November 2023 Snapshots
Fowlerville, Mich.
From Oct. 23-26, the Michigan Future Farmers of America held their annual chicken broiler contest at a local poultry plant. More than 2,000 high school and middle school students from 97 schools competed in this year’s contest. Students arrived at the establishment with their chickens and followed the birds through the slaughter process. At the end, the poultry carcasses were judged. Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSI) from the East Lansing Circuit took turns during the four days doing outreach on food safety, discussing their careers with students, and providing handouts on FSIS job vacancies in Michigan.
Pictured above: CSIs Katherine Angell and Timothy Riley.
Pictured above: CSI Sarfraz Choudhri.
Picture above: CSI Christopher Hang.
Pictured above: CSI Patricia Jones.
Busloads of attendees participated in the event.
All Fowlerville photos by Frontline Supervisor Raymond Andress, OFO.
Kinston, N.C.
On Oct. 31, the inspection team at a poultry establishment hosted their second annual Fall Festival to celebrate their dedication and commitment to the agency’s food safety mission.
Pictured, seated: CSI Chris Armwood.
Front row from left: CSIs Kimberly Kenan-Rodriguez, Bridget Knowles, Wanda Monroe, Helen Holley and Demestra Applewhite.
Center row, from left: Raleigh District Manager Todd Furey; Des Moines District Manager Jeff Jacobsen; CSIs Shanika Bull and Tonya McCray.
Back row, from left: CSI Derrick Sehen, Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer/Frontline Supervisor Dr. Raul Frontera, CSI Dennis Williams.
Photo by an establishment employee.
Atlanta, Ga.
From Nov. 7-9, Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban and Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) Assistant Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and attended the Annual FoodNet Vision meeting. During the visit, Drs. Esteban and Eblen also met with CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen and discussed priorities, including the Salmonella Framework and how the two agencies can continue to collaborate on efforts to reduce foodborne illness.
Pictured from left: OPHS Assistant Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen, Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, FSIS Liaison to CDC Bonnie Kissler
Photo by a CDC employee.
Pine Bluff, Ark.
On Oct. 27, inspection staff at a poultry plant honored Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Inspectors bonded with a potluck lunch and then learned important information about breast cancer and domestic violence.
Pictured, from left, the day shift: CSIs Tuwana Harris, Lawannda Lever, Teleshia Young and Deborah Rudd.
Photo by an establishment employee.
Pictured, standing, from left, the night shift: CSIs Carolyn Grant, Brenda Braswell, Tameka Banks and Earlene Holland.
Seated: CSI Johana Chua
Photo by CSI Lawannda Lever, OFO.
Shirts by Dallas District CSI Mira Vaughn, OFO.
Anchorage, Alaska
On Nov. 9, at the Intertribal Agricultural Council Alaska Regional Summit, Administrator Paul Kiecker gave a presentation on FSIS, amenability, and requirements for mandatory and voluntary inspection.
Photo by Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit Robert Witte.
After the presentation, Administrator Kiecker met with village officials to talk more about FSIS inspection and voluntary services.
Pictured above, from left: Stevens Village Tribal Councilmember and buffalo herd manager Randy Mayo, Administrator Kiecker, and Faye Uwan of the Native Village of Kluti-Kaah.
Photo by Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit Robert Witte.
Administrator Kiecker also invited local inspection program personnel to attend the presentation and his subsequent question-and-answer session with local stakeholders.
Pictured, from left: Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of Investigation, Enforcement, and Audit Robert Witte; Consumer Safety Inspector Brandon Ackermann; Administrator Kiecker; Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Lyndsay Morgan; Denver District Manager Dr. Robert Reeder.
Photo by event employee.
Arcadia, Wisc.
On Oct. 20, the FSIS team at a poultry establishment dressed in pink to honor those who have survived breast cancer, celebrate those who are currently fighting breast cancer, and remember those who bravely lost their battle.
Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Jeanette Pampuch is one of the survivors. One day at age 32 she scratched an itch and felt a hard, pea-sized lump. She then made an appointment with her doctor to get this lump examined. A biopsy determined it was Stage 2 aggressive carcinoma; she was lucky to find it early.
Pictured, from left: CSIs Flor Valenzo, Jeanette Pampuch, Sheila Kupietz, and Nancy Kupietz.
Photo by an establishment employee.
Pictured, from left: Supervisory CSI Edward DeGraw; CSIs John Hare, Maria Lundgren and Andy Hampton.
