WSDA fitting place to close out state career

Kathy Davis, Communications

I can’t even estimate how many employee retirement profiles I’ve written during my career. So now that it’s time for me to make my exit, it seemed natural that I would write my own. 

After more than 40 years serving in state government, I will retire on May 1.  

I joined WSDA in December 2013, accepting a newly created position focused on employee communication. My personal mission has long been to help agencies support their workforce by providing the information and resources they need to be as productive and engaged as possible. 

I’ve been particularly fulfilled having a central role in making progress on internal communications at WSDA. For instance, in 2014 we established a weekly e-newsletter to be a reliable source of information for all staff and to cut down on individual blast emails. Two years later it was branded the “Connect.” 

This Insider employee blog launched in 2017 and now archives nearly six years of feature stories for and about WSDA employees. (You can look for a specific program, topic or person by putting a key word or two in the “Search This Blog” field in the right column.)

First job: Waiting in the 
state House wings, 1982

Of course the COVID-19 pandemic was like nothing I had ever experienced in my state communications career. It came on so fast; suddenly everything in the workplace changed. Employees needed to know what was happening and what was expected of them, so continuous communication was more essential than ever. 

My start

My first fulltime permanent state job was as a public information officer with House Democratic Communication, starting in 1982. I worked directly with state representatives such as Gary Locke, Denny Heck, Jolene Unsoeld and Mike Kreidler, to namedrop a few. 

Working in the Legislature for four years proved to be a valuable foundation for the rest of my career by giving me a front-row (and behind-the-scenes) view of how laws are made and how that dynamic affects agency policies and work. 

I then spent nearly 20 combined years supporting social services. This included two stints at the Department of Social and Health Services, and five years at the Office of Financial Management as communications manager for the WorkFirst Performance Team. 

Touring Seattle tunnel project
during early construction phase.

Being at the center of the national welfare reform movement in the 1990s was the most significant experience of my career. Gov. Locke was highly engaged; putting funds toward childcare, job training and business partnerships to support those entering the job market. The program wasn’t perfect, but at the time it felt like meaningful work to reduce poverty. 

Before coming to WSDA, I spent eight years at the Department of Ecology. Along with managing employee communications, I served as lead communicator for the solid and hazardous waste programs and the agency’s toxics reduction initiative.  

In between those jobs, I held shorter stints at the departments of Labor & Industries, Health, and Fish and Wildlife. Looking back, I’m grateful my transferable skills allowed me to delve into a wide range of issues affecting state residents. It also re-enforced how every agency has its own unique culture. 

On the pesticide commission tour in Eastern Washington, 2014.

Having been raised in the middle of “America’s Dairyland” (rural Wisconsin), ending my career with agriculture seems fitting. A while back I edited a study guide for milk haulers. It triggered a flood of memories of my dad who for years drove his own tanker truck and collected milk from area farms. The scent of the milkhouse came right back to me. 

I’m looking forward to throwing myself into my yard and garden this spring and summer. I plan to spend more time with friends (weekday hike or pickleball, anyone?), and visit family in Florida. I hope to get involved with causes I care about and turn more than 50 years of personal journal-keeping into a concise memoir to leave my kids. 

I am grateful for all the many wonderful people I have worked with here at WSDA. Thanks for the memories!

In summary: After 40 years serving in Washington State government, with the final nearly 10 at WSDA, Kathy Davis is retiring on May 1. As the agency’s internal communications coordinator, she penned her own retirement profile for the Insider blog, and recounts the highlights of her career and work that was most meaningful to her.  

WSDA women learn state history on Governor’s Mansion tour

Kathy Davis, Communications

Washington State played a pivotal role in the decades-long effort to extend women the right to vote. After uneven progress, Washington became the fifth state in the country to allow women to vote in 1910. 

On March 22, 1920, our Legislature unanimously ratified the 19th Amendment for Women’s Suffrage, becoming the 35th state to do so. Five months later, Tennessee became the last of the three-quarters of states needed to enshrine the amendment in the U.S. Constitution. 

A dozen women from WSDA learned about this history on March 1, the first day of Women’s History Month, on a special tour of the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia. 

During the tour, costumed performers portraying women of the era who were central to Washington’s suffrage movement explained their role, the dynamics of the process, and read statements they’d made at the time. 

This program was originally created to celebrate the 2020 Suffrage Centennial, supported by a Votes for Women Centennial Grant through the Washington State Women’s Commission and the Washington State Historical Society.

Organized by Robin Schoen-Nessa, assistant director or the Pesticide Management Division, the WSDA group who participated in the tour are pictured above from right to left, front to back row: Kelle Davis, Daleena Blair, Flora Mullen, Haydee Pingol, Kelly McLain, Becky McGuire, Maryann Connell, Savannah Richard, Robin, Luisa Castro, and Jaclyn Hancock. 

