Shows
That's A Food Job!Exploring Opportunities in Food Science with Prairva (Summer) Plepalakon, UC Davis Food Science and Technology Graduate (#112)Prairva Plepalakon, also known as "Summer," is a recent Food Science and Technology graduate from the University of California, Davis, one of the most respected food science programs in the world. UC Davis has a big reputation in food science, pairing strong academic programs with deep industry and research networks. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Summer shares what it's like to study food science at UC Davis and reflects on the co-op positions she's taken on (including one with a company making protein from air). We talk about her advice for students who want to...
2025-08-2146 min
That's A Food Job!Supporting People and Culture in Ag with Leslie Nienkark, HR Business Partner at KWS Group (#111) Leslie Nienkark is an HR Business Partner at KWS Group, one of the world's leading plant breeding companies. KWS specializes in breeding and selling seed for crops like corn, sugar beet, cereals, rapeseed, sunflowers, and vegetables. Although Leslie hasn't spent her entire career in agriculture, her HR experience spans a variety of industries including media, software, architecture, and retail. This gives her a broad and insightful perspective on workplace culture. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Leslie shares what it's like to work in human resources within the agricultural sector and explains the role HR...
2025-07-2448 min
That's A Food Job!Inside Food Product Development with Louisa Bachman, Food Scientist at KIND Snacks (#110) Louisa Bachman is a Food Scientist at KIND Snacks. KIND offers a range of products, including nut and fruit bars, breakfast bars, granola clusters, and refrigerated nut butter bars. Before joining KIND however, Louisa earned her Food Science degree at UMass Amherst, where she both led their school's Food Science Club and Alpine Skiing club. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Louisa shares what it's really like to work in product development, walking us through how a concept turns into a product on the shelf. She breaks down the role of flavor iteration, sensory testing, a...
2025-07-1054 min
That's A Food Job!Inside Food Safety Leadership with Marin Pavlic, Director of QA Programs & Compliance at Sofina Food (#109)Marin Pavlic is the Senior Director of QA Programs & Compliance at Sofina Foods and the current President of the Ontario Food Protection Association (OFPA). With over 15 years of experience in food manufacturing, Marin brings a deep understanding of food safety, team leadership, and regulatory compliance to his work—along with a strong belief in the power of networking and continuous improvement. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Marin shares how he built his career by learning to trust the expertise of his team, learning adjacent skills and networking within the industry. He discusses the importance of...
2025-06-1652 min
That's A Food Job!Building AI for Food Scientists with Thomas Hayes, Co-Founder at Agilitas (#108)Thomas Hayes is the co-founder of Agilitas, a company building AI-powered tools to help food scientists formulate faster, smarter, and with more confidence. By transforming messy spreadsheets into an intelligent platform, Agilitas is tackling the "cold start" problem in food R&D and making it easier for teams to benchmark products, create base formulas, and retain critical institutional knowledge. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Tommy shares his unconventional path from chemical engineering to food tech founder. He talks about building a customer-first platform, the power of feedback loops in product development, and how AI...
2025-05-2352 min
That's A Food Job!The future of CPG packaging with Tyler de Sousa, Co-Founder at Circulr (#107) Tyler De Sousa is the co-founder of Circulr, a company helping Consumer Packaged Goods brands close the loop on their glass packaging through reuse. By managing the logistics of sourcing, collecting, and redistributing reusable containers, Circulr is making it easier for businesses and consumers to reduce waste and support a circular economy. In this episode of That's a Food Job!, Tyler shares how a small pilot project turned into a growing social enterprise. He talks about the challenges of changing consumer behavior, the importance of industry collaboration, and how technology is helping scale systems of reuse. We...
2025-05-0346 min
That's A Food Job!Turning a food science degree into a sales career with Felicia Sia, account manager at Dempsey Corporation (#106) Felicia Sia is an Account Manager at Dempsey Corporation, a Canadian ingredient distributor specializing in innovative and technical ingredients. With a background in food science from the University of Guelph, her career has spanned multiple roles, including product development, technical sales and directing a cooking school for kids. In this episode, she shares insights into the world of ingredient sales, discussing what it takes to succeed as an account manager in the food industry. She explores the importance of active listening, building strong client relationships, and the key skills that set great sales professionals apart. Felicia also...
2025-03-2747 min
That's A Food Job!Building relationships: The art of sales in the food equipment industry with National Business Development & Sales Manager, Rafal Rusiniak at Handtmann Canada Limited(#105)Rafal Rusiniak is the National Business Development & Sales Manager at Handtmann Canada Limited, a company specializing in food processing equipment solutions. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Rafal's journey into sales was unexpected—he originally pursued a degree in engineering before discovering his passion for sales and business development. In this episode, Rafal takes us inside the world of food processing equipment sales, sharing insights on building relationships with clients, the structured approach to sales training, and the process behind purchasing large-scale food manufacturing equipment. We also dive into the skills that make a great sa...
2025-03-1351 min
That's A Food Job!Implementing lean manufacturing in food production with COO, Brian Allaway at Made with Local (#104)Brian Allaway is the COO of Made With Local, a company known for its commitment to real food, community connections, and sustainable business practices. With 16 years of experience leading teams in food manufacturing, Brian specializes in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and quality management. In this episode, Brian takes us inside the world of small-scale food manufacturing, sharing insights on building strong teams, fostering a culture where mistakes fuel growth, and the power of lean tools like Kanban (not KanBan, as you'll hear!). We also dive into the future of food manufacturing, including the skills needed to transform the industry and...
2025-02-2344 min
That's A Food Job!Building a Sustainable Food Future with Sustinability Manager, Berklee Welsh at Simple Mills (#103)Berklee Welsh is the Associate Sustainability Manager at Simple Mills, a company on a mission to make healthy choices easy through their line of snacks, crackers, cookies, and baking mixes using whole food ingredients. In this episode, she takes us behind the scenes of ingredient sourcing at Simple Mills and reveals how the Almond Project is uniting farmers, businesses, and experts to create a more sustainable food future. *** Berklee's Website/ LinkedIn Simple Mills' Website/ LinkedIn/ Instagram/ YouTube *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → # 99 - Joseph Lyons - Enviro...
2025-02-0552 min
That's A Food Job!Preventing Listeria Outbreaks with science and entrepreneurship with Laurent Dallaire, CEO and Co-founder of Innodal Laurent Dallaire is the CEO and co-founder of Innodal, a company dedicated to developing and producing for various sectors and offers innovative solutions to inhibit microbiological pathogens. With a background in biotechnological engineering from the University of Sherbrooke and a master's degree in food science from Laval University as part of the METABIOLAC industrial chair, Laurent combines technical expertise with entrepreneurial vision. Following his academic journey, he founded Innodal to address food safety challenges with innovative, science-backed solutions. His work focuses on bridging the gap between academic research and practical applications in the food industry, helping manufacturers...
2024-12-1848 min
That's A Food Job!Turning insights into actionable strategies with Matt Thell, Global Strategy & Innovation Leader at General Mills Inc. (#101) Matt Thell is a Global Strategy & Innovation Leader at General Mills Inc. General Mills Inc. is the creator of iconic brands like Cheerios, Pillsbury and Häagen-Dazs. Matt is a member of an internal consultancy team that helps teams within his organization tackle challenges and seize opportunities. His career journey spans over two decades, beginning with product development roles for beloved snacks like Chex Mix and Gardettos and evolving into strategic roles that focus on front-end innovation. 🔍 Episode Highlights: Matt shares insights into his role as a strategic consultant within General Mills How Matt uses the I3 process to s...
2024-10-3046 min
That's A Food Job!Serving up 100 episodes: Our Story of Growth and Inspiration with Sydney Mohr and Nicole Gallace (#100) This podcast marks the 100th episode of the FoodGrads Podcast! The podcast began in September 2020 and since then we have produced 100 episodes! The success this show has had and continues to build is all because of YOU. You listening, supporting, and sharing the show. We thank you for the support. To celebrate this achievement we are re-branding the the podcast to That's a Food Job! We wanted a fresh new look (and name) for the podcast. We're here to celebrate food industry professionals and proudly say—That's a Food Job! ...
