Five win prizes in second quarter QUICK Award drawing

Kathy Davis
Communications

Gabriel Allen

Five WSDA employees are eligible to select a prize because their name was randomly selected from the recent fourth quarter QUICK Awards drawing. Agency employees handed out 46 awards to coworkers in Western Washington. Fifteen awards were presented to employees based in Eastern Washington.

QUICK Awards are presented by employees who see their peers demonstrating good work and service to others – either inside or outside the agency. Here are the prize recipients from the most recent quarterly drawing.

Gabriel Allen, Plant Protection, Tacoma, was recognized for expert skills in certifying agricultural products for export. 

Susie Allen

Susie Allen, Plant Protection, Olympia, her ability to accommodate, even when it is not easy or convenient, assures continuing successful relationships with others. 

Lauri J. Guerra, Plant Protection, Prosser, was recognized for his expertise in fruit tree virology (scientific study of viruses) that benefits Northwest growers.

Michael Isensee, Dairy Nutrient Management, Lynden, personally contacted a person making a complaint to Pesticide Compliance. The person was upset about not getting a response to voice mails he left – however, his phone number would not accept messages from WSDA. 

Michael Inseness

Christina Zimmerman, Pesticide Registration and Licensing, Olympia, for taking time out from her daily work duties to assist with an exam situation - impressive teamwork! 

These winners may contact Robin Schaffer in Olympia or Brandy Thompson in Wenatchee to select a prize. 

September 30 next drawing deadline

When you catch one of your coworkers doing something special for staff or customers, why not let them know with a QUICK Award? You can find the award form on the intranet. Forms are also available from your division coordinator or agency receptionists.

In summary: WSDA staff presented 61 QUICK Awards during the second quarter of 2018. Five of their names were randomly drawn to receive prizes. See who they are and why they were recognized by their colleagues.

On our way – WSDA website to get make-over

Kathy Davis
Communications

It is really happening! WSDA’s public website is getting a facelift. On June 25, the successful contractor for our website redesign job held a kick-off meeting to get the process rolling. 

The agency’s project steering committee selected Status Not Quo, a technology and marketing company, to lead us through the process of developing a new, modern web presence. 

The website redesign project has a number of goals. They include:

• Webpages that are vibrant, engaging, interactive, and inviting to the public.
• Accurate, current, and comprehensive WSDA information.
• Ease for web users interacting with the agency.
• Reduced staff time handling routine inquiries.
• Simplified content update process. 
• Mobile friendly and accessible.  

One goal of the WSDA website redesign project is to make
our agency web presence mobile compatible. 

WSDA’s current website design, structure and navigation has been about the same for at least 15 years. Given the accelerated pace of technology change, most organizations – including many Washington State agencies – have upgraded their websites in the past few years. 

For instance, more people view web content on mobile devices than ever before. Getting services and paying online have become commonplace. With everyone’s busy lifestyles and reduced attention spans, web content must be clear and quick-to-find to best serve our customers and the public. 

Next steps

The Status Not Quo team has delivered a project schedule to keep us on track. After a strategy meeting to nail down project objectives, they will next facilitate a series of discovery sessions in late July. Staff recruited to represent all divisions will share their wants, needs, and vision of success for the project. 

The firm estimates the entire process should take about 10 months. If all goes as planned, the new website will launch April 2019.  

The redesign steering committee is leading the effort internally. It consists of:

• Hector Castro, communications director and executive project sponsor
• Yoshi Ouye, chief technology officer
• Curt Secker, supervisor of IT applications development team
• Tim Valdez, webmaster
• Becca Sotelo, graphic designer
• Lisa White, administrative coordinator, Food Assistance Program

Committee members will recruit staff from around the agency to assist with discovery, and provide input along the way. 

If you have questions or comments about the WSDA web redesign project, contact Hector Castro. 

In summary: WSDA’s 15-year-old public website is getting a facelift. The agency has hired a contractor to help lead the process of building a new, modern, mobile-friendly web presence.

WSDA presence on trade missions supports state’s ag economy

Kathy Davis
Communications

WSDA Director Derek Sandison with USDA
Undersecretary Ted McKinney on the Japan
trade mission.

These days, the duties of heading a state ag agency include international relations. With one-third of Washington State’s agricultural products destined for overseas markets, maintaining global trade relations is essential for the viability of our ag industry.  

That’s why both WSDA Director Derek Sandison and Deputy Director Patrick Capper traveled abroad in June. 

Derek went on a trade mission to Japan with the USDA undersecretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs and other state agriculture directors. At the same time, Patrick joined a delegation that traveled to Cuba to explore market opportunities there. 

Japan, a mature market

In 2017, Washington exported over $1 billion in food and agricultural products to Japan, making it our second biggest export market. The top export is hay, accounting for $224 in sales. Frozen potato products are close behind at $221 million. Other top exports are fish and seafood, white wheat, dairy products, and beef. 

Derek went to Japan as part of a joint trade mission, organized by the Western U.S. Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) and USDA. 

With the ongoing developments and uncertainty around U.S. trade policy continually in the news, the 13 western state’s ag leaders aimed to strengthen trade relations with this important partner. 

One of the biggest benefits of the trip, according to Derek, was having direct conversations with USDA Undersecretary Ted McKinney. The two were already acquainted, since McKinney had been a state agriculture agency director himself. 

WSDA Deputy Director Patrick Capper, second from left, with Cuban tour guides
Hiroshi and Lester, and at right Zachery Garza, export assistance specialist with
WSDA’s International Marketing Program.

Rianne Perry is manager of WSDA’s International Marketing Program, and she also went to Japan. Before the trip, Rianne solicited input from ag industry representatives. 

In describing one result, she said “Initially, McKinney usually used pork as his prime example of ag industries impacted by the current trade disputes. I noticed that the more he and Derek talked, he began referring to tree fruit as well.” 

Cuba, a potential market

Cuba’s economy has been isolated from much of the developed world since the 1960s, something that is reflected in the numerous vintage American vehicles still on the roads there. However, more official visits from U.S. government representatives, like the one Patrick participated in, have been occurring in recent years.

Along with six other state ag department leaders, Patrick took part in meetings with the Cuban ministries of agriculture, commerce, foreign relations, and tourism. They also visited the U.S. embassy, and toured ag operations and markets.  

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) facilitated the events. NASDA policy supports normalizing relations with Cuba to advance two-way trade, including removing current barriers. 

“Cuba has not had access to the kinds of imported products other countries have had,” Patrick said. “Opportunities exist there to market apples, wheat, dairy, and other ag products.”

Food market in Cuba.

Promoting overseas exports carries economic benefits beyond our state’s farmers and producers, Patrick noted. Exporting supports railways, ports, air services, barges and ocean vessels, and other industries important to the economy of Washington and the U.S. 

“Showing up for direct talks with our overseas partners maintains these vital trade relationships,” he said. “Multi-state missions also allow us to network with our partner states so we have a unified and consistent voice in trade policy.” 

Bottom line – trade missions to foreign countries represent the hard work of sustaining export markets that support Washington State agriculture and WSDA’s mission. 

In summary: From Asia to South America to points around the globe, maintaining and growing export trade markets is vital to sustaining Washington’s ag industry. Learn how WSDA leaders are supporting international trade.