Madison, Wis.

On April 6, Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban met with inspection personnel at the slaughter and processing establishment on the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) campus. They observed operations, talked about internships, small business outreach and the training opportunities that a university setting provides.

Pictured, from left: Esteban; UW Lab Manager Cindy Austin; Office of Public Health Science Assistant Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen; UW Animal & Dairy Science Department Chair Dr. Kent Weigel, Deputy Administrator Terri Nintemann; Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Derek Wallenhorst; UW Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Manager Jordan Nehls; Des Moines District Manager Dr. Dawn Sprouls; CSI Mickey Sanborn.

Photo by Frontline Supervisor Dr. Catherine Pierce.

Madison, Wis.

On April 6, Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison veterinary school, near the campus’ onsite inspected establishment. Esteban — a veterinarian himself — learned about the efforts FSIS has taken to engage with veterinary students and show them the diverse career opportunities and incentives available to veterinarians at FSIS.

Pictured, from left: Esteban, Deputy Administrator Terri Nintemann, Office of Public Health Science Assistant Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen, and Frontline Supervisor Dr. Catherine Pierce.

Photo by District Manager Dr. Dawn Sprouls, OFO.

Watertown, Wis.

On April 6, Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban visited a swine slaughter establishment to observe slaughter and processing to produce bratwursts. The team spoke about work-life balance and making FSIS a lifelong career.

Pictured, from left: Deputy Administrator Terri Nintemann, Food Inspector Gavin Winkler, Frontline Supervisor Dr. Catherine Pierce, Consumer Safety Inspector Aaron Yelton, Office of Public Health Science Assistant Administrator Dr. Denise Eblen, Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Kevin DiVerde and Esteban.

Photo by District Manager Dr. Dawn Sprouls.

Tulsa, Okla.

On March 28, Administrator Paul Kiecker presented information about FSIS and the federal inspection process at the 2023 Tribal Meat Processing Tours and Training hosted by the Intertribal Agriculture Council. He spoke to the group of nearly 100 participants from Tribes across the U.S. in the opening session and in two breakout sessions. Kiecker talked about FSIS mandatory and voluntary inspection as well as custom exempt regulations. He also detailed the application process for a federal grant of inspection, the support FSIS provides for small and very small establishments, financial resources available for federally inspected establishments and considerations for a mobile slaughter unit. FSIS is committed to working with Tribal Nations in their efforts to build self-sufficiency and revenue through meat and poultry processing, and to promote food safety practices that are consistent with Tribal traditions and cultural practices. FSIS plans to participate in more events like this and to continue providing technical assistance and support to Tribal Nations in their meat and poultry processing operations.

Kiecker discusses FSIS voluntary inspection with participants in a breakout session.

Photo by Program Analyst Alexandra Tarrant, OFO.

Ellijay, Ga.

On Feb. 28-29, the Office of Field Operations Atlanta District held a New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) class for newly promoted and cross-training consumer safety inspectors (CSIs) from the district. Dr. Jose Lopez of the Gainesville circuit was the facilitator. “We were grateful for the class and his instruction,” said CSI Jeffrey Gatts. “Dr. Lopez was great at making a wonderful learning experience.”

Pictured, from left: CSIs Cameron Singleton, Rita Thomas, Montresswa Moore, Aubreyonna Brockington, Cookie Cantey, Maytee Nieves, Jackie Rampley, Rickey Chastain, Linda Woods, Christel Herrera, Hazelwynn McKoy, Gatts, Lisa Hines and Sandra Holt.

Photo by Inspector-in-Charge Dr. Jose Lopez, OFO.

Pictured: Lopez (standing, left) explains aspects of NPIS to the CSIs.

Photo by CSI Jeffrey Gatts, OFO.

Tulsa, Okla.

On March 29, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection personnel to share individual career stories, discuss numerous ways leadership is trying to make FSIS the best place to work, and delays with the USDA Client Experience Center (CEC) Help Desk service. Reminder: please encourage employees to notify their supervisors of unresolved CEC requests so they can be elevated if needed to be resolved in a timely manner.

Pictured, from left: Kiecker, Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) John McKay, Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Randell Daily (back), CSI Linda Stafford (front), Frontline Supervisor Dr. Staci Meyers, CSI Colby Ehmke, Deputy District Manager Dr. Gary Davis, CSI Christopher Ehle, CSI Kirk Davis.

Photo by Program Analyst Alexandra Tarrant, OFO.

Oklahoma City, Okla.

On March 29, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection personnel to share their individual career stories, discuss numerous ways leadership is trying to make FSIS a best place to work, getting to trainings sooner upon starting a new position, and attending and interacting in the monthly Employee Town Halls.

Pictured, from left: Kiecker, Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Ray Lepley, CSI Rachael Keltch, Frontline Supervisor Dr. LaVetta Henry, Compliance Investigator Chad Harkness, CSI Richard Crider, CSI Mark Fleitman, Deputy District Manager Dr. Gary Davis, CSI Steve Dructor, CSI Polly Box, IT Project Manager Sasi Kumar, and Procurement Analyst Chimera Hampton.

Photo by Program Analyst Alexandra Tarrant, OFO.

Atlanta, Ga.

On Jan. 13, FSIS employees from the Office of Public Health Science’s (OPHS) Applied Epidemiology Staff, the Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit’s (OIEA) Compliance Investigation Division (CID), and the Office of Field Operations’ (OFO) Atlanta District met with representatives from the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) in Atlanta. Because there were many changes as a result of the pandemic, the group felt it important to reconnect and brainstorm collaboration opportunities and to learn more about each other’s mission, which is to protect public health. They also met Georgia’s newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper, who spoke a few words of encouragement and was happy to see collaboration among the agencies.

Pictured, front row, from left: GDA Veterinarian Dr. Ghias Mughal; OPHS Epidemiologists Dr. Kysha Hendricks and Dr. Jeoffrey Levine; GDA Meat Inspection Program Manager Andrea Smith; GDA Food & Feed Rapid Response Team Manager and Recall Coordinator Summer Williams.

Second row, from left: OFO Atlanta District Manager Dr. Phyllis Adams; GDA Veterinary Supervisor Dr. Brenda Manley; GDA State Talmadge-Aiken Program Coordinator Steve Farmer Jr.

Third row, from left: OFO Atlanta Deputy District Manager Tracy Bryant, GDA Animal Industry Trainer Richard Fife.

Fourth row, from left: GDA Food Safety Division Director Natalie Adan, OFO Atlanta Deputy District Manager Dr. Edward Hepburn, OIEA CID Southeastern Regional Director Larry Hortert.

Fifth row, from left: GDA Meat Inspection Director Aaron Knighton, GDA Food & Feed Rapid Response Team Coordinator Colby Brown, GDA Meat Compliance Supervisor Kevin Gay.

Back row, from left: GDA Manufactured Food Training Coordinator Fred Omotayo, GDA Retail Food Program Manager Chris Peasley, OIEA CID Southeast Region Senior Investigator Kenneth Cash.

Photo by Epidemiologist Dr. Andrea Coté, OPHS.