“I thoroughly enjoyed the tour,” Robin said. “I loved the women’s history shared, especially finding out that Washington was one of the first five states to legalize the right to vote before it became a national issue. So proud to be a citizen of our state.” 

To learn more about Washington’s history of women’s suffrage, visit the Governor’s Mansion Foundation webpage. It includes a video of the live portrayals featured on the tour.  

Farmland artwork 

A special treat of the mansion tour included an exhibit of paintings by Richland native, Consuelo Soto Murphy, who was a migrant farmworker as a child. Along with her family, Consuelo followed field work across the U.S. before eventually settling in the Yakima Valley.

According to her website, “Despite the grueling, backbreaking work, Consuelo's art pieces are inspired by the positive memories of the beautiful landscapes, the flourishing crops, and the love and relationships forged with her family and friends.”

The WSDA group was awed by the large colorful depictions of rural landscapes and crop harvesting – including asparagus, potatoes, strawberries, sunflowers and more. 

“I enjoyed the colorful artwork display, and I did not know that Gov. Inslee is an artist too,” noted Flora. Another interesting fact learned on the tour!

In summary: Washington State played a pivotal role in the decades-long effort to extend women the right to vote. On March 22, 1920, our Legislature unanimously ratified the 19th Amendment for Women’s Suffrage, the second-to-last state needed to enshrine the amendment in the U.S. Constitution. A dozen women from WSDA learned about this history on March 1, the first day of Women’s History Month, on a special tour of the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia. Read about it in this Insider blog post. 

Response to carbon monoxide concerns lessens risk

Kathy Davis, Communications

Oli Silva, F&V supervisor, checking the
CO reading at a packing facility. 

In annual state Safety Surveys of years past, WSDA employees expressed concern about being exposed to carbon monoxide (CO). Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program (F&V) inspectors who spend time in industry packing warehouses in Eastern Washington raised the issue most. 

Since then, WSDA’s Safety Program, F&V, and private industry have taken steps to address the concerns and lessen the risks for all warehouse employees. 

Why a concern?

Forklifts are common in fruit and vegetable warehouses. Traditional models, fueled by gas or propane, are notorious for emitting CO. Furthermore, a forklift that is not properly maintained can emit as much as three times the CO of a well-maintained machine. 

When the weather turns colder around October and warehouse operators start closing off the buildings to fresh outside air, the threat from CO emissions rises. 

Carbon monoxide is called the “invisible killer” because it is colorless and odorless, but the toxic gas interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. With no obvious sign it is in the air, it can overcome a person quickly without warning. 

CO poisoning can be fatal, and many people do die each year from, for example, running gas-powered engines or generators in enclosed spaces. 

At lesser amounts, CO exposure can cause symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea or shortness of breath. 

What’s being done?

Responding to concerns revealed in Safety Surveys, in 2019 the Safety Program worked with F&V to tour warehouses and interview inspectors. One result was that the two programs began purchasing and issuing CO gas monitoring devices, called T-40 rattlers. 

Staff and supervisors carry these small devices while inside warehouses. If the CO limit reaches 35 parts per million (ppm), a light and audible alarm goes off. When this happens, F&V staff are trained to evacuate the building and notify the facility operator, who opens the site and blows fresh air in with fans.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) permissible exposure limit for CO is 50 ppm over an average eight-hour period. However, WSDA set an agency standard of 35 ppm to keep employees protected. 

Recalibrating T40 rattler CO monitors.

To assure rattlers are working properly, Robert Ambriz, WSDA safety officer for Eastern Washington, regularly recalibrates them by administering CO from a tank through a tube and checking that the reading is correct. 

Washington’s fruit and vegetable industry is also taking steps to protect their own employees, as well as our F&V inspectors, from the dangers of CO exposure. 

Most significantly, warehouses have been transitioning from fuel-burning forklifts to all-electric models. Many have been installing more fans to blow fresh air into facilities. And they’ve installed their own CO gas monitors. 

As a result, CO incidents are much less common, according to F&V regional managers.

Big thanks to the following staff who provided information for this article: Robert Ambriz and Jason Gambill, Safety Office; Robert Newell, Maria Valle, Tabitha Hernandez and Mark Buechler, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program. 

In summary: In annual state Safety Surveys of years past, WSDA employees expressed concern about being exposed to carbon monoxide (CO). Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program (F&V) inspectors who spend time in industry packing warehouses in Eastern Washington raised the issue most. Since then, WSDA’s Safety Program, F&V, and private industry have taken steps to address the concerns and lessen the risks for all warehouse employees. Read this Insider blog post to learn more. 

