Meet the Experts
Mary Wagner, Ph.D.
General Manager/Chief Technology Officer
Mary Wagner is the General Manager/Chief Technology Officer for Mars Botanical, a division of Mars, Incorporated, founded on developing and marketing healthy components from cocoa extracts called flavanols.
Prior to joining Mars Botanical, Wagner was the Chief Technology Officer for E. & J. Gallo Winery, a global, privately held company, headquartered in Modesto, Calif., which produces and sells more than 30 table, sparkling, beverage, dessert and fortified wine s and distilled spirits.
Risa Schulman, Ph.D.
Director Research & Development
Risa N. Schulman joined Mars Botanical as Director of Research & Development in December 2008. As Director of R&D, Dr. Schulman is responsible for providing insight and guidance on the science and impact of cocoa extract on health. Her areas of oversight include study development, the delivery of research results to science and consumer audiences, assurance of accurately science-based communications and claim substantiation.
For most of her career, Dr. Schulman has been dedicated to the prevention of chronic disease using natural compounds found in plants and foods, and the empowerment of the individual to take control of their health and well-being. As the former Director of Research for POM Wonderful in Los Angeles, CA, she built...
Brian T. Schaneberg, Ph.D.
Analytical Manager, Mars Botanical
Brian Schaneberg joined Mars Botanical as Analytical Manager in January 2009. As the analytical team leader, Brian designs experiments and analytical testing techniques in support of Mars Botanical products with validation in mind. Brian also participates in the execution of product strategies while ensuring that regulatory guidelines are met and followed by the company.
Brian comes to the business with more than 10 years of natural products experience in the area of dietary supplements and herbals. Most recently Brian was the Director of Technical Services at ChromaDex, Inc. in Irvine, Calif. In his time at ChromaDex, he coordinated the phytochemical standards product line, developed analytical methods to assess the safety and quality of botanical dietary supplements, created marketing...
Carol Lloyd
Manager of Food Applications
Carol Lloyd joined Mars Botanical as Manager of Food Applications in October 2008. As head of Food Applications, Carol oversees development of Mars Botanical products, leveraging her more than 30 years of food business experience and in the Mars, Incorporated history of innovation to help pioneer plant-derived products aimed at improving human health.
Carol comes to Mars Botanical having developed more than 1000 food products, including industrial ingredients, foodservice and retail products including cocoa based mixes, syrups and beverages, as well as a variety of nutritional functional foods and supplements. Most recently Carol served as Product Development Manager at Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle, where she oversaw product improvement and commercialization of the company’s...