Susan Howe
Partner
NCIFT Nominating Committee Officer
Susan founded The Intrinsic Group in 1994.

Her thirty year career spans Idea-Generation through Product Commercialization. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Ms Howe graduated in Nutrition from Washington State University.

Prior to launching Intrinsic, Susan was a Scientist with Dole and Clorox.

Ms Howe’s life goal is to never stop learning. Food, Art, People, Fragrances and Fashion are a few of her many interests. She has augmented her Conceptual Education with training through the Creative Problem Solving Institute (NY) & Synectics ( Cambridge ) in Advanced Ideation Facilitation.



MICHAEL SAVOD
VP of Marketing
Michael heads up the marketing activities for the Intrinsic Group. Michael was the founder of Target Market Consulting and is currently on the faculty of the University of California and Golden Gate University. He is also in demand as a global seminar speaker, having made marketing presentations in Russia, Spain, Thailand, Mexico, Zimbabwe and Brunei as well as numerous U.S. cities. He has been the National Advertising Manager for the Chrysler Corp., Marketing Director for Jeep, Vice President for Sales and Marketing at Maserati USA and General sales and Marketing Manager for Ford (Japan). He also served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Oakland A’s. He has an MBA from Golden Gate University and a BS in Economics from Purdue University

Kathy Brennan
 Senior Food Scientist
Kathy holds a Bachelors degree in Food Science from The Pennsylvania State University and a MBA from Long Island University. She has extensive experience with beverage systems that allows her to optimize functional ingredients, formulate novel products and design pilot to production process manufacturing for clients. Products range from soft drinks and coffee products to aseptically processed dairy and non-dairy products as well as powdered beverage mixes. She also has broad experience in energy and nutrition bars and savory snacks. Her achievements include a broad range of new product introductions for both large and small capital companies.

MILENA BALDIS
 Food Scientist
Milena graduated from The Federico Villarreal National University in Peru with a Bachelors of Science in Oceanography and Fishery. Prior to joining the Intrinsic Group, she worked for the Clorox Company in research and development for more than thirteen years where she created food and household products. Milena's experience in formulation and both, sensory panel and statistical analysis makes her a valuable member of our group. In addition, she is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese expanding her expertise to a broad community.

Deepa Mathew
 Food Scientist
Deepa has created and commercialized many products including beverages, baked goods, sauces, soups, fruit juice concentrates, creamers, dry mixes, desserts, fortified products, entrees, snack foods, and protein bars for many clients. Her graduate concentration at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo was in Dairy Products Technology. This combined with her experience with milk proteins make her an expert in dairy products.

Archana Tenany
 Operations Manager
Archana manages the overall operations of the company that includes Finance, Accounting, Project Management and other operational activities.  She has a degree in Home Science and has taken computer courses.  Prior to joining The Intrinsic Group, Archana worked at several banks and Insurance companies.

LISA SCHINDLER
Project Management
Lisa is a graduate from Colgate University and a wine industry veteran.  Her passion for food and creativity in the kitchen motivated the transition to the food product development industry, where she successfully applies her wealth of sales, private label development and sensory evaluation experience from her former profession, to a business development and project manager role at the Intrinsic Group 


DUANE PAPIERNIAK
 Manufacturing Consultant
Duane earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Santa Clara, but decided to focus on management and studied at Pepperdine University for an MBA. He was a partner at Joseph Schmidt Confections for twenty years, handling production, brand marketing and retail management for the San Francisco-based chocolatier. His operations experience translates to low-cost, best-quality food production for clients. At Intrinsic, he's commercialized many products.
Ladd Howe
Controller, and IT Assistant
Ladd, a San Francisco State University undergraduate, majoring in both Accounting and International Business, manages Intrinsic's accounting functions, both A/P and A/R, while simultaneously designing organizational processes, such as project management reports, and annual budgets. He also maintains our IT assets, ensuring uninterrupted workplace flow. Secondarily, he writes copy for Intrinsic's press releases and publicity. Ladd left Intrinsic in the Fall of 2008 to study abroad at the London Metropolitan Business School.