On Sept. 24, 2024, the Under Secretary, Deputy Under Secretary, Administrator and Deputy Administrator presented the 2024 Under Secretary’s Awards and the Administrator's Awards for Excellence (AAFE). The awards recognize employees throughout the agency for supporting the food safety mission with stellar customer service, innovative work projects and other achievements.

Watch a congratulations video from leadership. See photos from the ceremony.

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Food Safety - In-Plant

Roland Ebegbe (OFO-Philadelphia) – For the discovery of a hidden, uninspected facility that produced meat and poultry products without the benefit of federal inspection that ended the production of adulterated meat and poultry products from entering commerce.

Nicholas Moy (OFO-Raleigh) – For consistent and highly effective work performance throughout the year and for contributing to the Agency’s mission.

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Food Safety - Agency-Wide

Kingsland Recall and Investigation Team – For outstanding collaboration in the discovery and investigation of clandestine processing activities and the subsequent removal of uninspected products from commerce.

• Team Leaders: Denise Amann (OIEA) and Thomas Collaro (OIEA) 
• Team Members: Lauren Behar (OIEA), Scott Benek (OFO-Philadelphia), Ashley Boles (OGC), Paul Brown (OIEA), Derek Davis (OIEA), Tammy Dulude (OIEA), Roland Ebegbe (OFO-Philadelphia), Gabrielle Gordon (OFO-Philadelphia), Daniel Holmes (OIEA), Chia Chen Hsu (OIEA), Meihong “May” Lamm (OPARM), Tracy Mcgowan (OGC), Nicholas Milo (OIEA), Elizabeth Starrett (OIEA), and Stacy Womack (OFO-DC)

Salmonella in Not-Ready-To-Eat Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products Team – For declaring that certain chicken products that contain Salmonella are adulterated under the Poultry Products Inspection Act.

• Team Leaders: Joshua Ayers (OPPD) and Mary Porretta (OPPD)
• Team Members: Maegan Almonte (OPPD), Courtney Amundson (OPARM), Stephanie Baiyasi (OPPD), Tye Boynton (OPHS), Sterling Brown (OPPD), Stephanie Despero (OPPD), Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD), Nelson Clinch (OPARM), Andrea Cote (OPHS), Courtney Johnson (OPHS), Bonnie Kissler (OPHS), Maria Machuca (OPACE), Sarah Milchman (OPPD), Amber Pasko (OFO-DC), Daysena Pelham (OPHS), Robert Phillips (OPHS), and Flora Tsui (OPPD)

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation – Agency-Wide

Salmonella in Poultry Risk Assessment Team – For the development of two externally peer-reviewed quantitative risk assessments, one for Salmonella in chicken and one for Salmonella in turkey, conducted to support the Salmonella Framework.

• Team Leaders: Iva Bilanovic (OPHS) and Drew Posny (OPHS)
• Team Members: Natalie Baker (OPHS), Berhanu Tameru (OPHS), Eric Ebel (OPHS), Sunil Kumar (OPHS), Davi LaBarre (OPHS), Gurinder Saini (OPHS), Anant Venu (OPHS), and Mike Williams (OPHS)

USDA Model Talent Management Program Team – For standing up an innovative, mission-driven and collaborative Talent Management Program that is recognized as a model across USDA.

• Team Leader: Lynda Lilyestrom (OPACE)
• Team Members: Karen Anderson (OPACE), Cortney Burgess (OFO-DC), Jacob Cavegn (OM), Liz Cuttino (OFO-Atlanta), Maria Esteras (OIC), Kyesha Lewis (OM), Amanda Luell (OFO-Denver), Jeanie Mah (OPARM), Gary McCann (OM), Shonda Moore (OM), Danisha Montague Parker (CRS), Michael Munday (OCIO), Laura Palmer (OFO-DC), Thomas Reimler (OM), Liz Simmons (OIEA), Paul Soma (OM), Alexandra Tarrant (OFO-DC), and Meghan White (OPACE)

Administrator’s Award for Operational Excellence – In-Plant

Thomas Behan (OFO-Philadelphia) – For consistently going above and beyond ensuring regulatory requirements are met and customer service is provided.

Kenny Mundt (OFO-Chicago) – For outstanding customer service in communicating regulatory requirements, providing resources, and maintaining excellent communications with colleagues and industry management during installation of equipment.

Administrator’s Award for Operational Excellence – Agency-Wide

Budget Formulation and Presentation Branch Team – For achieving operational excellence through its tireless dedication to ensure FSIS has the budgetary resources necessary to carry out its food safety mission.

• Team Leader: Matthew Sexton (OCFO)
• Team Members: Philip Molle (OCFO), Michele Morgan (OCFO), Oswaldo Maxwell (OCFO), and Jeffrey Thompson (OCFO)

PHIS Team – For improving FSIS’ ability to conduct its public health mission by providing new PHIS capabilities, system improvements, and enhanced cyber security protection.

• Team Leaders: Scott Seebohm (OFO-DC) and Carlos Vega (OCIO)
• Team Members: JenAlyse Arena (OPARM), Lakshmi Ballijepalle (OCIO), Teresa Carpenter (OPPD), Bryce Carson (OIC), Krutang Desai (OCIO), Janet Everhart (OPARM), Zaffrenarda King (OCIO), Kate Kjome (OEED), Gina LaSpata (OIEA), Vinh Le (OCIO), Jeanie Mah (OPARM), Derrick Mayo (OCIO), Robert Mosheyev (OCIO), Caitlin Owens (OPARM), Megan Potts (OFO-DC), Markietta Robertson (OFO-DC), and Katina Weems (OFO-DC)

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility – In-Plant

Pablo Nieves (OFO-Jackson) – For creating an effective newsletter that is circulated to more than 857 employees who work in 366 federally inspected establishments in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility – Agency-Wide

FSIS Military Recruitment and Outreach Team – For managing military and inspector apprenticeship programs outreach, creating a pipeline for transitioning service-members, developing webinars, and helping fill vacancies for mission critical occupations.

• Team Leader: Shonda Moore (OM)
• Team Members: Susan Bowen (OM), Cortney Burgess (OFO-DC), Corinne Calhoun (OM), Jerrell Davis (OM), William Fountas (OFO-Dallas), Jana Gunther (OM), Kyesha Lewis (OM), Chenell Malcolm (OPACE), and Jamie Mitchell (OM)

Virtual Conference Committee – For displaying exceptional dedication to planning an outstanding training event for FSIS employees.

• Team Leader: Danisha Montague Parker (CRS)
• Team Members: Manuel Alba (CRS), Tamara Bond (CRS), Damali Carr (CRS), Brian Gates (OEED), Aleesha Grady (CRS), Kimberly Kelley (OPACE), Tina McLane (CRS), Thaniya Shankar (CRS), Christopher Small (CRS), Tanja Thompson (CRS), and Glenn Washington (OM)

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Customer Service – In-Plant

Wenatchee Mini Circuit Team – For excellence in customer service through outreach and collaborative teamwork, ensuring FSIS mission success while facilitating healthy work-life balance among team members.

• Team Leaders: Kendall Kritzik (OFO-Denver) and Carla Ling (OFO-Denver)
• Team Members: Shellee Anne Imperial (OFO-Denver), Andrew Nash (OFO-Denver), David O'Brien (OFO-Denver), and Jennifer Poirier (OFO-Denver)

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Customer Service – Agency-Wide

Agency Cell-Cultured Meat and Poultry Sampling, Inspection, Labeling Approval, New Technology Evaluations, and International Equivalence Team – For developing, implementing, and conducting sampling, new technology reviews, labeling approvals, and partnering with stakeholders to ensure cell-cultured products inspection, food safety, and proper labeling.

• Team Leaders: Joshua Ayers (OPPD) and Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD)
• Team Members: Kristina Barlow (OPHS), Tye Boynton (OPHS), Stephanie Defibaugh-Chavez (OPPD), Parrish Endy (OFO-DC), Hannah Filloon (OPPD), Ethan Hobbs (OPARM), Nancy Layland (OPPD), Sarah Maruschock (OPPD), Kimberly Nguyen (OPHS), Monique Pichon (OPPD), Nora Pihkala (OPPD), Daniel Righter (OPHS), Patrick Sisco (OPHS), Scott Updike (OPPD), Janice Watkins (OPPD), Monique Wiggins (OFO-DC), and Laine Zipperer (OPPD)

Alameda District Cell-Cultured Poultry Implementation Workgroup – For ensuring the first three cell cultured poultry establishments in the United States received their initial grants of inspection.

• Team Leaders: Virginia Felix (OFO-Alameda) and Frank Gillis (OFO-Alameda)
• Team Members: Gregory Abreu (OFO-Alameda), Alaaeldeen Ahmed (OFO-Alameda), Gabrial Eddings (OFO-DC), Heather Havens (OFO-Alameda), Eryn Judd (OFO-Alameda), Nerisa Riedl (OFO-Alameda), and Michelle Tiojanco (OFO-Alameda)

Administrator’s Award for Employee of the Year – In-Plant Processing

Mike Davis (OFO-Springdale) – For displaying exemplary leadership and significant contributions to improve food safety.

