development and proficiency testing. In addition, he will handle business development responsibilities, including developing strategic partnerships with the goal of advancing voluntary consensus standards setting activities and strengthening international relations. Orlandi served more than 20 years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most recently as chief science officer and research director in the Office of Food and Veterinary Medicine (FVM), where he provided strategic direction and leadership for all FDA FVM science and research programs. He has also been an officer in the Commission Corps of the Public Health Service since 1991, earning the rank of rear admiral and assistant surgeon general in 2017. Orlandi maintains an extensive background in government relations, food science and safety, regulatory affairs and public health in the federal government. He has developed rapid molecular detection methods for emerging food- and waterborne microbial pathogens for regulatory and surveillance applications and collaborative analytical methods programs for the FDA field laboratories and the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN).
American Association of Port Authorities(AAPA), Alexandria, Va. Mary Beth Long was named vice president of external affairs, where she’ll expand the association’s leadership on workforce development issues, continue to increase thought leaders’ awareness of the Western Hemisphere port industry and garner support for U.S. ports among lawmakers. Long began working at AAPA in 1999 as part of the government relations department, and has held several positions within the association since then. Prior to joining AAPA, she coordinated legislative activities at Thomson Coburn. From 1996-1998, she worked for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and before that, worked on behalf of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association. Meredith Martino was appointed vice president of member engagement, working to pursue new forms of non-dues revenue for the association, utilize more sophisticated technology applications to better facilitate member engagement with AAPA and provide thought leadership and timely content on common challenges facing the Hemisphere’s ports. Hired in 2004, Martino also got her start at AAPA in the government relations department, and has been engaged in multiple areas of the association over the past 15 years. Her previous experience includes serving as AAPA’s director of publications, digital media and technology, lobbying for the Travel Industry Association of America (now U.S. Travel) and working in the United States Senate for retired Senators Tim Johnson and John Glenn. Jean Godwin, executive vice president and general counsel, announced her intent to reduce her role in 2019, but will continue to serve as the association’s general counsel. And, the new external affairs department will be led by Susan Monteverde, vice president of government relations.