Developing and Operationalizing a Risk-Based Farm to Table Food Safety Strategy
During the previous 30+ years of my career, I have gained understanding and practical experience in agriculture and food safety by working with key entities and organizations that comprise the “fabric” of the food and agriculture sectors.
The “fabric” of the food and agriculture sector is a tapestry of hard working professionals. These individuals are farmers and ranchers, within companies that harvest, process, manufacture, distribute and serve food, industries that provide technology, in the government agencies that serve and regulate the food and agriculture sector, and within colleges and universities that work to increase the sustainability, efficiency, and profitability of safe food production.
Scientific knowledge and experience based skills relating to complex and critical food production, food safety issues and related environmental antecedents.
In-depth knowledge and experience supporting my ability to analyze and manage complex issues and challenges and to develop prevention-oriented solutions.
Experience supporting an understanding of how to build and maintain coalitions, find the “win-win” scenarios, and develop sustainable, focused, and high performing organizational cultures within industry.
Watch testimony (beginning at 4:02:00) as Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Washington, D.C. in 2004. I, then and now, have the capacity to show grace under pressure; delivering accurate, science-backed information in highly charged and sensitive environments.
Honors and Awards
Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Leveraging/Collaboration Award
September 2016
As a member of the Delmarva Produce Safety Task Force: “For exhibiting exceptional relationship building and instituting a novel regional approach to collaboration and research addressing produce safety from the Delmarva region.”
Food and Drug Administration Leveraging Collaboration Award
August 2016
As a member of the Cyclospora and Cilantro Response Group: “For outstanding performance of investigational and collaboration in response to multi-year outbreaks of cyclosporiasis lined to fresh cilantro from Puebla, Mexico.”
Food and Drug Administration Group Recognition Award
August 2016
As a member of the Listeria monocytogenes and Ice Cream Incident Response Group: “For exemplary performance of duties and collaboration in response to a multi-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to ice cream”.
Food and Drug Administration Group Recognition Award
August 2016
As a member of the Listeria monocytogenes and Caramel Apples Incident Response Group: “For exemplary performance of duties and collaboration in response to a multi-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to caramel apples.”
Food and Drug Administration Group Recognition Award
2015
Member of the Rhizopus oryzae Incident Response Group: “For outstanding response, collaboration, and communication resulting in the recall of an adulterated product to fill the FDA’s mission, and promote and protect public health.”
The Food and Drug Administration Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation and Partners Award
2014
Member of the Coordinated Outbreak and Evaluation network this award is for playing a role in: “The forging of trailblazing relationships between FDA, State, Department of Defense (DOD) and three organizations that respond to foodborne outbreaks, thus protecting public health.
Purdue University College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumni Award
2012
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner’s Special Citation
2006
For leadership in helping gain support for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy prevention regulations.
Purdue University Department of Animal Science Distinguished Alumni Award
2004
ES-USDA Administrator’s Certificates of Appreciation
1994
Epsilon Sigma Phi, Mu Chapter, Team Award
1992
USDA Certificate of Appreciation
1992
ES-USDA Administrator's Certificate of Merit
1991
ES-USDA Administrator's Certificate of Merit
1989
USDA Secretary of Agriculture Citations
1988
Michigan Association of County Agricultural Agents President's Award
1987
Epsilon Sigma Phi, Michigan Chapter, Team Programming Award
1986
Distinguished Graduate, Scholastic Achievement, Purdue University
1977
Gary is the consummate professional. We went through the fire together when the U.S. experienced its first case of BSE. Gary’s leadership in the implementation of our crisis communication plan played a major role at a very crucial time for the beef industry. I’d gladly work with him again.
Matt Brockman
Communications Manager
Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show