Gary Schweitzer (OFO-Alameda) – For displaying a strong commitment to improving food safety, communication, and training.

Administrator’s Award for Employee of the Year – In-Plant Slaughter

Jessica Hardrict (OFO-Raleigh) – For consistently supporting FSIS’ strategic goals by leading and mentoring her team members and independently accepting additional work to accomplish the Agency’s mission and minimizing disruption of daily operations.

Heriberto Rayo (OFO-Jackson) – For consistently performing assigned duties at an outstanding performance level and voluntarily accepting details to red meat and poultry establishments to carry out the Agency’s public health mission.

Administrator’s Award for Employee of the Year – Non-In-Plant

Raymond Kieu (OCFO) – For extraordinary efforts performing high level data analyses and validation, improved business processes, consistently meeting Department requirements, and ensuring timely submissions and superb customer service.

Administrator’s Award for Supervisor of the Year – In-Plant

Matthew Burton (OFO-Springdale) – For exemplary leadership and significant contributions to improve food safety.

Justin Crites (OFO-Jackson) – For excellence in supervision, management skills, and communications.

Administrator’s Award for Supervisor of the Year – Non-In-Plant

Melissa Hammar (OPPD) – For outstanding supervisory leadership on the Secretary of Agriculture’s numerous policy priorities and outstanding leadership of personnel.

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Food Safety – In-Plant

Yolanda Nicole Gomez (OFO-Dallas) – For going above and beyond to assist her co-workers in working to achieve the Agency’s public health mission.

Ginger Kennicker (OFO-Des Moines) – For outstanding awareness and commitment to enhancing food safety and highlighting the importance of quality ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection services.

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Food Safety – Agency-Wide

Food Inspector Accelerated Promotion Training Development Team – For creating a program that provides a hiring incentive to recruit and improve retention rates for Food Inspectors more effectively.

• Team Leaders: Hala Bessyoung (OEED) and Jennifer Webb (OEED)
• Team Members: Tara Gershuny (OEED), Michael Goza (OEED), Tom Reimler (OM), Christie Royal (OEED), Joshua Rupert (OEED), and Matthew Vahabi (OFO-Alameda)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation – Agency-Wide

Data Release Team – For promoting transparency by expediting the publication of exploratory poultry sampling data in support of rulemaking and expanding beef datasets to account for STEC sampling unification.

• Team Leaders: Avi Patel (OPARM) and the late Kim Quigley (OPARM)
• Team Members: Courtney Amundson (OPARM), Nelson Clinch (OPARM), Neal Golden (OPHS), Kayla Jennings (OPARM), Tamar Khafi (OPARM), and Todd Lauzé (OPHS)

U.S. Food Safety Audits International Pilot Team – For successfully developing and piloting a transformative scientific approach for facilitating foreign audits of the U.S., ensuring continued recognition of the U.S. food safety system.

• Team Leader: Christina Der (OIC)
• Team Members: Kaija Castillo Kaupins (OFO-Des Moines), Jennifer Conrad (OIC), Kathy Cynor (OFO-Chicago), Elizabeth Davis (OFO-Raleigh), Todd Furey (OFO-Raleigh), Mark Johnson (OFO-Des Moines), Amir Taimoor Khan (OFO-Philadelphia), Lindsay Mitchell (OFO-Denver), Michael Mitchell (OFO-Raleigh), Fiyinfoluwa Oparinde (OFO-Philadelphia), Juan Rodriguez (OIEA), Jason Schewe (OFO-Des Moines), David Smith (OIC), Heather Swan (OFO-Des Moines), and Dale Wolter (OFO-Des Moines)

Honorable Mention for Operational Excellence – In-Plant

Travis Jess (OFO-Des Moines) – For encouraging the sharing of information and the discussion of important food safety concerns at establishments, which have been instrumental in the retention, training, and development of fellow CSIs.

Ashley Keeley-Cahill (OFO-Alameda) – For promoting employee engagement, training, and retention, as well as recruitment of new veterinarians and CSIs for hard-to-fill positions.

Honorable Mention for Operational Excellence – Agency-Wide

FY 2024 Annual Planning Team – For collaborating across all program areas to develop and publish the FY 2024 FSIS Annual Plan, which serves as an operational guide for nearly 9,000 employees.

• Team Leader: Cassandra Cantu (OPARM)
• Team Members: Christy Chanin (OPARM), Josh Brown (OPARM), Lesley Good (OPARM), Brett Filloon (OFO-DC), Jeremy Roper (OM), Erika Stapp-Kamotani (OPPD), and Meghan White (OPACE)

LMA Negotiations Team – For the completion and implementation of, and training on, the new Labor Management Agreement between FSIS and the National Joint Council of Food Inspectors.

• Team Leader: Matthew Epperson (OM)
• Team Members: Phyllis Adams (OFO-Atlanta), Chelsea Biggus (OM), Tara Hayes (OM), Salah Ibrahim (OFO-Philadelphia), Mark Johnson (OFO-Des Moines), Derek Kushmerek (OM), Kinsey Naylor-Byles (OFO-Dallas), LaTonya Ramos (OM), and Valerie Thomas (OM)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility – In-Plant

Bessie Bouras (OFO-Philadelphia) – For promoting a positive and effective work environment that fosters communication, cooperation, collaboration and fairness.

Janine Henley (OFO-Atlanta) – For unwavering commitment and dedication in championing the promotion of understanding, recognition, and education across FSIS.

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility – Agency-Wide

FSIS Employee Town Halls Team – For cultivating a Employee Town Hall atmosphere with open dialogue between leadership and employees, addressing high-value topics and providing critical information each month.

• Team Leader: Shayla Mae Bailey (OPACE)
• Team Members: Kimberly Kelley (OPACE), Yolande Mitchell (OPACE), Alison Strauss (OPACE), and Megan Traylor (OPACE)

Small Establishment Outreach Team – For supporting DEIA efforts through conscientious planning and consideration of the needs of internal and external stakeholders.

• Team Leaders: Lynda Lilyestrom (OPACE) and Aaron Lavallee (OPACE)
• Team Members: Mitch Adams (OPACE), Karen Anderson (OPACE), Soledad Calvino (OPACE), Melissa Cordell (OPACE), Veronica Pegram-Williams (OPACE), Alison Strauss (OPACE), Caitlyn Switzler (OFO-Raleigh), and Meghan White (OPACE)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Customer Service – In-Plant

Cameron Carow (OFO-Springdale) – For providing excellent customer service to partner Agencies by collecting samples for Foreign Animal Diseases and participating in a Foot and Mouth Disease tabletop exercise.

Jessica Carter (OFO-Chicago) – For demonstrating dedication in contributing to the Dearborn Circuit team by volunteering to cover vacant slaughter, export, and import positions and training new CSIs in the Circuit.

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Customer Service – Agency-Wide

Recruit and Outreach Presentations, Booths, and Materials Team – For demonstrating excellence in customer service through development of recruitment and outreach materials, including template presentations, booths, billboard designs, and social media posts.

• Team Leader: Lynda Lilyestrom (OPACE)
• Team Members: Karen Anderson (OPACE), Soledad Calvino (OPACE), Kyesha Lewis (OM), Shonda Moore (OM), and Meghan White (OPACE)

Honorable Mention for Employee of the Year – In-Plant Processing

Kevin Coomes (OFO-Chicago) – For exemplary recruitment efforts, regulatory expertise, problem solving, and mentoring new employees.

Fabiola Velazquez (OFO-Dallas) – For striving to ensure the establishments are following their food safety programs and produce safe product.

Brian Westbrook (OFO-Jackson) – For continuously advancing food safety by mentoring many CSIs by training, leading by example, and sharing of knowledge with others.

Honorable Mention for Employee of the Year – In-Plant Slaughter

Lorena Huerta (OFO-Alameda) – For exhibiting strong leadership, mentoring, and communication with other inspection personnel and establishment to achieve the Agency’s mission.

Honorable Mention for Employee of the Year – Non-In-Plant

Ruth Gonzalez (OFO-Alameda) – For streamlining procedures to improve efficiency of the district’s EIAO Food Safety Assessments, outreach, and recall activities, and for contributions in the chemical workgroup in developing food safety policy on allergen controls.

Ben Sun (OEED) – For demonstrating extraordinary accountability in fulfilling the Agency’s mission as a public health training coordinator.

Honorable Mention for Supervisor of the Year – In-Plant

Michael Thompson (OFO-Des Moines) – For exceptionally compassionate management of a workplace safety incident impacting an FSIS employee.

Keri Powell (OFO-Atlanta) – For teaching, mentoring, and explaining regulatory requirements to new PHVs, SCSIs, CSI Teams, and establishment management, which has led to a more knowledgeable workforce and a collaborative working relationship with industry.

