"Let's move toward a balanced food industry with
less food waste & ​more sustainable packaging"

- DR. CLAIRE SAND

Dr. Claire Sand

Founder, Owner & Global Food Packaging Expert

Global Packaging Leader with 30+ years of broad experience in the food science and packaging spectrum. Skilled at leading cross-functional efforts, infusing innovative solutions, providing compelling business technology strategies and business cases, and pragmatic implementation roadmaps for the packaging and food industry.

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MEET THE TEAM

Dr. Ziynet Boz

PTR Team Process & Packaging  Research Associate
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Sonali Raghunath

PTR Team Packaging Research Associate
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Katie Mahoney

PTR Team Marketing & Project Management Associate
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Dr. Claire Sand

Current Affiliations:
Owner and Founder
Packaging Technology and Research, LLC (formerly Ameripak).  Stillwater, Minnesota.  1996-present
Adjunct Professor

1. University of Minnesota. Minneapolis, Minnesota Curriculum development and teaching, 2018-present
2. Michigan State University.  E. Lansing, Michigan Online MS program, 2007-present
3. California Polytechnic University (CalPoly), San Luis Obispo, California Online program, 2017-present

Columnist
Food Technology monthly magazine
Packaging monthly column, 2015-present
 
Current Leadership:

1. pac, Co-Chair Food Waste, 2018-present
2. IUFoST, Chair of Global Food Packaging Curricula, 2016-present
3. Packaging Science and Technology, John Wiley and Sons, Editorial Board and Reviewer, 2004-present
4. Journal of Food Science Reviewer, 2014-present
5. Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Higher Education Review Board (HERB), 2014-present
6. Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Executive Board, Food Packaging Division, 1990-present
7. Strategic Relations & Chapter Affairs committee Phi Tau Sigma (food science honorary society), 2014-present
8. Lifetime member of Phi Tau Sigma
9. University of Minnesota Alumni Association and CFANS, 1992-present
10. Member of IoPP
11. Human Rights Commission Stillwater, Minnesota, 2013-present
12. Workforce Development Commission Stillwater, Minnesota, 2014-present
13. Advisor at Food and Beverage Wisconsin (FaB)– Incubator, 2017- present
14. Advisor at Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), 2017 - present

 
Expertise is based on experience in basic research, development market research, and marketing in Germany, Colombia, and Thailand and at Total Quality Marketing, Nestle, General Mills, Kraft Heinz,  Safeway, and in academia.

Dr. Sand holds a doctorate degree in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota and MS and BS in Packaging from Michigan State University

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Respectful leadership in packaging

To view Dr. Claire Sand's resume, click here.

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Dr. Ziynet Boz
PTR Team Process & Packaging Research Associate

Skilled at leveraging engineering skills in food packaging in combination with food process engineering regardless of the product type, Dr. Ziynet Boz is based in Turkey. In 2013, Dr. Boz  was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue her Ph.D. at the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the University of Florida where she was trained in creating innovative approaches in a highly applied field of biological and packaging engineering. Boz currently sits on IFT’s Executive Board as secretary for the IFT Food Packaging Division and PAC Food Waste. Dr. Boz also holds a MS and BS in Food Engineering from Mersin University and an Erasmus exchange diploma from the University of Chemistry and Technology – Prague CZ. 
Notable Recognitions include:

• PATENT: Welt B.A. and Boz Z., U.S. Patent Application, “Semipermeable Capsule Improves Flexible Package Performance”, Patent Application No. 62/362,713. Licensed to FreshSurety Corp. Winter Park, FL (2016)​
• AWARD:  1st Place at the Graduate Research Competition, Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) 2017 ​
• AWARD: Outstanding Service and Outstanding Volunteer Awards, Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) – Food Packaging Division (2016-2017)  ​
  
  

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Sonali Raghunath
PTR Team Packaging Research Associate

Strong scientist whose ability to merge science with packaging, Sonali Raghunath concentrates on food engineering, food packaging, dairy science, and food protein and her research helps PTR clients explore optimal packaging techniques. Currently based in Minnesota and a University of Minnesota in the Food Science and Nutrition Department Ph.D. student, Raghunath holds a MS degree in food science from University of Minnesota with a bachelor degree from Anna University.
Notable Recognitions include:

• AWARD: Feeding tomorrow General graduate scholarship award 2019, Feeding tomorrow – Scholarship America​
• AWARD: 1st place for Ocean spray product development team, University of Minnesota, 2019 Food Science and Nutrition fellowship award 2018​
• AWARD: Diwan Bahadur Narasimya Endowment Award, outstanding performance, Anna University" – 2018​
  

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Katie Mahoney
PTR Team Marketing & Project Management Associate

Marketing expert and project manager focused on projects that impact the bottom line. A "roll up your sleeves and get it done" team player with vast experience in leveraging data for project success, as a consultant she helps ensure PTR deliverables are clear and concise.

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