Photo by an establishment employee.
Pictured above: CSI Jeanette Pampuch
Photo by CSI Nancy Kupietz, OFO.
Nashville, Ark.
On Oct. 23, day shift consumer safety inspectors (CSI) at a poultry establishment showed their support as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Learn about the risk factors for breast cancer.
Pictured, from left: CSIs Simon Perez, Janice Bagley, Kayla Rodriguez, Kimberly McKinney and Lisy Fondren; Supervisory CSI Judy Saldaña.
Photo by an establishment employee.
New York City, N.Y.
On Oct. 18-19, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Sandra Eskin toured five processing establishments alongside the Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI), Frontline Supervisors (FLS) and plant management. She was impressed with the various processes, including Chinese and Italian specialty products, the largest kosher processing plant in the Northeast and the largest hot dog manufacturing plant in New York City.
Pictured above, from left: General Manager Edgar Carhuapoma, FLS Marilu Simeone, Deputy Under Secretary Eskin, FLS Salah Ibrahim and CSI Daniel Strauss.
Photo by plant employee.
Pictured above, from left: CSI Gabriel Schenk, Deputy Under Secretary Eskin, plant owner Leonard Shermin and FLS Salah Ibrahim.
Photo by FLS Jaspreet Gill, OFO.
Pictured above, from left: FLS Salah Ibrahim, Director of Operations Moderchai Milworn, Deputy Under Secretary Eskin, Plant Controller Moshe Ginsburg, Director of Sales Yaakov Stefansky, plant owner Aaron Hollander and CSI Jennifer Guthrie.
Photo by plant employee.
Rapid City, S.D.
On Oct. 12, USDA announced a pilot project across several USDA agencies, including FSIS, aimed at offering more localized ground bison meat for tribal communities through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. Administrator Paul Kiecker was one of the USDA leaders participating in the media interviews.
Pictured, from left: USDA Office of Tribal Relations Director Heather Dawn Thompson, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jennifer Lester Moffitt and FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker.
Ziebach County, S.D.
USDA leaders visited the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe bison herd.
Pictured, from left: Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jennifer Lester Moffitt, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Buffalo Authority Corporation CEO Jayme Murray, USDA Office of Tribal Relations Director Heather Dawn Thompson and FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker.
Pictured, from left: Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jennifer Lester Moffitt, USDA Office of Tribal Relations Director Heather Dawn Thompson and FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker.
Eagle Butte, S.D.
Leadership from USDA met with participants in the bison pilot project for a round table discussion at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s Youth Project Center.
Pictured at head of table, from left: FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker, USDA Office of Tribal Relations Director Heather Dawn Thompson and Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jennifer Lester Moffitt.
All South Dakota photos by FSIS Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Alexandra Tarrant, OA.
PEERS Team Visits Eastern Lab and Atlanta-Area Establishments
The Office of Planning, Analysis and Risk Management (OPARM) Planning, Evaluation, and Enterprise Risk Staff (PEERS) leads strategic and annual planning, performance monitoring, evaluations, internal controls, enterprise risk management and surveys. To help PEERS be more successful in its work by better understanding FSIS’ key functions and processes, Staff Director Yolanda Kennedy-Edwards led her team as it visited the Eastern Laboratory and three processing establishments from Aug. 21– 25. PEERS extends a warm “thank you” to everyone who assisted in planning, hosting and participating in both the lab and establishment visits.
Athens, Ga.
On Aug. 23, the team toured the Eastern Lab, observing and learning about sample receiving, sample preparation and sample testing. In addition, they met with the Director of the Eastern Lab and representatives from the lab’s Chemistry Branch, Pathology Branch, Microbiology Screening Branch (MSB), Microbiology Characterization Branch (MCB) and Laboratory Quality Assurance, Response and Coordination Staff (LQARCS), learning about the role each staff plays in the sampling process.
Pictured, from left: PEERS Strategic Planning and Evaluation Branch Chief Branch Chief Kelli Willis; MSB Supervisory Microbiologist Tracey Berutti; MCB Acting Branch Chief Joseph Minicozzi; Program Analyst Christy Chanin; Auditor Donna Franklin; PEERS Director Yolanda Kennedy-Edwards; Auditor Michael Day; Program Analysts Chad Smith, Cassandra Cantu and Joshua Brown; LQARCS Director Dr. Louis Bluhm; Senior Staff Officer Brian Webb; Eastern Lab Director Frankie Beacorn; Eastern Lab Acting Deputy Director Rebecca Fields; Staff Officer Anna Hull; Supervisory Microbiologist Terry Campbell; Supervisory Chemist Lindsey Porter; Eastern Lab Microbiology Branch Chief Cesar Morales; Supervisory Chemist Kathleen Ortega.
