Industry Advisory Board
2024/25 Board
Janelle Barnes is Director, Engineering & Facilities, at Target. Prior to that she was the Technical Center Element Director as part of the Engineering Department at Kellogg® Company. Janelle holds a BS in Biosystems Engineering.
Ellen Bornhorst, PhD, is R&D Associate Principal Engineer, Process Engineering for PepsiCo® working primarily on Starbucks products for the North American Coffee Partnership. Dr. Bornhorst obtained a B.S. in Biosystems Engineering at Michigan State University and completed M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at Washington State University.
Holly Bowers is VP of Gas Engineering and Supply at Consumers Energy. Holly is responsible for the engineering, system improvements, enhancements, and integrity for over 27,000 miles of distribution lines and 2,467 miles of transmission pipelines that serve 1.6 million customers in Michigan. Holly holds a BS in Biosystems Engineering and a MBA in Business Administration.
Jessica Bruin is a Launch Progam Manager with Kellanova as of July 2023. Prior to Kellanova, Jessica was a Process Engineer with Nestlé Nutrition – CTCU Fremont starting as an intern in 2011 and full-time in 2013. She holds a BS and MS in Biosystems Engineering.
Lisa Buchholz is Analytical Sciences Leader, Product & Process Technology, R&D with Corteva Agriscience™. Corteva Agriscience™, the agriculture division of DowDuPont™, is a global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and contribute to the health and quality of life of the world's growing population. Lisa holds a BS in Biological Sciences.
Matt Burtt (Chair Elect) is Director Clinical Quality Assurance with AbbVie®. AbbVie's 29,000 employees are scientists, researchers, communicators, manufacturing specialists and regulatory experts located around the globe. Matt holds a BS in Biosystems Engineering and a MBA.
Shelley Crawford is Plant Manager for Chelsea Milling Company manufacturer of Jiffy Mix. Prior to Chelsea Milling Company, she was with Kellogg® Company for 15 years as Group Engineering Manager. Shelley holds a BS in Biosystems Engineering and a MBA in Marketing.
Michelle Crook, PE, is Senior Project Engineer for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. She provides engineering project management and oversight for DNR projects. Michelle holds a BS in Environmental Engineering.
Linnea Crowley (Riddell) is a Process Engineer in the Kellanova North America Salty Snacks group working with the cracker brands (Cheez-It, Club, and Townhouse). Her professional experience began with a 6-month process engineering internship at Nestle Nutrition, followed by 2 summer internships with Kellogg's (Process Engineering then Manufacturing). She started full-time into a 3-year Supply Chain Rotational Program with Kellogg's where she completed 3, 1-year roles within Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality and Food Safety. She holds a BS in Biosystems Engineering with a food concentration and minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.
Laura Doud, PE, (Past Chair) is an Environmental Engineer Specialist in the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. She works with waste storage facilities, fuel storage, drinking water and irrigation wells, concrete and soils investigations, aquaculture, food processor wastewater issues, and the siting of livestock production facilities under the Michigan Right to Farm program. Laura holds a BS in Biosystems Engineering.
Cassaundra Edwards is Supplier Quality Engineer for Tillamook® in Tillamook, OR. Prior to Tillamook®, she was the Production Manager at Bimbo Bakeries®. Cassaundra holds a BS in Food Engineering and a MS in Mechanical Engineering.
Gene Ford is Vice President R&D, at Standard Process, the visionary leader in whole food nutrient solutions based in Palmyra, Wisconsin. He has more than 25 years of experience in domestic and international product development, manufacturing, logistics, and sales within the consumer food industry. Gene holds BS and MS degrees in Agricultural Engineering and an Executive MS degree.
Jeremy Hoeh, PE, is Environmental Health Programs Unit Supervisor for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Drinking Water and Environmental Health Division. He has a broad range of education and experience across DEQ programs. Jeremy holds a BS in Chemical Engineering.
Eric Iversen, PE, is Senior Project Manager with PEA Group in Lansing, MI. Eric is well versed in local and state regulatory agency procedures regarding site planning, permitting, SRF public financing, floodplain and wetland permits, storm water management and treatment, ground and surface water discharge permits, sanitary sewers, water, onsite wastewater (drain fields), wastewater lagoons and well systems, etc. including the standards and requirements of MDOT, MDEQ, MDTMB, and MDLARA. Eric holds a BS in Civil Engineering.
Kevin Kowalk, PE (MI and WI), (Chair), is a Project Manager and Senior Engineer for Water and Natural Resources and Site Characterization and Remediation Divisions for EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc., PLC. Kevin holds BS and MS degrees in Biosystems Engineering.
Mitch Miller is the Senior Processing System Engineer for the General Mills-Yoplait® Plant, Reed City, Michigan. General Mills is among the world's largest food companies with U.S. shoppers on average placing at least one General Mills® product into their shopping cart each time they visit the grocery store. Mitch holds BS and MS degrees in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering.
Amber Mostiller, is V.P. - Quality Assurance with E.W. Grobbel Sons, Inc. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2010 with a B.S. in Biosystems Engineering, specializing in food engineering. E.W. Grobbel, is a meat processor in Detroit, MI. Amber's expertiese in Quality Assurance and Food Safety is incorporated though plan development, equipment design, and final product specifications. She is studying for her Master's in Food Safety with expected graduation in May 2024.
Steve Radke, PhD, is the Director of Sales – Further Processing for JBT - FoodTech. JBT FoodTech is known for developing new and innovative solutions for the food processing industry. Steve holds BS and PhD degrees in Biosystems Engineering.
Rob Yoder, CFPS, is Southeast Region Fluid Power Specialist for BDI®, Inc. a large industrial Distribution Company based in Cleveland, OH. Rob provides Fluid Power technical solutions to BDI® customers, and Fluid Power product sales support to all local branch sales personnel in the southeast region of the U.S. Rob holds a BS degree in Agricultural Engineering Technology.
Dave Young, PE, is Senior Manager Engineering for Michigan Operations, Perrigo, Inc. He managers the Michigan plant operations production and facility engineering teams in the Allegan and Holland sites that manufacture and package over the counter (OTC) medications. Teams include production, automation, vision system, and distribution engineering. He graduated from Miami University in 1998 with a BS in Engineering Management – Manufacturing Engineering focus.
Ex-officio
John Denny, Undergraduate Advisor, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Todd Forbush, ASABE Michigan Section Representative
Ella Harrell, Undergraduate Student Representative
Leo Kempel, Dean, College of Engineering
Ian Klug, Graduate Student Representative
Brad Marks, PE, Chair, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Kelly Millenbah, Dean, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Luke Reese, Industry Liaison, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Vacant, CANR Alumni Board Representative
Spring 2022 & BE Showcase April Meeting