Springdale, Ark.

On Oct. 9, Administrator Paul Kiecker (pictured immediately below, standing far right, and pictured below, center) spoke at a work unit meeting for FSIS employees at an establishment. The group shared their varied career paths, and he spoke to them about the importance of the work they do every day to keep our food supply safe.

 

 
Pictured below: Administrator Kiecker also spoke to the second shift of the Springdale circuit staff at the establishment.

 
While meeting with employees in Springdale, Administrator Kiecker recognized two employees for their long federal careers.

 
Pictured above: Administrator Kiecker (left) presented CSI Michael Davis with a pin and certificate of recognition for 50 years of federal service. 

 
Pictured above: Administrator Kiecker (left) presented CSI Jackie Capps with a pin and a certificate of recognition for 40 years of federal service.

Photos by Office of the Administrator Staff Officer Alexandra Tarrant.

Hatfield, Penn.

On Oct. 8, FSIS inspection program personnel (IPP) met with officials from one of our sister agencies in USDA , the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), about the issue of foreign animal diseases in swine. APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) Dr. Paul Pitcher provided information to IPP on pathogenesis, diagnosis, symptoms, control and transmission of various swine foreign animal diseases.

Pictured, from left: District VMO (DVMO) Dr. Jennifer Kennedy, Pitcher, District Veterinary Medical Specialist Dr. Miranda Boomstra, Supervisory Consumer Safety Inspector Phillip McMahon.

Photo courtesy of DVMO Dr. George Mekheil.

Washington, D.C.

On Sept. 25, at USDA Headquarters, FSIS employees represented the agency at the Final Equity Convening of 2024, with the theme The Power of Partnerships: Delivering on the Promise for the People’s Department. This event celebrated the release of the USDA Equity Commission’s Final Report at the February 2024 National Equity Summit and served as the capstone of the eight regional equity convenings held in fiscal year 2024. 

Photo by an event attendee.

Bronx, N.Y.

On Sept. 30, an inspection team received visitors from LaGuardia Community College and John Bowne High School from Queens, the USDA Office of Partnership and Public Engagement (OPPE) and USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). 

They visited both an FSIS inspected facility and an AMS-inspected produce market. 

“This was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other agencies in USDA and local education entities. Visitors learned about local employment opportunities that may be available to their students. By visiting these facilities, they can advise their students about what we do in USDA and how they can get the experience to be competitive for entry level positions with FSIS and AMS,” said FSIS Frontline Supervisor Marilu Simeone.

 
Pictured, from left: FSIS Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Luis Reyes; AMS Officer In Charge Jorge Santiago; FSIS CSI Michael Salvatore; Simeone; FSIS CSIs Nicholas Sgobba, Eric Sasu and Aung Soe; John Bowne High School Agricultural Department Assistant Principal Patrycja Zbrzezny; AMS Specialty Crops Inspection Division Assistant Branch Chief Sonya Wilson; USDA OPPE Liaison Herminia Gomez; LaGuardia Community College Environmental Program Director Preethi Radhakrishnan; CSI Bessie Bouras.

 
Pictured, front row, from left: Wilson, Sasu, Reyes.

Middle row, from left: Santiago, Bouras, Simeone.

Back row, from left: Zbrzezny, Radhakrishnan, Gomez.

Photos by plant employees.