Honorable Mention for Supervisor of the Year – Non-In-Plant

Yolanda Chambers (OM) – For excellent leadership, customer service, and enterprise-wide impact of the Administrative Service Division’s contributions in support of FSIS’ public health mission.

Joseph Gomes (OCIO) – For consistently leading the OCIO Capital Planning Branch in achieving superior results in IT capital planning, budget planning and execution, procurement management, and HR functions for OCIO.

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Food Safety

Ineligible Meat and Poultry Products Imported from China Team – For identifying a smuggling pathway, removing more than 650,000 pounds of ineligible imported products from commerce, and issuing a public health alert to inform consumers.

• Team Leaders: Sara Baucher (OIEA) & Joe Priore (OIEA)
• Team Members: Mitch Adams (OPACE), John Augustine (OIEA), Jared Bevill (OIEA), Wendy Calkins (OFO), Meredith Carothers (OPACE), Eugene Casole (OIEA), Tom Collaro (OIEA), Timothy Dulude (OIEA), Angela Glodowske (OFO), Jasmine Hale (OIEA), Rochelle Kopicki (OFO), Joseph Ndungu (OIEA), Jannette Pagan (OIEA), Adrianna Perez (OIEA), Rosa Perez (OIEA), Rosa Recio (OIEA), & Kassie Romero (OIEA).

Open Recommendation Closure Resolution Team – For exceeding the Secretary’s Priority Goal to make significant process in closing USDA open recommendations in FY2022 and establishing processes to complete the corrective action activities for the remaining open recommendations.

• Team Leaders: Wendi Carvalho (OCFO) & Matthew Gonzales (OCFO)
• Team Members: Frankie Beacorn (OPHS), Stephanie Defibaugh-Chávez (OPPD), Melissa Dull (OA), Neal Golden (OPHS), Jennifer Green (OPPD), Marcus Head (OPHS), Angela Kelly (OA), Amanda Krot (OA), Janice Kunz (OCFO), Monique Pichon (OPPD), & Alexandra Tarrant (OFO)

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation

Cloth Sampling Team – For evaluating and implementing a new cloth sampling technique that is faster, safer, and cheaper yet sensitive enough to detect pathogens on beef products.

• Team Leader: Susan Hammons (OPHS)
• Team Members: Hannah Anderson (OPHS), Terrence Arthur (USDA-ARS), Natalie Baker (OPHS), Eric Ebel (OPHS), Gabrial Eddings (OFO), DeMar Hightower (OPHS), Lisa Jacobsen (OPHS), Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD), Randall Kumpost (OFO-Des Moines), Stephen Mamber (OPARM), Lorenza Rozier (OPHS), William Stone (USDA-AMS), Teresa Taylor (OPPD), Bryan Trout (OPPD), Scott Updike (OPPD), Tommy Wheeler (USDA-ARS), Rachel Ann Whitaker (OPPD), Sabrina Wiggins (OPHS), & Jamie Woodside (OIC).

Whole Genome Sequencing Integration Workgroup – For promoting data transparency by collaborating internally and externally with federal public health partners to ensure equitable release of significant public health data.

• Team Leaders: Kristal Southern (OPHS) & Glenn Tillman (OPHS)
• Team Members: Labeed Ben-Ghaly (OPHS), Andrea Cote (OPHS), Aphrodite Douris (OPHS), Gabrial Eddings (OFO), George El-Amir (OPARM), Parrish Endy (OFO), Peter Evans (OPHS), Brett Filloon (OFO), Tamar Khafi (OPARM), Todd Lauze (OPHS), Stephen Mamber (OPARM), Caitlin Owens (OPARM), Amber Pasko (OFO), Spencer Pretecrum (OPACE), Mustafa Simmons (OPHS), & Jamie Wasilenko (OPHS)

Administrator's Award for Operational Excellence

PHIS & Onboarding Canada into PHIS' Export Module Teams – For leadership in on-boarding export certification for Canada and other crucial development activities for the Public Health Information System (PHIS).

• Team Leader: Bryce Carson (OIC)
• Team Members: JenAlyse Arena (OPARM), Ronald Behlmann (OCIO), Jaime Bonilla (OCIO), Krutang Desai (OCIO), Paul Dolan (OPARM), Abgail Gruber (OPARM), Beverly Lewis (OCIO), Brittany Mabry (OPPD), Derrick Mayo (OCIO), Robert Mosheyev (OCIO), Murali Munjeti (OCIO), Darlene Riden (OPPD), Markietta Robertson (OFO), Scott Seebohm (OFO), Bryan Seidel (OPPD), Naresh Shah (OCIO), Lily Thienard (OCIO), Carlos Vega (OCIO), & Katina Weems (OFO).

New State MPI Program Onboarding Team – For successfully guiding two states through the process of developing their own MPI Programs and entering into cooperative agreements with FSIS.

• Team Leaders: Brian Fong (OCFO) & Keith Gilmore (OIEA)
• Team Members: Leslye Beswick (OCFO), Terry Black (OCFO), Scott Coker (OCFO), Ugo Emeaba (OCFO), Amanda Krot (OA), Marvin Lykes (OCIO), Andrew Smith (OIEA), Jeanetta Tankson (OPHS), Lucas Thompson (OCFO), & Cynthia Whitley (OIEA)

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility

Action Plan Team – For your commitment to advancing FSIS programs, procurement opportunities, and employment, and building a culture where employees thrive.

• Team Members: George Baptist (OM), Corinne Calhoun (OM), Laura Frantes (OM), Jennifer Gaither (OEED), Jenna Grogan (OM), Angela Kelly (OA), Amanda Krot (OA), Aaron Lavallee (OPACE), Scott Seebohm (OPPD), Alexandra Tarrant (OFO), Mark Williams (OA), & Renee Williams (OM)

USDA Black History Month Observance Planning Committee – For the creativity, enthusiasm, and dedication exhibited by the Office of the Administrator during the planning and execution of USDA’s 2022 Black History Month Program.

• Team Leaders: Damali Carr (OA) & Angela Kelly (OA)
• Team Members: Aleesha Grady (OA) & Thelma Sykes (OA)

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Customer Service

askFSIS & OPPD Small Plant Outreach Efforts Team – For providing outstanding outreach and customer service to small and very small establishments.

• Team Leader: John Linville (OPPD)
• Team Members: Daisy Burns (OPPD), Teresa Carpenter (OPPD), Carrie Clark (OPPD), NaJuan Davis (OPPD), Parrish Endy (OFO), Jose Gabiola (OPPD), Jonathan Huang (OPPD), Bailey McWilliams (OPACE), Steve Perigo (OPPD), Scott Seebohm (OFO), Meryl Silverman (OPPD), Jesse Stanley (OPPD), Christy Stumps (OPPD), Bryan Trout (OPPD), Rosemary Turner (OPPD), & Thomas Vermeersch (OPPD)

Mediation and Conflict Resolution Group – For the exemplary customer service and Alternative Dispute Resolution support the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Group provided to employees/managers throughout the Agency.

• Team Members: Jodi Hallstrom (OA), Danisha Parker (OA), & Tanja Thompson (OA)

Administrator's Award for Employee of the Year – In-Plant

Michael Sean Bobo (OFO-Atlanta) – For being a leader who sets high expectations, including accountability, exceptional communication, teamwork, and respect, to attain all mission support goals.

Seamus Curtis (OFO-Springdale) – For exemplary leadership and significant contributions to improve food safety.

Administrator's Award for Employee of the Year – Non In-Plant

Mary Porretta (OPPD) – For exceptional leadership and development of multiple high-priority policies related to Salmonella.

Administrator's Award for Supervisor of the Year – In-Plant

Celia Mata (OFO-Alameda) – For outstanding leadership and fostering an environment that leads to excellent team productivity, maximizing individual growth, creating a positive and challenging workplace and successfully prioritizing and meeting the Agency’s mission.

Administrator's Award for Supervisor of the Year – Non In-Plant

Phyllis Adams (OFO-Atlanta) – For exemplary leadership resulting in effective accomplishment of FSIS’ mission and goals.

Tony Merritt (OFO-Atlanta) – For outstanding leadership and fostering an environment that leads to excellent team productivity, maximizing individual growth, creating a positive and challenging workplace and successfully prioritizing and meeting the Agency’s mission.

Christine Turner (OCFO) – For exemplary leadership contributions in pursuit of Operational Excellence to maintain a well-trained and engaged workforce and improve processes and services.

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Food Safety

Salmonella Risk Profile Team – For completing a scientifically sound and comprehensive Risk Profile for Salmonella in poultry to support the FSIS Salmonella Initiative.