2024-10-021h 14
That's A Food Job!Environmental Operations Coordinator at Susgrainable - Joseph Lyons (#99)Joesph Lyons is the Environmental Operations Coordinator for Susgrainable. Susgrainable has a bold mission to create a world where food waste and diabetes are a thing of the past. Right now they are producing a variety of baking mixes but they are looking to expand in the future. Joseph with Honours from The University of British Columbia with a BCom specialized in Global Supply Chain & Logistics Management. Joesph is fairly new out of graduation but he has done a lot since he started at Susgrainable. In just 9 months he has helped build tools to track stock, built relationships with industry...
2024-09-3049 min
That's A Food Job!Adapting to Change in Food Engineering and Navigating Industry Shifts with Associate Professor Seamus Higgins | Ep. 97What does it take to shape the future of food production and drive sustainability in the industry? Seamus Higgins, Associate Professor and Course Director for Food Process Engineering at the University of Nottingham, shares his journey from electrical engineer to food process expert—and how he's inspiring the next generation of engineers. Seamus began his career as an electrical engineer in the food industry and has worked with leading international food companies including Tongaat Hewlett, Nestle, and Premier Foods. He has held lead project and senior management roles in factory development, food process engineering, and new product de...
2024-09-2755 min
That's A Food Job!How to advocate for Ontario's 28,000 Grain Farmers as a Market Development & Sustainability Manager with Dana Dickerson | Ep. 97 What does it take to represent 28,000 farmers and promote Ontario grains to the world? Dana Dickerson, Market Development and Sustainability Manager at Grain Farmers of Ontario, shares how she builds markets, fosters global relationships, and drives sustainability in agriculture. In this episode, you'll learn: Surprising facts about Ontario grain production The tech transforming modern agriculture How Dana's career journey proves there's more to agriculture than farming Show Notes Dana's / LinkedIn / Twitter / Instagram Grain Farmers of Ontario / Website / LinkedIn / Twitter TIMESTAMPS (0:00) Introduction (2:09) What Dana does (2:39) Facts abo...
2024-09-2551 min
That's A Food Job!What Being a Food Science PhD is Really Like with AJ Taylor, Ph.D. is a Scientist II, Innovation at McCormick FONA | Ep. 96 AJ Taylor, Ph.D. is a Scientist II, Innovation at McCormick FONA who recently graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign with a Ph.D. in food science where his research focused on understanding the physiochemical and microbiological aspects of cocoa bean fermentation. This research is looking at ways to understand how microbes affect the quality and flavour profile of the resulting chocolate. Obtaining a Ph.D. was a rewarding but challenging experience for AJ. In addition to his research AJ acted as a graduate teaching assistant who helped to teach food science to students. ...
2024-09-2248 min
That's A Food Job!Innovations in Food Safety: Cold Plasma Science with Brendan Niemira,PhD, Lead Scientist at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service | Ep. 95 Brendan Niemira, PhD is a Lead Scientist with the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. He leads a team of 30+ scientists, engineers, technicians, postdocs, and students in Wyndmoor, PA., developing tools to kill human pathogens on produce, meats, poultry, shellfish, and other foods. However, his focus and passion are developing and validating cold plasma, high-intensity monochromatic light, irradiation, and other nonthermal food safety treatments for fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. Dr. Niemira has published over 180 peer-reviewed research articles, book chapters, and critical reviews. He is the co-editor and author of a well-regarded reference text and holds two patents.
2024-09-0457 min
That's A Food Job!Navigating a career in food product development with Michael Sharp, Director of Research and Analytics at the Heartland Food Products Group | Ep. 94Michael Sharp is the director of research and analytics at the Heartland Food Products Group. The Heartland Food Products Group is a global leader in making low-calorie sweeteners and liquid water enhancers. It is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and makes Splenda Sweeteners. Michael has over 13 years of experience in research and development, leading new products from concept to commercialization. He graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor's degree in food science and a master's degree from Ohio State University. 🔍 Episode Highlights: • What a Research and Development Director does • The different kinds of R&D ro...
2024-08-0752 min
That's A Food Job!Shaping Food Safety Policy with Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., Founder of Food Safety Strategy | Ep. 93Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., founder of Food Safety Strategy and former Chief Food Safety & Regulatory Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association. She is a food microbiologist by background and has worked in the Washington, DC, area for over 20 years, bringing the scientific perspective to food safety leadership positions within the grocery manufacturers association. She held previous food safety leadership positions with the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Institute of Food Technologists, where she led the FDA FSMA traceability pilots. 🔍 Episode Highlights: Jennifer's food safety career journey Skills that are important for food safety professionals Safety con...
2024-07-2546 min
That's A Food Job!Solving R&D problems with Davis Jaeger, R&D Leader, Culinary Expert and Food Scientist | Ep. 92Davis Jaeger is a R&D Leader, Culinary Expert and Food Scientist. He has had a winding career path up until this point. Davis began working in the hospitality industry at the young age of 14, starting as a busboy. However, his career took a turn when he transitioned to the kitchen after one of the chefs resigned and another chef invited him to join the kitchen staff. That's how he ended up in the culinary science program at Clemson University. Since then, his passion for food science has only grown, and he has not regretted his decision for a...
2024-07-1756 min
That's A Food Job!Find your "why" in your career with Surria Fadel, Co-Founder of Cedar Valley | Ep. 90 On today's episode we are talking about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, what's it like working in a small business and finding your "why". Surria Fadel, is the Co-Founder of Cedar Valley Selections. Cedar Valley Selections is not your average pita chip company. They are creating high-quality authentic pita chips in a variety of different flavours. Surria graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and has spent several years in the fitness industry in many roles including being a Personal Trainer, Coach, Fitness Instructor, and Pain Management Therapist. She started Cedar Valley Selections with...
2024-06-2151 min
That's A Food Job!Kickstarting your food safety career with Tania, Co-Founder and Director of Assured Food Safety Consulting | Ep. 89On today's episode, we discuss food safety consulting, essential skills for food safety professionals, and how volunteering can help you network. Tania is the Co-Founder and Director of Assured Food Safety Consulting. She is here to offer guidance on navigating the world of food safety careers. Tania has a Master's degree in food science and is a proud Centennial College Biotechnology alumni. She has worked in food safety within the government and the food industry. Tania is passionate about giving back to the student community and helping companies improve their food safety. Timestamps (0:00...
2024-06-0557 min
That's A Food Job!Communicating Canadian food sector innovation and growth with Jamil Karim, Director of Communications at the Canadian Food Innovation Network | Ep. 87 On today's episode we are talking about the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), CFIN's career resource library, Jamil's career story and cool innovation happening in Canada. Our guest today is Jamil Karim, Director of Communications for CFIN. CFIN helps to fund transformative foodtech projects, stimulate collaboration, and foster a growing community of food and beverage professionals. They connect the Canadian food and beverage ecosystem to new ideas, opportunities, and technologies to increase collaboration and position Canada as a global leader in food innovation. Jamil Karim combines more than a...
2024-04-0356 min
That's A Food Job!Spilling the tea with William (Billy) Dietz, Co-Founder and Consultant at BDH Consultants and Author | Ep. 88On today's episode we are talking about buliding a career journey into the tea industry, the differences about blended and single orgin teas, fostering a sense of continuous learning and problem-solving techniques which are pivotal for his consulting pursuits in the tea industry and advice for those looking to go into the tea industry. Our guest today is William (Billy) Dietz, author or the book Spill the Tea. Billy has been in love with the tea industry since he first discovered the health benefits of tea back in high school. Billy has over 15 years of career knowledge. W...
