Dr. Frank Rinkevich

Dr. Frank D. Rinkevich is a Research Entomologist at the USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Laboratory in Baton Rouge LA. Frank has extensive training in insect toxicology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics. The goal of Dr. Frank's research is to devise effective management practices to reduce the infestation of the honey bee parasite, Varroa destructor. A major focus of Dr. Rinkevich’s research is amitraz resistance in Varroa destructor. This project works on determining the prevalence and distribution of amitraz resistance in Varroa destructor, developing an international cooperative network for resistance monitoring with bioassays and genotyping, understanding the amitraz use patterns that lead to amitraz resistance, evaluating management practices to overcome amitraz resistant Varroa, and identifying new miticides. Additionally, Frank focuses on selective breeding and evaluating the performance of honey bee stocks selected for low Varroa populations via Varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH) in commercial beekeeping conditions. He works with queen breeders and producers to increase the level of VSH in their operations through selective breeding and stock distribution to disperse Varroa resistant genetics in honey bee populations across the US.

Other research interests include determining the benefits of propolis to colony performance, evaluating the effects of pesticide exposure on colony survivorship in commercial beekeeping operations, assessing metabolic detoxification of insecticides, and establishing the effects of fungicides on colony health.

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Ross Conrad

Ross Conrad of Middlebury, Vermont learned his craft from the late Charles Mraz, world renowned beekeeper and promoter of apitherapy along with his son Bill.  Conrad is a former president of the Vermont Beekeeper’s Association, a regular contributor to Bee Culture magazine, author of Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches To Modern Apiculture Expanded and Revised 2nd Edition, and co-author of The Land of Milk and Honey: A History of Beekeeping in Vermont.  Ross has given bee related presentations and led organic beekeeping workshops and classes throughout North America for three decades. His beekeeping business, Dancing Bee Gardens, supplies friends, neighbors with honey and candles among other bee related products, has 5-frame nucleus bee colonies available each June, and provides bees for Vermont pollination in spring.

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Emily Mueller

Emily Mueller is a beekeeper, researcher, educator, and doctoral student in Integrative Health Sciences with over 13 years of beekeeping experience. She serves on the Board of Directors for the American Apitherapy Society and holds a Master Certificate in Herbal Medicine. Her work focuses on the intersection of bee health, apitherapy, herbal medicine, and integrative wellness. Through research, education, and hands-on experience, Emily helps connect people with the benefits of bees, natural products, and sustainable beekeeping practices.

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Gary J. Roloff

Gary is an Emeritus professor and former chair in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University (MSU). While at MSU, he oversaw the Applied Forest and Wildlife Ecology Lab and has worked on a variety of topics including timber harvest effects on wildlife, deer herbivory effects on regenerating forests, feral swine, and black bear damage to apiaries. Gary’s education includes a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Steven Point, an MS from Eastern Kentucky University, and a PhD from Michigan State University. Prior to working at MSU, he worked for 11 years as a wildlife biologist for Boise Cascade Corporation, a large integrated forest products company.

 

Karen Roccasecca

Karen Roccasecca works at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) and is the State Apiarist. She graduated from Penn State University with a BS in horticulture. Karen worked in the horticulture industry for several years and then stayed home with her three children.

 

She began working at PDA with the Bureau of Plant Protection with the Plum Pox Virus crew and then moved to entomology/apiary under Dennis van Engelsdorp in October 2006, right before CCD began. In the apiary section, Karen helped with research, field and lab work, inspections, and administrative duties. She was appointed State Apiarist in 2013. Currently, she and her son, James, manage about 15 colonies in the Harrisburg area.

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Christina Neumann

Christina Neumann has been an active member of the Italian-based Albo Nazionale degli Esperti in Analisi Sensoriale del Miele (www.albomiele.it/) since 2023, the leading global honey sensory analysis (HSA) organization.  She routinely participates in global efforts to further understanding HSA, such as lecturing at the World Honey Talks at Apimondia Copenhagen in 2025 and paneling with the American Honey Tasting Society. Her honey products are five-time winners of the Good Food Awards (GFA) and she co-chaired the GFA Honey Category in 2019.  She is an architect by trade and is the "worker bee" director of CoNectar Flora to Table Education (www.co-nectar.org).   Christina is Cornell University Master Beekeeper, managing 60-80 Certified Naturally Grown colonies in the Pittsburgh area for artisan honey production. 

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