• Team Leaders: Lesley Good (OPHS) & Kristal Southern (OPHS)
• Team Members: Natalie Baker (OPHS), Iva Bilanovic (OPHS), Wu San Chen (OPHS), Andrea Cote (OPHS), Colleen Cruz (USDA-ARS), Zeynep Diker (USDA-ARS), Nelson Clinch (OPARM), Neal Golden (OPHS), Dawanna James-Holly (USDA-ARS), John Jarosh (OPHS), Courtney Johnson (OPHS), Bonnie Kissler (OPHS), Bryce Merrill (OPHS), Mary Porretta, (OPPD), Stephanie Ritchie (USDA-ARS), Jessica Sigman (USDA-ARS), Mustafa Simmons (OPHS), & Glenn Tillman (OPHS)

Appendix A & B Outreach Team – For providing 19 Cooking and Cooling Guideline presentations, including webinars for industry and FSIS personnel to ensure successful implementation of the revision.

• Team Leader: Meryl Silverman (OPPD)
• Team Members: Shayla Bailey (OPACE), Aaron Beczkiewicz (OPPD), Jessica Brown (OPPD), Stephani Cherkaoui (OEED), Parrish Endy (OFO), Tennetta Hazard (OPPD), Alicia Hickman (OEED), Salina Najera (OEED), Scott Updike (OPPD), & Laine Zipperer (OPPD)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation

webTA Shorthand Code Update Team – For extraordinary efforts in implementing successful innovative solutions to significantly reduce the frequency and quantity of payroll corrections.

• Team Leaders: John Cummings (OCFO) & Karen Sommer (OCFO)
• Team Members: Dee Finnell (OCFO), Katherine Grimm (OCFO), Rebecca Johnson (OCFO), Mayra Melendez (OCFO), Melissa Sedwick (OCFO), & Joanne Swesey (OCFO)

Honorable Mention for Operational Excellence

Management Directive 715 Workgroup – For the valuable contributions, which resulted in a comprehensive analysis that identified and addressed Agency barriers to equal employment opportunity.

• Team Leaders: Angela Kelly (OA) & Amanda Krot (OA)
• Team Members: Manuel Alba (OA), Kimberley Beall (OFO), Kevin Bjork (OM), Sylvia Bourn (OEED), Margaret Burns-Rath (OIC), Damali Carr (OA), Melissa Dull (OA), Maria Esteras (OFO-Denver), Aleesha Grady (OA), Victor Granado (OPARM), Valerie Green (OEED), Christina Mercer (OCFO), Shonda Moore (OM), Michael Munday (OCIO), Rosalyn Murphy-Jenkins (OPPD), Christopher Small (OA), & Shantel Williams (OPHS)

Incentives Team – For continuous efforts in establishing new and improving business processes of the various high-profile FSIS incentive programs.

• Team Leaders: Damian Mitrano (OCFO) & Jennifer Martinez (OCFO)
• Team Members: Gloria Barksdale (OCFO), Dwayne Blakeney (OFO), Susan Bowen (OM), Brandy Cloke (OCFO), John Cummings (OCFO), Maria Esteras (OFO-Denver), Brian Fong (OCFO), David Laes (OM), Salina Najera (OEED), Jacki Nelson (OM), Bridget O'Connor (OM), Laura Palmer (OFO), & Melissa Sedwick (OCFO)

Human Resources Operations Division, Personal Security, & Medical Teams – For initiating personal security and medical review processes that resulted in significant reductions to FSIS’ Time-to-Hire.

• Team Leaders: Ulises Ayala (OM) & Jana Gunther (OM)
• Team Members: Christopher Allen (OM), Spencer Caouette (OM), Paul Lussier (OM), Kristina Pasalich (OM), & Lee Robins (OM)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility

Bison Listening Sessions Team – For successfully planning and executing bison listening sessions with stakeholders while ensuring accessibility was fostered.

• Team Leader: Sally Ann Iverson (OPACE)
• Team Members: Mitch Adams (OPACE), Josiah Griffin (USDA-OTR), Cody Kahlig (OPACE), & Lynda Lilyestrom (OPACE)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Customer Service

Heather Brown (OFO-Jackson) – For your outstanding contributions in leading the Jackson District in the absence of a Resource Manager.

Small Plant Roundtables Team – For successfully planning and executing small plant roundtables across four states, which provided opportunities for FSIS leadership to meet with small and very small establishments.

• Team Leader: Lynda Lilyestrom (OPACE)
• Team Members: Mitch Adams (OPACE), Cody Kahlig (OPACE), Rosalyn Murphy-Jenkins (OPPD), Jason Knapp (OFO-Dallas), Donna Savage (OFO-Atlanta), Dawn Walters (OFO-Alameda), & Amber Talley (OFO-Denver)

Honorable Mention for Employee of the Year – In-Plant

Robert Swanson (OFO-Chicago) – For exemplifying true leadership through dedication to food safety and support to all food inspectors.

Daryl Schellhorn (OFO-Des Moines) – For thoughtful approach to leadership and being a model of accountability.

Honorable Mention for Employee of the Year – Non In-Plant

Beverly Cazares (OPACE) – For excellence, leadership, and creativity in food safety education, public affairs, and customer service on the Meat and Poultry Hotline.

Honorable Mention for Supervisor of the Year – In-Plant

Justin Crites (OFO-Jackson) – For management of a complex red meat patrol with multiple CSIs, consistent decisive leadership, mentoring, and collaboration within FSIS.

Oleg Shleyfer (OFO-Philadelphia) – For demonstrating excellent time-management skills while assisting in overseeing the team’s workload by delegating tasks with fairness, empathy, and compassion.

Honorable Mention for Supervisor of the Year – Non In-Plant

Dexter Johnson (OPACE) – For achieving operational excellence through the optimization of service delivery.

Michelle Tiojanco (OFO-Alameda) – For continually demonstrating outstanding initiative and leadership while empowering others and serving as an exemplary mentor and trusted role model.

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Food Safety

Industry Guidelines Team – For publishing six major industry guidance documents, which provided outstanding customer service and assistance to all establishments in understanding and meeting regulatory requirements.

• Team Leaders: Meryl Silverman (OPPD) & Bryan Trout (OPPD)
• Team Members: Kristina Barlow (OPHS), Kevin Dutch (OPPD), Susan Hammons (OPHS), Udit Minocha (OPHS), Stevie Hretz (OPPD), Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD), Micheall Myrie (OEED), Scott Updike (OPPD), Charles Williams (OPPD), & Robert Witte (OA)

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation

FSIS Public Website Team – For changing the public image of the Agency by redesigning the FSIS website and ensuring access to critical public health information, policy, and science.

• Team Leaders: Shayla Mae Bailey (OPACE) & Sharon Pierre (OCIO)
• Team Members: Khadijah Givs (OPACE), Manal Ibrahim (OPACE), Marvin Lykes (OCIO), Chenell Malcolm (OPACE), Derrick Mayo (OCIO), Rodney Sallie (OCIO), Jay Sutaye (OCIO), & William Wei (OPACE)

Reduced Fees Workgroup – For overcoming complex legal, policy, financial, and operational challenges to implement reduced overtime fees for small and very small establishments, providing critical relief during the pandemic, and doing so in record time.

• Team Leaders: Brian Fong (OCFO) & Michael Toner (OCFO)
• Team Members: Dawn Larson (OCFO), Matthew Didday (OCFO), Gabrial Eddings (OFO), Raymond Kieu (OCFO), Parrish Endy (OFO), Bryan Maculloch (OPPD), Matthew Sanderson (OCFO), Angelica Marrero (OPPD), Crystal Martin (OCFO), Oswaldo Maxwell (OCFO), Matthew Michael (OPPD), Mary Porretta (OPPD)

Administrator's Award for Operational Excellence

Achievement Awards Team – For transferring the role of processing achievement awards from OM to OCFO while simultaneously streamlining, automating, and documenting the process.

• Team Leader: Jackson Crockett (OCFO)
• Team Members: Shauna Armstrong (OCFO), Kayla Bixler (OM), Daniel Bradley (OFO), Candice Taylor (OCFO), John Cummings (OCFO), Jasmine Curtis (OFO), Matthew Didday (OCFO), Janet Epstein (OCFO), Arriell Garner (OFO), Sean Murphy (OM), Kimberly Smith (OFO), Lucas Thompson (OCFO), Apryl Wagner (OM), & Fatima Weaver (OPACE)

FI & CSI Incentives Team – For the rapid approval, design, and implementation of the Food Inspector and Consumer Safety Inspector Recruitment and Retention Incentive Program.

• Team Leader: Susan Bowen (OM) & Laura Frantes (OM)
• Team Members: Victoria Centurion (OM), Joseph Devine (OM), Arriell Garner (OFO), David Laes (OM), Gina Mahal (OM), Jennifer Martinez (OCFO), Jacki Nelson (OM), & Bridget O’Connor (OM)

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility

Supplier Outreach Team – For exceeding all 8(a), socioeconomic, and small business goals, set by the USDA Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, by expanding outreach and opening lines of communication with small businesses.

