Presenters

Erin Bowers

Dr. Erin Bowers holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and Ph. D in Toxicology, both from Iowa State University.  Dr. Bower’s previous experience includes roles as an associate scientist and adjunct assistant professor in the department of agriculture and biosystems engineering at Iowa State. In these roles she was active in research and extension activities for issues related to the management of mycotoxins and other low-level contaminants in grains.  Additionally, she developed and taught “feed safety, ingredient quality & analytics, a course for undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing careers in feed and grain industries.  She is lead instructor for the Food Safety Preventative Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Preventative Controls for Animal Food Curriculum.

Connie Hardy

Connie Hardy is an education specialist at Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach Program. Her role is to provide technical and business assistance to organizations that are developing food, feed, or industrial products from grains and agricultural crops through the Iowa grain quality initiative and farm, food and enterprise development program. Connie completed a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food science and technology at ISU and is lead instructor for the animal food – Preventative Controls Qualified Individual Certification Program (PCQI) with FDA.

Paul Davis

Paul Davis, Ph.D., Dipl. ACAS, is AFIA’s director of quality, animal food safety and education. He oversees AFIA’s Safe Feed/Safe Food certification programs and the association’s education and training courses that are designed to enhance the industry’s ability to produce feed efficiently and safely. He also works closely with the legislative and regulatory team on issues related to the Food Safety Modernization Act and serves as the staff contact for AFIA’s Quality Committee. He joined AFIA in July 2017 from Tennessee Farmers Cooperative in La Vergne, Tenn. He received a doctorate in animal sciences and master’s degrees in animal science and food and resource economics from the University of Florida. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Tennessee Technological University. 

Gary Huddleston

Gary Huddleston is AFIA’s director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs. He oversees AFIA’s efforts surrounding regulatory issues involving the Food and Drug Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation. Huddleston also assists in the development and coordination of AFIA’s education and training programs. Prior to joining AFIA, he worked for Southern States Cooperative, Inc., which he joined in 1984 post?graduation from Tennessee Technological University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and economics.?