Featured Speaker

Sharon Beals is a seasoned food safety and regulatory executive with more than four decades of leadership experience in the foodservice and manufacturing sectors. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Women’s Meat Industry Network (WMIN), where she champions gender diversity and professional growth within the meat industry. In addition, she holds executive roles as a Food Safety & Regulatory Executive at Beaconpoint Labs and is the founder of SKKB-LLC, a consultancy focused on strategic food safety and regulatory risk management. Throughout her distinguished career, Sharon has held senior positions at major organizations including US Foods, Maple Leaf Foods, Smithfield, Tyson/IBP, and Arby’s. She has built a reputation for excellence in organizational design, sanitation systems, M&A risk assessments, and developing comprehensive food safety programs that ensure regulatory compliance and operational integrity across the industry. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Foods from Cornell University. She is deeply involved in industry leadership and currently serves as the 2024 President-Elect of the American Meat Science Association (AMSA). Her influence extends through board memberships with Women in Agribusiness and advisory roles with the Food Safety Summit Educational Board and the Alliance for Advanced Sanitation. She is also a former Chair and Board Member of the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo). Her contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the 2024 Demeter Award from Women in Agribusiness and back-to-back finalist recognitions for the Most Impactful WMIN of the Year in 2022 and 2023. Beyond her professional pursuits, Sharon enjoys life with her husband, Don, as they embrace grandparenthood. She remains deeply passionate about mentorship, advocating for women in the food industry, and upholding the highest standards in food safety.