Title: Director, Food Innovation Center
Specialty: New Product Development
Geography: CSU Spur
Spotlight: Mike leads the Food Innovation Center with the goal is to support food innovators through value-added services, kitchen and processing facilities and the creation of a space where ideas can prosper. Mike is a second-generation CSU grad in Food Science and Human Nutrition. After a master’s in food engineering from UC Davis he started his 20+ year career with roles in product development, quality systems, and strategy and portfolio management. He has lead innovation teams at Windsor Foods, ConAgra Foods and recently at Barilla, where he spent 5 years at their HQ in Parma, Italy.