• Team Leader: George Baptist III (OM)
• Team Members: Reggie Brown Jr. (OM), Kyna Fernandez (OCIO), Alexis Galloway (OM), Joe Gomes (OCIO), Dwight Hill (OM), Susan Knower (OCIO), Madonna Montgomery (OM), Thomas Nasvytis (OM), Barbara Nelson (OM), Karen Petty (OM), Julie Ramos (OCIO), Misty Richardson (OEED), Eric Schnitzler (OM), & Jozette Wingfield (OCIO)

Virtual Conference Committee – For exhibiting enthusiasm, creativity, and hard work during the planning and execution of a training conference for all employees.

• Team Leader: Angela Kelly (OA)
• Team Members: Tamara Bond (OA), LaWan Bryan-Head (OA), Damali Carr (OA), Amanda Krot (OA), Tina McLane (OA), Yolande Mitchell (OPACE), Danisha Montague (OA), Tanja Thompson (OA), & Glenn Washington (OM)

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Customer Service

COVID-19 Communications Team – For outstanding service in informing internal and external audiences on COVID-19 related illness trends, public health guidance, administrative policies, and FSIS’ worker safety efforts.

• Team Leader: Sally Ann Iverson (OPACE)
• Team Members: Shayla Mae Bailey (OPACE), Carlos Batista (OM), Corinne Calhoun (OM), Andrea Cote (OPHS), Jatona Hatcher (OCFO), John Jarosh (OPHS), Janice Kunz (OCFO), Derek Kushmerek (OM), Maria Machuca (OPACE), Buck McKay (OPACE), Bryce Merrill (OPHS), Spencer Pretecrum (OPACE), Laura Reiser (OPACE), & Felicia Thompson (OPACE)

New Supervisor Training Program Design and Pilot Team – For redesigning the New Supervisor Training Program and its delivery format, resulting in 29% more graduates compared to the previous fiscal year and at a significant cost savings to the Agency.

• Team Leader: Kimberly Kelley (OEED)
• Team Members: Brian Gates (OEED), Erin Kersse (OEED), Adrian Jones (OEED), & Jeff Tarrant (OEED)

Administrator's Award for Employee of the Year – In Plant

Dustin Twigg (OFO - Raleigh) – For working diligently and enduring hardships to correct long-standing issues in a critical assignment and working with plant establishment to improve food safety standards.

Administrator's Award for Employee of the Year – Non-In Plant

Sally Ann Iverson (OPACE) – For exceptional service in communicating FSIS’ mission, policies, initiatives, and priorities to the public.

Administrator's Award for Supervisor of the Year – In Plant

Janelle Cheston (OFO - Raleigh) – For outstanding leadership and guidance to others and developing a team of well-trained inspection personnel who worked collaboratively to ensure the safety of regulated products.

Administrator's Award for Supervisor of the Year – Non-In Plant

Jatona Hatcher (OCFO) – For exemplary leadership contributions in maintaining a well-trained and engaged workforce and improving processes and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stevie Hretz (OPPD) – For outstanding leadership ultimately resulting in increased team dynamics as well as contributions to the FSIS mission, exemplifying the highest level of public service.

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Food Safety

Christine Storey (OFO - Des Moines) – For outstanding commitment to, and achievement in, preventing foodborne illness through diligent oversight of novel mobile poultry slaughter practices.

Civil Contempt Enforcement Team – For successfully litigating a multifaceted breach case, resulting in a contempt order, substantial fines, and injunctive provisions to compel compliance, providing valuable legal precedent.

• Team Leaders: Denise Amann (OIEA) & Paul Flanagan (OIEA)
• Team Members: Amir Ali (OIEA), Michael Altimari (OIEA), Elizabeth Evans (OIEA), Troy Hambright (OIEA), April Humbles (OIEA), Tracey Manoff (OGC), Danielle Park (OGC), Ann Prevas (OIEA), Joe Priore (OIEA), Michael Ronczka (OIEA), Scott Safian (OIEA), Gerald Sullivan (DOJ), & Thomas Urban (OIEA)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation

Migration of LIMS to the Cloud Team – For successfully migrating the Laboratory Information Management System to the cloud and consolidating threat capacity databases into one scalable database.

• Team Leaders: Derrick Mayo (OCIO)
• Team Members: Jaime Bonilla (OCIO), John Hajduk (OCIO), Nizar Hussein (OPHS), Mike Jones (OPHS), Todd Lauze (OPHS), Chris Morgan (OPHS), Maotang Qian (OCIO), & Jay Sutaye (OCIO)

Remote Ongoing Verification Audit Workgroup – For implementing remote audit procedures as a temporary measure to fulfill FSIS’ requirements in lieu of conducting on-site audits of foreign food safety inspection systems.

• Team Leaders: Alexander Lauro (OIEA) & Kenneth Witek (OIEA)
• Team Members: Joel Bachert (OIEA), Michael Day (OPHS), Chloe Dixon (OIEA), Alam Khan (OIEA), Evelyne Mbandi (OPHS), Nader Memarian (OIEA), Jonathan Morse (OIEA), Estella Perez (OIEA), Barry Rhodes (OFO), Amadou Samb (OIEA), David Smith (OIC), Jamie Woodside (OIC), & Edwin Zayas-Cruz (OPPD)

Honorable Mention for Operational Excellence

Food for Thought eNewsletter Team – For unifying the Agency’s internal communication to ensure accurate, timely, and vital information is available to employees when and where it is needed.

• Team Leader: Shayla Mae Bailey (OPACE)
• Team Members: Leo O’Drudy (OPACE), Laura Reiser (OPACE), Felicia Thompson (OPACE), & Megan Traylor (OPACE)

SIPRS COVID-19 Response Team – For performing additional responsibilities in response to COVID-19 while continuing to serve as the Agency’s central coordinator for Emergency Management and Food Defense.

• Team Leader: James Lott (OM)
• Team Members: Marianne Elbertson (OM), Brett Filloon (OFO), Todd Gerwig (OFO - Des Moines), Greg Grover (OM), Vidit Krishna (OM), Katherine Luers (OM), Teresa Scott Hoggard (OM), Lucy Touhey (OM), & Ted Toussaint (OM)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility

OPPD Committee – For successfully developing and presenting several programs, including a Mental Health Conference and “Brown Bag” series, that brings awareness to various issues that affect employees, such as mental health in the current environment.

• Team Leaders: Bryan Maculloch (OPPD) & Mindy Mallon (OPPD)
• Team Members: Tammie Ballard (OPPD), James Chisholm (OPPD), Jose Gabiola (OPPD), Jodi Hallstrom (OM), Susan Hammons (OPHS), Tawana Harrington (OPPD), Victoria Levine (OPPD), Lisa Powell (OPPD), Catherine Rockwell (OPHS), Erika Stapp-Kamotani (OPPD), Sheila Simmons (OPPD), Flora Tsui (OPPD), & Rosemary Turner (OPPD)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Customer Service

FSIS Analytics Conference Planning Committee – For planning the Agency’s first virtual Analytics Conference, thereby expanding its accessibility to field employees and achieving its highest level of participation, engagement, and customer satisfaction.

• Team Leaders: Melvin Carter (OPPD) & Evelyne Mbandi (OPHS)
• Team Members: Anthony Andreassi (OCIO), Labeed Ben-Ghaly (OPHS), Chloe Dixon (OIEA), Tracy Hewitt (OEED), Stevie Hretz (OPPD), Suzan Igbokwe (OPPD), John Jarosh (OPHS), Bryce Merrill (OPHS), Amber Pasko (OFO), Laura Scott (OPACE), Maria Spassova (OPARM), & Paul Wood (OIEA)

OPPD LPDS Outreach Webinar Team – For successfully offering multiple informative and practical labeling webinars and guidance to both internal and external stakeholders, resulting in historically low label evaluation turnaround times.

• Team Leaders: Tammie Ballard (OPPD) & Mindy Mallon (OPPD)
• Team Members: Hannah Filloon (OPPD), Tawana Harrington (OPPD), Kierra Lucas (OPPD), Beth McKew (OPPD), Kristin McNeely (OPPD), Gianfranco Santaliz-Rogers (OPPD), & Cindy Watkins (OPPD)

Honorable Mention for Employee of the Year – In Plant

Hector Bernal (OFO - Chicago) – For dedicatedly following the Agency’s Mission, accepting new challenges, and sharing his vast knowledge with others.

Allen Salls (OFO - Alameda) – For utilizing his wide breadth of Agency regulation and policy knowledge to ensure establishments maintain proper food safety and sanitation standards and assisting fellow IIC colleagues to do the same.

Honorable Mention for Employee of the Year – Non-In Plant

Jeanie Mah (OPARM) – For consistently going above and beyond to support the Agency’s mission and goals, as well as providing unparalleled customer service to field employees.

Amber Pasko (OFO) – For exemplary performance and tireless dedication contributing to Agency modernization efforts and cooperative inspection programs, performing thorough assessments of complex issues, and serving as a trusted advisor to OFO leaders.

Honorable Mention for Supervisor of the Year – In Plant

Candace Murry (OFO - Jackson) – For setting the example of what an SPHV should be, proving it daily through exemplary leadership and dedication to public service and the Agency’s Mission.

