Women entering Grain Inspection Program ranks

Kathy Davis
Communications

Colleen Butcher (front) and Kami Hooper are supervisors
at the Kalama Grain Inspection Program office.

They came out of occupations that lacked stability or advancement. They may have never heard about the government’s responsibility to inspect shipments of U.S.-grown grain headed overseas. But once they did, they saw opportunity and interesting work. 

WSDA’s Grain Inspection Program, part of the Commodity Inspection Division, had long been a male-dominated environment. That’s starting to change, with more women being hired into the program and moving up the leadership ladder. 

The proportion of female staff has increased over the past decade – from 17 percent of 110 employees in 2008 to 21 percent of 150 as of May 2018. 

Starting out, moving up

Kami Hooper had been a city of Kelso water-meter reader for 14 years when she went looking for a career change. She saw a state recruitment for an inspector-in-training, applied, and started working at the Kalama North Grain Inspection Office in March 2012. 

She spent years working graveyard shift. Grain offices operate 24/7 to offer inspection service to shipping companies as needed around the clock. They staff shifts based on how many ships are docked at the grain elevators waiting for inspections. 

To be a grain inspector, you must pass tests to become licensed for various crops, such as wheat, corn, soybeans, and sorghum. While Kami described studying for and taking the tests as “nerve-wracking,” she got all her licenses in 2016. 

Having moved to day shift due to seniority and achieving her “C level” licensing, Kami become an acting supervisor in February 2017. And in March of this year, that appointment was made permanent. 

Supervisors oversee a crew assigned to one of the three grain elevators at Kalama. The job entails ensuring the smooth running of day-to-day operations. That includes staff scheduling and payroll, verifying that all inspection paperwork is correct, and problem-solving between workers and the company side. 

Inspector Laura Gould working at the Kalama Grain office.

Environment changed

Colleen Butcher is also a supervisor at Kalama. Before she was hired in 2010, she had been a waitress at a local restaurant, where one of her customers told her about job openings in the Grain Program. 

She did her time on graveyard and swing shifts, and worked to earn her C license, becoming the first woman supervisor in the Grain Program four and a half years ago. 

“Since I have been in the job, the working environment and atmosphere has changed a lot – for the better,” Colleen said. 

Kami agreed that the culture has changed. She said it was “rough” when she first started; it rattled her to be yelled at. And she worried about being a woman supervisor. 

“But it helped that they had known me from my years working here,” she said. “As long as I approach and treat everyone with respect, I get it back.”

New recruits

Newer to the Grain Program, Meagan Welch transferred in February from the Tacoma Grain Office to the Quality Assurance/Quality Control Office, located in the WSDA Cleveland Building in Tumwater.  

After going to school, working in restaurants and traveling, Meagan started applying for state jobs, looking for something more stable. 

As an inspector-in-training, she recently had the chance to attend a three-day seminar in Kansas City, home of USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service National Grain Center. USDA has officially delegated WSDA to conduct federal grain-inspection services. 

“I have noticed that the (grain inspection field) is pretty male dominated,” Meagan said. “But I don’t think about it. I feel treated equally and that’s what matters.” 

All three women I spoke with said they would like to stay with the Grain Program and could envision moving up the career ladder. 

As Colleen put it, “There’s nothing this industry presents that we (women) couldn’t do.”

In summary: The workplace is changing and so is WSDA’s Grain Inspection Program, becoming more diverse, and seeing more women entering the field and moving into leadership positions.

Good news in long battle to stop animal mistreatment and food safety violator

Kathy Davis
Communications

WSDA Food Safety inspector Mike
Tokos on the site of the Vilog
meat-slaughter facility.

Thanks to the hard work and persistence of many WSDA staffers, justice scored a victory last month when a judge sentenced the operator of a King County meat-slaughter facility to 90 days of jail time plus a year of probation.  

In a case that began in 2011, WSDA pursued progressively more serious enforcement action on Rickson Vilog, who at the time ran a licensed custom slaughter operation. Over the following years, Food Safety Program inspectors documented many repeat violations. 

