GRMA Summit

The 2020 GRMA Summit will be a series of virtual webinars. See below for details.

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Over the upcoming months the GRMA with the help of our sponsors are looking to bring exciting content that we’d normally share during our annual summit directly to your computer.

• August 13—1:30pm – 3:30pm EST – Plenary Topic: GRMA Address & Virtual Audit Panel
  • GRMA Address – The GRMA will provide an update of key organizational activities and member benefits update
  • Virtual Audit Panel – Hear from industry leaders as they discuss both the advantages & challenges associated with Virtual/Remote Audits, the GRMA Virtual/Remote Guidance Document, and Compliance Assessment Capabilities.
    
    Meet our Distinguished Panel:
    
    • Jozef Jamrich, CTO of Repositrak
    • Katie Fillinger, Business Unit Manager Dietary Supplements, NSF
      
    • Lauren Maloney, Food Safety & Supply Chain, Accreditation Manager, PJRFSI
      
    • Josh Grauso, Operations Manager, Supplier Quality Audit & Certifications, UL-VS
      
    • Karin Athanas, Acting Executive Director, TIC-Council
      
    • Ella Riggs, Principal Safety Analyst, Whole Foods Market, Inc & GRMA Board Director
      
    • Mike Finamore, CEO of Gemini & GRMA Board Chair
      

• August 20  – 1:00-2:00pm EST–Learning Session: Employee Protection/Masks
  • Presenter: Kim Trautman, Executive Vice President of Medical Device Services, NSF International
  • Know Your Masks – We’ve all heard of the benefits, but come find out what mask is right for you and your business environment.
    
  • Review of mask types:
    
    • N95
      
    • K95
      
    • Medical and surgical
      
    • DIY cloth coverings
      
  • The information covered will help you decide which face mask to choose as part of your COVID-19 risk mitigation plan and for your own personal use.
    

• September 8  – 1:30-2:30pm EST–Learning Session:  Business Continuity/ Supply Chain Management Best Practices
  • Presenter: Paul Damaren, Senior Vice President, Food Safety & Supply Chain, PJRFSI
  • COVID-19 is continuing to challenge our systems in a number of ways; hear from an industry expert on best practices.  The session is intended to cover the following:
    
    • Supply Chain Management & Business Continuity Overview
      
    • Building a Robust Audit Program
      
    • Risk Considerations
      
    • Supplier Selection & Approval Process
      
    • Supplier Monitoring & Managing Considerations
      
    • Use Automation to Benchmark

• September 24  – 1:30-2:30pm EST–Learning Session:  Operating During COVID-19 – Helping Manufacturers & Retailers Minimize Risks and Provide Reassurance
  • Presenter: Paul Medeiros – Managing Director, Consulting and Technical Services, NSF International
    Retailers and manufacturers can face unique challenges when it comes to protecting their employees and customers during the pandemic. In these businesses, even a small outbreak can dramatically reduce production or ability to operate, or cause a complete facility shutdown, due to isolation requirements when workers are exposed to the virus.
    NSF has a number of best practices to offer as continue assessing and developing COVID-19 prevention and reopening plans for businesses and workplaces around the world – from iconic fast food restaurants and popular hotel chains to office buildings, manufacturing facilities and museums – this session is to help highlight a number of these best practices to help your organization.
• October 8—1:30–3:30pm EST – Plenary Topic: Securing Connected IoT Devices – What You Need To Know, UL – Gonda Lamberink
  • Connected devices provide incredible innovation opportunities for medical and consumer devices, but also increasing cybersecurity risks. IoT devices need to be equipped with critical security features to mitigate this risk, and also be able to meet the threshold set by new IoT security regulations.  Learn how you can incorporate IoT security into your product development process and help demonstrate security to regulators, retailers and end customers.

• October 20th  – 1:30-3:30pm EST–Plenary Session: Prepare for and Manage an FDA Inspection – During COVID
  • Presenters: Tara Lin Couch, Ph.D., Senior Director, Dietary Supplement and Tobacco Services & Bryan Coleman, Senior Director, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Services of EAS Consulting Group
    The FDA is continuing to plan field inspections and pursue their regulatory enforcement and compliance priorities across all segments of industry. This session is intended to help you understand what to expect with FDA’s restructured in-person & virtual inspection techniques.
    • How can you greatly improve your experience and inspection?
    • What is the scope of FDA inspectional authority?
    • What are some “Do’s” and “Don’ts”?
      

• October 29—1:30pm – 2:30pm EST – Learning Topic: Audit of the Future
  • Technology is changing manufacturers quality systems, hear from Jozef Jamrich, CTO of Repositrak, about how technology can augment and advance compliance activities

• November 10—1:30pm – 2:30pm EST– Learning Topic – Machine Learning (Amazon)
  • Hear how the industry is using machine learning to continually improve quality/consumer safety

• January 28 – 1:30pm 3pm EST – Plenary Topic: 2021 Kickoff & Panel Discussion on CBD/Hemp Seed Oil
  • The GRMA is looking to provide a best practices program for manufacturers using CBD/Hemp Seed Oil as an ingredient in their products.  Hear from a panel of retailers, certification bodies, manufacturers on their challenges and active projects within the GRMA to help provide solutions.
  • GRMA 2021 Kickoff and Summit Closing