NSF Experts

Rick Andrew - Global Business Development Director of Water Systems

Expertise:

• Drinking Water Treatment

Professional Experience:

• Operations Manager, Drinking Water Treatment Units, NSF International
• Program Representative III, DWTU Certification Program, NSF International
• Senior Chemist, Ann Arbor Tech Services

Educational Background:

• MBA, University of Michigan
• B.S., Honors Chemistry Program, University of Michigan

Tarik Bellahcene - Managing Director, Europe-Middle East-Africa (EMEA)

Expertise:

• Hydraulic Engineering
• International Management
• Water Sector Product Certification
• EMEA Business and Market Intelligence

Professional Experience:

• Project Manager, Tractebel Suez Group
• Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Educational Background:

• MSc (Master in Applied Sciences) – Liège University
• Executive Education (TGM) – INSEAD
• Hydraulic Civil Engineer – Algiers University

Lori Bestervelt, Ph.D. - Executive Vice President & Chief Technical Officer and Vice President, Sustainability Division

Expertise:

• Laboratory Technical Operations
• Toxicology
• Microbiology
• Dietary Supplements
• Nutritional Biochemistry

Professional Experience:

• Director of Toxicology, NSF International
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Pathology and Experimental Toxicology, Parke-Davis, Pharmaceutical Research Division
• Postdoctoral Fellow/Lecturer, University of Michigan Department of Biochemistry
• Research Assistant, University of Michigan Toxicology Division

Educational Background:

• Ph.D., Toxicology, University of Michigan
• M.S., Nutritional Biochemistry, University of Michigan
• B.S., Microbiology/Immunology, University of Michigan

Jeremy Brown - Sr. Technical Reviewer, Municipal Water Systems

Expertise:

• Plumbing
• Water Distribution and Health Effects Criteria
• Municipal Drinking Water Products
• Pressure Rating Systems for Plastic Materials

Professional Experience:

• Codes and Regulatory Manager, NSF International
• Industrial Hygienist/Air Monitor, Probe Environmental

Educational Background:

• B.A., Science, Central Michigan University

Tom Chestnut - Senior Vice President, Global Food Division

Expertise:

• Supply Chain Food Safety and Quality
• Food Safety - Processing
• Food Industry Audits/Consulting

Professional Experience:

• Vice President, Supply Chain Food Safety and Quality Programs, NSF International
• Vice President, Total Quality, Darden Restaurants
• International Director, Product Safety and Quality, Darden Restaurants
• Director, Quality Assurance, General Mills Restaurants
• Director, Environmental Health, Coles County Health Department, Charleston, Illinois
• Vice-Chair, 2000 Conference for Food Protection (CFP)
• Member, CFP Executive Board 1998-2004

Educational Background:

• Graduate Studies, Administration/Management, University of Illinois
• B.S., Environmental Health, Illinois State University

Robert Frayer - Global Managing Director, Automotive Certification

Expertise:

• Engineering
• Physical and Mechanical Testing

Professional Experience:

• Director Research and Development, NTN Technical Center
• Manager of Technical Center & Production Engineering Services, NTN Technical Center
• Supervisor Mechanical Research, Federal Mogul
• Research Engineer, Federal Mogul

Educational Background:

• MBA, University of Michigan
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan

Maxine Fritz - Executive Vice President, Pharma Biotech

Expertise:

• Pharmaceuticals, Biotech and Biologics- Development to Post Commercialization
• Regulatory Strategy – Pre and Post Submission
• Regulatory Compliance- Auditing and Remediation
• Quality Systems Implementation/Remediation and Auditing
• FDA  Mock Inspections and Preparedness
• GMP Training
• Regulatory and Quality Due Diligence
• Supplier Audits

Professional Experience:

• Executive Vice President of the Pharmaceuticals and Biologics Practice, Becker & Associates Consulting, Inc.
• President, MKF Consulting
• Vice President, Quintiles
• Senior Director Regulatory Compliance, Biogen Idec
• Senior Manager Quality, IMS Health
• Investigator, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Educational Background:

Mary Getz, Ph.D. – Director, Quality Systems

Expertise:

