Mike Gabel is the Director of the Food Innovation Center at CSU Spur with the goal is to accelerate success for food innovators, young and old, through mentoring, value-added services, and the creation of a space where ideas can prosper. Mike is a second-generation CSU grad in Food Science and Human Nutrition. After a master’s in food engineering from UC Davis he started his 20-year career with roles in product development, quality systems, and strategy and portfolio management. He has lead innovation teams at Windsor Foods, ConAgra Foods and recently at Barilla, where he spent the last 5 years at their HQ in Parma, Italy.