SQF Institute Announces Excellence Awards Finalists

The SQF Institute announced the six finalists of its 2026 SQF Excellence Awards, which celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of SQF auditors and practitioners.

The Excellence in SQF Auditing and Excellence in SQF Practitioner Leadership awards, sponsored by Exemplar Global, recognize individuals for their outstanding performance and contributions to furthering the mission of the SQF program and promoting food safety.

The winner of each award will be announced on Tuesday, March 10, at 8:30 a.m. EST, during the SQFI Awards Ceremony at SQF Unites in St. Louis.

Excellence in SQF Auditing Finalists.

Steve McAllister, AIB International. Steve McAllister is a seasoned SQF lead auditor with AIB International and brings more than 40 years of experience in food safety management and quality assurance. Throughout his career, he has helped organizations strengthen food safety systems, implement best practices and maintain regulatory compliance across diverse production environments. McAllister is known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to conduct thorough, insightful audits that drive meaningful operational improvements. A dedicated trainer and mentor, he regularly facilitates workshops and supports teams through the certification process, fostering collaboration and a culture of continuous improvement that protects both products and consumers.

Praveena Munukuru, TÜV SÜD. Praveena Munukuru is an SQF auditor and consultant with TÜV SÜD and brings more than 20 years of experience in food manufacturing, food safety and quality systems. Holding a master’s degree in food safety and technology, she has worked across diverse product categories and operational environments, from start-ups to large-scale facilities. Munukuru combines strong technical knowledge with practical, cross-functional insight to help organizations design sustainable, real-world food safety programs. Also serving as food safety and quality director at Aegis Foods, she is passionate about mentoring teams, strengthening food safety culture and advancing audit integrity across the industry.

Brian Shelton, EAGLE Certification Group. Brian Shelton is an experienced food safety and quality professional and SQF lead auditor with EAGLE Certification Group. With more than 15 years of leadership in large-scale food manufacturing environments, he specializes in developing, implementing and auditing robust food safety and quality systems aligned with GFSI and SQF standards. Brian’s background includes ready-to-eat meat, poultry and seafood, where he has built quality programs from the ground up and driven measurable improvements in compliance and risk reduction. Known for his practical, solutions-focused approach, he partners closely with teams to achieve successful certifications and create audit-defensible systems that protect consumers first.

Excellence in SQF Practitioner Leadership Finalists.

Aurea M. Martinez Velazquez, Pastelería Cidrines. Aurea M. Martinez Velazquez is a results-driven compliance manager at Pasteleria Cidrines, where she leads the quality and sanitation department. With more than a decade of experience in food safety, regulatory compliance and quality assurance, she oversees SQF certification, HACCP programs, internal audits and traceability initiatives. Velazquez is recognized for blending technical expertise with strategic leadership, guiding cross-functional teams to strengthen compliance and operational performance. Her recent work includes implementing digital traceability tools, validating new processes and modernizing infrastructure to support continuous improvement.

Kathryn McKewen, LidWorks. Kathryn McKewen is an SQF practitioner at LidWorks, an Intertek-certified facility, where she plays a vital role in maintaining strong food safety and quality performance. Since stepping into the role in 2020, she has helped the site achieve excellent SQF audits through her focus on compliance, training and operational excellence. She is known for turning food safety requirements into practical, everyday actions that resonate with employees at every level. By transforming routine production-floor moments into meaningful learning opportunities, she fosters shared accountability and a strong “food safety first” culture that supports both product integrity and team engagement.

Emily Wagner, Landmark Snacks. Emily Wagner serves as the FSQA manager and SQF practitioner at Landmark Snacks, an NSF-certified facility producing ready-to-eat meat snacks. She leads the development and execution of the site’s food safety and quality programs and has guided her team through successful SQF audits. Known for her hands-on, people-first leadership style, Wagner translates food safety expectations into clear, practical systems that teams understand and consistently follow. Her focus on accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement has strengthened sitewide food safety culture and ensured reliable, audit-ready performance that protects consumers and supports long-term operational success.