Show notes
Lily Yasuda is the Deputy Director of the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness, where she leads national initiatives that bring together food industry leaders to strengthen food safety culture and support continuous learning across the sector. She oversees collaborative working groups that develop practical, accessible tools to help companies share best practices and improve food safety outcomes. Prior to joining the Alliance, Lily held leadership roles across nonprofit organizations in the U.S., managing large-scale programs and partnerships. Her work focuses on building cross-industry collaboration, translating complex topics into actionable insights, and elevating the human stories behind food safety. Athenais Boeffard is a collaborative and people-focused production leader with over a decade of experience in food manufacturing and food safety. As Vice President of Production at Bread Alone Bakery, she oversees daily operations to deliver high-quality, organic baked goods that meet rigorous food safety and sustainability standards. Originally from France, Athenais holds an M.S. degree in Engineering and studied Food Science at Mississippi State University. She has led teams through operational change, built systems for continuous improvement, and fostered a culture where food safety is a shared responsibility. Athenais brings optimism and energy to her work every day, creating an environment where teams feel empowered, engaged, and proud of the food they produce. John Boyce has over 45 years of experience in various aspects of food production, food safety, quality assurance, sanitation, training, and auditing. He spent 25 years with Trident Seafoods, starting as a crab fisherman and then working in roles as plant manager, corporate human resources, regulatory compliance, national account sales, FSQA, and then as Director of Training and Development for the company. John is now an independent food safety consultant based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He enjoys working with clients to help them ensure food-safe products, and he is an expert partner and Core Team Member at Cultivate SA, helping assess and change food safety culture in food businesses. John is a citizen of both the U.S. and Canada and has a broad understanding of the cultures and food companies across the two countries. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Lily, Athenais, and John [49:50] about: Why the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness Mentorship Program was created, and the professional development needs it is intended to address How the Alliance matches mentors and mentees, and the factors that contribute to a successful and productive mentorship relationship Athenais and John's experience as mentorship partners, including their initial goals and how their relationship developed over time Lessons John drew from more than 45 years in food production, FSQA, training, and auditing, and what he learned as a mentor How Athenais used an outside perspective to work through food safety, operational, and leadership challenges at Bread Alone Bakery How mentorship can build communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills that may be difficult to develop through technical training alone The broader value of mentorship for strengthening collaboration, sharing knowledge, and developing professionals across the food safety field. Sponsored by: Michigan State University News and Resources News Stop Foodborne Illness Kicks Off STOP3000 Food Safety Education Month Fundraiser [3:58] FDA's Listeria Prevention Public Meeting: Experts Debate Zero Tolerance, Emphasize Environmental Monitoring and Fundamental Controls [11:51] Harvard Law Analysis Warns Food Safety Preemption Bill Could Impact More Than Additives, Create Oversight Gaps [21:12] News That USDA Cyclospora Research Was Defunded in 2026 Emerges as Nation's Largest-Ever Outbreak Continues [29:55] Alfalfa Sprouts Contaminated With Both E. coli, Salmonella Sicken 55 People in 15 States [31:53] China Investigates Illegal Use of Formaldehyde to Preserve Cabbage [42:15] Resources STOP3000 Fundraiser by Stop Foodborne Illness Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness Mentorship Program (applications open for 2027 program!) We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected]