Keynote Speaker
Dr. Marvin J. Rudolph
Director of Food Science
Marv Rudolph, the innovator behind many well-known brand name products for some of the world's leading companies, is responsible for food product development at MooBella.
During his more than 35-year career, Dr. Rudolph has been associated with some of the country's leading corporations, including Pepsico, Colombo Yogurt, and Kellogg's and is an innovator behind products including Slim Fast® meal replacement beverages and nutrition bars, Ragu® pasta sauces, Adolph's® meat tenderizers and marinades, and the popular candy, Pop Rocks®. Rudolph came to MooBella from DuPont where he served as Business Development Manager for a diverse range of projects worldwide. In addition, from 2003 - 2005, he was associated with DuPont Food Industries Solutions, a start-up food and beverage-based consultancy launched by the Delaware-based firm. From 1985 - 2002, Dr. Rudolph worked with Arthur D. Little, Inc. where he served as Director of Food Product Development. During his six-year tenure at General Foods Corporation, he oversaw product development within the company's Grocery Group Development Division.
At MooBella, Dr. Rudolph has focused his efforts on optimizing and standardizing the company's proprietary "recipes" for all natural, real dairy ice cream bases and distinctive flavorings. This ensures the most consistent experience for consumers and food service operators, from one delicious scoop to the next. Dr. Rudolph is currently developing new flavors and varieties for the MooBella Ice Creamery. Dr. Rudolph, who earned both his Ph.D. and B.S. in Physical Chemistry from Drexel University in Philadelphia, holds nine U.S. patents for methods, ingredients, and technologies he developed for the food industry. He has written numerous articles, many focusing on nutrition and the use of healthy ingredients in food product development. Dr. Rudolph is also the author of Pop Rocks, The Inside Story of American's Revolutionary Candy, published by Specialty Publishers LLC in 2006.
Tech Transfer Success Story
Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries LLC, makers of Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka
C. Prentiss Orr, Jr., Co-Founder and Partner
Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries LLC was incorporated in 2006 to distill, market, and distribute a small batch vodka made exclusively from locally grown potatoes. With shipments started in 2008 and now available in 13 states and the Province of Ontario, Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka is a national competitor in the crafts spirits market, winning accolades from spirits reviewers as well as market share from coast to coast.
Prior to co-founding Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries LLC in June of 2005, C. Prentiss Orr served as Vice President of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Orr is a longtime marketing and creative advertising director with twenty years of brand building for such clients as Galliker's Dairy, Heinz, Peoples Natural Gas, and Grub & Ellis.
Technology Transfer Panel Members
Moderator: Bruce Artman, Executive Director, Development, for DSM Nutritional Products (previously Martek Biosciences)
Prior to joining DSM/Martek in 2007, Mr. Artman spent eleven years at McCormick & Co., Inc., including as Director of Research & Technology. Mr. Artman has BS degrees in Nutritional Chemistry and Food Science from Pennsylvania State University and an MS degree in Food and Nutrition Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Artman also serves on the Penn State Food Science Advisory Board and the University of Maryland Food and Nutrition Advisory Board. He is a professional member of the Institute of Food Technologies (IFT), the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS).
Peter Bordi, Center for Food Innovation, Pennsylvania State University
Associate Professor of Hospitality Management and Director of Food Innovation
Mr. Bordi holds a BS in Food Service and Housing Administration, an MS in Man Environment Relation, and a PhD in Home Economic Education all from Pennsylvania State University. In addition, he received an AOS from The Culinary Institute of America in Culinary Arts.
Vic Chavez, Technology Transfer Coordinator
USDA/ARS North Atlantic Area (NAA)
Mr. Chavez is based at the Eastern Regional Research Center in Pennsylvania. He facilitates technology transfer activities, negotiates technology transfer agreements, serves as liaison with ARS scientists and managers, university partners, and the private sector responsible for technology transfer in the research facilities in West Virginia, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Delaware and others in the northeastern US. Mr. Chavez is responsible for Technology Transfer interactions with the Bureau of Reclamation under an Interagency Agreement. He is a Member-at-Large on the Federal Laboratory Consortium Executive Board. He is also the Liaison for the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds and the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.
Jennifer Leinbach, Business Development Officer for the Innovation Transfer Network (ITN)
ITN connects businesses to faculty and students at a network of 16 institutions of higher education in Central PA to stimulate applied research, leverage innovation in the marketplace, and accelerate commercialization of technology. As the Greater Reading Keystone Innovation Zone Coordinator, she launched the first Business Idea Challenge competition for Berks County college students. Jennifer is a member of the Penn State Berks Entrepreneurship Minor Advisory Board, Berks Technical Institute Information Technology Advisory Committee, Berks Economic Partnership Alternative/Renewable Energy Committee, and the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry Technology Committee.
Alan McConnell, Food Industry Technical Specialist, PennTAP (Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, Penn State University)
Alan provides technical support to food processing companies across Pennsylvania, in all product sectors. His specialties include: food chemistry and microbiology, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) compliance, sanitation, HACCP, and product and process improvement. Prior to joining PennTAP, Alan served as Director of Food Science Services for American Westech, Inc. He holds a BS in Plant Science and a MS in Food Science, both from Pennsylvania State University.
Conference Sponsors
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