Board of Directors &
Sponsors
Paul Patterson PhD, Director (2025)
Penn State University
Dept. of Poultry Science
213 Henning Bldg
University Park, PA 16802
Telephone: (814) 865-3414
Fax: (814) 865-5691
Email: phpl@psu.edu
E. L. Knicely, Secretary (2026)
Virginia Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Division of Marketing & Dev.
102 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone: (804) 786-0480
Fax: (804) 225-4434
Email: el.knicely@vdacs.virginia.gov
Diana Sparks, Treasurer (2025)
CCF Brands
5211 Village Parkway, Ste 101
Rogers, AR 72758-5105
Telephone: (479) 464-0544
Fax: (479) 254-8532
Email: dsparks@ccfbrands.com
Ken Koelkebeck, PhD, Asst. Director (2025)
Department of Animal Sciences
282 Animal Sciences Lab
1207 W Gregory Dr. MC-630
Urbana, IL 61801
Telephone: (217) 244-0195
Email: kkoelkeb@illinois.edu
Michael Abbott (2026)
NEQS Coordinator
California Dept of Food & Ag
1220 “N” Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (916) 900-5060
Fax: (916) 900-5359
Email: Michael.Abbott@cdfa.ca.gov
Board
|
Elizabeth Myers (2025) |
Nichole Martz (2026)
Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture
Suite G5
2301 North Cameron St.
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Telephone: (717) 346-3223
Email: nimartz@pa.gov
Mike Persia (2026)
Associate Professor, & Extension Specialist
Virginia Tech
175 W. Campus Drive,
3060 Litten Reeves Hall
Blacksburg, VA, 24067
Phone: 540-315-0735
Email: mpersia@vt.edu
Deana R. Jones, PhD, (2027)
United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
Egg Safety and Quality Research Unit
Russell Research Center, PO Box 5677
Athens, GA 30605-5677
Telephone: (706) 546-3486
Fax: (706) 546-3035
Email: Deana.Jones@ars.usda.gov
Dianna V. Bourassa, Ph.D. (2027)
Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist
Auburn University
Poultry Processing, Dept. of Poultry Science
302 A Poultry Science Bldg., 260 Lem Morrison Dr.
Auburn, AL 36849-5416
Telephone: (334) 844-2610
Email: dvb0006@auburn.edu
Oscar Garrison (2026)
Director of Food Safety
United Egg Producers
1720 Windward concourse Ste 230
Alpharetta GA 30005
Telephone: (770) 360-9220
Fax: (770) 360-7058
Email: OGarrison@unitedegg.com
Aaron Kiess PhD (2026)
Department of Poultry Science, N.C. State University
Scott Hall Rm 243B
Raleigh NC, 27695
Phone: (919)515-5526
Email: askiess@ncsu.edu
Tina Gage (2027)
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
Agriculture Area Supervisor
#1 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72205
Telephone (501) 944-1822
Email: tina.gage@agriculture.arkansas.gov
Roland Mader (2027)
Arizona Department of Agriculture
1688 W Adams
Phoenix, AZ, 85007
Office: 602-542-0884
Cell: 602-466-0075
Fax: 602-542-4194
Email: rmader@azda.gov
Elisa Maloberti (2025)
American Egg Board
Manager Innovation & Food Safety
8755 W. Higgins Rd, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60631
Telephone: (847) 296-7043
Email: EMaloberti@aeb.org
Rafael Rivera (2027)
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
Manager, Food Safety & Production Programs
1530 Cooledge Road
Tucker, GA 30084-7303
Telephone: (770) 493-9401
Fax: (770) 493-9257
Email: rrivera@uspoultry.org
Shari Yeatts (2027)
ProEGG Cooperative, Food & Farm Compliance Coordinator
30749 W. Latham St
Buckeye AZ 85326
Office Phone: 720-858-4081
Cell: 623-692-8451
Email: shari.yeatts@proegg.com
Cheri Ellis (2025)
Division Manager, Arkansas Department of Agriculture
#1 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, AR 72215-8505
Telephone: (501) 823-1745
Fax: (501) 907-2234
Email: cheri.ellis@agriculture.arkansas.gov
Justin Jarocki, (2027)
Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture
Meat, Egg and Poultry Inspection
Dairy and Meat Inspection Division
Farmington, MN 55024
Telephone: (651) 285-8327
Email: justin.jarocki@state.mn.us
Pratina Adhikari, DVM, PhD(2027)
Associate Professor, Dept. of Poultry Science
Mail Stop 9665
325 Wise Center Dr.
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-3416
Email: Pratima.adhikari@msstate.edu
Lifetime Honorary Board Members
Joe Beck, retired USDA
Jewell Hutto, former Georgia Egg Association Director
Cary Wise, retired, Utah Department of Agriculture & Food
Dave Reeseman, retired UEP
Danny Hughes, retired Arkansas Livestock & Poultry Commission
Richard Hoyle, retired North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Tony Herrera, retired California Department of Food & Agriculture
Deanna Baldwin, former Program Manager, Maryland Department of Agriculture
Kenneth Anderson, PhD, North Carolina State University
The National Egg Quality School gratefully acknowledges the support provided by the following organizations:
American Egg Board, Auburn University, Arizona Department of Agriculture, Arkansas Department of Agriculture, CCF Brands, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Egg Nutrition Center, Food and Drug Administration, University of Georgia, ProEgg Cooperative, University of Illinois, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, University of Minnesota, Mississippi State University, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State University, North Carolina State University, United Egg Producers, United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and Virginia Tech. The instructor staff includes leading university scientists, experienced state and federal regulatory officials, and seasoned industry organization representatives.
The National Egg Quality School gratefully acknowledges the following Donors for their Generous Support of the 2025 School.
DIAMOND
Hickman’s Family Farms
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
Versova & Companies
-Center Fresh Group
-Centrum Valley Farms
-Hawkeye Pride Egg Farm
-Iowa Cage-free
-Morning Fresh Farms
-Oakdell Egg Farms
-Ovation Farms
-Trillium Farms
-Willamette Egg Farms
PLATINUM
Mid-States Specialty Eggs LLC
MPS Egg Farms
Opal Foods
GOLD
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
Eggland’s Best
Hendrix Genetics
MOBA
Prairie Star Farms
Weaver Eggs
SILVER
Braswell Family Farms
CCF – Great Day Foods
Frost, PLLC
Hidden Villa Ranch/Nest Fresh Eggs
Kuhl Corporation
BRONZE
Coast Packaging Co.
Evonik Corporation
Lathem Family Farms
Marketing Concepts Group
ProEgg Inc.
FRIEND OF NEQS
Aviagen Inc.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO CAL-MAINE FOODS FOR DONATING THE EGGS USED IN THE LABORATORIES