
Kevin Mehring
IPA PresidentUAS Laboratories LLC
Kevin Mehring received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Chemistry in 1994. While advancing rapidly through his first career phase at the global chemical/coatings company PPG Industries, Kevin obtained his MBA from Marquette University. In 2007, Kevin joined probiotic ingredient manufacturer Danisco A/S (now DuPont Nutrition & Health) where he held three positions over 6 years – Global Product Manager, Global Business Director and finally Director of Sales – Americas – Supplements & Pharma. In 2013, Kevin joined forces with Lakeview Equity and his business partner, Dr. Greg Leyer, to acquire majority ownership of UAS Laboratories where he serves as President/CEO.

Marco van Es
IPA Vice-PresidentWinclove Probiotics
Marco van Es is Director Innovation and Regulatory affairs at Winclove Probiotics, a globally recognized probiotic research and manufacturing company. In 1998 just after obtaining his Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Delft University of Technology (The Netherlands), Marco started working for Winclove and has been involved in the probiotic industry ever since. Within Winclove he held various positions, from project manager livestock industry to production, and product management of probiotics for human consumption. Marco combines his expertise in implementing innovative microbiota management concepts with a strong personal conviction regarding the health promoting properties of probiotic bacteria. It is his mission to improve people’s quality of life by influencing human microbial populations. He is a firm believer in the co-evolution of man and microbe, and he is convinced that the microbiome is intrinsically linked with our health. The true extend of the interaction between bacteria and our health is currently being unraveled by science. Humans are taking the first steps in utilizing the full potential of influencing our microbiota to benefit health. In 2013 Marco joined the international probiotic association (IPA) as Board Member, and he will further intensify his involvement in the IPA as vice president starting in 2019. He believes consumers, health care professionals, regulatory bodies, and scientists need an industry that develops and produces safe and effective products, and which is represented by a clear global voice.

Michael H. Lee
IPA TreasurerGarden of Life - Atrium Innovations
Michael H. Lee, MS, MBA, is Senior Director of Product Development at Garden of Life, LLC, a subsidiary of Nestle. Mr. Lee has been formulating probiotic-based products for 14+ years, a well as other supplements and functional foods. He solidified Garden of Life/Atrium’s IPA membership in 2009 and currently serves the IPA as a BOD member (since 2011), as well as Executive Committee Member & Treasurer (since 2012). He received his MBA from Thunderbird, School of Global Management (AZ, USA) and MS and BS in biological sciences from South Korea.

Mike Bush
IPA SecretaryKerry Taste & Nutrition
Michael has more than 25 years of experience leading venture-backed businesses in the natural products, healthcare and bioinformatics industries. As president and CEO of probiotic innovator Ganeden, Michael grew the market of the company’s patented ingredient to over 65 countries and more than 1,000 SKUS, culminating with the 2017 merger with Kerry, Inc. Additionally, he founded a national business growth consultancy firm, co-founded a national biomedical services firm and led acquisitions and merger activities for a global medical services company. Bush has received numerous awards for his business leadership, including Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Most Influential People Under 40, four-time Weatherhead 100 winner as well as multiple innovation awards. Michael is passionate about the natural products industry and speaks frequently at industry events including BevNet, Natural Products Expo and Supply Side. He holds degrees in Biomedical Technology and Business Administration.

Aileen Green
ADM Protexin
Aileen gained her BSc Hons in Animal Science in 1996 and Masters, focusing on the benefits of probiotics in poultry, at the University of Liverpool whilst working as a nutritionist. Joining Protexin in 2000 initially as their Technical Advisor, Aileen was promoted to Director in 2003. Her role as Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs incorporates responsibility for product regulatory compliance and meeting the company's cGMP certification (MHRA). Aileen is also a Board Member of BAFSAM and is active with PRI and HFMA.

Marco Caspani
Centro Sperimentale Del Latte S.R.L.
Marco Caspani has been working in the health ingredients industry for more than 18 years. With a degree in food science he has covered several roles in different Companies until he joined CSL in 2012, a company that since 1948 studies, develops and produces strains for the food and pharmaceutical Industries. In his role of General Manager, Marco defines and executes the strategies and leads the Company to become a global recognized probiotic manufacturer.

Esben Laulund
Chr hansen
Esben Laulund is the Vice-President Emerging Technologies - R&D at Chr hansen A/S. Chr hansen is a large international research & development organization where Esben leads innovation processes, manages & implements organizational changes securing customer driven innovation, implements LEAN principles and participates in international collaborations with customers. Esben organizes and manages national and international research collaborations as well as establishes clusters for improving innovations for companies. He is also Chairman of the Danish Food Cluster since August 2015.

Amy Smith
Danisco USA, Inc.
Amy earned a doctorate degree in Microbiology from Louisiana State University, minoring in virology and molecular biology. After years conducting research on microbial pathogenesis and molecular detection methods, Amy began a career with DuPont, and is currently the Regulatory Global Lead for DuPont Probiotics. Amy’s ability to understand science, regulation, and real-world industry promotes a forward-thinking probiotics industry platform for the success of DuPont probiotics, all at the current pace of immense industry growth.

Jean Philippe Paré
Danone
Jean Philippe PARÉ is CEO of Danone Spain & Portugal since 2017. He started his career in 1981 in Danone France where he held several positions. From 1997 to 2011 he held successively General Manager positions: Lu (Spain), Bagley (Argentina), H.P. Foods (UK & US), Lu (France). In 2007 he became President of Kraft Foods France. In 2011 he became Danone Executive Vice-President Research & Development & Quality also becoming member of the Executive Committee.