Honorable Mention for Supervisor of the Year – Non-In Plant

Gregory Abreu (OFO - Alameda) – For his extraordinary contributions, extra efforts, achievements, and dedication to fulfilling the Agency’s Mission during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ivan Lenov (OPHS) – For dynamically leading the Midwestern Laboratory Chemistry Branch staff as well as modernizing and implementing PFAS testing used in the National Residue Program.

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Food Safety

Food Safety Administrative Hearing Team – For successfully arguing complex disputes against FSIS’ food safety standards, thereby affirming the Agency’s actions were correct and necessary to protect public health.

• Team Leader: Ashley Etue – OIEA
• Team Members: Denise M. Amann – OIEA, Carrie A. Clark – OPPD, Gwynn N. Datsko – OFO, Elizabeth Shane Evans – OIEA, John W. Linville – OPPD, Tracy M. McGowan – USDA-OGC, Robert Grant Reeder, Jr. – OFO, Elizabeth Starrett – OIEA, and Ciarra A. Toomey – USDA-OGC

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Modernization and Innovation

COVID-19 Operational Impact Tableau Team – For developing the COVID-19 dashboards which provided the Agency with real-time data to quickly respond to pandemic-related trends.

• Team Leader: JenAlyse Arena – OPARM
• Team Members: Paul K. Dolan – OPARM, Julie A. Smith – OPARM, and Maria A. Spassova-Nikolova – OPARM

Egg Products Inspection Regulations Workgroup – For developing and publishing the new, modernized, Egg Products Inspection Regulations.

• Team Leader: Victoria A. Levine – OPPD
• Team Members: Ryan N. Edwards – OPPD, Jose Francisco Gabiola – OPPD, Bryan Keith Maculloch – OPPD, Udit Minocha – OPHS, Brianna Robinson-Verloop – OIC, Shinhey Schwartz – OPPD, Dawn G. Sprouls – OFO, Erika Katherine Stapp-Kamotani – OPPD, and Lisa Volk – OFO

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Operational Improvement

e-device Project Team – For successfully deploying e-devices that provided electronic access to approximately 3,000 line-inspectors who did not previously have access.

• Team Leaders: Maribel Borrero Glass – OCIO and Arriell N. Garner – OFO
• Team Members: Leigh Ann R. Acree – OCIO, Frances Byrd – OCIO, Charmaine B. Carr – OCIO, Patricia S. Jennings – OM, Lisa Y. Johnson – OCIO, Frank A. Núñez – OCIO-CEC, Dennis A. O’Brien – OCIO-CEC, and Lori Ann Woods – OCIO

Public Health Veterinarian (PHV) Recruitment and Retention Incentives Team – For outstanding efforts in researching, analyzing, documenting, monitoring, verifying, and allocating the funds associated with the FSIS In-Plant PHV Retention Incentive Program.

• Team Leader: Alicia D. Taylor – OCFO
• Team Members: Paul M. Ambrozewicz – OCFO, Babar Bilal – OCFO, Maria de Lourdes Esteras – OFO, Laura L. Frantes – OM, Arriell N. Garner – OFO, David W. Laes – OM, Bridget O’Connor – OM

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility

Advisory Committee – For revitalization of, and commitment to improvements in the Office of Employee Experience and Development.

• Team Leaders: Micheall K. Myrie – OEED and Sonya L. Stewart – OEED
• Team Members: Brien R. Aho – OEED, Adrian Larine Jones – OEED, and Lula W. Wallace – OEED

Administrator's Award for Excellence in Customer Service

Center for Learning (CFL) Virtual Training Team – For outstanding contributions in converting classroom training to virtual training and fulfilling mission critical training needs.

• Team Leaders: Hala Bessyoung – OEED and Jennifer K. Webb – OEED
• Team Members: Courtney Baldwin – OEED, Ramon A. Cana Alvarez – OEED, Michael G. Chung – OEED, Tracy Hewitt – OEED, Colette Mayfield – OEED, Beatriz Miguel – OEED, Michael Sheldon – OEED, Benjamin Sun – OEED

COVID-19 Protective Equipment Acquisition, Delivery, and Distribution (PEADD) Team – For keeping the FSIS workforce safe while they worked to keep our Nation’s food supply strong and safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Team Leader: Yolanda A. Chambers – OM
• Team Members: Frantz G. Israel – OM, Cathy Martin – OM, Inga L. McNeil – OM, Madonna J. Montgomery – OM, Karen R. Petty – OM, Tracy A. Pope – OM, Jeremy Roper – OM, Eric W. Schnitzler – OM, and Mark D. Williams – OM

Administrator's Award for Employee of the Year – In Plant

Michael Piotrowski – OFO – For unwavering dedication and excellence to the Food Safety mission.

Administrator's Award for Employee of the Year – Non-In Plant

Jeanetta Denise Tankson – OPHS – For creating critical COVID-19 Continuing Operations Programs to keep FSIS laboratories analyzing mission critical samples.

Administrator's Award for Leader of the Year – In Plant

Rigoberto Baeza – OFO – For excellence in leadership, supervision, and recruitment of new Food Inspectors.

Administrator's Award for Leader of the Year – Non-In Plant

Paul A. Cole – OFO – For many years of trusted, inspiring, and diplomatic leadership and service to others.

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Food Safety

Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) Program Review Team – For implementing, overseeing, and enforcing the CIS Program for the interstate shipment of certain State-inspected meat and poultry products.

• Team Leaders: Randall C. Kumpost – OFO and Patrick Stillwell – OFO
• Team Members: Heather M. Bopes – OFO, Russell Clyde Clark – OFO, Dana Ewald – OFO, Daniel T. Jozefowski – OFO, and Tiffiny A. Pierce – OFO

Public Health Information System (PHIS) Integrated Product Team – For demonstrating leadership and outstanding contributions to the successful development and maintenance of the FSIS Public Health Information System.

• Team Leaders: Joe Marm – OCIO and Carole Spencer – OFO
• Team Members: Lakshmi N. Ballijepalle – OCIO, Jonathan B. Coleman – OIEA, Jeanine F. Cranford – OCIO, Robert Mosheyev – OCIO, Markietta C. Robertson – OCIO, Bryan L. Seidel – OPPD, Lily C. Thienard – OCIO, Carlos Vega – OCIO, Katina D. Weems – OFO, and Neal W. Westgerdes – OPPD 

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Modernization and Innovation

Adulterated Products Monitoring Team – For documenting, monitoring, and overseeing reports of official establishments that shipped or received adulterated or misbranded products which entered commerce.

• Team Members: Stephen T. Calhoun – OFO, William Langer – OFO, and Tanya Phillips – OFO

Business Application Modernization Technical Team – For improving the customer IT experience by modernizing and standardizing various IT solutions, notably: Human Resources General Support Services (HRGSS), FSIS Incident Management System (FIMS), and Financial Reporting Improvements and Optimization (FRIO) applications.

• Team Leaders: Sandra H. Minor – OCIO and Jay Sutaye – OCIO
• Team Members: Jing Bai – OCIO, Lakshmi N. Ballijepalle – OCIO, Dan J. Beseris – OCIO, Jeanine F. Cranford – OCIO, Yue Li – OCIO, Xing Rong – OCIO, Naresh R. Shah – OCIO, and Lily C. Thienard – OCIO

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Operational Improvement

PHIS Export Billing Workgroup – For developing and implementing improvements to the PHIS Export component and Agency billing processes.

• Team Leader: Jackson K. Crockett – OCFO
• Team Members: Bryce A. Carson – OPPD, Matthew C. Didday – OCFO, Hoa Le – OPARM, Kim Quigley – OPARM, Shannon Marie McMurtrey – OIC, Veronika Pfaeffle – OPACE, Matthew W. Sanderson – OCFO, Carole Spencer – OFO, and Mary H. Stanley – OIC
• Adam Wayne Tittor – OFO – For displaying enthusiastic leadership and a passion for coaching by developing various coaching tools and techniques to engage his circuit and district team members.

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Customer Service

• Kenneth S. Davis – OFO – For consistently providing superior leadership and customer service to FSIS personnel under his supervision, with emphasis on the safety, health, and welfare of all.
• Dennis Depperschmidt – OFO – For tireless efforts to the Denver district office and field personnel, ensuring they received timely and quality customer service.

OPACE COVID-19 Rapid Response Team – For efficiently disseminating coordinated responses to COVID-19 inquiries from internal and external sources.

• Team Leaders: Shayla May Bailey – OPACE and Roxanne Smith – OPACE
• Team Members: Sally Ann Iverson – OPACE, Maria Machuca – OPACE, Buckley Hays McKay – OPACE, Yolande Mitchell – OPACE, Leo O’Drudy – OPACE, Spencer Pretecrum – OPACE, and Felicia Thompson – OPACE

P01317 1st and 2nd Shift Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Team – For maintaining the Agency’s mission of providing safe, wholesome poultry products to consumers worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Team Leaders: Bosko Rak – OFO and Harold Wes Tillison – OFO
• Team Members: Brandon L. Lee – OFO, Charles M. Parker – OFO, Dana L. Ramirez – OFO, Joseph B. Slaton – OFO, Laura I. Stone – OFO, and Peggy S. Taylor – OFO

Honorable Mention for Employee of the Year – In Plant

Timothy Soule – OFO – For continuously helping achieve the Agency’s mission and standards by patiently and knowledgeably educating new line inspectors and PHVs on proper inspection techniques, knife skills, and pathology.

