Ms. Hardt-English has M.S. Degree in Food Science and Agricultural Engineering from the University of California (Davis) and a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of California (Berkeley). For the last 30 years at PhF Specialists and FMC Corporation, Ms. Hardt-English has served as a FDA and USDA recognized process authority, instituted HACCP programs, conducted thermal processing studies and designed and executed both process and equipment validations. She has published many articles on thermal processing and validation.

Mr. Cocotas has an M.S. degree in Food Science from the University of California (Davis) and 35 years experience in food quality assurance and packaging development with Continental Can, Squibb/Beech-Nut, T.J. Lipton and Pepsi-Cola. For the last 19 years he has consulted both domestically and internationally on HACCP development and implementation, quality and food safety systems, and new package development. He has written and audited HACCP programs for seafood, meat, spices, and canned foods. He has also taught HACCP courses in Central America, Mexico, and China, including "HACCP for Medical Devices" with FDA.