Our Innovative Team

Our team members have the know-how to help companies grow.

We’ve helped clients access millions of dollars in capital, brokered value-added partnerships, connected food companies with sustainably sourced products from New York state farmers and growers and moved products from home kitchens to the shelves of major retailers. Whether you are just starting out, or looking to expand, our team is ready to help you reach your goals.

Portrait of Olga Padilla-Zakour
Olga Padilla-Zakour

Seneca Foods Foundation Professor and Director of the Food Venture Center

Cornell AgriTech

Director of the Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University

Cornell AgriTech

Professor

Food Science

Olga Padilla-Zakour
Man in front of metal pipes smiles.
Bruno Xavier

Associate Director of the Cornell Food Venture Center

Cornell AgriTech

Senior Extension Associate

Food Science

Bruno Xavier
Headshot of Mark Scoville. Man standing on stairs with white background, wearing short-sleeved black polo shirt.
Mark Scoville

Business Development Manager, New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech

Cornell AgriTech

Mark Scoville
Headshot of a man
Derek Simmonds

Business Development Specialist; NYS Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture

Cornell AgriTech

Derek Simmonds
  • dcs285 [at] cornell.edu
Headshot of Alysia Ericsson
Alysia Ericsson

Business Development Specialist, New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture

Cornell AgriTech

Alysia Ericsson
  • ae457 [at] cornell.edu
Portrait of Jacob Pucci. Man wearing red and gray plaid shirt with short brown hair.
Jacob Pucci

Marketing and Communications Coordinator, New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture

Cornell AgriTech

Jacob Pucci
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Danielle DiDuro

Project Manager, New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture

Cornell AgriTech

Danielle DiDuro
  • dnd38 [at] cornell.edu
Headshot of Melissa Hegarty
Melissa Hegarty

Administrative Assistant, New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture

Cornell AgriTech

Melissa Hegarty
  • mh2566 [at] cornell.edu
Headshot of Emile Punzalan
Emile Punzalan

Extension Support Specialist III

Food Science

Emile Punzalan
Headshot of Joe Ganley
Joseph Ganley

Business Development Specialist, New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture

Cornell AgriTech

Joseph Ganley
  • jag574 [at] cornell.edu