Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Publications
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Timeline
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Beth A. Riffe

Palmetto

Summary

Experienced food safety and quality assurance professional with strong background in ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. Skilled in leading teams, implementing quality control processes, and driving continuous improvement in production environments. Known for reliability, adaptability, and results-focused approach to managing dynamic operational needs. Proven ability to foster collaboration, enhance efficiency, and maintain high standards in all aspects of food safety and quality assurance.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

Director of Regulatory Affairs

Boar's Head Provisions
05.2021 - Current
  • Responsible for leading the Regulatory, Corporate Laboratory, and Customer Service Departments for the organization, including 5 processing plants, 2 distribution centers and a large network of co-manufacturers.
  • Serve as a technical resource to FSQA teams supporting both manufacturing and co-manufacturing areas of the business.
  • Manage team responsible for review and approval of all product labeling, both for in-house manufactured and co-manufactured products, including reviews of point-of-purchase and other marketing material. Working closely with Marketing, Procurement, Operations and R&D teams to develop, review and approve labeling content and format and maintain supporting documentation, including USDA FSIS label approvals
  • Lead the Corporate Laboratory team responsible for conducting product microbiological and chemical testing. This includes product and environmental testing to monitor product safety, as well as shelf life and nutritional testing.
  • Responsible for staying up-to-date on relevant federal, state and local regulations and providing guidance to both internal and external stakeholders to ensure continued compliance
  • Serve as a liaison with external customers, including large retail partners, to provide product documentation, as well as required food safety and regulatory information

Vice President of Technical Services / R&D Manager

Michigan Turkey Producers
10.2012 - 05.2021
  • Oversaw the Quality Assurance and Research & Development Departments for turkey harvesting and deboning operations, as well as processing at two USDA establishments. Key responsibilities included:
  • Developing and managing food safety and quality systems, including HACCP and SSOP plans
  • Directing efforts to schedule, prepare for, and handle farm and plant audits, including Animal Welfare Audits, 3rd Party Food Safety and GMP Audits, and customer audits
  • Ensuring compliance with applicable FDA and USDA regulations
  • Responding to USDA requests and managing plant relationship with USDA inspection staff
  • Conducting new equipment testing and qualification
  • Troubleshooting and analyzing root cause of product and processing issues
  • Directing product formulation and specification development activities
  • Generating product labels and procuring USDA label approvals
  • Testing and qualifying all new ingredients and packaging materials
  • Coordinating project implementation activities among various departments, including Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality Assurance, Safety, Sanitation, and Shipping.

Director of Technical Services and R&D

Kent Quality Foods
11.2019 - 10.2020
  • Headed up the Quality Assurance and Research & Development Departments at two separate hot dog and sausage processing plants, with responsibility for:
  • HACCP and SSOP plans at both facilities
  • Investigating and responding to customer complaints
  • Ensuring compliance with USDA regulations, as well as customer food safety requirements and quality specifications
  • Following up on process deviations to determine root cause of failures and ensure that effective corrective action and preventive measures are identified and implemented in a timely manner
  • Developing and maintaining programs to support SQF certification requirements
  • Supporting new product launch, including product labeling development and approval, product specifications, and product formulation support
  • Developing and implementing a paperless quality compliance system utilizing Redzone digital production software

Education

Juris Doctor - Law

Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Grand Rapids, MI

Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering

Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN

Skills

  • Product Development
  • Food Safety
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • HACCP and Prerequisite Programs
  • Process Monitoring
  • Product Labeling & Nutrition
  • Process Improvement
  • GFSI Compliance – SQF and BRC
  • Food Defense
  • Animal Welfare Standards

Publications

The Aftermath of Melendez: Highlighting the Need for Accreditation-Based Rules of Admissibility for Forensic Evidence, 27 T.M. COOLEY L. REV. 165 (2010)

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

Practiced law for one year prior to returning to the food industry, including serving as a Research Attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals and representing clients in divorce, child custody, and other family law matters while employed as an associate attorney at Kenneth T. Saukas, P.C.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), HACCP and PCQI Certification, Conference for Food Protection, North American Meat Institute, National Turkey Federation

Timeline

Director of Regulatory Affairs

Boar's Head Provisions
05.2021 - Current

Director of Technical Services and R&D

Kent Quality Foods
11.2019 - 10.2020

Vice President of Technical Services / R&D Manager

Michigan Turkey Producers
10.2012 - 05.2021

Juris Doctor - Law

Thomas M. Cooley Law School

Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering

Purdue University

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