Program Manager Workshop 

Patrick Kennelly is Program Director at the Association of Food and Drug Officials, supporting food regulatory programs and leading training in retail and manufactured food safety, and leadership. He previously directed the Food Safety Program at the California Department of Public Health, served as WAFDO President, and held Advisory Board roles with the Western Institute for Food Safety and Security (WIFSS), Center for Produce Safety, and California Organic Products Advisory Board. He also managed California’s food emergency response team (CalFERT) which was responsible for foodborne illness outbreak investigation.

Joseph Corby worked for the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for 37 years retiring in 2008 as the Director of the Division of Food Safety and Inspection. He is currently a Senior Advisor for the Association of Food & Drug Officials (AFDO), and he serves on the Board of Directors for the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) and the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE). He is also an Instructor for IFPTI, Louisiana State University, NEHA and the University of Tennessee. He has been an outspoken advocate for the advancement of a nationally integrated food safety system and continues to work with numerous groups and associations in support of this cause.

Brenda Morris is the Produce Safety Director at the Association of Food and Drug Officials, supporting food regulatory produce safety programs and developing and leading training in produce safety, retail, and manufactured food safety, leadership, and instructor skills training. She has more than 10 years of food inspection experience in three states, and more than 10 years as Bureau Chief and Assistant Director for retail and manufactured food programs at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Morris served as the AFDOSS President and AFDO Vice President.

Steve Mandernach is the Executive Director for the Association of Food and Drug Officials. He is a former Bureau Chief for the Iowa Department of Inspections Food And Consumer Safety Division where he led the manufactured food regulatory program. He is a past AFDO president.

Elisabeth Wirsing serves as the Senior Environmental Health Program Manager at the Vermont Department of Health. This role includes directing the statewide Food & Lodging Program work in retail food, manufactured food, shellfish, and lodging sanitation since 2010. She completed an MPH in Epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and the CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship program. Wirsing is a board member and past president of the Northeast Food and Drug Officials Association (NEFDOA) and past president of the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) Board of Directors.

Brooke Benschoter is a communications and brand strategist with more than 40 years of experience helping organizations translate complex work into clear, compelling stories. Throughout her career, she has worked across industries—including education, healthcare, agriculture, publishing, biotechnology, and media—supporting national and international organizations as they shape how their work is understood by stakeholders. Benschoter's philosophy is simple but powerful: every organization, project, and collaboration has a brand, whether it is intentionally managed or not. Effective communication doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built through strategy, clarity, and ownership at the highest levels. She brings a deep appreciation for both the art and science of communication, combining brand strategy, data, research, and audience insight to help teams lead with what matters most.