TFPA Conference 2021 - Speaker Bios
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DR. ELSA MURANO
Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives Former Director of the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture & Development Professor of Food Microbiology and President Emerita, Texas A&M University Former Undersecretary for Food Safety at the United States Department of Agriculture |
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A graduate of Florida International University in Biological Sciences, Dr. Murano received an M.S. in Anaerobic Microbiology and a Ph.D. in Food Science & Technology from Virginia Tech. She began her career as an Assistant Professor in food microbiology at Iowa State University in 1990, where she conducted research in food safety and was appointed Researcher-in-Charge of the Electron Beam Food Irradiation Program. In 1995, she joined the faculty at Texas A&M University as Associate Professor, leading the university’s Center for Food Safety as Director, and was awarded the Sadie Hatfield Professorship in Agriculture. In her career as a scientist, Dr. Murano received an average of ~$750K/year in extramural funding, published over 60 scientific papers, and a total of 7 book chapters in the field of food safety. In 2001, Professor Murano was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as Undersecretary for Food Safety at the United States Department of Agriculture, the highest-ranking food safety official in the U.S. government. As a result of her policies and leadership based on science-based risk management strategies, the prevalence of illnesses caused by important foodborne pathogens in meat and poultry was reduced by 62% (E. coli O157:H7), 28% (Salmonella), and 43% (Listeria monocytogenes). This led to achieving the goals of the Centers for Disease Control’s Healthy People 2010 six years ahead of schedule. In 2005, Dr. Murano returned to Texas A&M, where she was appointed Dean and Vice Chancellor of Agriculture and Life Sciences, overseeing academic programs with a student body of 6,700, and a research portfolio of $200 million annually. In 2008, Dr. Murano became the first woman and first Hispanic president of Texas A&M University, where she oversaw a budget of $1.2 billion, 2,800 faculty, and a student enrollment of over 50,000. From 2012 to 2021, she served as Director of the Norman E. Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, a premier institution within Texas A&M which conducts development projects to lift small farmers out of poverty and hunger in Asia, Latin America, Sub Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. Under her leadership, the Borlaug Institute secured more than $100M in extramural funds. Dr. Murano was then appointed as Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives for the Texas A&M Agriculture & Life Sciences program. In this role, Dr. Murano leads strategic planning efforts, with specific leadership in food safety as well as international programs, and provides oversight for federal and state government relations. As part of her service activities, Dr. Murano serves on the Board of Directors of Hormel Foods Corporation, the Food Safety Advisory Committee for Ecolab, and the Board of Advisors for Food Safety Net Services, a private sector food microbiology diagnostic laboratory. She serves Chair of the Board of Trustees for the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), as a member of the Council of Advisors for the World Food Prize Foundation, and for the Director General of the International Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA). In 2019, Dr. Murano was inducted into the U.S. Meat Industry Hall of Fame, and in 2018 was named Maestro of Community Service by Latino Leaders Magazine’s Maestro Awards as well as selected as Women Inc. magazine’s One of the Most influential Corporate Board Directors, among many honors.
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RANDY COFFMAN — 5C CUSTOM LOGISTICS 5CCustom@globaltranz.com |
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With 30 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry, Randy has rightfully earned the term "veteran". With a track record that proves customer service is top priority, Randy prides himself on providing a positive customer experience from start to end. In an ever-changing world of supply chain fluctuations and challenges, it is good to know who your people are. When all is said and done, transportation is a people business and Randy is the right "people" to have on your team.
5C Custom Logistics is a family owned and operated, third-party logistics provider. We are dedicated to improving how businesses ship freight while gaining control and visibility of their supply chain. Through our technology-driven logistics solutions, industry expertise, and extensive carrier relationships across all modes of transportation, 5C Custom Logistics provides the solutions, savings and competitive advantage that enables shippers to respond to customer demands at the speed of business.
