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ERIN CROWLEY, Q LABORATORIES, INC.
Chair, AOAC INTERNATIONAL STAKEHOLDER PANEL ON
ALTERNATIVE METHODS
Erin Crowley has been the Microbiology Research and Development Supervisor at Q Laboratories, Inc. in
Cincinnati, Ohio since 2006. For the past 8 years, Erin and her R&D team have served as an independent
third-party laboratory with a primary focus on providing high quality method validation for
microbiological rapid detection methods. These validations include Independent laboratory evaluations
for pathogen detection, qualitative methods and confirmatory biochemical assays for AOAC Official
Methods of Analysis, AOAC Research Institute Performance Tested Methods Program and MicroVal. In
addition to being an active member of the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) and
AOAC, Erin currently serves as Vice-Chair of the AOAC Official Methods Board and ISPAM Chair and
Fresh Produce Initiative Chair of the SMPR Working Group on Salmonella in Leafy Greens. Erin earned a
B.S. from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio and an M.A. from Tufts University in Medford,
MA.
BROOKE SCHWARTZ, BROOKE SCHWARTZ CONSULTING
Chair, AOAC ISPAM FRESH PRODUCE INITIATIVE
As Principal of Brooke Schwartz Consulting, Ms. Schwartz consults to life science companies that are
expanding through organic growth, acquisition and alliances. Ms. Schwartz deploys small teams with a
breadth of business and technical expertise in applied Life Science markets to assist clients with
development and commercialization of new technologies. Engagements include the development of
market entry strategies and establishment of collaborations with private sector customers, government
stakeholders and strategic partners. She currently serves as a Chair-Elect of the AOAC Research
Institute; Co-Chair of the AOAC ISPAM Fresh Produce Initiative; and member of the Executive
Committee of the AOAC Pacific Southwest Section. Ms. Schwartz previously held business management
and corporate development roles at Applied Biosystems / Life Technologies. As Business Segment
Leader for Food and Environmental Testing, she led the re-launch of the global food and environmental
testing business, including introduction of a validated assay portfolio and development of next
generation technologies. As Senior Director for Corporate Strategy and Merger Integration at Applied
Biosystems, she led merger integration for acquisitions including Ambion Inc. and Agencourt Personal
Genomics. Prior to Life Technologies, she led strategy, innovation and merger integration engagements
for Deloitte Consulting’s health care and life science practice, and previously served as Director of
Biotechnology Alliances and Acquisitions for Monsanto Company. Ms. Schwartz earned an M.B.A from
the Harvard Business School, an M.S. in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Florida,
and a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.