ASQ Professional Development Meeting


Tuesday November 17, 2009

 Location: Rothchild Catering - Baron's Place, Ten Mile Center,  8807 Kingston Pike, Knoxville

 Doors Open

 5:30 PM

 Pre-Dinner Program

 6:00 PM

 Dinner

 6:30 PM

 Main Program

 7:30 PM

 Dinner is $20.00

Please contact our Arrangements Chair for reservations by 4:00 pm Friday 11/13/2009:
Sherman Meade @ 865/453-7177 (switchboard -w), 428-3446 (Fax) or e-mail.

Pre-Dinner Program:

6:00 - 6:30 PM

Not Scheduled

Dinner Menu:

Expected Meal:  Mixed greens topped with mandarin oranges, pineapple, berries and nuts, with citrus vinaigrette dressing; Sliced pork loin served with roasted new red potatoes and steamed sugar snap peas; followed by apple pie with a maple infused crust. As always, freshly brewed iced tea, coffee, and rolls/bread are included with the meal.

Post-Dinner Program:

7:30 - 8:30 PM

Staying on Top!

Presentation by Lona Garner and Megan Murphy of Bush Brothers & Company

Once you get to the top of your industry, how do you stay there?  Lona Garner and Megan Murphy of Bush Brothers & Company will discuss how a local family-owned food company has been in business for over 100 years and continues to remain #1 in the Prepared Bean market.  The development and implementation of the Bush Quality Management System (BQMS) was undertaken to ensure the business can continue to meet more demanding consumer expectations, while managing the challenges of an ever changing Food Industry.  They will take you on a journey through the development and implementation of their Quality Management System by sharing the approach, obstacles and challenges that were, and continue to be, encountered while trying to revolutionize their Quality world.

About the Speakers:  Megan Murphy and Lona Garner

Megan Murphy is the plant Quality Systems Manager for Bush Brothers & Company at their Dandridge, TN facility.  Bush Brothers has two manufacturing plants, the flagship plant here in TN and another facility in Augusta, WI (near Eau Claire).  A Certified HACCP Manager and SQF Practioner, Megan’s responsibilities include developing, implementing, training, monitoring, and auditing the quality systems necessary to ensure consistent adherence to product specifications, SOP’s, and regulatory requirements.  This role encompasses the entire Supply Chain to include raw product, condiment and packaging material, manufacturing and labeling, and finished product warehousing and distribution. 

Megan graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a BS in Food Systems and Technology: Food Science in June, 1999.  Prior to joining Bush Brothers in 2004, she worked for Sara Lee Foods at a Hillshire Farm meat plant near Green Bay, WI.  A USDA inspected facility, products produced there included: Hillshire Farm sausage, ham and fresh brats, as well as Ball Park hotdogs and Deli Select lunch meats.  While at Sara Lee, Megan worked in the QA department as a Quality Supervisor and then as the HACCP Coordinator and Food Safety Specialist.  When she’s not working her hobbies include traveling, spending time with family and friends and adopting dogs in need of a home.

Lona Garner is a Sr. Quality Food Scientist at Bush Brothers in Knoxville, TN. As technical support for the Bush Brothers manufacturing facilities and Co-manufacturing locations, her responsibilities vary from product launches to supply chain process improvements. Currently, her main focus is completion of the Bush Quality Management System.

Prior to joining Bush Brothers, Lona worked for Fresh Express (Packaged Salads), Carolina Ingredients (Spice Blending) and Unilever (Lipton and Knorr soups).  Over the last 10 years, her job roles in the food industry have remained in Quality Assurance and Food Safety.  Lona obtained a B.S. in Food Science and Technology from the University of Tennessee and has most recently acquired certifications for HACCP Manager and SQF Practitioner.  Her hobbies include spending time with family, watching UT Football and traveling.

 

Last updated 10/21/09.  Contact your Internet Chair to express comments or suggest needed changes to this web page.