In 2014, after Vilog faced suspension of his license, he agreed to make sanitary improvements, but did not follow through. As a result, WSDA revoked his license in November 2014. Follow-up visits confirmed that he continued to slaughter cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. He also was cutting and wrapping the meat for customers - all without a license. 

Grisly scene

A sheep at the site; cattle, pigs, goats and sheep
were custom slaughtered for meat.

What inspectors saw at the facility was gruesome, and warning - not for the faint of heart. Inspector Mike Tokos was there after the court had ordered the business not to slaughter or process custom meat or have livestock onsite. 

Some observations from his report include:

• A total of 346 livestock onsite, including 142 sheep and 127 goats.
• Dead sheep and severed heads, blood, cutting equipment with fresh meat debris.
• Unsanitary slaughter and processing areas that were open to the outside. 
• Slaughtered animals lying on the floor. 
• Carcasses with rodent droppings and gnaw marks. 
• Cow head over 30 months old and a BSE (mad cow) risk. 

Working with Assistant Attorney General Janis Snoey, the agency filed motions with King County Superior Court to enforce the law and get Vilog to stop. However, he continued to defy every court order. At a hearing on Dec. 7, 2016, WSDA told the court that Vilog had slaughtered and processed an estimated 500 animals since the summer. 

Just when WSDA staff believed they had run out of enforcement options, USDA stepped in and picked up the case. USDA's search warrant authority and undercover investigations help secure evidence to charge Vilog with distributing custom meat to retail establishments, a serious violation of federal law. 

WSDA evidence is key

Vilog was indicted in federal court in November 2017 on two felony counts of meat adulteration and one misdemeanor count of inhumane slaughter. On May 11, Vilog was sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by one year of supervised probation. If he operates a slaughter facility without a license while on probation, he will be sent back to jail. 

Livestock penned together on the Vilog site.

“The U.S. attorney who prosecuted the case against Mr. Vilog expressed appreciation for all the years of work by WSDA,” said state AAG Janis Snoey. “It was WSDA’s evidence that convinced the judge.”

The long-term, coordinated efforts of agency staff across divisions made this outcome possible. Food Safety led the way. They were supported by Animal Services Division staff who documented how Vilog continued to acquire livestock. The Agriculture Investigation Program, within the Plant Protection Division, denied his livestock dealers license. The state Attorney General’s Office provided legal counsel and services. 

Hats off to the following staff members who played key roles in this long and difficult case: 

• Food Safety - Shelly Haywood, Lucy Severs, Mike Tokos, Roger Beekman, Wil Satak, Julie Neil, David Smith, Keren LaCourse, Candace Jacobs, and Linda Condon
• Agriculture Investigation Program – Jerry Buendel, David Robinson, Patrick Ditter, Autumn Dryden, and Karen Sanders.
• Animal Services – Stacy Gunderson, Kris Budde, Kyle Schaffer, Lori McCown, Kerrie Pfalzgraf, and David Bangart.
• Attorney General – Janis Snoey and Mark Calkins. 

In summary: Dedicated and persistent work by WSDA staffers across divisions provided the key evidence a judge used to sentence a meat-slaughter operator to jail. This case, involving violations of food safety and animal treatment, took seven years to come to justice.

Marijuana facility tour trains pesticide compliance staff

Kathy Davis
Communications

Left to right, back row: Rob Sausedo, Erik Johansen, David Bryson, Carl Hendrickson, Tim Schultz, Aaron Brown, Bruce Olson, Rusty Sauls, Tom Hoffmann, Kevin Jensen, and Neil Lanning. Front row: Chris Wiseman, Daleena Blair, Val Davis, Ayzik Solom (with Northwest Cannabis Solutions), Ethan Estalilla, Kelle Davis, Tim Stein and Joel Kangiser. 

The folks in the photo may look like a group of NASA astronauts. In reality, WSDA’s Pesticide Compliance Program staff donned Tyvek suits for a tour of a marijuana growing and processing facility.