Photo (via timer) by PEERS Strategic Planning and Evaluation Branch Chief Kelli Willis, OPARM.
Atlanta, Ga.
On Aug. 24, the team visited establishments and observed ready-to-eat and not ready-to-eat processes for multiple products, including chicken nuggets, chili and beef stew.
Pictured, from left: Auditors Michael Day and Donna Franklin; Program Analysts Cassandra Cantu, Christy Chanin and Joshua Brown; PEERS Strategic Planning and Evaluation Branch Chief Kelli Willis; Program Analyst Chad Smith; PEERS Director Yolanda Kennedy-Edwards; CSI Rashima Mitchell; Atlanta Deputy District Manager Dr. Edward Hepburn, FLS Dr. Brian Smith.
Photo by an establishment employee.
Atlanta, Ga.
On Aug. 24, at a beef establishment, the team observed the process for making burgers for several well-known fast food restaurants.
Pictured, from left: Branch Chief Kelli Willis, PEERS Director Yolanda Kennedy-Edwards, Program Analyst Cassandra Cantu, CSI Kathy Spencer, Program Analyst Christy Chanin, Auditor Michael Day, Program Analyst Joshua Brown, Auditor Donna Franklin, Program Analyst Chad Smith.
Photo by an establishment employee.
Camp Lejeune, N.C.
On Sept. 27, FSIS Veterans and Persons with Disabilities Outreach Program Manager Shonda Moore and USDA Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison Monshi Ramdass worked together as one USDA team for outreach and recruitment at the U.S. Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Progression Expo at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The annual Expo focuses on providing job opportunities for transitioning MARSOC personnel and family members. The OneUSDA team spoke with transitioning service members, military spouses, and veteran organizations about FSIS’ Inspector Apprenticeship Programs and other agency career opportunities. Nearly 25 participants expressed interest in working for FSIS. Learn more about FSIS’s Apprenticeship Programs at Food Inspector Apprenticeship Programs.
Pictured: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune transitioning servicemember and FSIS Veterans and Persons with Disabilities Outreach Program Manager Shonda Moore.
Photo by USDA Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison Monshi Ramdass.
Pictured: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune transitioning servicemembers speak with USDA Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison Monshi Ramdass.
Photo by FSIS Veterans and Persons with Disabilities Outreach Program Manager Shonda Moore, OM.
San Diego, Calif.
On Oct. 4, FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker and Acting Assistant Administrator for Field Operations Paul Wolseley spoke at the North American Meat Institute's Joint Food Safety Inspection and Scientific Affairs Committee Meeting during the Protein Pact Summit. Kiecker and Wolseley discussed priority items such as efforts to strengthen the substantiation of animal raising claims and to reduce illnesses caused by Salmonella. FSIS appreciates opportunities to update stakeholders on the ongoing efforts to advance food safety and protect public health.
Pictured: Administrator Kiecker addresses Protein Pact Summit attendees.
Photo by OFO Acting Assistant Administrator Paul Wolseley.
San Diego, Calif.
On Oct. 4-5, Office of Field Operations (OFO) Acting Assistant Administrator Paul Wolseley visited establishments and met with FSIS inspection program personnel and leaders. Acting AA Wolseley praised leadership’s “passion for what we do, positive attitude, and enthusiasm, [which] carries over to [the] people you lead“ and said he was “very impressed with the CSIs I met today.”
Pictured, from left: Deputy District Manager Dr. Gregory Abreu, San Diego Circuit Frontline Supervisor Dr. Molly Johnson, Consumer Safety Inspector Michael Arvizu.
Pictured, from left: Deputy District Manager Dr. Gregory Abreu, San Diego Circuit Frontline Supervisor Dr. Molly Johnson, Consumer Safety Inspector Gloria Alexandre.
National City, Calif.
Pictured, from left: Consumer Safety Inspector Alvin Dyson, San Diego Circuit Frontline Supervisor Dr. Molly Johnson, Deputy District Manager Dr. Gregory Abreu.
All California photos above by OFO Acting Assistant Administrator Paul Wolseley.