2024-03-2054 min
That's A Food Job!Unwrapping the world of food packaging with Karen Aranha, Innovation & Commercialization Project Manager at The Hershey Company | Ep. 85On today's episode, we discuss the fields of packaging and project management, lessons learned in managing teams, and the importance of staying curious. Our guest is Karen Aranha, Innovation & Commercialization Project Manager at The Hershey Company. Karen graduated with a Bachelors's Degree from the University of Mumbai in Packaging and Printing Technology. After gaining some experience in the field she obtained a Master's Degree in Packaging Science from Rochester Institute of Technology. After graduating, she worked for the Packaging Corporation of America as a packaging engineer, developing and executing merchandising displays and corrugated packaging. Her responsibilities included...
2024-01-3154 min
That's A Food Job!A deep dive into food inspections and graduate studies with Mariia Melnichuk, Food Processing Specialist Inspector at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency | Ep. 84On today's episode we are talking about the ins and outs of food inspections, the art of communication in the workplace and balancing work a master's program. Our guest today is Mariia Melnychuk, Food Processing Specialist Inspector at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and MSc. student for Food Safety & Quality Assurance at University of Guelph. The CFIA is a key science-based federal regulator of food, animals and plants. The CFIA is committed to enhancing the safety of food produced and sold in, or imported into, Canada, contributing to the health of animals and protecting the plant resource base.
2024-01-1746 min
That's A Food Job!Growing food entrepreneurship in Canada with Mike McNeil, Vice President of Operations at Venturepark Labs | Ep. 83On today's episode we are talking about entrepenurship, Canada's food landscape and how Venture Parks is helping to support small start-ups. Mike McNeil is vice president of operations at Venturepark Labs. Venturepark Labs is a non-profit supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in the food & wellness categories. It was initially founded in 2015 as District Ventures Accelerator and District Ventures Kitchen by Canadian business icon Arlene Dickinson. In May 2021, this initiative became Venturepark Labs—a proud community within Venturepark—Canada's only business growth ecosystem. Mike began his career as an advisor to Canada's Minister of Finan...
2024-01-1050 min
That's A Food Job!Harnessing the power of AI, sensors and engineering to reduce food waste and improve food safety with Harjeet Bajaj, President and CEO of Savourmetrics | Ep 81On today's episode we are talking about innovation and artificial intelligence in the food industry, making an impact in the world and unique paths that you can take with an engineering degree. Our guest today is Harjeet Bajaj, President & CEO at Savormetrics. Savormetrics provides AI driven sensor devices to food and agriculture companies. Our devices perform real time, in situ QA/QC. Their predictive quality metrics allow organizations to reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction. Harjeet Bajaj has over 14 years of work experience in various leadership and consultancy roles. He has a Bachelor's Degree in E...
2023-11-2250 min
That's A Food Job!Defining and cultivating innovation and creativity with Michelle Brisebois, Senior Marketing Strategist and Founder of Textrix Consulting Ltd. | Ep 73 We are covering finding a career that matches your passions, cultivating innovation, navigating your career in an age of change and the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN). Our guest today is Michelle Brisebois, Senior Marketing Strategist and Founder of Textrix Consulting Ltd. Textrix has start-ups define marketing strategy, mid size companies boost their SEO through engaging and optimized content plans, and have conducted research and discovery on digital transformation trends used by large, international software companies. Michelle has launched products, brands and campaigns across a wide array of packaged goods and service industries. She is...
2023-07-1949 min
That's A Food Job!Embracing challenges when working towards your dream career with Liana Yee, Junior Product Specialist at Export Packers Company Limited | Ep 71 We are covering what does a product developer do, advice for students looking to go into product development and paying mind to allergens when to creating products but we'll also go deeper on how to embrace challenges to help you grow. Liana Yee is a Junior Product Specialist at Export Packers Company Limited. Export Packers is an international importer, exporter and distributor of food commodities. They operate five key business segments: International Trading, Domestic Food Service, Retail, Asian and Fresh Seafood. You may know them for their retail product lines of Diamond Harvest and Ocean Jewel. Liana i...
2023-06-2148 min
That's A Food Job!Exploring a unique career path for an engineering graduate with Tanner Behrend, Manager of Funding and Expansion at Edgecom Energy | Ep 70 In this episode we are covering the importance of energy consumption in the food sector, unique career paths for engineering graduates and working as part of a team. But we'll also go deeper on how to attend tradeshows as a student. Tanner Behrand, Manager of Funding and Expansion at Edgecom Energy. Edgecom energy provides energy solutions for businesses in Canada. They help provide the data to help businesses understand their consumption and effects on the grid as well provide solutions that are all built into one portal. Tanner is passionate about environmnetal consciousness, becoming multifaceted in terms of...
2023-06-0757 min
That's A Food Job!Differences between Academia and Industry and transferring your graduate skills with Sripad Josei, Ph.D. Operations Manager at Arda Inc. | Ep 69 Graduating with a PhD can sometimes put you in a difficult position when trying to find a job when you graduate. You are highly educated but may not have the work expierence that employers are looking for. Sripad has made it to the other side and understands how both sides of the coin work. In this episode, Sripad talks about his PhD journey, what he does at Arda Inc. and the differences between academia and industry. Sripad Josei, PhD. is an Operations Manager at Ardra Inc. Arda Inc is harnessing the power of engineering biology to solve pressing...
2023-05-3153 min
That's A Food Job!Building Leadership and Community within Food Safety with Melody Ge, FSQA Director at StarKist Co. and Founder of the Women in Food Safety Group | Ep 67On this episode, we interview Melody Ge, FSQA Director at StarKist Co. and Founder of the Women in Food Safety Group. Join us as we discuss what Melody's career journey, her approach to food safety and learn more about the Women in Food Safety Group. Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-episode-67
2023-05-0353 min
That's A Food Job!How a Food Science PhD Prepares You for a Career in Consulting with Bryan Quoc Le (Ph.D) Food Scientist, Food Industry Consultant and Author | Ep 66On this episode, we interview Bryan Quoc Le (Ph.D) Food Scientist, Food Industry Consultant and Author. Join us as we discuss what Bryan does as a consultant, completing a PhD and how he approaches experimental design. Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-episode-66
2023-04-2655 min
That's A Food Job!Building a Career in Food Manufacturing: Lessons in Creating Your Own Path with Doug Alexander, Vice President of Sustainability and Government Relations at Belmont Meats | Ep 65 On this episode, we interview Doug Alexander, Vice President of Sustainability and Government Relations at Belmont Meats. Join us as we discuss Doug's career transitions, managing failures in a role and advice for those pursuing a career in the manufacturing side of the food industry. Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-ep-65
2023-03-2253 min
That's A Food Job!Insights into Academic Food Science Research with Abigail Thiel (Ph.D.), Postdoctoral Researcher at Wageningen University and Science Communicator | Ep 64 On this episode, we interview Abbey Thiel (Ph.D.) Postdoctoral Researcherat Wageningen University and Science Communicator. Join us as we discuss what a post-doctorate research does, what it is like doing a food science PhD and why she decided to start Abbey the Food Scientist. Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-ep-64
2023-03-1552 min
That's A Food Job!Navigating Career Uncertainties with Authenticity and Open Mindedness with Jared Kligerman, President of The Think Tank | Ep 63On this episode, we interview Jared Kligerman, President of The Think Tank, a full-service communications agency supporting the food industry. Join us as we discuss The Think Tank, Toronto's small food buisness scene and advice for students on how to network authentically. Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-episode-63/
2023-02-2257 min
