January 2024 Snapshots
Huntington Park, Calif.
On Dec. 22, 2023, the Los Angeles Circuit donated new unwrapped toys to Fire Station #164. Annually, the Circuit participates in toy drives to ensure kids that are less fortunate have toys to make their holidays just a little happier.
Pictured, furthest in back on either side of the fire truck, in navy blue: two firefighters from the station.
Everyone else, from left: Consumer Safety Inspectors Emma Trujillo, Nicole Tellez, Oscar Blanquet, Dalinda Maddux, Franciso Flores, Marlon Palo, Helen Zhu and Martha Clark.
Photo by another firefighter at the station.
Crystal City, Va.
On Dec. 4-8, 2023, FSIS new supervisors took part in the first Hybrid New Supervisor Training Program (H-NSTP) of fiscal year 2024. The goal of the training is to prepare new supervisors for their leadership roles and to emphasize supervisory behaviors that encompass the knowledge, skills and other attributes required to build high-performance teams.
Pictured, seated, from left: Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Dr. Kara Kreitner, Supervisory Chemist Lindsey Porter; Supervisory Consumer Safety Inspectors (SCSIs) Malik Palmer, Tiffany Cosby and Jose Garcia; OPPD Assistant Administrator (AA) Rachel Edelstein; OEED AA Dr. Soumaya Tohamy; OPHS AA Dr. Denise Eblen; OPARM Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) Dr. Damon Ranftle; OCFO Deputy Chief Financial Officer Michelle Garner.
Standing front row, from left: SCSIs Niecy Martin, Crystal Perez and Amber Burgess; SPHV Dr. Rebecca Whisler; Supervisory IT Specialist D.C. Coleman; SCSI Tracy Nitch; SPHVs Dr. Brian Mahan, Dr. Lauren Vesprani, Dr. Mitchell Ng and Dr. Kate Durbin; SCSI Francisco Tabares; SPHV Dr. Zachary Rathbun; OPACE AA Carol Blake.
Standing middle row, from left: OIC DAA Margaret Burns-Rath; SCSIs Keith Banta, Kennedy Seymour and Robert Critzer; Supervisory IT Specialist Vinh Le; SPHV Dr. Scott Young; SCSIs Arron Strickland and Tim Drake; SPHV Dr. Dill Hussain; SCSI George Brady; FSIS Chief Operating Officer Todd Reed; SPHV Dr. Sam Rentmeester; FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker.
Standing back row, from left: SPHV Dr. Andres White; SCSIs Spear Gilmer, Anthony Muth and Alan Eubanks; SPHV Dr. Boris Brglez; SCSIs David Gleaton and Joshua Watson; OCIO Assistant Chief Information Officer Carl Mayes; OM AA Frank Mays; OFO AA Paul Wolseley.
Photo by FSIS H-NSTP Manager Fortune (Tina) Blain.
Ringgold, Va.
On Nov. 29, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection program personnel (IPP) at a new processing establishment. IPP described their experiences before joining FSIS and discussed various topics including available recruitment and retention incentives.
Pictured, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Dr. Bryan DeGraff; Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSIs) Jeffrey Lynch, John Arnold and Charles Wagner; Enforcement, Investigation and Analysis Officer (EIAO) Dr. Caitlyn Switzler; Raleigh Deputy District Manager (DDM) Dr. Arial Gupton.
Photo by Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.
Gibsonville, N.C.
On Nov. 29, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with IPP and establishment personnel at a slaughter/processing establishment. They discussed topics important to small and very small establishments and toured the facility.
Pictured, back row from left: CSI Natoshia Grice, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan, Administrator Kiecker, EIAO Sofiane Ghris and Raleigh DDM Dr. Arial Gupton.
Front, center: Food Inspector (FI) Cathleen Barker.
Photo by plant owner Dona Moore.
Lancaster, Ky.
On Nov. 30, Administrator Kiecker met with IPP at a slaughter and processing establishment. IPP described their experiences before joining FSIS and discussed various topics while touring the facility.
Pictured, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Jackson DDM Cheryl Henry, CSI Stacie Wagers, Frontline Supervisor (FLS) Dr. Vernon Hall, FI Kelby Tucker and SPHV Dr. Leo Gayheart.
Photo by Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.
Hazel Green, Ky.
On Nov. 30, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with IPP and establishment employees at a slaughter and processing establishment and took a tour of the establishment.
Pictured, from left: FLS Dr. Vernon Hall, CSI Jamie Florence, Jackson DDM Cheryl Henry, FI Joseph Embry, Administrator Kiecker and SPHV Dr. James Todd Gaslin.
Photo by Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.
West Liberty, Ky.
On Nov. 30, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with IPP and plant owners at a slaughter and processing establishment. The owners shared their positive experience with bringing their facility under USDA inspection and provided a tour of the facility. During his visit, Kiecker had a chance to discuss inspection operations, coverage of assignments and the benefits of a career at FSIS with IPP. They also talked about the value of recruitment.
Pictured, from left: Plant owners Marlin Gerber, Justin Gerber and Edwin Gerber; CSI Amanda Allen; Administrator Kiecker; FLS Dr. Vernon Hall.
Photo by Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.
River Edge, N.J.
On Oct. 31, five classes of eighth grade Food Nutrition students at River Dell Middle School enthusiastically participated in interactive presentations from Raleigh District Office Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officers (EIAOs). The FSIS team shared the importance of our mission and how they can impact food safety. “Perhaps we have met our future Administrator,” said EIAO Christina Hastings.
“We were so excited to set the team up for success with a tailored middle school presentation and tips from prior youth events,” said Office of Management Chief Talent Management Officer Janet Stevens. “It’s critical that we outreach early in elementary and middle schools while youth are exploring what they want to do when they grow up before they enter high school and are choosing career-related courses.”
Pictured: EIAO Christina Hastings shares how those more at risk have a greater likelihood of being affected by foodborne disease.
Pictured, from left: EIAOs Rodney Belmont, Christina Hastings, and Stephen Mowbray.
Photos by River Dell Middle School Nutrition Educator Claire O’Connor.
