RFA Technical Webcasts

 

The RFA hosts quarterly Technical Webcasts on timely food safety and regulatory topics affecting
the prepared foods industry. The Webcasts are live, interactive events that you can join from your office!

See below for details on the latest Technical Webcast.

RFA Members can access slide presentations from past Technical Webcasts at anytime in the Member Center.

August 5, 2026 RFA Webcast:

 
"Risk-Based Thinking and Analysis in Fresh Food: Practical Tools and Methods for QA Leaders"

 

REGISTER HERE for this live, interactive Event that you can join from your office!

Non-member registration form

Date and Time:

* Wednesday, August 5, from 2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time
(1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Central, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Mountain, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Pacific) 


Overview:

Risk-based thinking is no longer optional in today’s food safety landscape — it’s a core leadership competency. As GFSI oversight and regulatory expectations continue to evolve, fresh food professionals must be equipped to identify, communicate, and act on risk in ways that protect consumers, satisfy their GFSI oversight, and inform business strategy.

In this session, Steven Mesia, Vice President of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Sandridge Crafted Foods, draws on nearly 40 years of industry experience to share his practical approach to risk management. Attendees will learn the tools and methods Steve relies on daily, how to apply them in real-world fresh food production settings, and how to translate risk data into actionable reporting for leadership, regulators, and auditors.

Whether you’re strengthening your audit defense, guiding investment decisions, or aligning your QA program with evolving standards, this webcast delivers straight-from-the-desk insights from a seasoned food safety leader.


Presenter:

Steve Mesia, Vice President of Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Sandridge Crafted Foods

Steve brings nearly 40 years of food safety and quality experience to his role at Sandridge Crafted Foods, where he joined in 2023 to lead the company’s food safety, quality, and sanitation programs. His career spanning both large-scale operations and startup food businesses gives him a uniquely broad perspective on building and sustaining food safety cultures that deliver results.

Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organic Chemistry with a minor in Microbiology from Bemidji State University and holds dual certifications through the American Society for Quality as a Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) and Certified Food Safety and Quality Auditor (CFSQA).

A resident of Spencer, OH, Steve and his wife enjoy the empty nester chapter of life — spending time on projects at his home in the woods, exploring the outdoors, and traveling to visit their four children spread across the U.S. and beyond.

 

How does the Webcast work?

It's easy and convenient! A virtual seminar is one that you can "attend" and participate in right from your offices. There is no travel time, and now provided at NO COST to RFA members!

The RFA Webcast will include live audio along with a slide presentation on the Web. You just need a phone connection for the audio and an Internet connection.

In addition, the webcast will allow you to comment and ask questions at specified times during the event using your phone.

You can invite staff members to listen and participate too! To get the most out of a webcast, it is recommended that you have no more than five people at any one computer connection. If you have multiple locations, please register each location separately.


Credits

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the Research Chefs Association (RCA) have confirmed that continuing education credits are available for numerous RFA technical functions. Depending on the specific educational criteria of these two organizations, credits will be accepted for attendance at 1) RFA Webinars, 2) the RFA Fall Symposium and 3) the RFA Annual Conference.

Contact the RFA office for more information or for proof of participation.

 

Registration Information:

The cost for this event is as follows:

  • RFA Members: NO CHARGE - Now Included as a Member Benefit!

  • Non-Members: $310 per computer/audio connection

To attend the meeting, you can either:

  • Just send an email to [email protected] to register. There is no cost for members.  Nonmembers: checks must be made payable to the Refrigerated Foods Association. Payment should be received no later than August 3, 2026.

Once you have registered for the meeting, you will receive an email message inviting you to attend the web conference with instructions on how to attend. This message will provide the information that you need to join the meeting.



If you have questions about the RFA Technical Webcasts, please e-mail the RFA office at [email protected].