mike Gabel

Director,

Food Innovation Center,

CSU Spur

In this episode, I sit down with Mike, the visionary leader of the Food Innovation Center at CSU Spur in Denver. With a mission to support food innovators through value-added services, state-of-the-art kitchen and processing facilities, and a space designed for ideas to thrive, Mike is shaping the future of food.

A second-generation CSU graduate in Food Science and Human Nutrition, Mike continued his studies with a master’s degree in food engineering from UC Davis. His impressive 20+ year career spans roles in product development, quality systems, and strategy and portfolio management — including leadership positions at Windsor Foods, ConAgra Foods, and a transformative five-year stint at Barilla’s headquarters in Parma, Italy.

Join us as Mike shares his journey, insights into food innovation, and how the CSU Spur center is empowering the next generation of food entrepreneurs.