That's A Food Job!From Master's Degree to Career, Navigating the Food Safety Industry and Entrepreneurship with Marcus Washington, Business Development Manager at SGS and Co-Founder of Just4Bars | Ep 62 On this episode we are joined with Marcus Washington, Business Development Manager at SGS and Co-Founder of Just4Bars. Marcus shares his experience transitioning from a food safety master's degree to his full-time job at SGS. He also talks about his entrepenurial journey founding Just4Bars. We'll also discuss the challenges he faced along the way, the skills he's currently working on, and advice for students looking to break into the food safety industry. Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-ep-62
2023-02-1554 min
That's A Food Job!From Farm to Table: How a Communications Communicator Bridges the Gap in the Food Industry with Sandra Ulewicz, Communications Coordinator at the Ontario Produce Marketing Agency | Ep 61On this episode we are joined with Sandra Ulewicz, Communications Coordinator at the Ontario Produce Marketing Agency. Together we discuss what a communication coordinator does, misconceptions associated with Ontario produce industry, networking tips and a whole lot more! Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-ep-61/
2023-01-2546 min
That's A Food Job!Why you don't have to rush into a career if you are unsure with Lisa Cove, Founder, Packaging & Food Safety Consultant of Co-Motion Packaging Solutions | Ep 60On episode 60 of the FoodGrads Podcast, we interviewed Lisa Cove, Founder, Packaging & Food Safety Consultant of Co-Motion Packaging Solutions. On this episode Lisa and Veronica talked about: 🎤 Co-Motion Packaging Solutions 🎤 How Lisa got into the packaging industry despite having a degree in Criminology from Wilfrid Laurier University 🎤 Why you don't have to rush into a career if you are unsure 🎤 What is considered sustainable packaging 🎤 The process of becoming a Certified Packaging Professional 🎤Food brands that Lisa would like to promote 👇 Check out the full episode below 👇
2022-12-1450 min
That's A Food Job!Why it's important to get out of your comfort zone to shape your own life with Erica Rankin, Founder and CEO of Bro Dough | Ep 59 On episode 59 of the FoodGrads Podcast, we interviewed Erica Rankin, Founder and CEO of Bro Dough. On this episode, Erica and Veronica talked about: 🎤 How Brodough started from her time as a bodybuilder 🎤 What it is like being an introvert in the small business space 🎤 How she re-coops during her crazy entrepreneurial journey 🎤 What it is like being in a single person business 🎤 Why Erica loves the food space 👇 Check out the full episode below 👇 https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-episode-59
2022-12-0746 min
That's A Food Job!Transforming how food and agricultural companies harvest data for a better future with Pedro Medina, E.E.- Founder & Chief Data Farmer at Haystack Data Solutions | Ep 58This week on the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Pedro Medina, E.E.- Founder & Chief Data Farmer at Haystack Data Solutions On this episode Pedro and Veronica talked about: 🎤 Haystack and what they aredoing to help food producers, processors and distibutors 🎤 Pedro's career journey 🎤 What is "data" and how it is used in the food industry 🎤 Why he believes the food industry is slow to adopt digital technologies 🎤 Non-coding softwares 👇 Check out the full episode below 👇 https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-epi
2022-11-3049 min
That's A Food Job!Building communities and fighting climate change with urban agriculture with Ran Goel, CEO of Fresh City Farms | Ep 57 This week on the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Ran Goel, CEO of Fresh City Farms. On this episode Ran and Veronica talked about: 🎤 How Ran started Fresh City Farms in 2011 after leaving his job as a Wall Street Lawyer 🎤 What he does as a CEO 🎤 Why he believes that home delivery is the way to help fight climate change 🎤 Urban agriculture 🎤 His approach to change 👇 Check out the full episode below 👇 http://ow.ly/A7VA50LBIgM
2022-11-1640 min
That's A Food Job!Turning a side project into a full-time food industry data analyst career with Evonne Chan - Food, Grocery & Nutrition Data Analyst at Pinto | Ep 56On episode 56 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Evonne Chan, Food, Grocery & Nutrition Data Analyst at Pinto. On this episode Evonne and Veronica talked about: 🎤 How got Evonne became a data analyst 🎤 What a data analyst does 🎤 Her self-directed project helped her find a job after graduation 🎤 Skills she is currently trying to improve on write now 🎤 Data communication 🎤 Advice for those thinking about going into data analyst 🎤 Where she finds all the cool products she tries 👇 Check out the full episode below 👇 h
2022-11-0950 min
That's A Food Job!Food industry best job interview tips! with Jobseeker Coach Jason Wilson's for CareersNOW! | SpecialOn this special episode of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Jobseeker Coach Jason Wilson for CareersNow! On this episode Jason and Veronica talked about: 🎤 What to wear to a job interview 🎤 How to answer the question "tell us about yourself" 🎤 What do you look for in a first job 🎤 Why the food industry is recession proof 👇 Check out the full episode below 👇 https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-special
2022-11-0233 min
That's A Food Job!Innovating the ice cream space with hemp, sustainability and science with Kirsten Sutaria, Co-Founder and Head of Curious Creation at Wonderlab's Doozy Pots | Ep 55 On episode 55 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Kirsten Sutaria, Co-Founder and Head of Curious Creation at Wonderlab's Doozy Pots. On this episode Kirsten and Veronica talked about: 🎤 Kirsten's career journey spending over 13 years in the food product development space 🎤 The development of Doozy Pots 🎤 What the hemp based space looks like and it's health benefits 🎤 How hemp is processeed 🎤 Ice cream science 👇 Check out the full episode below 👇 https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-episode-55/
2022-10-1946 min
That's A Food Job!Sharing a passion for food science by making it fun and accessible with Brittany Towers Lewis, Senior Manager of Product Development at Vital Proteins and theblackfoodscientist | Ep 54On episode 54 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Brittany Towers Lewis, Senior Manager of Product Development at Vital Proteins and theblackfoodscientist. On this episode Brittany and Veronica talked about: 🎤 How Brittany got into the field of food science 🎤 Some of the things she does as senior product developer 🎤 Why she started sharing food science information as theblackfoodscientist 🎤 Important habits/rituals in her day 🎤 Hew experiences working on Gatorade products 🎤Why she decided to become a certified culinary scientist 👇 Check out the full episode below 👇 http...
2022-09-1444 min
That's A Food Job!Shaking up the cheese snacking space with regenerative farming with Francisco Pergola, Co-Founder & CEO at Cheddies | Ep 53 On episode 53 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Francisco Pergola, Co-Founder & CEO at Cheddies. Cheddies are a high protein, low sugar cracker made with no artificial ingredients or preservatives that are light, crispy, cheesy ,made wit real cheddar cheese and of course delicous! On this episode Francisco and Veronica talked about: Francisco's journey as he and his brother Tomas created Cheedies Why Cheddies is moving into the regenerative farming space Using the United States first certified regenerative organic cheddar Funny stories along their entrepenurial journey's Francisco's authentic appoach to buisness Now enough with that introduction...
2022-08-3143 min
That's A Food Job!Exploring Ontario's Meat & Poultry industry with Laurie Nicol, CareersNow! Meat & Poultry Sector Lead | Ep 52On episode 52 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Laurie Nicol, CareersNow! Meat & Poultry Sector Lead. CareersNOW! is Food and Beverage Ontario's workforce development initiative for Ontario's vibrant and growing food and beverage manufacturing industry. On this episode Laurie and Veronica talked about: The CareersNow! iniative Ontario's Meat & Poultry Sector How Laurie got into the industry Why the industry is a good place to work General views on the industry as a whole including the idea of craftsmanship and loving what you do Now enough with that introduction - let's get on with the show.
2022-08-2445 min
That's A Food Job!What does a HACCP Coordinator do and the skills needed to excel at it with Esther Ijiwade, HACCP Coordinator at SOFINA Foods Inc | Ep 51 On episode 51 of the FoodGrads Podcast Veronica interviewed Esther Ijiwade, HACCP Coordinator at Sofina Foods. Sofina Foods is a Canadian company dedicated to providing great-tasting, high-quality food products for consumers. Their offerings include pork, beef, fish, turkey and chicken products with the brand offerings like Cuddy, Lilydale, Janes, Mastro, Gletcher's and Vienna. In this episode Esther and Veronica talked about: 🎙 What at Esther does as a HACCP Coordinator 🎙 The habits she does to succeed at her role 🎙 Her transition from graduate degree to work foce 🎙 Where Esther's passion for the meat industr...
