NC Governor’s Food Safety and Defense Task Force 2026 Annual Conference
Schedule
Tue, 01 Sep, 2026 at 09:00 am to Wed, 02 Sep, 2026 at 04:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
McKimmon Center | Raleigh, NC
Making Every Connection Count: Shaping the Future of Food Safety Together
About this Event
The North Carolina Governor’s Food Safety and Defense Task Force and the Carolinas Association for Food Protection kindly invite you to attend the 2026 Annual Food Safety and Defense Conference on Tuesday, September 1 and Wednesday, September 2 at NC State University McKimmon Center.This year’s conference theme is Making Every Connection Count: Shaping the Future of Food Safety Together. In the afternoon, on the second day there will be an opportunity to engage in a 3-hour tabletop exercise focused on organizations addressing food related public health issues. This year’s event focuses on Shaping the Future of Food Safety Together by transforming the lessons learned from North Carolina’s recent public health challenges into collaborative solutions. By Making Every Connection Count, we will strengthen our collective networks and drive the innovation necessary to ensure organization stability and public health in an ever-changing landscape.
Continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided both days and are included in your registration fees. Lastly, CEUs will be given for full attendance of the conference.
In addition, please visit the NC Governor’s Food Safety and Defense Task Force website for more information about the Task Force: http://www.ncfoodsafetytaskforce.com/. If you have any questions regarding the 2026 Annual Conference please reach out to Candice Christian, Past-Chair of NCFSDT, via email at [email protected] and Veronica Bryant, Chair of CAFP via email at [email protected].
Day 1: September 1
🕑: 09:00 AM
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING
Info: Arrive, sign in and enjoy light refreshments
🕑: 09:30 AM
WELCOME
Info: Daniel Gaines, Chair of NC Governor’s
Food Safety and Defense Taskforce
Veronica Bryant, Chair of the
Carolinas Association for Food
Protection
🕑: 09:45 AM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER 1 - TAKIYAH BALL
🕑: 10:30 AM
SPEAKER 2- KRISTIN M. SCHILL, PH.D.
Info: C.bot and Infant formula
🕑: 11:15 AM
STUDENT TECHNICAL COMPETITION
🕑: 12:00 PM
LUNCH
🕑: 01:00 PM
SPEAKER 3 - ANDRE PIERCE
🕑: 01:45 PM
PANEL 1 - RECALL INFANT FORMULA AND BOTULISM
Info: Dr. Scott Whitside, Clemson
Dr. Ben Chapman, moderator
🕑: 02:45 PM
NETWORKING BREAK
🕑: 03:00 PM
SPEAKER 4 - SARA RUNKEL
Info: Produce Safety Task Force Report
🕑: 03:45 PM
CONCLUDE DAY 1
Info: Daniel Gaines, Chair of NC Governor’s
Food Safety and Defense Taskforce
Veronica Bryant, Chair of the
Carolinas Association for Food
Protection
Day 2: September 2
🕑: 09:30 AM
WELCOME - DAY 2
Info: Daniel Gaines, Chair of NC Governor’s
Food Safety and Defense Taskforce
Veronica Bryant, Chair of the
Carolinas Association for Food
Protection
🕑: 09:45 AM
SPEAKER 5
🕑: 10:30 AM
NETWORKING BREAK
🕑: 10:45 AM
SPEAKER 6
🕑: 11:30 AM
LUNCH
🕑: 12:30 AM
TABLETOP EXERCISE
🕑: 03:30 PM
CONCLUDE DAY 2
Info: Daniel Gaines, Current Chair to Todd
Taylor, Incoming Chair of NC Governor’s
Food Safety and Defense Taskforce ,
Veronica Bryant, Chair of the Carolinas
Association
Where is it happening?
McKimmon Center, 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 75.00 to USD 125.00