5C Custom Logistics is a family owned and operated, third-party logistics provider. We are dedicated to improving how businesses ship freight while gaining control and visibility of their supply chain. Through our technology-driven logistics solutions, industry expertise, and extensive carrier relationships across all modes of transportation, 5C Custom Logistics provides the solutions, savings and competitive advantage that enables shippers to respond to customer demands at the speed of business.
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MIKE DANKLER mldankler@michaelbeststrategies.com |
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As a Principal on Michael Best Strategies’ Government Relations team, Mike leverages more than a decade of experience on Capitol Hill to help businesses influence positive outcomes through the legislative process. Before joining Strategies, Mike most recently served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN). In this role, he oversaw all office operations and communications. During this time, Mike developed legislative and press strategies that resulted in the passage of numerous bills into law, including repealing the medical device tax and health insurance tax and fixing the qualified improvement property technical correction. He also helped Rep. Walorski wage successful efforts to obtain structural changes to the Department of Commerce’s Section 232 steel and aluminum exclusion process, fight against the Department of Commerce’s Section 232 automobile tariffs, and push the U.S. Trade Representative to create exclusion processes for its Section 301 China tariffs. Mike led a successful campaign to secure Rep. Walorski’s current position on the House Ways and Means Committee. He guided her through important debates, such as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Mike previously worked for former U.S. Representative Peter J. Roskam (R-IL) for seven years, including the three years Rep. Roskam served as Chief Deputy Majority Whip. He started as an intern and eventually rose to Legislative Director, advising Congressman Roskam on trade, tax, and foreign affairs issues and building relationships with stakeholders and members of Congress to advance key initiatives.
Mike previously worked for former U.S. Representative Peter J. Roskam (R-IL) for seven years, including the three years Rep. Roskam served as Chief Deputy Majority Whip. He started as an intern and eventually rose to Legislative Director, advising Congressman Roskam on trade, tax, and foreign affairs issues and building relationships with stakeholders and members of Congress to advance key initiatives.
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MICHAEL DAGERATH
mdagerath@gmail.com |
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Michael’s career includes an extensive background and experience in product development. He started his career working at the NASA Johnson Space Center (Houston) in the Life Support Systems division for astronaut crew health and wellness and specializing in space food and related items. He was recruited to join SlimFast Foods during its high growth period when they were creating their own R&D team to better navigate their future by self-development of their products. While at SlimFast, Michael became a part of Unilever when they acquired SlimFast, and Michael became the Director of Unilever’s Global Technology Center for Health & Wellness. His leadership role encompassed both strategy and execution of rolling out new products and technology across the Unilever global platform of brands. H-E-B recruited Michael to lead product development for their newly created Central Market brand for the epicurean, foodie, organic and natural customers. While at H-E-B for 14 years, Michael grew into various leadership roles including the Director of Own Brand (Private Label) for Product Development and Regulatory. He built an industry leading team of scientists and product development professionals that he led to develop products across the store including food, health & wellness, beauty, paper, plastic and general merchandise items from suppliers around the world.
ROBERT BOOTH
Robert Booth was a Special Agent with the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security from 1974 to 2002. His overseas assignments as a security officer include Beijing (1975-1977), Geneva (1977-1978), Tokyo (1978-1980), Haiti (1985-1987) and Paris (1992-1995). Domestically he was assigned to the Washington Field Office (1974-1975), the Secretary of State's Protective Detail (1980-1982), Special Investigations (1982-1985), the Office of Training (1987-1990), Chief, Special Investigations Branch (1990-1992) and Deputy Director, Office of Counterintelligence (1996-2002) and Acting Director (2001-2002). As a consultant he worked for the State Department’s Office of Counterintelligence from 2003-2012.
Robert is the recipient of two State Department Group Meritorious Honor Awards (Beijing and Tokyo), two individual Superior Honor Awards for Counterintelligence excellence (Paris and Washington, D.C -), one Group Superior Honor Award (Washington, D.C.), one CIA National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation for Operation Sacred Ibis (Washington D.C.) and one Department of Energy Meritorious Service Award (Washington, D.C.) He was nominated for the FBI Director's Group Award and a State Department Group Superior Honor Group Award for his role in the Kendall Myers spy case - Operation Vision Quest.