Honorable Mention for Leader of the Year – In Plant

Andria N. Coker – OFO – For exemplary leadership and contributions to food safety by working with multiple inspection teams to significantly improve the verification and documentation of tasks.

Honorable Mention for Leader of the Year – Non-In Plant

Christina J. Mercer – OCFO – For maintaining a well-trained, engaged workforce and improving processes and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FSIS hosted the 2020 Administrator’s Awards for Excellence (AAFE) and the Under Secretary’s Awards ceremony for 2020. A the virtual gathering was held by FSIS and the Office for Food Safety (OFS) leadership to recognize employees throughout the Agency for supporting the food safety mission with stellar customer service, innovative work projects and other achievements.

Excellence in Food Safety- Grand Rapids Circuit, First Shift Inspection Team

For exemplary performance and dedication to the FSIS mission by covering multiple assignments along with current duties during a high-stress time period. 

• Team Leader: Aamen Blattner  
• Team Members: Miranda Boomstra, Charles Clement, Shai Lyn Donaldson, David Ellefson, Thomas Kersjes, Tim Stonerock, Kristin Overhiser, Dominic Bushouse, Kenneth Elliott

Excellence in Modernization  and Innovation- Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection Team

The Swine Slaughter Inspection Team for developing a new inspection system that will facilitate pathogen reduction in pork products, improve animal welfare and make better use of FSIS resources.

• Team Leader: Melissa Hammar
• Team Members:  Andrew Pugliese, Melanie Abley, Scott Seys, Lisa Volk, Michael Sheldon, Maria Machuca, Davi LaBarre, Amber Pasko, Thomas Vermeersch

Excellence in Operational Improvement- Strategic Assessment of Sampling Resources (SASR) Team

For the development and application of an innovative approach to maximize the impact of FSIS’ sampling resource allocation.

• Team Leaders: Rebecca Fields, Joanna Zablotsky-Kufel
• Team Members: Matthew Gonzales, Jackson Crockett, Kimberly Kelley

Excellence in Customer Service- The Financial Service Center Team

For tireless efforts to ensure FSIS employees received pay during and after the longest shut down in history and their inspiring commitment to the FSIS community. 

• Team Leaders:  Julie Hove, Christina Mercer
• Team Members:  Matthew Didday, Dee Finnell, Rebecca Johnson, Tammy Parker, Lori Requist, Karen Sommer, Joanne Swesey

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Food Safety- Salmonella Newport Illness Outbreak Traceback Investigation Team
For work on the Salmonella Newport illness outbreak traceback investigation that resulted in a Class I Recall of over 6 million pounds of product

• Team Lead:  Jannette Pagan
• Team Members:  Stephanie Calkins, Andrea Cote, Michael Dunn, Bonnie Kissler, Ana Marin, Adriana Perez, Stacy Tyrala

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Modernization and Innovation- Electronic Consumer Complaint Form Development Team
For enhancing end-to-end customer service in consumer complaints. 

• Team Leader: Kristal Southern
• Team Members: Jennifer Freiman, Kysha Hendricks, Francheska McClendon, Doug Noveroske

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility - OPPD Committee
For sponsoring innovative events throughout the year, such as an Aging Workforce Conference.

• Team Leaders: Bryan Maculloch, Melinda Mallon (no photo)
• Team Members: Tammie Ballard, Carrie Clark, Andrew Pugliese, Shercoda Smaw, Erika StappKamotani, Tawana Harrington (no photo), Rosalyn Murphy-Jenkins (no photo), Susan Hammons (no photo)

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Customer Service- AskUSDA Contact Center
For exceptional service in implementing the Secretary’s pilot AskUSDA contact center, providing thousands of Americans answers to their questions about food and agriculture. 

• Team Leaders: Chris Bernstein, Aaron Lavallee
• Team Members: Maribel Alonso, Keyana Francis, Lynn Williams, Clara Yuvienco

Honorable Mention for Leader of the Year  (In-Plant)- David Vasquez
For outstanding leadership in developing a team of well-trained inspection personnel who worked collaboratively to ensure safety of regulated product.

Honorable Mention for Employee of the Year  (Non-In-Plant)- Frank Niagro
For being a champion and visionary in the modernization of the FSIS Laboratory IT System.

Honorable Mention for Leader of the Year (In-Plant)- Anne DelVecchio
For exemplary work monitoring foreign animal diseases and residues in cull sows and boars.

Honorable Mention for Leader of the Year (Non-In-Plant)- Dawn Sprouls
For exceptional and effective management of two FSIS district offices.

On Sept. 24, 2024, the Under Secretary, Deputy Under Secretary, Administrator and Deputy Administrator presented the 2024 Under Secretary’s Awards and the Administrator's Awards for Excellence (AAFE). The awards recognize employees throughout the agency for supporting the food safety mission with stellar customer service, innovative work projects and other achievements.

Watch a congratulations video from leadership. See photos from the ceremony.

Under Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Food Safety – Agency-Wide

Salmonella in Not-Ready-To-Eat Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products Team – For declaring that certain chicken products that contain Salmonella are adulterated under the Poultry Products Inspection Act.

• Team Leaders: Joshua Ayers (OPPD) and Mary Porretta (OPPD)
• Team Members: Maegan Almonte (OPPD), Courtney Amundson (OPARM), Stephanie Baiyasi (OPPD), Tye Boynton (OPHS), Sterling Brown (OPPD), Stephanie Despero (OPPD), Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD), Nelson Clinch (OPARM), Andrea Cote (OPHS), Courtney Johnson (OPHS), Bonnie Kissler (OPHS), Maria Machuca (OPACE), Sarah Milchman (OPPD), Amber Pasko (OFO-DC), Daysena Pelham (OPHS), Robert Phillips (OPHS), and Flora Tsui (OPPD)

Under Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation – Agency-Wide

Salmonella in Poultry Risk Assessment Team – For the development of two externally peer-reviewed quantitative risk assessments, one for Salmonella in chicken and one for Salmonella in turkey, conducted to support the Salmonella Framework.

• Team Leaders: Iva Bilanovic (OPHS) and Drew Posny (OPHS)
• Team Members: Natalie Baker (OPHS), Berhanu Tameru (OPHS), Eric Ebel (OPHS), Sunil Kumar (OPHS), Davi LaBarre (OPHS), Gurinder Saini (OPHS), Anant Venu (OPHS), and Mike Williams (OPHS)

USDA Model Talent Management Program Team – For standing up an innovative, mission-driven and collaborative Talent Management Program that is recognized as a model across USDA.

• Team Leader: Lynda Lilyestrom (OPACE)
• Team Members: Karen Anderson (OPACE), Cortney Burgess (OFO-DC), Jacob Cavegn (OM), Liz Cuttino (OFO-Atlanta), Maria Esteras (OIC), Kyesha Lewis (OM), Amanda Luell (OFO-Denver), Jeanie Mah (OPARM), Gary McCann (OM), Shonda Moore (OM), Danisha Montague Parker (CRS), Michael Munday (OCIO), Laura Palmer (OFO-DC), Thomas Reimler (OM), Liz Simmons (OIEA), Paul Soma (OM), Alexandra Tarrant (OFO-DC), and Meghan White (OPACE)

Under Secretary’s Awards for Excellence in Customer Service – In-Plant

Wenatchee Mini Circuit Team – For excellence in customer service through outreach and collaborative teamwork, ensuring FSIS mission success while facilitating healthy work-life balance among team members.

• Team Leaders: Kendall Kritzik (OFO-Denver) and Carla Ling (OFO-Denver)
• Team Members: Shellee Anne Imperial (OFO-Denver), Andrew Nash (OFO-Denver), David O'Brien (OFO-Denver), and Jennifer Poirier (OFO-Denver)

Under Secretary’s Award for Supervisor of the Year – In-Plant

Justin Crites (OFO-Jackson) – For excellence in supervision, management skills, and communications.

Under Secretary’s Award for Supervisor of the Year – Non-In-Plant

Melissa Hammar (OPPD) – For outstanding supervisory leadership on numerous Secretary of Agriculture's policy priorities and outstanding leadership of personnel.

Under Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation

Cloth Sampling Team – For coordination of the evaluation and implementation of innovative and safe cloth sampling method for beef pathogens.

