Eric Mittenthal
North American Meat Institute
Chief Strategy Officer
Eric Mittenthal is the Chief Strategy Officer at the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), previously serving as the organization’s vice president of public affairs since 2012. He leads the Meat Institute’s sustainability initiatives and also focuses on developing communications to bust myths on the role of meat in the diet and how meat is produced. Mittenthal joined NAMI from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) where he worked closely with dietitians and led IFIC’s efforts in communicating with journalists and influencers. Mittenthal moved to Washington D.C. following a career as a television reporter and producer in several markets around the country including Atlanta, Jacksonville, NC and Idaho Falls, ID. He graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and also received a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA.
North American Meat Institute
Chief Strategy Officer
Eric Mittenthal is the Chief Strategy Officer at the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), previously serving as the organization’s vice president of public affairs since 2012. He leads the Meat Institute’s sustainability initiatives and also focuses on developing communications to bust myths on the role of meat in the diet and how meat is produced. Mittenthal joined NAMI from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) where he worked closely with dietitians and led IFIC’s efforts in communicating with journalists and influencers. Mittenthal moved to Washington D.C. following a career as a television reporter and producer in several markets around the country including Atlanta, Jacksonville, NC and Idaho Falls, ID. He graduated from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and also received a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA.
Melissa San Miguel
Red Flag
Head of Americas
Melissa leads integrated communications, public affairs, and advocacy strategies for Red Flag and IBC clients across the Americas and globally, with a particular focus on the intersection of policy and perception in agriculture, food, and consumer goods. Melissa began her career in the U.S. diplomatic service and, immediately before joining Red Flag, was Senior Director for Global Strategies at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (now the Consumer Brands Association).
Red Flag
Head of Americas
Melissa leads integrated communications, public affairs, and advocacy strategies for Red Flag and IBC clients across the Americas and globally, with a particular focus on the intersection of policy and perception in agriculture, food, and consumer goods. Melissa began her career in the U.S. diplomatic service and, immediately before joining Red Flag, was Senior Director for Global Strategies at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (now the Consumer Brands Association).
Tim Faveri
Maple Leaf Foods
VP Sustainability & Shared Value
Tim Faveri is Vice President, Sustainability & Shared Value at Maple Leaf Foods. In this capacity, Tim leads the development and execution of the strategy and initiatives that deeply embed sustainability and shared value into Maple Leaf’s culture and business. Sustainability and shared value provide the framework for Maple Leaf’s purpose - Raise the Good in Food.
Tim is a seasoned business and sustainability professional and his specialties include sustainability strategy development and implementation; carbon management; corporate reporting / disclosure; stakeholder engagement; and supply chain and environmental risk assessment and verification. Prior to joining Maple Leaf, Tim was Director, Sustainability and Responsibility at Tim Hortons Inc., one of North America's largest publicly-traded restaurant chains and iconic Canadian companies.
Tim sits on the Board of Directors of Circular Materials Ontario. He holds a Bachelor’s degree (Biology) from Queen’s University and a Master’s of Health Science from University of Toronto.
Maple Leaf Foods
VP Sustainability & Shared Value
Tim Faveri is Vice President, Sustainability & Shared Value at Maple Leaf Foods. In this capacity, Tim leads the development and execution of the strategy and initiatives that deeply embed sustainability and shared value into Maple Leaf’s culture and business. Sustainability and shared value provide the framework for Maple Leaf’s purpose - Raise the Good in Food.
Tim is a seasoned business and sustainability professional and his specialties include sustainability strategy development and implementation; carbon management; corporate reporting / disclosure; stakeholder engagement; and supply chain and environmental risk assessment and verification. Prior to joining Maple Leaf, Tim was Director, Sustainability and Responsibility at Tim Hortons Inc., one of North America's largest publicly-traded restaurant chains and iconic Canadian companies.
Tim sits on the Board of Directors of Circular Materials Ontario. He holds a Bachelor’s degree (Biology) from Queen’s University and a Master’s of Health Science from University of Toronto.
Cathy East
Albertsons Companies
Vice President National Replenishment and Planning: Meat/Seafood/Deli/Bakery
Cathy East is the Vice President of National Replenishment and Planning for the Albertsons Companies supporting the Meat, Seafood, Deli, Food Service, Starbucks and In Store Bakery departments across all Regional Divisions. In her role, Cathy is responsible for oversight and standardization of best practices within decentralized replenishment and planning teams in more than 20 distribution centers across the enterprise. She is a valued member of Supply Chain leadership, responsible for managing inventory, reducing waste, strategizing collaborative purchasing and planning for and meeting retail demand while maintaining the highest food safety and quality standards throughout the distribution network.
She began her career as a Production Supervisor for IBP (now Tyson) and held positions in both operations and quality control where she gained valuable industry experience working on several major initiatives including the development of the first HACCP documentation in a beef production facility as well as standardizing yields for close trim products. She then moved to a similar role within Safeway, Inc. before transitioning to procurement in 2006 when she was named Group Director of the Meat and Seafood Product Supply Department. Upon the acquisition of Safeway by the Albertsons Companies, she was promoted to her current role of Vice President.
Cathy holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Although raised in a big city, she has become a passionate advocate of animal agriculture and serves as the lead member of Albertsons Companies Animal Well Being Committee. Cathy served as the first female co-chair of the Annual Meat Conference in 2018 and 2019 and is a recent board member addition to the newly formed Women in Meat Industry Network (WIMN). She also serves as the Chairperson of the Retail Advisory Committee for the National Pork Board and is a member of Colorado State’s Ag Next Industry Innovation Group. She has been named to Progressive Grocer's Top Women in Grocery in 2015, 2016, and 2018 and 2020.
Albertsons Companies
Vice President National Replenishment and Planning: Meat/Seafood/Deli/Bakery
Cathy East is the Vice President of National Replenishment and Planning for the Albertsons Companies supporting the Meat, Seafood, Deli, Food Service, Starbucks and In Store Bakery departments across all Regional Divisions. In her role, Cathy is responsible for oversight and standardization of best practices within decentralized replenishment and planning teams in more than 20 distribution centers across the enterprise. She is a valued member of Supply Chain leadership, responsible for managing inventory, reducing waste, strategizing collaborative purchasing and planning for and meeting retail demand while maintaining the highest food safety and quality standards throughout the distribution network.
She began her career as a Production Supervisor for IBP (now Tyson) and held positions in both operations and quality control where she gained valuable industry experience working on several major initiatives including the development of the first HACCP documentation in a beef production facility as well as standardizing yields for close trim products. She then moved to a similar role within Safeway, Inc. before transitioning to procurement in 2006 when she was named Group Director of the Meat and Seafood Product Supply Department. Upon the acquisition of Safeway by the Albertsons Companies, she was promoted to her current role of Vice President.
Cathy holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Although raised in a big city, she has become a passionate advocate of animal agriculture and serves as the lead member of Albertsons Companies Animal Well Being Committee. Cathy served as the first female co-chair of the Annual Meat Conference in 2018 and 2019 and is a recent board member addition to the newly formed Women in Meat Industry Network (WIMN). She also serves as the Chairperson of the Retail Advisory Committee for the National Pork Board and is a member of Colorado State’s Ag Next Industry Innovation Group. She has been named to Progressive Grocer's Top Women in Grocery in 2015, 2016, and 2018 and 2020.
