Our Mission
At Points North Certified LLC, we are dedicated to ensuring excellence in food safety while fostering a thriving food industry for future generations. We believe that by working collaboratively, we can make a lasting impact on food safety practices. Whether you are preparing for your first audit, updating an existing program, or developing a system from the ground up, we provide hands-on support tailored specifically to your operations.
Our team leverages extensive real-world experience spanning production, storage, and distribution environments, allowing us to make complex regulatory requirements more accessible and implementable for your operations. Our expertise not only helps demystify compliance landscapes, such as those governed by USDA, FDA, and GFSI standards, but also enables you to integrate these seamlessly into your everyday practices with confidence.
In addition to our specialized food safety services, we provide targeted business consulting designed to drive long-term operational success, encompassing areas such as process optimization, risk management, and strategic growth planning. By partnering with us, you gain a holistic approach to building a safer, more efficient, and sustainable food industry that meets today’s challenges and anticipates tomorrow’s needs. Together, let’s cultivate a resilient and responsible future for food safety and operational excellence.
Navigating Food Safety
Our Team
Core Values
Our core values guide every partnership, project, and recommendation we make, reflecting our commitment to integrity, quality, and lasting impact.
Food Safety
We prioritize health and well-being. Our goal is to build a thriving food industry for future generations.
Communication
We value open, honest, and respectful communication that builds trust, fosters collaboration, and drives clarity across all levels.
Excellence
We are committed to delivering excellence in everything we do. We continually strive to exceed expectations and improve our performance.
Accountability
We take accountability for our actions and outcomes, holding each other responsible for maintaining high standards and meeting our commitments.
Equality & Inclusion
We celebrate diversity and foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered.
Meet Our Senior Managment
James Kerby
Founder & Director of Operations
With a Harvard education in Business Analytics and a strong background in facility and production management in FDA and USDA-regulated environments, I bring a unique blend of strategic insight and operational expertise to every project.
I am deeply committed to excellence, driven by a hands-on, hardworking approach that ensures compliance and performance are upheld to the highest standards. My mission is to help businesses thrive by aligning smart, data-driven decisions with real-world facility and regulatory demands.
Leah Copenhaver
Co-Founder & Vice President
Paityn Krout
Co-Founder & CTO
With years of experience leading and developing FDA, USDA, and SQF Level 3 quality programs, I’ve built and managed high-performing QA teams that supported sales to major retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and Trader Joe’s.
My career has been focused on quality assurance development, ensuring food safety, compliance, and ongoing improvement are built into every process. I bring a results-driven mindset to creating systems that meet top standards and support scalable growth in today’s market.
With a background in biomedical engineering, I bring a deep passion for making a difference and a sharp eye for detail to everything I do. I have been dedicated to quality control and systems development, working within FDA-regulated and biomedical manufacturing.
My work is rooted in a commitment to building efficient, compliant, and high-performing systems that not only meet the highest industry standards but also support innovation, safety, and improvement across every level of operation.
Bryan Payne
Chief Of Project Solutions
As a project manager with over 10 years of experience, I’ve worked extensively within USDA, FDA, and GFSI standards, managing a wide range of production environments from basic FDA regulated lines to complex, automated manufacturing systems.
My background spans everything from hands-on production oversight to the implementation of high-level food safety and quality systems. I specialize in bringing structure, efficiency, and compliance to every project, ensuring operations run smoothly while meeting the highest regulatory and industry standards.
Glen Kerby
Chief Innovation & Sustainability
With over 30 years of experience managing, owning, and operating FDA- and USDA-regulated facilities, I bring a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in food and manufacturing operations.
My core focus is on sustainable production, long-term business growth, and development, ensuring that companies not only meet regulatory standards but thrive in an evolving industry. Backed by decades of hands-on leadership, strategic insight, and a commitment to solving complex problems, I believe there’s no issue we can’t tackle.
About Us
Your Trusted Partner in Food Safety
Welcome to Points North Certified LLC, your trusted partner in ensuring excellence in food safety while fostering a thriving food industry for future generations. As a family and friend-owned business, we are motivated by a shared commitment to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. We understand the complexities and challenges that businesses face in maintaining high standards of food safety while striving for operational excellence. Our commitment to this mission is deeply rooted in our core values, guiding us to deliver exceptional services and support tailored to your unique needs.
Expertise You Can Rely On
At Points North Certified, we bring together a team of experienced professionals who understand the practical realities of the food industry. With extensive backgrounds in production, storage, and distribution, our HACCP practitioners and quality managers are not only trained and certified but also bring real-world experience to every engagement. This expertise allows us to simplify complex regulatory requirements, empowering you to implement effective food safety practices.
Our Approach to Goal Setting
We believe in Strategic Realism and Goal Setting, developing clear, measurable, and achievable goals that align with our mission and vision. By utilizing the SMART framework Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—we ensure that our objectives drive tangible results. Our Collaborative Goal Setting approach actively involves team members in the process, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement that enhances our collective success.
Valuing People and Collaboration
At Points North Certified, valuing people is paramount. As a family-oriented business, we are dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive environment where both employees and customers feel appreciated. We prioritize Work-Life Balance and Employee Growth, recognizing that personal and professional development is essential for a thriving business. Our organization is built on Open Communication, ensuring effective dialogue among team members and with our clients to enhance collaboration and understanding.
Advancing Food Safety Together
We are passionate about advancing food safety and are committed to maintaining rigorous standards that prioritize consumer well-being. Our promise includes Transparency and Responsibility in Food Safety, ensuring that any concerns are communicated clearly and integrated into our business practices.
Join us at Points North Certified LLC as we work together to create a safer, more sustainable food industry. With our dedicated team, driven by a family spirit and a desire to make a difference, you can navigate the complexities of food safety with confidence, knowing that our shared commitment to excellence will make a lasting impact for future generations.
James Kerby, Founder & President
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