Greeley, Colo.

On March 2, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with the inspection team at a beef slaughter and processing establishment, in Greeley, Colorado. During the meeting, the team spoke about staffing, hiring and incentives to attract new employees. Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Kelsey Ketellapper recently joined FSIS from private practice employment and enjoys being a part of the FSIS team. Pictured from left to right: FI Kenneth Marks, Kiecker, SPHV Stephen Roush, CSI Maria Estrada, Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, Ketellapper. Photo by Deputy District Manager Dr. Jessica Van Hook, OFO.

Greeley, Colo.

On March 2, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with the inspection teams from both shifts (in the three photos below), at a large beef slaughter and processing establishment, in Greeley, Colorado. The team spoke about getting resources for recruitment, hiring initiatives, employee development, career opportunities with FSIS, doing your best every day, and their individual stories. 

Pictured, back row from left to right, Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Takara Simmons, Food Inspectors (FI) Matthew Kerns and Steve Liddell, Kiecker, FIs Ismaela Caballero, Nina Faudoa, Jamila Bridges and Mitchell Turczak , CSI Francisco Rayos Jr., FI Osmin Ponce, Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV) Vincent Morton, FI William Heimonen, Supervisory CSIs (SCSI) Brian Leffler and Jose Reza and CSI Clayton Farrell. Pictured, front row, from left to right: Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, SPHV Dr. Annie Lin, FIs Sheyla Sanchez, Daniela Martinez, Hanh Alva and Analy Saenz. Photo by Deputy District Manager Dr. Jessica Van Hook, OFO.

Pictured, back row from left to right: Kiecker, Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, and Food Inspector (FI) Anthony Pagan. Pictured, front row, from left: FIs Oralea Tellez, Ivette Garza, Robert Mbemba, Regina Jewett and Felipa Murguia. Photo by Deputy District Manager Dr. Jessica Van Hook.

Pictured, from left: Consumer Safety Inspector Martha Mendez, FIs Maribel Cisneros and Remington Steele, Kiecker, FIs Saidy Meraz and Olivia Galvan, Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte and FI Larissa Batey. Photo by Deputy District Manager Dr. Jessica Van Hook.

Denver, Colo.

On March 1, at the District Office in Denver, Colorado, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with the FSIS team from multiple FSIS offices. The team spoke about how remote and telework flexibilities have helped their office attract and retain talent; about connectivity concerns using the VPN; and about how everyone plays a role in championing FSIS and in employee recruitment and retention. Kiecker also met with new Food Inspectors during their orientation at the District Office.

Pictured, back row, from left to right: Food Inspector Efrain Chavez, Food Inspector Jordan Knighton, RMA Gregory Levad, RMS Erin O’Neill, Food Inspector Jonathan Barrett, CSI Ivonne Villela De Chavez, Kiecker, Senior Data Analyst Sarah McMillan, Senior Data Analyst Kim Quigley, Strategic Planning and Evaluation Branch Chief Kelli Willis, Supervisory Investigator Brett Jensen, Deputy District Manager Dr. David James, and RMS David Martin.

Front row, from left to right: Food Inspector Brandon Anderson, RMS Nichole Marshall, District Manager Robert Reeder and Resource Coordinator Dennis Depperschmidt. Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, OA.

Brush, Colo.

On March 3, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with IPP at a lamb slaughter establishment, in Brush, Colorado. The team spoke about the progress the new plant has made since first opening, and their individual career tracks. Pictured, back row, from left: Kiecker, Food Inspector (FI) Bill Mari, Consumer Safety Inspector Paula Kellams and Supervisory Consumer Safety Inspector Keith Sparks. Pictured, front row, from left: FI Zachary Schooley and District Manager Dr. Robert Reeder. Photo by Robert Witte, Deputy Chief of Staff, OA.

Salt Lake City, Utah 

On Feb. 28, Administrator Paul Kiecker met inspection personnel from the Salt Lake City Circuit, in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the roundtable discussion, the group discussed hiring concerns in the area, work-life balance covering vacancies and ideas to better get the word out about vacancies to attract new employees. Pictured, back row, from left: Kiecker, Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSI) Cassandra Jensen Rustin Crawford. Front row, from left to right, CSIs Viki Nelson and Jacqulynn Peterson, and Frontline Supervisor Dr. Debra Rudd. Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, OA.

Hyrum, Utah

On Feb. 28, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with the inspection team at a beef slaughter establishment, in Hyrum, Utah. During the meeting, Kiecker talked about employee development, doing your best every day and career opportunities with FSIS. The group also discussed staff shortages at the establishment, putting on a local hiring event, and ways to connect with veterinary students at a nearby university early in their education. Pictured, back row, from left: Food Inspector (FI) Sione Pakalani, Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Chris Nguyen, FIs Maria Hernandez and Leasa Butler, Kiecker, FIs Hong Nguyen, Shawn Kelley, James Arave and FI Tim Thorpe, and CSI Teri Clinard. Front row, from left: Supervisory CSI Jeremy Palmer, FI Ashlie Leon, and Frontline Supervisor Dr. Michelle Shriber. Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, OA.

Denver, Colo. 