As part of their multi-day, all-staff meeting in late March, program employees toured Northwest Cannabis Solutions, a large marijuana growing and processing business in south Thurston County. 

What’s the connection?

In 2015 after Washington State voters legalized recreational marijuana, investigators from our Compliance Program began working with the state Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) to investigate complaints about misuse of pesticides on plants and products. 

The program conducts fewer investigations now, according to Neil Lanning, Olympia area manager. However, WSDA still partners with LCB to conduct routine inspections of state marijuana facilities. 

“This tour was a training opportunity to get our pesticide inspectors familiar with these types of facilities so they’re better prepared for inspections,” Neil said. 

Takeaways

Based on what program staff heard on the tour, were there any surprises?

Neil said it was eye opening to see and learn how big these operations are and how much money is involved in this business. He asked how much a two-liter (about half a gallon) container of marijuana extract would be worth. The answer – about $200,000. 

Daleena Blair, compliance inspector, noted that the operation was so scientifically precise. “Our tour guide was a PhD scientist, so everything was specific to the extreme,” she said. “It was like walking into a science lab.”

Rusty Sauls, also a compliance inspector, came away impressed by the enormity of the facility and the complex logistics of cloning, growing, harvesting, and processing many different plant strains in 45 different rooms. 

As this industry grows and matures in Washington, so does WSDA’s role in regulating and providing technical advice on pesticide use.

And what about those Tyvek suits? Joel Kangiser, manager of the Compliance Program explained they were not for the staff’s protection. “They were to make sure we did not transfer any unwanted pests into the facility.”  

In summary: As part of their March all-staff meeting, Pesticide Compliance Program employees toured a large marijuana growing and processing facility to better prepare for their inspection role. Learn more on the Insider employee blog. 

Five win prizes in past quarter QUICK Award drawing

Kathy Davis
Communications

Andy Bommersbach is a Fruit and Vegetable
inspector based in Yakima.

Five WSDA employees became eligible to select a prize when their names were randomly selected from the 2018 first quarter QUICK Awards drawing. 

Agency employees handed out 40 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. 

Below are the prize recipients from the third quarter drawing and why they received awards.

Andy Bommersbach, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection, Yakima, was recognized for putting the BIQMIS books together and being willing to help out whenever needed. BIQMIS stands for Branch Internal Quality Management System, an audit system used by USDA.

Erin Coyle, Organic Program, Olympia, demonstrated excellent customer service, as well as excellent assistance in onboarding a new hire. 

Debbie Hacker, Director’s Office, Olympia, was thanked for helping organize the Dairy Nutrient Advisory Committee meeting on a snowy, icy day. 

Lois Hagen, Pesticide Registration and Licensing, Olympia, provided a timely, service-oriented solution assisting a field investigator help delinquent pesticide dealers restore their endorsements. 

Curtis Kester is an Olympia-area inspector
with the Food Safety Program.

Curtis Kester, Food Safety, Olympia, quickly responded to an investigation of a positive phosphatase test at a pasteurized milk plant, changing his work schedule to devote time to finding the cause, writing the report and closing out the problem. 

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

June 30 next drawing deadline

If you catch one of your coworkers doing something special for staff or customers, let them know. You can find the QUICK Award form on the intranet. Forms are also available from your division coordinator or agency receptionists.

In summary: WSDA staff presented 55 QUICK Awards during the first quarter of 2018. Five of their names were randomly drawn to receive prizes.

A week to celebrate ourselves – public servants

Kathy Davis
Communications

Dairy Nutrient Management Program staff gathered in
Olympia for an all-staff meeting and had some fun over a
pizza lunch. Program manager Chery Sullivan (in cow hat)
handed out QUICK Awards to her staff and read an original
poem about their work. With Chery, from left, are inspectors
Kerri Love, Michael Isensee, and Kyrre Flege.

While we all toiled away at our regular jobs last week, some WSDA employees took a moment out to appreciate their colleagues – and themselves – for the value we bring to society as public servants.

