FMI announced Wednesday that it had promoted four managerial staff members for the organization's strategic emphasis on the food safety and regulatory environment. 

Receiving the recognition were:

Stephanie Barnes – Barnes serves as FMI’s chief regulatory officer and legal counsel, expanding her regulatory role to include legal oversight of FMI’s bylaws and antitrust guidelines. After over three years as the industry’s regulatory point person, Barnes took on new responsibilities, assuming the role of FMI’s legal counsel. Barnes has helped member companies craft compliance strategies on a broad range of regulations, including the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act. She has also compiled dozens of regulatory comments, represented the industry on a number of food law panels and hosted informational webinars during her tenure at FMI.

LeAnn Chuboff – Since 2009, Chuboff has dedicated her career to the division of FMI responsible for developing, maintaining and promoting the Safe Quality Food Institute’s (SQFI) code. Earning recognition in 2017 as vice president, SQFI technical affairs, Chuboff has effectively directed all technical aspects of the SQFI program, including the food safety standards, guidelines, training materials and audit and certification protocols. The recent upgrade of the SQFI code to Edition 8 brings a greater focus to Chuboff’s technical expertise, as she addresses the latest emerging food safety and quality issues, industry challenges and provides solutions for a safer supply chain.

Sarah Malenich – Malenich was recently promoted to director, Safe Quality Food Institute sales and marketing, a role focused on promoting and elevating all SQFI programs, which include the SQF globally accepted food safety and quality certification program as well as the SQFI Ethical Sourcing Certification- which is an environmental, health and safety (EHS) management system and social accountability program for the food industry.  Malenich is responsible for leading and directing the development and implementation of strategic sales, marketing and business development plans and initiatives to uphold SQFI’s mission to be the single most trusted source for global food safety and quality certification. 

Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, CFS – Dr. Thesmar was promoted to chief food & product safety officer & senior vice president, food safety programs. Her six-year tenure at FMI began at a time when the regulatory landscape was changing rapidly and the Food Safety Modernization Act first registered as a game-changer for the food retail industry. Thesmar is responsible for supervising food safety programs, initiatives, activities and resources for FMI and its members.