TAG Adds New Expertise to its Team of Experts

The Acheson Group (TAG) has announced the addition of three employees to the team of food safety and public health experts. TAG said each individual brings a plethora of experience and specific expertise that will help advance TAG’s services offered to clientele. Added to the team are Food Safety Manager Dr. Karla Acosta-Beran, Senior Food Safety Manager Kate McInnes and Director of Accounting Shanna Robinson.

Karla Acosta-Beran, Ph.D., has worked as a health inspector in Houston, Texas, for five years. Acosta’s expertise specializes in retail food safety, but specifically, food safety training and delivery for low-literacy and underrepresented individuals. Acosta has developed multifaceted food safety training materials for food establishments, special events, farmers markets and retail establishments. She has conducted USDA-funded research at Hilton College’s food microbiology lab to explore whether the layout at farmers’ markets affects microbial cross contamination as well as research in food safety culture for hospitality establishments. Acosta has been the recipient of numerous competitive scholarships and research funds by the USDA and other external agencies to pursue food safety-related research; she is the author and co-author of more than 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings/presentations.

Kate McInnes joins TAG with over 10 years of experience in quality assurance working in analytical labs, mining and food safety. McInnes has worked in dairy, poultry, agriculture and most recently entomophagy (insect consumption for humans) as a food safety quality assurance manager, achieving BRCGS food safety certification, in an emerging industry with minimal regulation. With a strong focus on continuous improvement, McInnes has gained expertise in the areas of HACCP development and implementation, internal audit, allergen management, risk assessment, vulnerability assessment, organic certification, root cause analysis and working under CFIA, FDA and USDA regulations. She is PCQI and HACCP certified, is a BRCGS internal auditor and certified in BRCGS validation and verification, BRCGS vulnerability assessment and is working towards her BRCGS professional designation. 

Shanna Robinson has over 20 years of experience serving a variety of industries and financial positions while continually moving up to positions of increasing responsibility. She has a strong desire to take on new responsibilities and aid the company in its growth and continued success. Robinson will manage all of TAG’s accounting operations including application of financial management policies and procedures, preparation of the annual budget, cash management, and enhancement of internal controls for financial reporting.