On March 1, Administrator Paul Kiecker spoke to participants at the Beef Industry Food Safety Council’s, or BIFSCo, Beef Industry Safety Summit in Denver, Colorado. Kiecker thanked industry for following CDC guidance on masking to provide safe and healthy working conditions for inspection personnel. Kiecker also covered regulatory updates such as FSIS’ Salmonella initiatives, support for small and very small establishments, hiring efforts and FSIS’ commitment to maintain an inclusive workplace. Photo by Robert Witte, Deputy Chief of Staff, OA.

Greeley, Colorado

On March 2, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with the Denver District resource team while they hosted a hiring event in Greeley, Colorado. The team spoke about the ways they raised awareness about the hiring event, lessons learned to improve recruitment and ways they try to engage with applicants to help them get qualified. Kiecker stressed how everyone plays an important role in recruitment to fill vacancies. Pictured, from left: Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, Kiecker, Resource Management Specialists Horace Brown and Bianca Conley, Resource Manager Latoya Younger and Management Analyst Matthew Bawden. Photo by Deputy District Manager Dr. Jessica Van Hook.

Denver, Colo.

On March 3, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection personnel from the Denver Circuit, in Denver, Colorado. The team asked for more resources they could provide to outsiders who approach them in the field asking about jobs with FSIS. They discussed connectivity concerns using the VPN, ways to report broken links on the webpage, and ideas for making data entry in PHIS more efficient. Pictured, from left: Frontline Supervisor Dr. Chris Yol, Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSI) Heather Eggink, John Pollhammer, Renee Hazlet and Arnold Avalos, Kiecker and CSI Michael Paulin. Photo by Robert Witte, Deputy Chief of Staff, OA.

Fresno, California

On Feb. 9, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection personnel at an NPIS establishment in Fresno, California. The team spoke about Salmonella controls, connectivity concerns and using company internet, staffing and recruitment efforts for public health veterinarians (PHV) for the area and the great teamwork they share. Pictured, back row, from left: Supervisory PHV Dr. Raul Robles, Supervisory Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Adrian Abella, Frontline Supervisor Ahmed Darwish, Kiecker, CSIs Dusty Seip and Andrew Gutierrez Jr., and District Manager William Griffin. Front row, from left: CSIs Mikayla Armistead and Ubaldo Romo. Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, OA.

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

On Feb. 9, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection personnel at a very small livestock slaughter establishment in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The team spoke about how they enjoyed the Food for Thought newsletter and the pictures, delays and long hold times with the new service desk transition, lateral moves to be closer to family and the high cost of living in the area. Pictured, from left: Kiecker, Consumer Safety Inspectors Maria Becerril Contreras and Margaret Vock, Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Ashley Keeley and District Manager William Griffin. Photo by an establishment employee.

Los Angeles, Calif.

On Feb. 8, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection personnel and establishment management at an import establishment near the port in Los Angeles, California. The group talked about the challenges facing the ports and ways to ensure FSIS inspection does not contribute to port congestion challenges. Pictured, back row, from left: Kiecker, Frontline Supervisor Nashante Barnes, District Manager William Griffin, and Consumer Safety Inspector Jason Morgan. Front row, from left: Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, Establishment Owners Christine Ngo and Hua Ngo. Photo by establishment employee Ismael Noriega.

Los Angeles, Calif.

On Feb. 7, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection personnel at a swine slaughter establishment in Los Angeles, California. Team members spoke about connectivity issues, using company internet, their career track and making lateral moves to get closer to family, and the high cost of living in Los Angeles. Pictured, left to right: Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSI) Ferrer Loreto and Onica Serrano, Kiecker, CSIs Kevin Frazier, Thomas Welts and Ryan Adam Ponce, Frontline Supervisor Tracy Hernandez, CSI Eugene Cho, Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian Paul Reid and District Manager William Griffin. Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, OA.

Oakland, Calif.

On Feb. 10, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Claire Lynch at an export establishment at the port in Oakland, California. They discussed export certificates ordering limitations and that Lynch liked the content in Food for Thought. Pictured, from left: Frontline Supervisor Dr. Alaaelddeen “Al” Ahmed, District Manager William Griffin, Lynch and Kiecker. Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, OA.

Fresno, Calif.

On Feb. 9, Administrator Paul Kiecker met with inspection personnel at a livestock slaughter establishment in Fresno, California. The team spoke about public health veterinarian (PHV) incentives, the individual career tracks inspection personnel followed and their future goals. The team had a lot of positivity and a strong team atmosphere.

Pictured, back row, from left: District Manager William Griffin, Kiecker, Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) Josh Talley and Supervisory CSI Brian Clem. Middle row, from left: Consumer Safety Officer Andrew Gutierrez Sr., Food Inspector (FI) Max Mojica, CSI Maria Fernandez, FI Beatriz Gomez, Frontline Supervisor Ahmed Darwish, Supervisory (PHV) Dr. Masson Blow, FI Jesus Ruiz and CSI Kari Elder. Front row, from left: FIs Matthew Gomez, Consuelo Garcia, Elma Granda, Lorena Zamora and Mayra Vidrio. Photo by Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Witte, OA.