Born In Johnson City, Tennessee, Robert is married and has one daughter. He has a BA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1974), a Training Specialist Certificate from Georgetown University (1990) and was an instructor with the CI Centre in Washington, D.C. from 2003-2012. He currently resides in Washington, D.C. where he is guest speaker at Catholic University and Texas A&M. Robert is the author of “State Department Counterintelligence: Leaks, Spies and Lies.”
Robert is the recipient of two State Department Group Meritorious Honor Awards (Beijing and Tokyo), two individual Superior Honor Awards for Counterintelligence excellence (Paris and Washington, D.C -), one Group Superior Honor Award (Washington, D.C.), one CIA National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation for Operation Sacred Ibis (Washington D.C.) and one Department of Energy Meritorious Service Award (Washington, D.C.) He was nominated for the FBI Director's Group Award and a State Department Group Superior Honor Group Award for his role in the Kendall Myers spy case - Operation Vision Quest.
Born In Johnson City, Tennessee, Robert is married and has one daughter. He has a BA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1974), a Training Specialist Certificate from Georgetown University (1990) and was an instructor with the CI Centre in Washington, D.C. from 2003-2012. He currently resides in Washington, D.C. where he is guest speaker at Catholic University and Texas A&M. Robert is the author of “State Department Counterintelligence: Leaks, Spies and Lies.”
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JAMES M. OLSON |
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Born in LeMars, Iowa. B.A. (mathematics and economics), University of Iowa. J.D. (international law), University of Iowa. Member of Iowa Bar. U.S. Navy (attained rank of Lieutenant Commander, USNR).
Career officer in the Directorate of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency, serving mostly overseas in clandestine operations. Served as Chief of Counterintelligence at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Overseas assignments in the U.S.S.R., Austria, and Mexico. Foreign languages: French, German, Russian, Spanish.
Recipient of the Intelligence Medal of Merit, the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Counterintelligence Excellence Medal, the Donovan Award, and several distinguished achievement awards. Awarded the Silver Star Award at the Bush School for excellence in teaching.
Assigned by the CIA to the George Bush School of Government and Public Service in College Station, Texas, as an officer-in-residence in December 1997. Teaching courses on intelligence, counterintelligence, and national security. Frequent guest lecturer at other courses, conferences, and symposia. Appointed a permanent faculty member of the Bush School in August 2000. Now serving as a Professor of the Practice.
Author of “The Ten Commandments of Counterintelligence,” “Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying,” and “To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence.”
Outside interests: church, tennis, bicycling, baseball (avid fan), foreign languages, history, literature.
Address: Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4220. Tel. 979-862-8827. Email: jolson@tamu.edu
Career officer in the Directorate of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency, serving mostly overseas in clandestine operations. Served as Chief of Counterintelligence at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia. Overseas assignments in the U.S.S.R., Austria, and Mexico. Foreign languages: French, German, Russian, Spanish.
Recipient of the Intelligence Medal of Merit, the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, the Counterintelligence Excellence Medal, the Donovan Award, and several distinguished achievement awards. Awarded the Silver Star Award at the Bush School for excellence in teaching.
Assigned by the CIA to the George Bush School of Government and Public Service in College Station, Texas, as an officer-in-residence in December 1997. Teaching courses on intelligence, counterintelligence, and national security. Frequent guest lecturer at other courses, conferences, and symposia. Appointed a permanent faculty member of the Bush School in August 2000. Now serving as a Professor of the Practice.
Author of “The Ten Commandments of Counterintelligence,” “Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying,” and “To Catch a Spy: The Art of Counterintelligence.”
Outside interests: church, tennis, bicycling, baseball (avid fan), foreign languages, history, literature.
Address: Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4220. Tel. 979-862-8827. Email: jolson@tamu.edu
