2008 R U Ready for RFID - Speakers
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Director, Integration Solutions Division Michael Beedles has worked in the supply chain industry for over 16 years. His expertise begins with Operational Engineering experience developed when he held various management roles at United Parcel Service (UPS). Mike also has several years of experience managing supply chain logistic facilities for fortune 500 companies, which manufactured and distributed products to over 32 countries worldwide. Mike has been involved in Logistics Engineering, Sales and Marketing and has held the position of Vice President of Operations and Information Technology for a national Third Party Logistics company. He has also been involved with 3 major startup technology companies that have specialized in Information Technology services, specifically revolving around Supply Chain Management that of which 1 released an IPO and the other 2 were acquired within the past 4 years. In 2007, Mike’s third company (TRAKIT Systems) was acquired by SATO America, Inc. Mike currently holds the position of Director of Integration Solutions with SATO America, Inc. and manages the Integrations Solutions Division (ISD). Mike attended NST Institute where he majored in Automation Robotics and also completed Michigan State University’s ELI Broad graduate School of Management/Office of Executive Programs in Logistics. |
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Director, Industrial Engineering Deb Laudenslager is the Director, Industrial Engineering at The Hershey Company. Her current role involves providing strategic guidance, leadership and IE resources to the organization as Hershey begins to develop a continuous improvement culture. Additionally, Deb’s area is responsible for providing product costing and sourcing solutions for new and changing items, developing long range capacity solutions and strategic global manufacturing facility plans, and leading the organization’s RFID initiative. Deb holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University and has held various roles within The Hershey Company during her career, including Manager, Supply Chain Planning & Analysis, Production Manager, Business Analyst, and Industrial Engineer. |
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RFID Project Leader Herb Markwardt is the RFID Project Leader for Tyson Foods, the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork, and the second largest food company in the Fortune 500. In this role, Herb is responsible for design and implementation activity related to EPC-centric RFID. Prior to leading Tyson’s RFID efforts, Herb was responsible for implementation and maintenance projects involving warehouse management software in the company’s beef and pork processing facilities. |
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RFID Program Coordinator Stephen M. Moody recently retired after 24 years of active duty as a U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Warrant Officer following a 13 month deployment to the Persian Gulf as the U.S. Army Central Command Food Safety Officer. His degrees include a Master of Science in Food Science and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Kansas State University. Stephen is a senior member of the American Society for Quality, with a dual certification as a Certified Quality Auditor and a Certified Quality Engineer. As a U.S. Army civilian, he is currently the Team Leader of the Individual Combat Rations Team and serves as the RFID Projects Coordinator at the Natick Soldier Research Development & Engineering Center, Combat Feeding Directorate in Natick, Massachusetts. He leads a diverse group of scientists and engineers who perform research and development on military rations for the U.S. Department of Defense. His experience with RFID includes the planning and coordination of a large-scale technical demonstration for the initial implementation of passive RFID in the U.S. military. He currently oversees research projects that explore the use of sensor-equipped RFID tags for supply chain management and security applications. |
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RFID Project Manager Jeffrey Tazelaar is the RFID Product Manager at Lowry Computer Products, headquartered in Brighton, Michigan. Mr. Tazelaar’s chief role is overseeing the design and development of complete RFID solutions for Fortune 500 companies that fully realize the benefits of RFID technology. He also leads the development of strategies to penetrate new markets and build industry awareness of Lowry’s broad range of RFID integration services and products. Mr. Tazelaar serves on the technical boards of AIM Global, EPCglobal and AIAG, leading organizations working to establish industry-wide RFID standards. Prior to joining Lowry, Mr. Tazelaar was responsible for installing and deploying RFID solutions at Wal-Mart retail stores, Wal-Mart distribution centers and Sam’s Clubs across the country. As a leader of Wal-Mart’s RFID Strategy Team, Mr. Tazelaar identified, developed and specified new RFID retail applications such as the Fork Truck Mount and the RFID-enabled Bailer, and worked in partnership with the retailer’s hardware technology suppliers. Mr. Tazelaar holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Packaging from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. He also studied overseas at the University of London, where he analyzed and contrasted the British/European and United States packaging systems. |
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Associate Professor, School of Hospitality Management Pete Bordi is an associate professor in the School of Hospitality Management. He graduated from Penn State with BS degree in Food Service and Housing Administration. Earned his Ph D. in Education at Penn State University. He also graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. Peter and his research team designed the USDA National School Lunch Program (A Tool Kit for Healthy School Meals), USDA Child Care Program (Child Care Recipes), and USDA Thrifty Food Plan (Food Stamp Program). He is the director of the Center for Food Innovation, a Ben Franklin Center of Excellence. Peter works with many food service companies such as Sheetz’s ,Olive Garden, Eat n Park, and Metz’s , as well food manufactures, such as Franco Harris’s Super Bakery, Cargill, Hershey Foods, and McCormick in developing food products such as super soy candy bar and Penn State football soy recovery drink. Pete and Vicki have two children, Peter III, a 2007 graduate of PSU, and a daughter, Devon, a junior at Penn State. |
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Frank DeWolf Frank DeWolf is Director of the RFID Center of Excellence, located at Penn State Behrend, where his team has trained over 1,200 industry professionals and students in the use of RFID technology. Prior to joining Penn State Behrend, he held numerous management positions at GE Transportation Systems including Supply Chain e-Business Leader, Inventory Control Manager, Manager of Flow Manufacturing, Six Sigma Transaction Quality Leader, Manager of Manufacturing and Sourcing Systems, and ERP Implementation Program Manager. DeWolf is also a faculty member in the Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend, where he teaches Supply Chain Management courses, and manages the SAP ERP program. |
