Ames, Iowa

On April 25, the Des Moines District, in conjunction with Iowa State University (ISU), held their annual Food Safety Summit to educate, exchange information and open lines of communication between industry, public health officials and regulatory agencies. 

Topics included labeling approval process and special labeling claims; “Beat the Recall: Effective Allergen Control in Food Manufacturing”; Appendix A & B – Real World Examples; HACCP Reassessment/Unforeseen Hazards; HACCP Reassessment/Risk Analysis — Industry Perspective; humane handling implements, restraint and stunning methods; and a roundtable question and answer session. 

Participants enjoyed the opportunity to interact with FSIS, academia and industry to clarify concerns or comment on various topics and agency issuances. The diverse knowledge and experience of the presenters helped to make this year’s Food Safety Summit a success.

 
Pictured, from left: ISU Industry Extension Specialist Jake Manternach; ISU Animal Science Associate Professor Dr. Terry Houser; ISU Professor Emeritus of Animal Science Dr. Dan Thomson; FSIS Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officer (EIAO) Dr. Heather Bopes; FSIS Des Moines District Manager Jeffery Jacobsen; Daybreak Foods Food Safety and Quality Director Julia Rolston; FSIS’ Office of Program and Policy Development Senior Staff Officer Dr. Carrie Clark; FSIS EIAO Cheryl Stites; ISU Program Specialist Matt Wenger.

Planning Committee members not pictured: FSIS EIAOs Stephen Calhoun and Dr. Sydney Christensen; FSIS Senior EIAO Dr. Randall Kumpost.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Heather Bopes.

Douglas, Ga.

On May 6, Administrator Paul Kiecker presented Consumer Safety Inspectror (CSI) Verlon Hutchison with a certificate from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and pin recognizing Hutchinson for his 55 years of service.

Pictured, from left: Hutchison and Administrator Kiecker.

Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.

Orlando, Fla.

On May 7, Administrator Paul Kiecker presented Frontline Supervisor Dr. Vishnu Ramnarine with a certificate recognizing him for his 35 years of service. Dr. Ramnarine has held many positions in FSIS during his career.

 
Pictured from left: Dr. Ramnarine, Administrator Kiecker, Atlanta District Manager Dr. Phyllis Adams.

Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.

Phoenix, Ariz.

On April 1, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with FSIS employees from first and second shifts in the Phoenix area. Inspection program personnel described their experiences before joining the agency and discussed various topics including tuition reimbursement and employee enrichment opportunities.

 
Pictured above, first shift and other FSIS employees (seated, from left): Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSI) Felipe Solorzano and Victor Zamora; Frontline Supervisor Dr. Dawn Walters; Office of Management Public Health Officer Commander Elizabeth Van Dyne, M.D.; Supervisory CSI Celia Mata; OIEA Investigator Michael Dunn; CSI Mark Woltz; Food Inspector (FI) Taylor Yancy.

(Standing, from left): Administrator Kicker; CSI Humberto Sandoval; Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Dr. Mary Howard; FIs Kikey Lomas and Angel Lepe; CSI Andrea McCowan; SPHV Dr. Edward Klebanow; District Manager Dr. Gabby Eddings; FIs Wesley Frazier, Carmen Romero, Alejandro Garcia, Adolfo Diaz, Lorena Canez and Chris Lepe; CSIs Moises Ramirez, Clayton Tanner, Albert Dennis and Lance Brunkow; FI Malik Berkley; CSIs Juan Aguilar, Victor DeLeon, Ashraf Elmankabady and Jose Benitez.

Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.

 
Second shift (pictured, from left): Administrator Kicker, Dr. Walters, Dr. Eddings, CSI Dawn Kerwood, Dr. Van Dyne and CSIs Nelda Vidal and Clayton Tanner. 

Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.

Washington, D.C.

On April 23, Team FSIS inspired hundreds of youth to future public service by promoting agency careers at 4-H’s second annual Youth Career Fair. Over 400 energetic high school students took selfies with Thermy™ the thermometer, learned about food safety and interacted with our “tools of the trade” at the FSIS booth. The students’ interests ranged from veterinarian and inspector positions to science, data, public affairs and policy. The agency’s future looks bright if this group is any indicator.

Several program areas participated: the Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit (OIEA); the Office of Planning, Analysis and Risk Management (OPARM); the Office of Employee Experience and Development (OEED); the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO); the Office of Field Operations (OFO); the Office of Public Health Science (OPHS); and the Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education (OPACE).