Public Service Recognition Week (May 6-12) is an annual and national tradition when we celebrate the important contributions of public service. 

The Secretary of State’s Office hosted events in three locations – Olympia, Spokane and the Tri-Cities. Many WSDA employees participated, enjoying the free food, vendors, and festive atmosphere of these celebrations. 

Other recognition activities were local – lunch gatherings, snacks, awards, and other special happenings. See if you recognize anyone in these photos that randomly capture some of the ways WSDA marked PSRW 2018. 

Pesticide Management Technical Services and Education staff in Yakima 
gather for a special lunch to mark PSRW. Back row, left to right, is Ethan 
Estalilla, Joe Hoffman,  Manuel Ornelas, and Dayana Sanchez. In front row 
is Robert Ambriz (safety officer, behind files), Lorena Lopez, and Andrea 
Barbosa (back of head).

Deputy Director Patrick Capper, right, offers Jaclyn Hancock,
hydrologist with the Natural Resources Assessment Section, a
morning snack on Monday. Patrick wheeled through the NRB
with the loaded breakfast cart.

Kristin Rondeau, left, and Vicky Leonard, from the WSDA
Performance and Planning Management Office, enjoy the PSRW
celebration event on the Olympia Capitol Campus on Wednesday.

Pesticide Management staff from our Spokane office enjoy lunch at the 
PSRW state event in that city. Clockwise from lower left are Doug Warner, 
Scott Nielsen, Aaron Brown and Brent Perry.

Karla Salp, with the Communications Office, lunges for the
fruit bar treats offered to thank Administrative Services and
Director’s Office employees on Tuesday. Vanessa Martinez is at right.

In summary: Public Service Recognition Week is set aside to celebrate and appreciate the contributions of public service workers. See how a few WSDA staffers took time to mark the week.

Washington ag is in full spring swing

Patrick Capper
WSDA Deputy Director

Gov. Jay Inslee and Patrick visit with Ray de Vries, owner of Ralph's
Greenhouse in Mt. Vernon, Skagit County. 

What better time to tour beautiful Skagit County than the start of the growing season. I joined Gov. Inslee last week to tour two farms in Skagit County. WSDA has worked in the Skagit the past couple of years to build strong partnerships and engage with the farming community.  

The first stop was Washington Bulb Company, owned by the Roozen family. Washington Bulb - which grows tulips, daffodils and irises - is the largest bulb producer in the world, covering Skagit Valley with more than 1000 acres of field blooms and 16 acres of greenhouses. 

We also visited Ralph’s Greenhouse in Mt. Vernon and saw organic leeks, beets, and radishes. I am always impressed to see firsthand the hard work and innovation of Washington’s farming community.

Leadership Team developments

WSDA’s Leadership Team (LT) continues moving toward establishing processes for efficient decision-making and increased communication. 

For instance, we have launched a process to streamline and prioritize technology requests. A review group will consider factors such as the project’s budget and how broadly it could be applied across the agency. We hope this new process allows IT to better prioritize requests, while giving requesters more confidence about timeline and costs. 

Communication and engagement

As I’ve noted before, I will use the Insider to communicate with WSDA employees. I also encourage you to keep up on agency news by reading the Connect sent to you every Wednesday, watching the Insider blog for more detailed features, and following WSDA’s social media platforms (read about them on the blog).

WSDA’s Performance and Planning Management Office has begun to organize employee focus groups that will delve into the agency’s Employee Engagement Survey results and identify actions to improve the areas where we fell below the state average. The Leadership Team and I are also exploring other opportunities to respond to the survey results, such as employee listening sessions. 

Thank you!

During Public Service Recognition Week (May 6-12), I thank all of you for your hard work and dedication to WSDA and the public.  Here is a schedule of planned events around the state from the Secretary of State’s Office. 

Finally, I’ve learned so much and met so many wonderful people over the past few months on this job. I’m looking forward to getting to know even more of you as I am able to get to offices around the state. 

