Leadership & Staff
ASTA Board of Directors
The ASTA Board of Directors is pivotal in steering the organization's strategic direction, governance, and financial oversight, ensuring alignment with its mission and vision. The Board is comprised of volunteer leaders in management, sales, procurement, technical, and other vital functions at ASTA’s Active Member companies, representing a diverse array of U.S. and global spice producers, growers, importers, and processors. The Board is elected annually and sets the organization’s strategic vision, which is implemented by the full-time professional staff in Washington, D.C. under the leadership of the Executive Director. They also focus on member engagement, risk management, and planning for future challenges and opportunities in the spice industry, thereby safeguarding the association’s sustainability and effectiveness.
Peter Sayia
President
A.A. Sayia & Co., Inc.
Kerri Goad-Berrios
Vice President/Secretary
Kalustyan
Brijesh Krishnaswamy
Treasurer
olam food ingredients
Suvan Sharma
Immediate Past President
Jain Farm Fresh
Bob Cloney
Director
Elite Spice
Dan Hemming
Director
Sensient Natural Ingredients
Jill Hoffman
Director
B&G Foods
Nikhil Joseph
Director
Nedspice
John Minardi
Director
Accurate Ingredients
Lisa Patel
Director
Kalsec
Donald Pratt
Director
McCormick Global Ingredients
Manoj Ruparelia
Director
Mincing Spice
Sebnem Karasu
Associate Group Director
Karasu Consulting
Laura Shumow
Ex-Officio
ASTA
Arbitration Board
Elected annually by our members, ASTA's Arbitration Board serves as a vital mechanism for efficiently and fairly resolving disputes within the spice industry. Composed of experienced professionals, the Arbitration Board adjudicates disagreements related to contracts, quality, deliveries, and other trade issues.
Tom Overby
Arbitration Board Chair
Nedspice
Gina Riekhof
Arbitration Board Member
Riega Foods
Peter Sayia
Arbitration Board Member
A.A. Sayia & Co., Inc.
ASTA’s Arbitration Board Alternates (Serving one year term)
Neil Dickens
Alternate
McCormick & Company
Zev Golombeck
Alternate
Schiff Foods
Greg Hanks
Alternate
Advanced Spice & Trading
Greg Lightfoot
Alternate
Kalustyan
ASTA Staff
Our dedicated ASTA Staff works tirelessly to support the membership and the broader spice industry. Each staff member brings unique expertise and commitment to our organization, playing a crucial role in implementing ASTA’s mission and vision. Their collaborative efforts ensure the smooth operation and success of our programs and initiatives.
Laura Shumow
Executive Director
American Spice Trade Association
D. Margarita Passero
Director of Association Services
ASTA
Meegan Kavanaugh
Senior Association Coordinator
ASTA
Shannen Kelly
Senior Manager of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs
ASTA
Elle Brumley
Director of Meetings
Tracy Hankins
Sr. Accountant
Meredith Huddle
Director of Communications
Sue Knudsen
ASTA Finance Team
CFO at Verto Solutions, LLC.
Maile Gradison
ASTA General Counsel
Partner at Hogan Lovells
ASTA Committee Chairs
ASTA Committees and Task Forces are the backbone of our association, driving our initiatives and programs forward. These groups, comprised of passionate and knowledgeable volunteers from member companies, work collaboratively to address various industry challenges and opportunities. From advocacy and quality assurance to education and membership engagement, each group plays a pivotal role in advancing ASTA’s objectives and supporting the spice industry at large.
Leonard Fong
Analytical Methods Subcommittee Chair
ofi (Olam Food Ingredients)
Brad Gampper
Annual Meeting Program Committee Chair
Riega Foods
David Howe
ETO Task Force Chair
Cosmed Group
Dan Kastor
Science and Regulatory Committee Chair
McCormick and Company, Inc.
Colin Keating
Membership Outreach Committee Chair
Wixon
Eric Knedgen
Document Review Task Force
Kalsec
Errol Karakash
Spice Integrity Council Chair
Kalustyan
David Lessans
Scholarship Committee Chair
Chesapeake Spice Company
Doug Marshall
Microbiology Task Force Chair
Eurofins
Tamas Sarkadi
Sustainability Working Group Chair
Sabater
Sarah Sayers
Organic Task Force Chair
Riega Foods
Peter Shah
Crop Report Task Force and Supply Chain Disruption Chair
Harris Spice
Walid el Singaby
Contaminants Task Force
McCormick and Company