2022-08-1740 min
That's A Food Job!What does a recruiter do and the future of FoodGrads with Nicole Gallace, Talent Solutions Manager at FoodGrads/ De Lacy Executive Recruitment North America | Ep 50On episode 50 Veronica interviews Nicole Gallace, Talent Solutions Manager at FoodGrads/De Lacy Recruitment North America. FoodGrads is there to support students and new graduates looking to start their careers in the food and beverage industry. In this episode Nicole and Veronica talked about: 🎙 What does a recruiter do 🎙 Catching up with the changes FoodGrads has underwent since the start of the podcast 🎙 How Nicole became a recruiter 🎙 How to deal with recruiters 🎙 FoodGrads connection with CareersInFood family 🎙 The future of FoodGrads Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/podcast-ep-50
2022-08-1048 min
That's A Food Job!Providing comprehensive and holistic coaching for transformational change in food safety and quality with Tia Glave, Food Safety, Quality, & Regulatory Consultant and Co-founder of Catalyst, LLC. | Ep. 49On episode 49 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Tia Glave, Food Safety, Quality, & Regulatory Consultant and Co-founder Catalyst, LLC. Catalyst LLC was created in 2021 by Tia Glave and Jill Stuber. Catalyst is a comprehensive and holistic coaching program for creating transformational change within people and organizations toward the ultimate food safety and quality culture. In this episode Tia talked to us about: 🟠 How she got into food safety with a chemical engineering degree 🟠 What is a sustainable food safety culture 🟠 Catalyst LLC and their unique approach to food safety
2022-08-0350 min
That's A Food Job!Team development in food safety and quality with with Tanguy Etoga,Msc, 6σ BB, CEO & Founder at NORMEX inc. | Ep 48.Welcome to episode 48 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Tanguy Etoga, CEO & Founder at NORMEX inc. Normex Inc is a food safety software company that will make the expected bridge to overcome the problem of limited resources and help companies automate their Quality, Food Safety and Health & Safety tasks and operations. Today, several companies in North America have adopted NORMEX to maintain their food safety systems. On episode Tanguy talked to us more about Normex Inc and how it came to be. Tanguy walked Veronica through his career journey and shared his story of where his passion...
2022-07-1143 min
That's A Food Job!Building your resume with university clubs and competitions with Valerie Ivanova, R&D Nutrition Label Developer and Coordinator at Ventura Foods | Ep. 47On episode 47 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Valerie Ivanova, R&D Nutrition Label Developer and Coordinator at Ventura Foods. Ventura Foods is a leading national manufacturer and marketer of branded and custom made shortenings, oils, dressings, sauces, margarines, culinary bases and pancoatings for the foodservice and retail industries. In this episode Valerie told us more about her role at Ventra foods and how she approaches creating a nutritional label for a completed food product. What's interesting about Valerie's career journey so far was that she actually graduated at the time the COVID-19 was just emerging in...
2022-06-2740 min
That's A Food Job!Empowering farmers in a changing world with Melissa Norem, Enterprise Director of Origination at Scoular | Ep. 46On episode 46 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Melissa Norem, Enterprise Director of Origination at Scoular. The Scoular company is an employee-owned $6B agribusiness leading the way since 1892. They buy, sell, store, handle and process grain and ingredients by leveraging their global networks and expertise in international trade and transportation. In this episode Melissa talked to us about her career journey as 20-year veteran in the agricultural industry with roles which have include trading, supply-chain management and business development. We learned more about about Scoular and how they are supporting farmers and communities with their focused approach o...
2022-06-2042 min
That's A Food Job!A first-hand perspective of what it's like working in food safety in the meat industry with with Vasudha Sabharwal, Food Safety Professional | Ep 45On episode 45 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Vasudha Sabharwal, a food safety professional working in the meat industry. Vasudha is an individual with a rich career in working the meat industry and other sectors of the industry. She also has a Master's Degree in Bioresource Engineering for Integrated Food and Bioprocessing at McGill University. In this episode Vasudha really spent the time walking Veronica through her career journey talking about each role along the way and what it entails. She talked about what she did in the role and what it felt like working as part...
2022-06-1546 min
That's A Food Job!Obtaining career fulfillment by building food safety/quality systems with Aaron Aboud, Quality Assurance Manager at Trophy Foods Inc |Ep 44On episode 44 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Aaron Aboud, Quality Assurance Manager at Trophy Foods Inc. and a member of the Board of Directors for Ontario Food Protection Association (OFPA). Trophy Foods Canada's leading supplier of high-quality edible nuts, dried fruit and confectionery products In this episode Aaron talked to us about his role at Trophy Foods and how ended up in a career of food safety despite first going to school for Illustration from Sheridan college. We also talked about food safety programs and how organizations deal with risk. Aaron also talked to us all about the O...
2022-05-1755 min
That's A Food Job!Finding career success in food quality/safety as an international graduate student after graduation with Ariful Islam- Food Safety Professional | Ep 43On episode 43 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Ariful Islam, a food safety professional who is currently working for the Federal Government of Canada. In this episode walked Ariful walked us through his career journey coming from Bangladesh to Canada and why he decided to get two master's degrees rather than a PhD and the skills he picked up during that time. Ariful shared with us his difficulties finding a job after graduation but talked about how networking was so important in his job search and how he used LinkedIn. Ariful gave some really tangible advice that...
2022-04-1137 min
That's A Food Job!Leadership in food safety and using curiosity to guide your career journey with Tina Gettis, IIT/IFSH Manager, Business Development & Communication at the Institute for Food Safety and Health | Ep 42On episode 42 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Tina Gettis, Business Development & Communication Manger for the Institute of Food Safety and Health. IFSH is a one-of-a-kind applied food science research consortium comprised of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the food industry. In collaboration with the FDA, they provide stakeholders with the opportunity to develop and exchange knowledge, experience, and expertise in the areas of food safety, food defense, food processing, and nutrition. In this episode Tina talked to Veronica about her role at IFSH and the career s...
2022-04-0452 min
That's A Food Job![Special] Highlighting CareersNow! Mentorship Sessions| Ep 41On this special edition of the FoodGrads Podcast the podcast is taking a look at highlights from mentorship sessions with a partnership with CareersNow! Food and Beverage Ontario has launched the CareersNow! program looking to bring awareness, to assist people in exploring a variety of careers in Ontario's food and beverage processing industry. Over the past year with CareersNow! we have hosted 12 mentorship sessions where students or new graduates while actually really anyone could attend virtual career advice sessions with leading professionals to learn more about the exciting career pathways in the industries and get their questions a...
2022-03-2147 min
That's A Food Job!Why following your passion,working hard and asking questions is the path to success with Chloe Hoang, Product Developer Assistant at Give and Go Foods|Ep 40On episode 40 of the FoodGrads podcast we interviewed Chloe Hoang Product Developer Assistant at Give and Go Foods. Give and Go Foods is a Canadian manufacturer of premium frozen, thaw and sell baked goods. Give & Go produces a wide range of dessert and sweet baked goods that are sold to leading retailers and food service operators across the world. Chloe and Veronica talked about what it is like working at Give and Go Foods and how her love for baking led her down this path. Chloe talked about why it is important to ask questions in both...