• Team Leader: Susan Hammons (OPHS)
• Team Members: Hannah Anderson (OPHS), Terrence Arthur (USDA-ARS), Natalie Baker (OPHS), Eric Ebel (OPHS), Gabrial Eddings (OFO), DeMar Hightower (OPHS), Lisa Jacobsen (OPHS), Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD), Randall Kumpost (OFO-Des Moines), Stephen Mamber (OPARM), Lorenza Rozier (OPHS), William Stone (USDA-AMS), Teresa Taylor (OPPD), Bryan Trout (OPPD), Scott Updike (OPPD), Tommy Wheeler (USDA-ARS), Rachel Ann Whitaker (OPPD), Sabrina Wiggins (OPHS), & Jamie Woodside (OIC)

Under Secretary’s Award for Operational Excellence

PHIS & Onboarding Canada into PHIS' Export Module Teams – For the successful implementation of new features in the Public Health Information System, including the inclusion of Canada into the electronic export certification process.

• Team Leader: Bryce Carson (OIC)
• Team Members: JenAlyse Arena (OPARM), Ronald Behlmann (OCIO), Jaime Bonilla OCIO), Krutang Desai (OCIO), Paul Dolan (OPARM), Abgail Gruber (OPARM), Beverly Lewis (OCIO), Brittany Mabry (OPPD), Derrick Mayo (OCIO), Robert Mosheyev (OCIO), Murali Munjeti (OCIO), Darlene Riden (OPPD), Markietta Robertson (OFO), Scott Seebohm (OFO), Bryan Seidel (OPPD), Naresh Shah (OCIO), Lily Thienard (OCIO), Carlos Vega (OCIO), & Katina Weems (OFO)

New State MPI Program Onboarding Team – For the development of process improvements to facilitate streamlined onboarding of states new to the state Meat and Poultry Inspection program.

• Team Leaders: Brian Fong (OCFO) & Keith Gilmore (OIEA)
• Team Members: Leslye Beswick (OCFO), Terry Black (OCFO), Scott Coker (OCFO), Ugo Emeaba (OCFO), Amanda Krot (OA), Marvin Lykes (OCIO), Andrew Smith (OIEA), Jeanetta Tankson (OPHS), Lucas Thompson (OCFO), & Cynthia Whitley (OIEA)

Under Secretary’s Award for Employee of the Year – Non In-Plant

Mary Porretta (OPPD) – For outstanding leadership advancing numerous food safety priorities of the Office of the Secretary.

Under Secretary’s Award for Supervisor of the Year – In-Plant

Celia Mata (OFO-Alameda) – For outstanding leadership in cultivating a highly effective team to carry out the food safety mission.

Under Secretary’s Award for Supervisor of the Year – Non In-Plant

Phyllis Adams (OFO-Atlanta) – For exceptional leadership, communication, and technical expertise in support of mission-critical field operations.

Under Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Food Safety

Industry Guidelines Team – For collaborative efforts with internal and external stakeholders to revise and improve existing guidelines to reflect current scientific data and advancements.

• Team Leaders: Meryl Silverman (OPPD) & Bryan Trout (OPPD)
• Team Members: Kristina Barlow (OPHS), Kevin Dutch (OPPD), Susan Hammons (OPHS), Udit Minocha (OPHS), Stevie Hretz (OPPD), Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD), Micheall Myrie (OEED), Scott Updike (OPPD), Charles Williams (OPPD), & Robert Witte (OA)

Under Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation

FSIS Public Website Team – For reinventing the FSIS public website, expanding its reputation and ability to share information, promote food safety, and educate all stakeholders on the science and policy that shapes America’s food safety systems.

• Team Leaders: Shayla Mae Bailey (OPACE) & Sharon Pierre (OCIO)
• Team Members: Khadijah Givs (OPACE), Manal Ibrahim (OPACE), Marvin Lykes (OCIO), Chenell Malcolm (OPACE), Derrick Mayo (OCIO), Rodney Sallie (OCIO), Jay Sutaye (OCIO), & William Wei (OPACE)

Under Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Outreach and Accessibility

Supplier Outreach Team – For extensive successful efforts to engage small businesses, resulting in increased competition and exceeding Department goals for supplier outreach.

• Team Leader: George Baptist III (OM)
• Team Members: Reggie Brown Jr. (OM), Kyna Fernandez (OCIO), Alexis Galloway (OM), Joe Gomes (OCIO), Dwight Hill (OM), Susan Knower (OCIO), Madonna Montgomery (OM), Thomas Nasvytis (OM), Barbara Nelson (OM), Karen Petty (OM), Julie Ramos (OCIO), Misty Richardson (OEED), Eric Schnitzler (OM), & Jozette Wingfield (OCIO)

Under Secretary’s Award for Employee of the Year – In Plant

Dustin Twigg (OFO - Raleigh) – For extraordinary efforts to work with plants, even in difficult situations, to identify issues with direct impact on food safety and ensure compliance.

Under Secretary’s Award for Employee of the Year – Non-In Plant

Sally Ann Iverson (OPACE) – For exceptional customer service, leveraging her advanced technical expertise and communication skills to ensure timely and accurate public health information is available for senior leadership and food safety stakeholders.

Under Secretary’s Award for Supervisor of the Year – In Plant

Janelle Cheston (OFO - Raleigh) – For operational excellence in developing and maintaining a well-trained and engaged workforce to ensure safety of regulated product through prevention of contamination and foodborne illness.

Under Secretary’s Award for Supervisor of the Year – Non-In Plant

Stevie Hretz (OPPD) – For outstanding leadership and contributions to regulatory waivers and time limited trial programs, while enhancing employee engagement and cultivating a team-centric environment for staff.

Paul A. Cole – OFO – For serving as a supportive supervisor and mentor to the field employees under his supervision, frequently working on the slaughter line when short-staffed, educating his team about PPE and advocating for its use, and clearly explaining Agency and Departmental COVID-19 guidance to employees. His work had a direct and positive effect on employee retention in his circuit.

COVID-19 Protective Equipment Acquisition, Delivery, and Distribution Team – For working long hours to acquire PPE during a time of shortage and distributing it to more than 8,000 field and lab employees so they could continue their mission critical duties.

• Team Leader: Yolanda A. Chambers – OM
• Team Members: Frantz G. Israel – OM, Cathy Martin – OM, Inga L. McNeil – OM, Madonna Montgomery – OM, Karen R. Petty – OM, Tracy A. Pope – OM, Jeremy Roper – OM, Eric W. Schnitzler – OM, and Mark D. Williams – OM

Jeanetta Denise Tankson – OPHS – For developing strategies to mitigate challenges on FSIS laboratories during the height of the pandemic. Jeanetta created and maintained a surge cadre across all three labs to deal with staffing shortages and trained several volunteers on processes and procedures to help fill in for those who needed to be at home. FSIS could not have maintained its mission critical laboratory operations uninterrupted without her efforts.

Employee of the Year (Non-In-Plant)

Elizabeth Simmons – OFO – For exceptional achievements in accelerating the hiring process and reducing inspector vacancy rates.

Excellence in Food Safety

Grand Rapids Circuit, First Shift Inspection Team – For exemplary performance and dedication to the FSIS mission by covering multiple assignments along with current duties during a high-stress time period.

• Team Leader: Aamen Blattner – OFO
• Team Members: Miranda Boomstra – OFO, Charles Clement – OFO, Shai Lyn Donaldson – OFO, David Ellefson – OFO, Thomas Kersjes – OFO, Tim Stonerock – OFO, Kristin Overhiser – OFO, Dominic Bushouse – OFO, Kenneth Elliott – OFO

Leader of the Year (Non-In-Plant)

Glenn Tillman – OPHS – For leading staff in the modernization of the microbial characterization efforts, in particular whole genome sequencing (WGS), antimicrobial sensitivity testing, and molecular serotyping.

Excellence in Modernization and Innovation

Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection Team – For developing a new inspection system that will facilitate pathogen reduction in pork products, improve animal welfare, and make better use of FSIS’ resources. 

• Team Leader: Melissa Hammar – OPPD
• Team Members: Andrew Pugliese – OPPD, Melanie Abley – OPPD, Scott Seys – OPARM, Lisa Volk – OFO, Michael Sheldon – OEED, Maria Machuca – OPACE, Davi LaBarre – OPHS, Amber Pasko – OFO, Thomas Vermeersch – OPPD

Excellence in Operational Improvement

Strategic Assessment of Sampling Resources (SASR) Team – For the development and application of an innovative approach to maximize the impact of FSIS’ sampling resource allocation.

• Team Leaders: Rebecca Fields – OPHS, Joanna Zablotsky-Kufel – OPHS
• Team Members: Matthew Gonzales – OCFO, Jackson Crockett – OCFO 

Excellence in Operational Improvement

Consumer Safety Inspector Redesign Team – For the central role played in architecting, communicating, and leading the implementation of FSIS’ Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Reclassification initiative. 

• Team Leader: Heather Schuldt – OM
• Team Members: Kimberley Beall – OFO, Jerry Button – OM, Chris Curley – OM, Richard Horton – OM, Jean Kern-Regis – OM, Thomas Reimler – OM, John Sweeney – OM, Abigail Woyke – OM, Jaime Torres – OM