• Medical Devices
• Pharmaceuticals
• Combination Products
• In Vitro Diagnostics
•  Regulatory Compliance
• Quality Systems

Professional Experience:

• Director of Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, Pricewaterhouse Coopers
• Divisional Vice President, Quality and Compliance, Abbott Laboratories
• Vice President, Quality and Regulatory Affairs, Quest Diagnostics
• Vice President, Quality and Compliance, Biosense Webster
• Vice President, Worldwide Quality and Compliance, Neutrogena
• Director, Quality and Regulatory Affairs, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery Division
• Director, Quality Systems, Janssen Pharmaceutica
• Manager, Technical Support for National Quality Assurance, McNeil Consumer Products
• Manager, National Microbiological Services, McNeil Consumer Products
• Supervisor of Microbiology, Ortho Diagnostic Systems, Inc.

Educational Background:

• Ph.D., Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers University
• M.S.,   Bacteriology and Health Sciences, Wagner College
• B.S.,   Bacteriology and Health Science, Wagner College

Stan Hazan - Senior Director, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs

Expertise:

• Federal Legislative Liaison
• Federal Regulatory Affairs – FDA, EPA, CDC
• Professional Associations Liaison
• World Health Organization Liaison
• Environmental and Public Health Education
• Food Safety Training

Professional Experience:

• Executive Director, NSF Training and Education
• General Manager, Nonfood Compounds Registration Program, NSF International
• General Manager, Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals and System Components Certifications, NSF International
• Senior Director, Marketing and Business Development

Educational Background:

• Certificate, International Food Law & Regulation, Michigan State University
• MPH, University of Michigan
• MBA, Marketing/Finance, University of Michigan
• B.S. Chemistry/Biochemistry, University of Toronto

Elizabeth A. Jones, APR - Vice President, Global Marketing & Business Development

Expertise:

• Marketing
• Business Development
• Communications
• Regulatory Affairs
• Corporate and Social Responsibility

Professional Experience:

• Vice President, Global Marketing, NSF International
• Vice President, Corporate Communications, Rockbridge Growth Equity 
• Vice President, Corporate Communications, Quicken Loans
• Captain (O-6), U.S. Navy/Navy Reserve, Retired
• Vice President, Communications, Marketing and College Relations, Aquinas College

Educational Background:

• MBA, New Hampshire College
• Department of Defense Advanced Course in Communications, University of Oklahoma
• B.B.A., Management and Marketing, St. Mary’s College

Nasrin Kashefi - General Manager, Plastics

Expertise:

• Plastic Piping
• Water Distribution and Health Effects Criteria
• Mechanical Plumbing
• Pressure Rating System for Plastic Materials

Professional Experience:

• Member of Hydrostatic Stress Board
• Member of UPC Technical Committee
• Vice Chair, ASTM F17 Subcommittee on Composites

Educational Background:

• M.A., Organizational and Interpersonal Communication, Eastern Michigan University
• B.A., Public Relations, College of Mass Communication Sciences

Chandana Kathuria - Chief Information Officer & Vice President

Expertise:

• Information Technology
• Global Operations
• Business Development

Professional Experience:

• Business Leader, Discovery Research Informatics & Global Program Management and Discovery Technologies Program, Pfizer Global Research & Development
• Director, Information Technology, NSF International
• Product Development Manager, CSC Healthcare Group
• Assistant Director, Information Technology, Michigan Peer Review Organization

Educational Background:

• M.S., Computer Science and Engineering, University of Toledo
• B.E., Electrical Engineering, Delhi College of Engineering

Kurt Kneen, Ph.D. - Vice President, Global Laboratories

Expertise:

• Chemistry
• Mass Spectrometry

Professional Experience:

• Technical Manager, Chemistry Laboratory, NSF International
• Senior Chemist, Organic Laboratory, NSF International
• Instructor, Michigan State University

Educational Background:

• Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry, Michigan State University
• B.A., Chemistry, Wittenberg University

Sarah Krol - Global Managing Director - Food Safety Product Certification

Expertise:

• Quality Assurance
• Regulatory Compliance
• R&D and Product Testing
• Consumer Products
• Food and Environmental Safety

Professional Experience:

• General Manager, Foodservice Equipment, Home Product Certification Programs and Private Label Assurance, NSF International
• General Manager, Nonfood Compounds Registration Program, NSF International
• Senior Quality Assurance Specialist, NSF International
• Chemist, Parke Davis (now a division of Pfizer)

Educational Background:

• B.S., Chemistry, Western Michigan University

Kevan P. Lawlor - President and Chief Executive Officer

Expertise:

• NSF Mission, Vision, History, and Range of Services
• Role of NSF and Independent Testing and Certification
• Systems Registration
• Food Safety

Professional Experience:

• President, NSF-International Strategic Registrations, Ltd.
• Senior Vice President, Food Safety, NSF International
• Senior Vice President and CFO, NSF International

Educational Background:

• B.S., Finance, Pennsylvania State University
• Harvard Business School Executive Education

Kerri LeVanseler, Ph.D. - Director, Chemistry Laboratory

Expertise:

• Analytical Chemistry (instrumentation, methods, test design)
• Method Development (dietary supplements, organic and inorganic chemicals)
• Regulatory requirements i.e. pesticides, food contact materials, Proposition 65, etc.

Professional Experience:

• Senior Chemist, NSF International
• Analytical Chemist, WaterTech
• Director of Scientific Support, Diversey
• Member of AOAC International
• Member of the American Chemical Society

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. Analytical Chemistry, Wayne State University
• B.S. Chemistry, University of Michigan-Dearborn

Martin Lush – Global Vice President, Pharma Biotech and Medical Devices

Expertise:

• Pharmaceuticals Manufacture, Testing and Quality Assurance
• Troubleshooting, Problem Solving and Risk Management
• Education and Organizational Change
• Remediation/Crisis Management

Professional Experience:

• Honorary Lecturer, School of Pharmacy, University of Strathclyde

• Vice President, NSF Health Sciences
• Senior Partner, NSF-DBA
• Partner, David Begg Associates
• Manufacturing Plant Manager, Astra Zeneca
• Senior Microbiologist, National Health Service (England)
• Senior Research Scientist, Procter & Gamble

Educational Background:

• MSc, Medical Microbiology, St Mary’s Medical School, London
• BSc, Medical Sciences, St Mary’s Medical School
• Post Graduate Diploma, Quality Management, University Strathclyde, Glasgow
• Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences

Jesse D. Miller, Ph. D. - Director, Applied Research Center

Expertise:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Next Generation Sequencing
• Product Commercialization
• Front End Innovation
• Food Safety Diagnostics
• Health Care Diagnostics

Professional Experience:

• Director, Applied Research Center, NSF International
• Research Scientist, Applied Research Center, NSF International
• Microbiology Specialist, 3M
• Adjunct Lecturer, Minneapolis Community and Technical College
• Marine Biologist, University of Mississippi

Educational Background:

• Post-Doctoral Fellow, Coral Reef Biology, University of Mississippi
• Ph.D., Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine
• B.S., Microbiology, University of Michigan

Jim Morris - Executive Director, Pharma Biotech

Expertise:

• Pharmaceutical Plant Operations
• Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance
• Sterile Products Manufacture
• Human Error Prevention
• Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Audits

Professional Experience:

• Executive Director, NSF-DBA
• Deputy Director, QA/QC and Regulatory Affairs, Massachusetts Biologic Labs
• Director, Quality Assurance Parenteral Operations, Janssen-Cilag
• Team Leader Quality Assurance, Pfizer

Educational Background:

• B.S., Biological and Physical Sciences, Northwestern University
• MBA / M.A., Economics – Industrial Operations, Boston University

Andrew Papas, Ph.D. - Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Pharma Biotech

Expertise:

• Biologics
• Pharmaceuticals
• Combination Products
• Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC)

Professional Experience:

