Gina R. Bellinger serves as the founder and President of Food Safety Net Services. Gina obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Texas A&M University. Her research interests include development of baseline and microbial mapping data in the meat industry. She is co-author of several noted publications concerning the control of pathogens in food processing operations and has been involved in the food industry for the last 15 years. Her involvement and support of the food industry has earned her several awards, including the NMA Supplier of the Year Award in 2003 and the FSIS Women Owned Small Business of the Year award in 2006.more

John W. Bellinger is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Food Safety Net Services. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 1976 and a Master of Science degree in 1978. While completing his graduate studies, he was an instructor of animal science and coached the Texas A&M Meat Judging Team. John is also the CEO of Agri-West International, Inc., an international and domestic marketing firm offering brokerage and consulting services for the food industry. He has served as the Chairman of the Southwest Meat Association, on the Executive Committee of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, on the Texas Beef Council Board of Directors, on various committees of the National Cattleman's Beef Association, on the Texas A&M Agricultural Advisory Council, and is the Founder of the Houston Livestock Show Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest. John also served as Chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation in 2006.more

Dr. Gary C. Smith is a member of the Board of Directors for Food Safety Net Services and is currently Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University and Adjunct Professor at Texas A&M University. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from California State University in 1960 and his Master of Science degree from Washington State University in 1962. He earned a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 1968. Dr. Smith has received numerous awards in teaching, research, and service from the American Meat Science Association, the American Society of Animal Science, the National Meat Association, the U.S. Meat Export Federation, Beef Magazine, National Livestock Grading and Marketing Association, the International Meat Coaches Association, the Livestock Publications Council, and the National Association of Meat Purveyors. Dr. Smith and his wife Kay have 6 children and 13 grandchildren and enjoy living in beautiful Colorado. more

Dr. Keith Belk joined FSNS in 2008 as Director of Scientific Affairs. Dr. Belk is also a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University and has numerous years of experience in the food industry. He received a B.S. and M.S. in Animal Science from Colorado State University and a Ph.D. in Meat Science from Texas A&M University. Dr. Belk has received numerous awards for his contributions to the meat industry from the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the American Society of Animal Science, Colorado State University, and the American Meat Science Association, among others. In 2005, Dr. Belk received the Marketing Assistance Award for Re-establishment of Export Markets for US Beef from the USDA-AMS-LS. He is currently President-Elect for the American Meat Science Association, and is a member of ASAS, IFT, NCBA, IAFP, the Colorado Cattleman's Association, the National Western Stock Show Association, and the Colorado Livestock Association. He has presented over 300 professional addresses and guest lectures, and has authored hundreds of abstracts, articles, reports, book chapters, and reviews. Dr. Belk's research interests include red meat safety and quality, live animal development, international trade, and quality management.more

Bob Pickard joined Food Safety Net Services in the spring of 2002 as a consultant and was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors in 2003. He graduated from Texas A&M University with his Bachelor of Business Administration in 1961 and then with a MBA in 1962. He spent 35 years working with two department stores in both the operations management and finance areas of the business. Bob and his wife, Mary, have three children and four grandsons.more

FSNS welcomes Chris Edelen as a Member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Edelen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to FSNS. Currently he is President and CEO at LeafGuard and Beldon Home Solutions Inc. Prior to that Mr. Edelen has served as Division President at Norwood Promotional Products, President at RCC Koozie™ Division and Senior Vice President of Fox Photo. He is also a current member at Harvard University Joint Center For Housing Studies, focused in Remodeling Futures Council as well as an Advisory Board Member at Boundless Network. Most recently he served as a Board Member at Senator Promotional Group USA, Inc. Mr. Edelen received his Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, TX and annually attends the YPO Harvard Business School Presidents Seminar. more

Alan Uecker joined Food Safety Net Services as the Chief Financial Officer in 2004 after numerous years in the accounting and finance industry. Alan attended The University of Texas at Austin where he received his Bachelor's of Business Administration in Accounting. He earned his Master's Degree in Taxation from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a Certified Public Accountant. While earning his Master's Degree, Alan became a member of Beta Gamma Sigma at UTSA. Alan and his wife, Jill, have two daughters, Meghan and Rachel.more

Dr. Kendra Nightingale joined FSNS in early 2013. She has a strong background in molecular microbiology and the overall goal of her work is to integrate basic and applied sciences to control foodborne pathogens through the use of combined sampling, testing and subtyping. Dr. Nightingale received her B.S. degree in Agriculture and M.S. degree in Food Science from Kansas State University and obtained her Ph.D. at Cornell University in Food Science with a concentration in Food Microbiology and minored in both Epidemiology and Microbiology. After completing her postdoctoral training at Cornell University, Dr. Nightingale joined the Department of Animal Sciences at Colorado State University, where she was on the faculty for five years prior to transferring to Texas Tech University in the fall of 2011 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Dr Nightingale will continue to be an Associate Professor at Texas Tech while advising FSNS.more