 
Pictured, from left: OIEA Compliance Investigator Joseph Ndungu; OCIO Compliance and Accreditation Info. System Security Officer Greg Clement; OFO Raleigh District Frontline Supervisor Dr. Ranette Goodwyn; OPARM Planning, Evaluation and Enterprise Risk Staff Director Yolanda Kennedy; OPACE Technical Information Specialist Lynn Williams; OIEA Senior Program Auditor Dr. Amadou Samb; OPARM Management Analyst Annette Vanderhall; OIEA Compliance Investigator Adrian Evangelista; OPARM Branch Chief Kayla Jennings; OPHS Senior Microbiologist Suzy Hammons; OCIO IT Specialist Vangel Georgiev; OEED Employee Engagement and Recognition Staff Director Valeria Green, OPACE Public Affairs Specialist Bailey McWilliams. 

Not pictured: Thermy™, portrayed by OPARM Senior Data Analyst Jean Mah was on site to pose with students.

FSIS photo.

Pictured above, a student attendee stops by the FSIS booth staffed by (from left) OIEA Compliance Investigator Joseph Ndungu, OIEA Senior Program Auditor Dr. Amadou Samb, OCIO IT Specialist Vangel Georgiev, OPARM Branch Chief Kayla Jennings and OEED Employee Engagement and Recognition Staff Director Valeria Green.

FSIS photo.

Pictured above, OFO Raleigh District Frontline Supervisor Dr. Ranette Goodwyn (left) discussed FSIS opportunities with a career fair attendee who used a virtual reality headset to experience FSIS field work. 

FSIS photo.

Falcon Heights, Minn.

On April 22, Deputy Administrator Terri Nintemann spoke at her alma mater, the University of Minnesota, at the Minnesota FFA State Convention. A proud lifetime FFA alum, Nintemann shared her start in the organization and the career path she followed. She offered convention attendees wisdom from her experiences, encouraging them to dream big, focus on the impact they want to make and seek out experiences that move them closer to their goals. Her remarks mirrored the convention’s theme “Achieve. What it takes.”

Pictured above: Deputy Administrator Terri Nintemann speaks to Minnesota FFA members at the FFA booth at the state convention.

Photo by Office of Field Operations Program Analyst Alexandra Tarrant.

The 7th to 12th grade students were very engaged and asked questions about the FSIS mission and opportunities for internships and job shadowing. Des Moines District Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSI) Luke Primus and Matthew Freechack talked about the role of an inspector with attendees.

Pictured above, from left: CSI Luke Primus; Office of Investigation, Enforcement and Audit’s Compliance Investigator Jason Story; Office of Management’s Human Resources Specialist Kyesha Lewis; and CSI Matthew Freechack.

Photo by Office of Field Operations Program Analyst Alexandra Tarrant.

Tolleson, Ariz.

On April 2, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with FSIS employees from an establishment.

 
Pictured, from left: Administrator Kiecker; Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Dr. Mary Howard; Alameda District Manager Dr. Gabby Eddings; Frontline Supervisor Dr. Dawn Walters; SPHV Dr. Edward Klebanow; Supervisory Consumer Safety Inspector (SCSI) Celia Mata.

Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.

Cochise, Ariz.

On April 2, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with the FSIS employee at an establishment. They discussed unique issues in recruiting and retaining employees for remote locations. 

 
Pictured, from left: Administrator Paul Kiecker and CSI Sarah Hopkins.

Photo by FLS Dr. Dawn Walters.

Arcadia, Wis.

On April 25, Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Sheila Kupietz participated in “Take Our Children to Work Day” at an FSIS-inspected establishment. She shared with her adult son, Josh Waters, how she protects public health by preventing illness from poultry products. She does this by verifying the products are safe, wholesome and properly labeled.

 
Pictured, from left: Josh Waters and CSI Sheila Kupietz.

Photo by Supervisory CSI Ashley Lorentz.

Denver, Colo.

On April 3, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with FSIS employees from the surrounding area at the Denver District office to discuss recruitment efforts/incentives and new agency initiatives.

At the work unit meeting, Administrator Kiecker presented CSI Renee Hazlet an Operational Excellence Coin for her work and dedication to training new inspectors.

Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Dr. Jenifer Tolan.