2022-03-1442 min
That's A Food Job!Transforming Canada's plant based protein sector through innovation and collaboration with with Sai Kranthi Vanga, Ph.D, Project Specialist at Protein Industries Canada | Ep 39On episode 39 of the FoodGrads Podcast Veronica interviewed Sai Kranthi Vanga Ph.D, Project Specialist for Plant Protein Technology at Protein Industries Canada. PIC is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization with a created to position Canada as a global source of high-quality plant protein and plant-based co-products. The goal of the Supercluster is to challenge Canadian businesses to collaborate with other businesses, and post-secondary and research institutions to create projects that have the potential to transform the food processing sector in Canada, creating jobs and stimulating local economies. Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-ep-39/
2022-03-0749 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 38- From manufacturing engineer to Sr. Manager of Supply Chain Quality - a unique career path with Jill Kersten, Senior Corporate Manager of Supply Chain Quality at Morton Salt, Inc.On episode 38 of the FoodGrads we interviewed Jill Kersten, Supplier and Customer Quality Manager at Morton Salt Inc. The Morton Salt company produces pantry salts for the kitchen, water softening salt for the home, ice melt solutions for the winter, and various other solutions to make consumers lives better. On this episode Jill and Veronica talked about quality in the supply system and how she helps to ensure that Morton salt continues to produce high quality salt. Jill told us about her unique pathway going starting with an engineering degree. Before diving into that though Jill talked...
2022-02-2843 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 37- What skills does a Millwright need to be successful? with Robert Cunliffe, Maintenance Manager/Millwright at Flamaglo Foods LimitedOn episode 37 of the FoodGrads podcast we interviewed Robert Cunliffe, Maintenance Manager/Millwright at Flamaglo Foods Limited. On this episode Robert and Veronica talked about: What it's like being both a Maintenance Manager and Millwright Mechanic Why he decided to get into this career path. What he does daily and the overall work environment at a manufacturing plant. What it is like getting a new piece of equipment from a mechanics point of view and how they actually learn to use such intricate pieces of equipment What Robert thinks the future of being a millwright looks l...
2022-02-2142 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 36- Making corporate level food safety programs accessible to everyone with Jennifer Crandall, Owner/Founder/CEO of Safe Food En Route, LLCOn episode 36 of the FoodGrads Podcast we interviewed Jennifer Crandall, Owner/Founder/CEO of Safe Food En Route LLC providing a vast array of services which include Foreign Suppliers Verification Programs services and food safety consulting. Their team's goal is making corporate level food safety programs accessible to everyone! On this episode Jennifer talked to us about" All things food safety What exactly a food safety consultancy does Why consultancies can be an integral part to many small and medium size businesses in their food safety plans. Her career journey particularly her time working in corporate...
2022-02-1448 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 35- Understanding what a Millwright Mechanic does and how you become one with Taylor Carr, Millwright Apprentice at Karma Candy Inc.On episode 35 of the FoodGrads podcast we interviewed Taylor Carr, Millwright Apprentice at Karma Candy Inc. Karma Candy is the largest producer of candy canes in Canada. They provide a range of hard candy in candy canes, stick and lollipops, as well as a wide range of chocolate technologies including shell, solid, drop, hollow and enrobed confectionery. On this episode Taylor and Veronica talked about: Her journey to becoming a fully licensed Millwright Mechanic What she does at Karma Candy and the fun treats that they make there. The journey to become a millwright...
2022-02-0724 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 34- What does a project manager do with Morgan Genge, Innovation Project Manager at Arterra WinesOn episode 34 of the FoodGrads podcast we interviewed Morgan Genge, Innovation Project Manager at Arterra Wines. Arterra Wines dates back to 1874 and since then has become Canada's leading producer and marketer and globally recognized Canadian and imported wines. They have grown and evolved to owning and distributing over 100 wine brands which include Jackson-Triggs, Ruffino, Kim Crawford and Sawmill Creek. On this episode Morgan and Veronica talked about: Arterra Wines Morgan's path to becoming a project manager What exactly does a project manger do? How Morgan doesn't get overwhelmed with things Morgan's co-op experience and why she believes it is so i...
2022-01-3143 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 33- Transforming your career though conversation and curiosity with Somayeh Salemi, Buisness Development Specialist at Klever Equipped Inc. On episode 33 of the FoodGrads podcast Veronica interviewed Somayeh Salemi, Buisness Development Specialist at Klever Equipped Inc. Klever Equipped Inc. is a distributer of cutting edge equipment who specialize in products security, sales and services of smokehouses, fermenting, chilling, drying and clean room equipment. In this episode Somayeh and Veronica talked about: Her role at Klever Equipped as a buisness development specialist The story of she transitioned from science to sales because of her love for talking with people.
2021-12-1341 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 32- Taking your food safety career global with Nasir Hameed, Sr. Corporate Director of Global Quality & Food Safety Systems at Acadian SeaplantsOn episode 32 of the FoodGrads Podcast Veronica interviewed Nasir Hameed, Sr. Corporate of Director- Global Quality & Food Safety Systems at Acadian Seaplants. Acadian Seaplants is a family-owned business and is a fully-integrated, biotechnology manufacturer of premium agricultural products for animals and plants, cultivated sea-vegetables and functional ingredients derived from select species of marine plants. In this episode Nasir and Veronica talked about: Aall things food safety and his world travels taking on positions from Pakistan, India, Dubai Canada and many more. Acadian Seaplants and the different ways that seaweed is being used Upper management positions in foo...
2021-11-2959 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 31- Disrupting the banana industry through fairtrade and social impact with Kim Chackal, Director of Sales & Marketing at Equifruit, Inc.On episode 31 we interviewed Kim Chackal, Director of Sales & Marketing at Equifruit. Equifruit is (Un)officially the most "extra" Fairtrade-certified banana brand out there. They are Fairtrade fruit importer and marketer that makes social impact as appetizing as pop culture. In this episode Kim and Veronica talked about: Equifruit 's story and how they came to. What exactly fairtrade is Why conventional banana's really shouldn't be the price that they are. Purchasing fairtrade banana's won't break your bank Equifruit's unique approach to marketing How selling produce is different is than processed goods Kim's career and what sh...
2021-11-2144 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 30- Tackling Canada's Food Waste Problem with Lori NikkelOn episode 30 of the FoodGrads, we interviewed Lori Nikkel, the Chief Executive Officer of Second Harvest, Canada's largest food rescue charity. They recover fresh, unsold food to protect the environment and provide immediate hunger relief. In this episode Lori and Veronica spoke about: Lori's role at Second Harvest All the amazing things that they do from rescuing food to developing training How they are a data-driven company Misconceptions about working at a charity and learned more about why her job as a CEO is to actually work Second Harvest out business. Show Notes https://f...
2021-11-1536 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 29- Why you need a solution based mindset when growing asparagus with Marc Wall VP of Sales at Sandy Shore Farms Ltd.On episode 29 of the FoodGrads podcast Veronica interviewed Marc Wall, VP of Sales and Co-owner of Sandy Shore Farms Limited, Canada's largest grower and shipper of fresh asparagus. In this episode we talked about: The history of Sandy Shore Farms How his family immigrated to Canada What Marc does as a VP sales Why he decided to come back to the family farm despite going out of province for university. The story of growing asparagus farm to fork Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-ep-29/
2021-10-1827 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 28- Sharing the exciting journey on how to become a flavorist with Rachel Odolski, Flavorist in Training at the Prinova Group On episode 28 of the FoodGrads Podcast Veronica interviewed Rachel Odolski, a flavourist in Training at the Prinova Group. Prinova is a leading supplier of ingredients and premix manufacturing for the food, beverage and nutrition industries. In this episode Rachel and Veronica talked about: How Rachel got into flavours when she went to school for nursing The Prinova USA group The tools used to create flavour The certification process to become a flavorist and what it means What is the process to make a flavour How she found an internship in the food industry Flavour compounds
2021-09-2046 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 27- Changing the future of food safety with education with Anthony Pius Bassey, Ph.D. Student at the National Center of Meat Quality and Safety Control On episode 27 of the FoodGrads Podcast Veronica interviewed Anthony Bassey. Anthony Bassey is a Ph.D. research student at the National Center of Meat Quality and Safety Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University where he studies meat microbiology. In this episode Anthony and Veronica talked about: The graduate school experience What it is like being a researcher How to do research and get published in a research journal What is a "good" journal to get published in His research in meat microbiology and the cold-storage process. Anthony's passion for food safety, where...
