Dianne Wolters, Chair
Vice President, Product Development
Everspring Farms
Dianne Wolters is Vice President of Product Development at Everspring Farms, a diversified agri-food company specializing in sprouted and whole grain flours and blends. Based in Seaforth, Ontario, Dianne leads new product development and innovation and oversees the Quality and Sales teams. She holds an M.Sc. in Food Science from the University of Guelph and serves as Chair of the Ontario Cereal Industry Research Council (OCIRC).
Ben Kroetsch, Vice Chair
Senior Manager, North America Research & Development, VA Coatings Product Category
Griffith Foods
Ben Kroetsch is a Senior Manager at Griffith Foods in Toronto, Ontario. He focuses on medium to long-term innovation projects in alternative protein, bakery, and material processing categories such as NA Category R&D leader for Value Added Coatings and Alternative Proteins. By drawing on his culinary experience, food science knowledge and leadership skills Ben works to find surface innovative solutions that “blend care and creativity to nourish he world.”
Sunny Mathew, M.Sc., Secretary / Treasurer
Director, Quality Assurance
P&H Milling Group
Sunny Mathew brings over 25 years of experience with P&H Milling Group and its associated milling companies, having held progressive roles including Site QA Manager, Corporate Food Safety and Organic Processing Manager, and, since 2012, Corporate Director of Quality Assurance. He currently oversees food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance across all seven P&H Milling sites in Canada. Sunny also has more than a decade of international experience in the food industry across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Sunny has a M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry and has a degree in Milling Technology – The German School of Milling
Gerardo Gracia-Gonzalez
Senior Scientist
Mondelez International
Originally from northeast Mexico. Background in Chemistry, Microbiology (MSc) & Cereal Science (PhD). Experience in Brewing and Soybean Oil Industries. With Mondelēz International R&D since September 2015, specializing in Flour and Product development. Enjoy spending time with family, making music, building guitars, electronics, movies.
Gerardo holds a PhD, in Cereal Science from North Dakota State University
Brittany Huschka
Director of Innovation, R&D
Dare Foods
Brittany Huschka holds a Master of Food Science from the University of Guelph’s cereal lab and is a Certified Cracker and Cookie Baker from the American Institute of Baking. She spent much of her career at Loblaw Companies Limited, developing products for leading private label brands such as No Name, President’s Choice, and PC Black Label. Brittany later served as Director of Innovation at Premium Global Foods before joining Dare Foods in May 2024. As Director of Innovation, R&D, she leads a team committed to delivering creative, high-quality products for beloved Canadian brands including Bear Paws, Breton, and RealFruit.
Anthony Pracek
Plant Manager
Ardent Mills
Anthony Pracek has 35 years of experience in the milling industry, having held a range of roles across sanitation, production, safety, operational leadership, and plant management. His hands-on leadership was instrumental during key transitions, including overseeing critical information-gathering efforts during the sale of the mill from Mondelez to Ardent Mills.
Anthony has a B.Sc. in Business Management – University of Phoenix, Arizona (2011)