Anna Bearpark
Fit-BioCeuticals Limited
Anna Bearpark is Head of Technical Product Development for Blackmores, Australia’s leading natural health company. A naturopath with a Bachelor of Health Science in Complementary Medicine and a Masters in Clinical Trials Research, Anna joined Blackmores in 2015 where she leads product development for Australasia including the retail brand, PAW, nutritional foods and Blackmores Institute. She developed therapeutic, functional food and personal care products for Australasia, including China FTZ and WFOE, driven the launch of a range of probiotics and been involved in the development of 6 clinical trials. Anna previously spent 11 years at BioCeuticals where she played a key role in lobbying the TGA to recognize S. cerevisiae (boulardii). Developed 300+ new, innovative products and involved in 16 clinical trials. Anna is a current IPA board member.

Jarrow Rogovin
Jarrow Formulas
Jarrow Rogovin is the founder and Past President of the IPA. Jarrow Formulas began selling probiotics in 1986, introducing the multi-strain concept and emphasizing QA/QC testing. Jarrow has been active in regulatory affairs for many years and introduced the IPA to the FDA which led to subsequent meetings and open discussions between IPA and FDA. There is now an annual probiotic symposium in Bethesda with FDA Office of Dietary Supplement Programs leadership and IPA in attendance.

Isabelle Champié
Lallemand Health Solutions
Isabelle Champié is Global Sales & Marketing Director for Lallemand Health Solutions for 11 years. With her team, she is responsible for the Marketing and development of LHS probiotic B2B sales around the world. She is also involved in the licensing or development of new products, new application and potential acquisitions. Before Isabelle worked in Marketing in a pharmaceutical group for over 11 years. She has a Master of Microbiology and a Master of Business.

Nobuhisa Oe
Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.
Nobuhisa Oe serves as the Senior Manager, BtoB Section – Sales and Marketing Department in the International Division, responsible for activities in sales and business developments for food ingredients all over the world except Japan. He joined Morinaga Milk in 1993, immediately after obtaining B.A. (Liberal Arts), International Christian University in Tokyo. He has experiences in various functions for overseas business such as purchasing, logistics and financial controls also for consumer products, but most of all, he loves the current position to promote Morinaga's Human Residential Bifidobacteria (HRB) such as B. Longum BB536.

Matt Schueller
Nature's Way
Matt Schueller joined the board of the IPA in 2018. Having been with Nature’s Way since 1993, he is currently serving in the role of Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer for Nature’s Way. My focus within the IPA is looking at issues from the lens of how do we make smart decisions that help the probiotics category achieve long-term growth.

Joshua Baisley
Nutrasource Pharmaceutical & Nutraceutical Services
Josh joined Nutrasource in 2013, bringing over 12 years of quality assurance, clinical, preclinical and regulatory natural health product experience and an additional four years of antibody/biologics development experience. Having depth in both regulatory filings and project management of clinical trials provides Josh with an understanding of regulatory body thinking and has led to his respected relationship with Health Canada. From 2011-2014, Josh participated on a Health Canada expert working group as a member representing the dietary supplement industry to work toward harmonization of safety reporting for supplements, drugs and biologics. Josh’s regulatory filings throughout his career account for over 10 percent of all applications received by Health Canada’s Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate for clinical research trials. Josh has a Hons. B.Sc. from the University of Guelph, specializing in microbiology and certificates in regulatory affairs and clinical trial project management.

Scott Bush
Probiotic Consulting
Scott Bush has successfully developed and directed high growth-high profit probiotic businesses at Rhone-Poulenc, Rhodia, Danisco and DuPont. He is a probiotic expert highly recognized and respected in the field and well-connected to the global community of manufacturers, suppliers, marketers and researchers. Currently Scott is president of Probiotic Consulting, delivering expert marketing, technical and operational guidance to assist companies wishing to enter into, or expand their presence within, the probiotic market.

Francesco Girardo
Probiotical
Francesco Girardo is the Sales Director for Probiotical, in Italy, focused on the international market. He has 16 years of experience in the probiotic field, managing at first an R&D laboratory developing research in the combination of probiotics and oligoelements and afterwards outlicensing patents in the Sales Dept. of Probiotical. Francesco has experience in management, fundraising, European projects and marketing and sales.

Nancy Hamren
Springfield Cremery, Inc.

Joachim Solfronk
SymbioPharm
Since 1995, Joachim is Managing Director of SymbioPharm GmbH, which started with probiotic drugs in 1954 and has since continually expanded its product range by food supplements, medical devices and cosmetics based on probiotic bacteria. In 1998, he also became Managing Director of SymbioVaccin GmbH, a company producing individual autovaccines, derived from patient’s own bacteria. Joachim received his MBA from the University of Mannheim, Germany and studied economics in Florence, Italy, followed by a 5-year employment with Delton AG (consulting and M & A). Joachim is also Board Member of PRI.

Shinji Hashimoto
Yakult Honsha
Shinji Hashimoto is the General Manager of the International Business Department at Yakult Honsha and in charge of legal regulations on functional foods, mainly in Asia. Prior to that, he worked at Yakult Central Institute as a developer of dairy products such as fermented milk drinks for about 20 years. One of his responsibilities was applying for Foods for Specified Health Uses in Japan, which can be effective for promoting the health benefits of foods to consumers.