In summary: Deputy Director Patrick Capper updates staff on leadership news, his recent travel with the governor, and other developments. Check it out on the Insider employee blog.

Randy Taylor, WSDA colleague and friend, passes away after brief illness

Karla Salp and Hector Castro
Communications

Randy removing bush infested with gypsy moths

Earlier this month, staff members in WSDA’s Pest Program learned their colleague and friend Randy Taylor had died after a brief illness. Randy’s death shocked many in the agency as his illness had been discovered only days before he passed away.

At the time of his passing, Randy was the managing entomologist with the Pest Program. He began with the agency in 1998 as a non-permanent gypsy moth trapping supervisor. But in his years at WSDA he also worked on projects to manage apple maggot, citrus longhorn beetle, and Japanese beetle.

Randy was involved in some unique projects as well, including an experiment to use bicycles to check gypsy moth traps in urban areas and training to climb trees to check for insect damage.
At times, his work, particularly on gypsy moth eradication, required a deft touch managing the public outcry, something Randy was good at.

Randy training pest program bicycle trials

“He had a way to diffuse a situation or making the public at ease with a few words and a calm demeanor during a spray, public meeting or door-to-door,” Jenni Cena said. “Over the years, I have been in a few similar situations, so I would think ‘What would Randy do or say.’ I never perfected Randyism, but the trying had been helpful.”

Family man

While Randy was very dedicated to his work, and loved sports, he was also a devoted family man who was married with two children and two grandchildren.

“He was an amazing guy with a kind heart. Things I always remember about Randy clear until the last conversation is him filling me in on his grandkids,” Tracy Shirek said. “He had a deep love for his family. I was lucky to be able to work with what we call a “good guy.” He’ll be really missed, his personality, laughter, humbleness are just a few great things about him.”

Randy and coworkers hard at work

To many, he was simply fun to work with.

“One of the things I loved most about Randy was his laugh – usually just a chuckle that almost seemed like he was laughing at a private joke,” Karla Salp said.

As a manager, Randy was loved and highly respected.

“His leadership was awesome in so many ways,” Donald Duguay said. “The two traits he had that always stood out to me were his steady, calm and cool temperament, and his awareness of his employees’ wellbeing. It was an honor and privilege to call him BOSS.”

Susan Brush added, “Randy cared about his employees and considered their personal well-being. He put a lot of thought into his decisions and how to best implement them for the success of the group as a whole. His perspective and sense of stewardship over how we engage our projects and employees was an example we should all strive for.”

Randy explains gypsy moth trapping to mayor of Eatonville

Randy passed away just as the program he helped lead was about to embark on an important project, a gypsy moth eradication spray operation. His absence has been challenging for the team.

“He was a friend as well as a colleague. His loss is very personal and irreplaceable. This week will be difficult for many of us. To move forward in the Pest Program without Randy is hard to fathom and painful to think about,” Jim Marra said.

Colleague tributes

Here are some other thoughts team members shared:

Rian Wojahn: “I have too many stories after all the years. I just want to say this: You hired me and were my mentor until the end. I miss you RT, and won't forget anything you taught me.”

Tiffany Pahs: “I am forever grateful for Randy’s guidance, support and willingness to listen. He was always able to bring humor to any situation. Overall, a great guy to work for and with.”

Randy checking of invasive pests in tree tops

Mike Klaus: “My favorite time with Randy was a day-long trip we took down to the Klickitat County Pest Board meeting in Dallesport on the Columbia. I gave him a historical tour of old AM [apple maggot] program hotspots from Yakima-Goldendale- Klickitat, Maryhill (including good fishing spots) Lyle, WA etc. It was a beautiful day much like today.”

Jenni Cena: “I celebrated him by buying him several drinks; all were left untouched on the counter or table for him for later. Silly tribute, but it made me smile.”

In summary: Randy Taylor, longtime employee of WSDA's Pest Program, passed away suddenly after a brief illness. Many in the agency, and especially his program colleagues, remember Randy with respect and fondness.