2021-08-2350 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 26- Embracing food for nutrition, nourishment and fun with with Jennifer Shrubsole, Clinical Dietitian & Foodie for NaturallyNuOn episode 26 of the FoodGrads I interviewed Jennifer Shrubsole, Jennifer is a dietitian-nutritionist who has worked with clients at hospitals from the greater Vancouver area and Calgary. Her extensive experience in dealing with patients with gastric or pancreatic cancer, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Jennifer also writes for NaturallyNu her personal blog where she shares healthy recipes and stories about her gluten-free living. In 2015 Jenni was diagnosed with Celiac disease, a hereditary autoimmune condition where your small bowel is damaged by gluten. On the blog, she shares her love for eating whole foods, mostly plant-based...
2021-08-0949 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 24- Breaking down the wine making process with Katrina Pukitis Winery Laboratory Technician at Jackson-Triggs Estate WineryWelcome to episode 24 of the FoodGrads podcast on this episode I interviewed Katrina Pukitis, Winery Laboratory Technician with Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate. Jackson-Triggs Estate Winery produces a wide variety of wines which include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and so so much more more. On this episode Katrina and I talked covered a lot of topics which include learning more about Jackson-Triggs and their line of products. Katrina gave me the low down on the general process of wine making and threw in a little bit of science for me to understand how grapes t...
2021-06-2944 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 23- Balancing management with culinary skills with George Brown's Honours Bachelor of Commerce Program (Culinary Management) with Chefs Warren Ford and Riley BennettOn episode 23 of the FoodGrads Podcast I interviewed Chefs Warren Ford and Riley Bennett professors and course coordinators at George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario. Today they are here to introduce the college's unique Honors Bachelor of Commerce (Culinary Management) which combines foundational culinary skills with operational skills like accounting, finance, operations and food theory. Show Notes foodgrads-podcast-ep-23
2021-06-1443 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 22- Getting the dish on the NEW George Brown Honours Bachelor of Food Studies program with Professors Lori Stahlbrand and Caitlin ScottWelcome to episode 22 of the FoodGrads Podcast on this week's podcast, I interviewed Professors Lori Stahlbrand and Caitlin Scott of George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario. They are here to introduce the college's NEW Honours Bachelor of Food Studies degree which combines culinary arts and a comprehensive food studies curriculum. It is the first of its kind in Canada and is meant to bring a new focus on justice and equity, sustainability and health, and a new awareness of how these societal issues can be analyzed and resolved. In this episode Lori, Caitlin and I...
2021-05-3143 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 21- Why directors need to see the big picture with Danielle Szostak the Director of Product Development at Give and Go Prepared FoodsOn episode 21 of the FoodGrads Podcast I interviewed Danielle Szostak the Director of Product Development at Give and Go Prepared Foods Give, Canadian manufacturer of premium frozen, thaw and sell baked goods. In this episode, Danielle and I talked about: What a Director of Product Devlopment does at Give and Go Foods The benefits of an MBA Give and Go Food Product Lines What Danielle finds the funnest and most interesting days For students interested in the bakery industry what should they be doing to stand out? What happens if marketing and R&D have a...
2021-05-1740 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 20- Understanding the role of policy in building communities with Danielle Collins Economic Development Policy Analyst at Ontario Federation of AgricultureOn episode 20 of the FoodGrads Podcast Veronica interviewed Danielle Collins, Economic Development Policy Analyst at Ontario Federation of Agriculture. In this episode, Danielle and Veronica talked about: Her career journey from Neuroscience to Economic Development What is a policy and it's importance to communities How being a TA is a really rewarding experience The FeedingYourFuture campaign How OFA is helping individuals get jobs Dispelling myths in that agrifood jobs are only in the middle of nowhere Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-ep-20-understanding-the-role-of-policy-in-building-communities/
2021-04-1247 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 19- How to innovate and find your passion with Michelle Lang, Food ScientistOn episode 19 of the FoodGrads Podcast I interviewed Michelle Lang, Food Scientist and soon to be graduate of Niagara College's Culinary Innovation and Food Science, Product Development program. Not to mention a serial innovator who has ran a few of her own businesses. In this episode, Michelle and I talked about: Her career journey Her experience at Niagara College both as a student and teaching assistant during the pandemic How being a TA is a really rewarding experience How COVID has really changed the understandings of food safety Michelle's past projects and her hobby farm
2021-03-2943 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 18- Diving into the exciting world of plant-based restaurants with Trish Paterson, CEO of Copper BranchOn episode 18 of the FoodGrads Podcast I interviewed Trish Paterson the CEO of Copper Branch. Copper Branch is a 100% Plant-Based Quick-Serve restaurant chain with a mission to empower, energize, and make people feel their best. Established in Montreal, Canada they have locations across Canada and recently have expanded to Nashville and Europe. On this week's episode Trish and I talked about: Copper Branch and its philosophy on food How the company sources 100% plant-based and sustainable ingredients How Trish started in this industry as a franchise owner after working in a corporate setting What exactly a CEO a...
2021-03-1548 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 17- How to problem solve with quality assurance with Fatema Bastawala QA/ HACCP Coordinator at ToppitsOn episode 17 of the FoodGrads Podcast, I interviewed Fatema Bastawala, a Quality Assurance and HACCP Specialist at Toppits Foods. Toppits Foods is an importer and supplier of frozen foods to the Canadian foodservice, retail and manufacturing industries, specializing in seafood. In this episode Fatema and I talked about: Her career journey starting with her co-op program at Centennial College What she did at the CFIA How she got her full time position from bakery event Insights as to what it is like working in Quality Assurance How she approaches problems when they arise in the plant...
2021-03-0843 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 16- Building a food industry career by putting yourself out there with Karen Cardona, Founder & Owner at True Leaves ConsultingOn episode 16 of the FoodGrads Podcast, I interviewed Karen Cardona Founder and Owner of True Leaves Consulting. True Leaves Consulting is a consulting agency with the goal of helping bring food and beverage products to the masses. Whether it's finding reliable suppliers, crafting the perfect recipe or developing compliant product labels. True Leaves Consulting is there to help. In this episode Karen and I talked about: Her career journey starting with her co-op program at Fanshaw college Karen's experiences working at Kraft Heinz, Nestle and the vegan cheese company Nuts for Cheese. What a food consultant...
2021-02-1540 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 15 -The power of travel to transform your career with Ridhima Phukan, Associate Product Developer at Danone North AmericaOn episode 15 of the FoodGrads podcast, Veronica interview's Ridhima Phukan, an Associate Product Developer at Danone. In this episode we learn about: Ridhima's role as a product developer on ready to drink products specifically coffee and coffee creamers Ridhima's experiences travelling during her undergraduate career How to communicate with people of all different backgrounds How important it is to treat people with kindness and care Show Notes https://foodgrads.com/foodgrads-podcast-ep-15-the-power-of-travel-to-transform-your-career-with-ridhima-phukan-associate-product-developer-at-danone/
2021-01-1850 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 14 - Breaking into the food industry without a food science degree with Veronica Hislop, Molecular Science Graduate Student at Ryerson UniversityOn episode 14 of the FoodGrads podcast, Veronica is interviewed by Anjali Patel aboout her university experience. In this episode we learn about: Veronica's journey into the food industry What is like being a graduate student in a non-food science program Veronica's research on emulsions School options in high school for students interested in food science In this episode Anjali sat down with to ask me questions about my journey in the food industry from high school to now and why I decided to go graduate school after working in a year in the industry. We also dive into more about my...
2021-01-1152 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 13- Understanding the value of brokers,distributors and consultants for food start-ups with Bernard Verkaaik, Founder/Operating Manager of the Greater GoodsOn this week's podcast we interview Bernard Verkaaik, the Founder and Operating Manager of the Greater Goods, a food industry consultancy based in Toronto,Ontario. In this episode we talk about: The Greater Goods How supermarkets working in terms of "listing a product", What the difference is between a broker and distributor Things exciting Bernard about the food industry right now Futurepeneurs program Bernard is an expert at his craft. You can tell that he is excited about the food industry and playing a role in shaping what is to come. Not mention you can j...
