The history of AFCO began in 1855 in Pennsylvania, when the company mainly sold commodity chemicals and lubricants. After several investments and acquisitions, AFCO, a Zep company, is now one of the leading providers of innovative food and beverage sanitation and water treatment technology throughout North America.

With Bob Klinetob at the helm as senior vice president and general manager, AFCO is poised to expand their “promise and deliver” style of service to the West Coast, Canada and Mexico. Through the Assure™ Sanitation Program, AFCO’s SQF- and HACCP-educated reps provide technical service and a complete suite of products, including color-change smart technology, antimicrobial intervention, janitorial, MRO/maintenance and equipment.

Don’t be surprised if you see Klinetob getting dirty installing a track treatment system in a brewery. AFCO understands that food and beverage processors are looking for a partner in their business, someone who takes a team approach in helping them create quality products while making the planet safer, cleaner and more productive.

Dr. Robert Deibel — a professor in the bacteriology department at Cornell University, chair of the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin and former head of the Food Research Institute, opened his first lab in Madison, Wis. Fifty-six years later, stainless-steel benches replace the lab’s original dark brown ones — a color chosen to represent chocolate, which was the product of Deibel Laboratories’ main client. One laboratory has multiplied to 15, with two more on the way. Deibel’s son, C.T., started in the Chicago laboratory more than 20 years ago after earning a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Florida.

In 2020, ownership transferred to C.T. — now CEO and president. Under C.T.’s leadership, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical and bioscience testing services have been added and expanded. Deibel Laboratories currently employs just less than 500 associates and continues to exemplify excellence in microbiological testing, research and consulting services to its clients.

When you ask Mark Neterer, business leader of pest management, about future goals for Corteva Agriscience, improving the quality of life by protecting homes, property and health is at the forefront.

“We look at our customer’s business holistically and ask, ‘What value can we bring? What unknown needs can we address?’” Neterer said. “We want to be bold leaders in the markets we serve. And, we want to do it the right way by adhering to the highest business principles.”

To truly innovate, Corteva’s commitment to pest prevention extends beyond new active ingredients. It’s about developing smart technologies that equip pest management professionals with the tools needed to keep facilities pest-free and exceed customer expectations.

Corteva is redefining pest management with its cutting-edge electronic remote pest monitoring tool — the ActiveSense® system. Through precise pest activity data and real-time alerts, the technology delivers a new level of proactive pest management.

With degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology, more than a decade of food safety operations experience and having performed more than 150 audits, few people understand the nuances of food manufacturing as well as Shamonique Schrick.

Working as a biologist for both MillerCoors and P&G, then focusing on food safety and quality operations at CSM Bakery, Cargill and TreeHouse Foods, she joined SafetyChain as an FSQA solutions architect. Schrick understands the importance of quality and production teams working together to increase yields and productivity without sacrificing quality or safety. This unique perspective allows her to build creative plant management solutions for SafetyChain customers.

Schrick leads digital transformation efforts for SafetyChain customers, including blueprinting human- and machine-collected data systems, then applying her knowledge of quality and safety processes to ensure productivity gains across the plant.

When she’s not working, you’ll find Schrick preparing for competitive bodybuilding competitions (and winning there, too).