• Director of Regulatory Affairs, Pharmaceutical and Biologics Practice, Becker & Associates Consulting, Inc.
• Principal Consultant, ANP Consulting
• Senior Director Regulatory Affairs, Shire Human Genetic Therapies (Shire)
• Director Regulatory Affairs , Wyeth (Pfizer)
• CMC Regulatory Affairs Manager,  Sepracor (Sunovion)
• Scientist, U.S. FDA
• Senior Manager, Polaroid

Educational Background:

• Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Massachusetts
• MBA, Boston University
• B.A., Chemistry, Boston University

James Pink - Vice President, Europe, Medical Devices

Expertise:

• Medical Devices

Professional Experience:

• Medical Device Lead Auditor and Senior Consultant, Pink Associates Ltd.
• Head of Business Development, BSI Healthcare, EMEA
• Lead Auditor / Product Specialist, BSI Healthcare, EMEA
• Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, UK

Educational Background:

• Executive MBA, Henley Management College
• HND, Mechanical Engineering, Sheffield University

Robert Prevendar - Global Managing Director, Supply Chain Food Safety

Expertise:

• Public health and food safety, including experience with regulatory agencies and providing training, auditing, consulting for food companies worldwide

Professional Experience:

• Director of Supply Chain Food Safety, NSF International
• Managing Director of NSF Shanghai, overseeing NSF International’s operations in China

Educational Background:

• MPH, Benedictine University
• B.S., Environmental Health, Illinois State University

Ellen Martha Pritsch, Director of Business Operations, NSF Bioensaios

Expertise:

• Project Management
• New Business Development
• Product Development
• Engineering
• Strategic Planning

Professional Experience:

• Member, Board of Directors, ABES (Brazilian Sanitation Association)
• Chief Operating Officer, CORSAN
• Chief Operating Officer, SITEL

• Chief Operating Officer, CIEL

Educational Background:

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
• Graduate Studies, Environmental Sanitation, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
• Specialist in Environmental Toxicology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Dave Purkiss - General Manager, Plumbing

Expertise:

• Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals and Media
• Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution Equipment
• Recreational Water Products

Professional Experience:

• General Manager, NSF Drinking Water Additives

Educational Background:

• B.S., Biochemistry, Michigan State University

Blake Stark – General Manager, Water Treatment Chemicals and Filtration Media

Expertise:

• Drinking Water Additives

Professional Experience:

• Operations Manager, Water Treatment and Distribution Systems, NSF International
• Sanitarian I, Lenawee County Health Department

Educational Background:

• B.A., Earth Science, Adrian College

George Toscano – Vice President of Quality Systems, Pharma Biotech

Expertise:

• Pharmaceuticals and Biologics
• Quality Systems
• Data Integrity
• Laboratory Systems

Professional Experience:

• Consultant, Becker & Associates Consulting, Inc.
• President, George Toscano Consulting Inc.
• Principal Consultant, Quintiles
• Director, Quality Control and Research and Development, Propharma Inc
• Director of Research, Mankuta Gallagher & Associates
• Laboratory Manager, Propharma Inc.

Educational Background:

• MBA., Florida Atlantic University
• B.S., Biology, University of Central Florida

Kim Trautman - Executive Vice President, Medical Device International Services

Expertise:

• Medical Device Quality Systems
• International Regulatory Affairs
• Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP)
• FDA Medical Device Quality System (QS) Regulation, 21 CFR 820
• ISO 13485
• ISO/TC 210, “Quality Management and Corresponding General Aspects for Medical Devices”

Professional Experience:

• Executive Vice President, Medical Device International Services, NSF International
• Chair, MDSAP Regulatory Authority Council
• Chair, International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) MDSAP Working Group
• Chairperson, Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) Study Group 3 – Quality Systems
• International Delegate, ISO/TC 210
• Author, ISO 13485
• U.S. Technical Advisory Group Co-chair, ISO/TC210
• Associate Director, International Affairs, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Captain, Executive Office Medical Company, U.S. Army
• Biotechnology Patent Examiner, U.S. Patent Office
• Quality Assurance and Manufacturing, B. Braun Medical

Educational Background:

• M.S., Biomedical/Medical Engineering, University of Virginia
• B.A., Molecular and Cell Biology and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University