Our Team

Lori White

Lori White is the founder and President of Apex Quality Resources, Inc. With over 35 years of working in Food Safety and Quality Assurance among Fortune 500 companies, Lori provides a rare level of expertise to her clients. Her work alongside Panda Restaurant Group led them to be recognized with the prestigious Black Pearl Award for excellence in food safety. She is a well-known figure in the food safety industry because she leads with compassion, foresight, and problem-solving abilities that elevate those around her. Lori resides in Southern California and enjoys traveling, mentoring, and spending time with her family.

Darryl Yarbrough

Darryl is a Quality Manager with Apex Quality Resources, Inc. and has been working for the company for 12 years. As a self-described investigator, he is well suited for his role as Quality Manager and is committed to sustainability and supply chain efficiency. Darryl has developed and implemented new audit templates that have allowed AQR and its clients to become more effective. Darryl currently resides in Southern California, where he loves spending time with his family, beach handball, and trying new restaurants.

Dan Brackett

Dan is an experienced auditor, trainer, and problem solver in the food safety and quality assurance industry. As an AQR associate, he specializes in diagnosing issues and risk mitigation. Driven by details, he takes pride in providing the best food safety elevation strategies possible. Dan's food safety expertise led him to be recognized by YUM! Brands as a Six Sigma Black Belt project manager for his extraordinary leadership commitment in Six Sigma Trainings. Dan currently resides in Northern California but in his spare time he enjoys traveling, exercising, and trying different cuisines.

Marcus Yarbrough

Marcus Yarbrough is a dedicated Food Technologist and Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) with over a decade of experience in food safety, quality assurance, and culinary science. As a key member of the team, Marcus brings a well-rounded background that includes supplier audits, FSQA data systems, and product development support for national food brands.He is trained in SQF and ISO-based audit standards and has conducted numerous food safety audits across diverse supplier categories.

Marcus holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from San Diego State University and completed the Food Science & Culinary Arts Certification Program at Orange Coast College. His leadership experience extends beyond the industry through his volunteer service as a high school varsity football coach.

Melinda Allen-Harris

Melinda is an Associate with Apex Quality Resources. With over 35 years in the food safety industry, she possesses a diverse portfolio of clients and certifications. Her experience across industries is unique and makes her a great asset to the AQR team. As a professional, Melinda helps companies elevate their understanding of food safety fundamentals, and lay the foundation for excellent food safety culture. Melinda resides in Georgia, where she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Gema Rodriguez

Chef Gema Rodriguez brings over 10 years of diverse culinary experience to AQR, blending fine dining expertise with product innovation and regulatory knowledge. A graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, she trained in world-renowned Michelin-starred kitchens including Noma Mexico and ABaC Barcelona.

At Apex Quality Resources, Chef Gema leads culinary R&D efforts supporting clients with new product ideation, menu extensions, LTO development, and early-stage product rollouts. Her deep understanding of global cuisines, dietary compliance, and kitchen operations makes her a vital asset in transforming concepts into scalable, high-quality food solutions.