Speaker Biographies

Frank Yiannas

Frank Yiannas is Manager of Walt Disney World's Food Safety & Health Department. He oversees all food safety programs, as well as other public health functions, for one of the world's largest entertainment and hospitality companies and a vacation capital of the world. His span of responsibility is quite diverse and includes food safety training for over 15,000 Food and Beverage Cast Members, audits and support functions for over 500 Food and Beverage locations, and food safety oversight and approval of literally hundreds of food suppliers. Frank joined Disney in 1989 to establish their first food safety laboratory. During his tenure, Frank has expanded the program beyond testing by establishing cutting-edge risk management strategies.

Frank is a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of innovative and creative approaches to food safety. Under his direction, Disney has been recognized for playing a leadership role in implementing HACCP at the food service level, developing hand-held computer technology to conduct food safety audits, and utilizing progressive microbial detection methods. In fact, in 2001, Walt Disney World was given the prestigious Black Pearl Award for corporate excellence in food safety by the International Association for Food Protection.

At the national level, Frank is very involved with the International Association for Food Protection and holds numerous positions within that association. In addition, he is the current Vice Chair of Council I, Laws and Regulations, of the Conference for Food Protection (CFP).

Frank is a Registered Microbiologist with the American Academy of Microbiology. In addition, he is a member of several professional associations, including the Institute of Food Technology, the National Environmental Health Association, and the American Society for Microbiology.

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Updated June 05, 2002