2020-12-0841 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 12-From science degree to marketing with Sarah Condruk, Marketing Coordinator at Give and Go Prepared FoodsWelcome to episode 12 of the FoodGrads podcast, the podcast where we explore careers in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. On this week's podcast I interview Sarah Condruk a Marketing Coordinator at Give and Go Prepared Foods. Give and Go Foods is a Canadian manufacturer of premium frozen, thaw and sell baked goods. Give & Go produces a wide range of dessert and sweet baked goods that are sold to leading retailers and foodservice operators across the world. In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of food industry marketing. Sarah teaches me about her role...
2020-12-0146 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 11: How to market yourself for a job as a student/graduate with Dr.Amy Proulx Professor and Academic Program Coordinator of Culinary Innovation and Food Technology at Niagara College Welcome to episode 11 of the FoodGrads podcast. The podcast where we explore the fascinating career paths of professionals in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. I'm your host Veronica Hislop a molecular science graduate student and career partner with FoodGrads. I am super excited to share this week's podcast because I am talking with Dr.Amy Proux the Academic Program Coordinator of Culinary Innovation and Food Technology at Niagara College. I am a huge fan of Amy and everything that shes does so I was excited to sit down with her for an...
2020-11-2354 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 10- Pivoting into a career of dairy-free yogurt with Amelia Laplante, R&D Food Scientist at YosoOn this week's episode I interviews Amelia Laplante a Research and Development Scientist at Yoso. A family run business creating dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan yogurts and spreads in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. They are also the creators of Canada's first oat yogurt- which is a pretty exciting! On this episode Amelia tells me about how fun her role is an R&D scientist at plant-based company and the sustainability benefits which come from consuming these products. A lot of this episode is focused on talking about Amelia's strategic career pivots and how through her positive attitude to networking both...
2020-11-1640 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 09- Improving Quality and Efficiency in the Cannabis Industry with Aylene Peter, QA/RA Liasion at Canopy Growth Corporation Welcome to episode 9 of the FoodGrads podcast. This week on the podcast I have my first ever podcast guest who works in the Cannabis space- Aylene Peter the QA/RA liaison at the Canopy Growth Corporation. Canopy Growth Corporation, is a cannabis company based in Smiths Falls, Ontario. They have a huge brand portfolio with products that include both recreational and medicinal marijuana products. In this episode, Aylene teaches me about the Cannabis industry and the quality side behind these products and how Canopy Growth ensures that these products are safe when getting...
2020-11-0942 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 08- Job searching and interviewing in the age of Covid with Nicole Gallace and Dr.Darin Detwiler Welcome to episode 8 of the FoodGrads podcast. The podcast where we explore careers in the food, beverage and hospitality industries. I'm your host Veronica Hislop a molecular science graduate student and career partner with FoodGrads. This week's episode is a special one because I am sharing a conversation from Nicole and Dr. Darin Detwiler, LP.D., M.A.Ed., the Assistant Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs at Northeastern University's College of Professional Studies on interviewing and applying for jobs in the age of COVID. This episode was originally published on the FoodGrads...
2020-11-0231 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 07- Training the next generation of food safety professionals with Victor Muliyil, the Founder of the Risk Optimization Resource CentreWelcome to episode 7 of the FoodGrads Podcast, this week I interview Victor Muliyil the Technical Director of the Risk Optimization Resource Centre. This centre is a technical group of highly qualified and experienced industry professionals in the food/feed/cannabis and pharmaceutical sectors. This centre offers multi-media, adult learning format, tool kit based training, risk assessment, auditor training and consultancy using leading-edge risk assessment 5 pillar approach to create proven results. Though we will break down what that means in this episode. In addition, on this episode, Victor and I will discuss how the risk optimization centre came...
2020-10-2651 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 06- Breaking into the confectionery industry with Elizabeth Hagerman, Food Scientist at The Warrell CorporationOn episode 6 of the FoodGrads Podcast, I interview Elizabeth Hagerman, a Food Scientist at the Warrell Corporation. The Warrell Corporation is one of the top contract candy- manufacturing companies in North America which focuses on chocolate panning, fire roasting, brittle, nut clusters and better-for-you snacks. In this episode Elizabeth and I talk about her "sweet" job at the Warrell Corporation and what it means to be a "middle-man" company. Elizabeth than goes on to talk about why she loves her job and the challenges she has faced through working on caramel related projects. Elizabeth also...
2020-10-1948 min
That's A Food Job!Ep.05-Creating opportunities through action with Sashana Chatoo-Edwards, Quality Assurance Technician at Waterloo Brewing On episode 5 of the FoodGrads Podcast, I interview Sashana Chattoo-Edwards, a Quality Assurance Technician at Waterloo Brewing Company. Waterloo Brewing Company is Ontario's first craft brewer opening in 1984 and today it is Ontario's largest craft brewery. In this episode Sashana and I talk about her job as a QA tech and the analytical tests that shes does on a daily basis. I learn about what she loves about her job and how Centennial College set her up for success in her career. We also talk about how her love for food stems from...
2020-10-0545 min
That's A Food Job!Ep 4- The Power of Informational Interviews and Co-op Programs with Sonya Turvey, R&D Packaging Project Lead at PepsiCoOn episode 4 of the FoodGrads Podcast, I interview Sonya Turvey, the Research and Development Packaging Project Lead at PepsiCo. PepsiCo, as you all must be familiar with, is a global business which have some big-name brands likes Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola, just to name a few. Sonya has just a cool job because she works specifically in the Packaging Development for the FritoLay division. In this episode, we learn about Sonya's role in the company and what exactly a job as a packaging project lead does. There is a lot that goes into designing packaging...
2020-09-2549 min
That's A Food Job!Ep .03 - From Master's degree to Manager of Operations & Quality with Clear Ocean Seafood Ltd.'s Manager of Operations & Quality Sean XiaSean Xia is Clear Ocean Seafood Ltd.'s Manager of Operations and Quality. Clear Ocean Seafood, established in Vancouver, BC, Canada, is an importer, wholesaler and custom packer of premium quality frozen seafood products. Clear Ocean's primary product lines are frozen sea scallops, bay scallops, scallops on the half shell and have a range of products which include bacon-wrapped, something we talk about in the show. In this episode, we learn about Sean's career journey from master's degree to manager and more about Clear Ocean Seafood. We dive into the world of scallops and learn about the...
2020-09-2142 min
That's A Food Job!Ep.02 Building a future-forward tourism industry workforce with Joe Baker, OTEC's Systems Leadership and Integrated Strategy Advisor On episode 2 of the FoodGrads podcast we have Joe Baker, OTEC's Systems Leadership and Integrated Strategy Advisor. OTEC (Ontario Tourism Education Corporation) is an Ontario-based collaborative, not-for-profit organization that is a leader in workforce innovation and skills development solutions. In this episode, we learn about what OTEC is and the role they are playing in helping Canadians navigate through the uncertain future of the restaurant industry during COVID specifically through OTEC's tourism and hospitality emergency rapid response initiative. Joe and I also talk about COVID's evolving role in changing...
2020-09-1440 min
That's A Food Job!Ep.01 - Supporting Students & Graduates Start their Career in the Food & Beverage Industry with FoodGrads Founder Nicole Gallace FoodGrads is an interactive platform for the Food & Beverage Industry focused on closing the gap between students/recent graduates, educators and employers in food service & food processing. Our mission is to support the next generation of food industry professionals. Our broader priority is to attract forward-thinking, socially conscious people to pursue a career in food. An exclusive community of 'food' minded professionals who collaborate and aspire to a healthier world. Nicole Gallace is a friend, a mentor and a co-worker who I have had the pleasure to have known for years. She is also the creator of...
2020-09-0831 min