Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson announced the appointment of Shanna Lively as food and dairy administrator.
“I am happy to appoint Shanna to this position that plays a very important role in ensuring food safety for Tennesseans,” Johnson said.
“Food safety is a top priority at the state and federal levels and Shanna’s experience with this in the private sector makes her an ideal person to take on this responsibility.”
Ms. Lively officially assumed her new duties on Aug. 1. She replaced food and dairy administrator Bill Walls, who will be assuming other management duties within the department’s food safety program.
As food and dairy administrator, Ms. Lively will be responsible for the statewide inspection program and enforcement activities related to retail food and dairy laws and regulations.
Ms. Lively previously served as an independent auditor for Silliker, Inc. where she conducted food safety and quality inspections of food manufacturing, distribution and warehousing facilities. She has also worked as a senior manager of quality assurance for Del Monte Fresh Produce, where she was responsible for the food safety and quality of ten fresh cut locations nationwide.Ms. Lively was also a quality assurance manager with Fresh Advantage for five years.
“I am pleased to have been selected as the Department of Agriculture food and dairy administrator,”Ms. Lively said. “As a native Tennessean, I am excited to serve the people of Tennessee and understand the responsibility of this position. I look forward to collaborating with the farmers, retailers and food manufacturers throughout the state as we continue to provide safe products to the citizens of Tennessee.”
Ms. Lively has a B.S. in Food Science and Technology from the University of Tennessee and a M.S. in Food Science and Technology from the University of Georgia. She and her husband have two boys and reside in Williamson County.