The devoted founder of Women in Food Safety, a community of women industry professionals, Melody Ge also has been making stellar strides since 2021 as the food safety and quality assurance director with StarKist Co., a leading canned tuna producer in the United States. Among her many professional achievements, she launched the first product for the Beyond Meat brand, a premier producer of plant-based, vegan meats. Describing herself as a woman of vision, Ms. Ge’s mission is to nurture and empower future women leaders in the food safety industry.
With more than 15 years of experience in her field, Ms. Ge understands the critical importance of ensuring products are safe for consumption and is passionate about mentoring younger generations and students to pursue careers in this vital industry. Ultimately, she hopes to create a pipeline for future female leadership and create awareness about the significance of food safety and quality. Ms. Ge attributes her success to her unwavering curiosity and relentless work ethic, noting that she is always eager to try new things, seek out innovative solutions, and explore the latest advancements in technology. She stays ahead of the curve, never backs down from a challenge, and consistently exceeds expectations, making her an asset to any team.
In preparation for her career, Ms. Ge attended Shanghai Ocean University, a research university in China, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in food science and technology in 2009. In 2011, she graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master of Science in food science. Since concluding her higher education, she has remained steadfast in her commitment to professional growth, pursuing and completing numerous professional certifications. Ms. Ge is certified in extrusion technology and canned food processing, in addition to holding a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points certification. She was credentialed as a PCQI lead instructor by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance and earned certification in data science through Udemy, an educational technology company. As an accomplished entrepreneur and businesswoman, Ms. Ge also completed her Six Sigma black belt certification at Villanova University in 2019.
From 2005 to 2009, Ms. Ge garnered early experience as a technical support specialist with AmeriSci. While studying for her master’s degree, she served as a research assistant at the University of Maryland, later taking on the role of teaching assistant at the institution. From 2010 to 2012, she was the director of public relations for the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, after which she worked as a faculty research assistant at her alma mater. Between 2009 and 2012, Ms. Ge was the technical director of research, development, and quality assurance for Beyond Meat Inc. For several years, she was a specialist in SQFI compliance for the SQF Institute, and in 2015, she accepted the role of quality assurance manager with Lidl US. Ms. Ge rose to the position of senior quality assurance manager in 2016 before leaving the grocery giant to become a senior food safety consultant for Kestrel Management, where she remained until 2019. After serving Corvium as the head of compliance and later as the vice president of governance, intelligence, and analytics, she founded Women in Food Safety in 2020. In 2021, Ms. Ge accepted her current role as the food safety and quality assurance director for StarKist Co.
Committed to continually contributing to her industry, Ms. Ge is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists and the International Association for Food Protection. Since 2023, she has served the latter organization on the Black Pearl Selection Committee, and since 2021, she has been the vice chair of the association’s Food Safety Culture PDG. From 2019 to 2020, Ms. Ge contributed to the United Fresh Produce Association’s food safety and technology council. In recognition of her professional excellence and dedication, she has been an invited speaker at the California Food Safety Conference, the SQF International Conference, and the Food Safety and Pest Management Symposium.
Ms. Ge envisions a future in which key industry players look to female professionals for important roles and believes strongly that women are fully capable of taking on any responsibility. Outside of her primary pursuits in her field, she is a certified yoga instructor and practitioner, an avid golfer, and an open-water scuba diver.