WSDA 2022 recap highlights wide-ranging agency accomplishments

Kathy Davis
Communications

We Feed Washington helped keep
huger relief organizations with 15 
million pounds of food

By reflecting back over the past year, WSDA and the employees who make it work have much to be proud of. From responding to avian influenza and feeding hungry families to protecting Washington’s ag products and improving customer service, the dedication and skilled work of agency employees have been on clear display. 

The list below is in no way comprehensive, but rather a mere sampling of the many achievements of WSDA’s divisions and programs.   

Focus on Food Initiative

• The We Feed Washington Pilot Food Program purchased and distributed nearly 15 million pounds of food, while prioritizing sourcing from socially disadvantaged and Washington food businesses. 
• Through 26 contracts, more than 170 producers participated in this public purchasing opportunity. 
• WSDA issued contracts for a second year of We Feed Washington totaling more than $52 million to provide emergency food procurement and distribution resources to fight hunger across our state.

International Marketing

• The program conducted a total of 31 trade events, with a mix of virtual and in-person activities. 
• In August the program’s foreign trade representatives visited Washington State for a week to conduct company consultations and site visits. Over 40 Washington businesses and industry organizations participated. This annual visit last occurred in 2019.

Regional Markets

• Regional Markets launched a Meat and Poultry Assistance Program and administered $3.5 million in capacity-building grants to support local and regional meat supply chains. 
• The program provided diverse technical assistance to small farms, ranches, and meat processors around marketing, market access, regulatory, labor, waste, and capital needs over the past year. 
• The program supported local food system infrastructure, supply chains, and market access for farms, food processors, and food distributors by awarding over $16 million to small businesses and organizations. These grants enhance local food supply resiliency and capacity and increase Washington consumers’ access to locally produced foods.

Administrative Services

• The Administrative Regulations Program was instrumental in developing and adopting a new language-access policy to assure meaningful access to WSDA information, programs and services for all customers, including those without strong English language skills.
• Enterprise Risk Management Services (ERMS) reinvested worker compensation incentive funds to offer agency staff services aimed at reducing workplace injuries and improving wellbeing.
• IT performed a full inventory of all the department’s computers, which entailed hundreds of hours of investigative work to track down all equipment. 
• The Emergency Management Program facilitated the Incident Command System and coordination for the multi-agency highly pathogenic avian influenza response, ensuring a coordinated response and communication for all involved. They also successfully executed the Columbia Generating Station exercise, which is a FEMA-evaluated exercise to ensure the state is prepared to quickly and effectively respond in the event of a radiological incident. 

Animal Services

• 

  Animal services has carried out a months-long,
  highly collaborative response to avian influenza

  Since spring, the Animal Health Program has been responding to highly pathogenic avian influenza. Last year Washington confirmed cases in 36 backyard, non-commercial sites and one commercial operation.
• The Animal Disease Traceability Program continues to gain acceptance of its free radio frequency identification reader program for veterinarians. To date, 96% of certificates of veterinarian inspection issued by Washington vets are electronic, exceeding the metrics for vets across the country.

Commodity Inspection

• The Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program conducted early outreach to apple growers in and around orchards in areas threatened by apple maggot, an invasive pest that damages fruit. As a result, no threatened product was packed or shipped during the 2022 growing season.
• The Grain Program gained a seat on the National Grain Inspection Advisory Committee, allowing for better collaboration with industry and a conduit to provide feedback to USDA.
• The Seed Program completed a third record year of field inspections, with requests to inspect 152,443 acres for seed certification and phytosanitary requirements. The program worked with Oregon and Idaho to coordinate seed standards and establish a new seed certification tagging program for Pacific Northwest sod producers.

Natural Resource Assessment Section 

• NRAS conducted core program work including crop mapping, water monitoring for pesticides, pesticide usage data collection, and soil sampling to determine baseline assessment of soil health. In addition, NRAS received an EPA grant to develop the programmatic guidelines for a pilot pesticide stewardship program, the first in WA.

Food Safety and Consumer Services

• The Produce Safety Program sponsored and co-presented 12 produce safety grower trainings, reaching 222 participants. They also introduced an interactive learning resource, available in English and Spanish, to help farmworkers understand the basics of cleaning and sanitizing. 
• The Food Assistance team supported over 500 hunger relief organizations (food banks, food pantries, meal programs, community action councils, tribes, and tribal organizations), a network that feeds approximately one in six households in Washington. 
• Multiple grant programs awarded $24.3 million to organizations for local farm purchasing and food processing, culturally relevant foods, mobile pantries, service and facility expansion, and other regional solutions necessary for network resilience and to meet increasing community need.

Pesticide Management

• The state’s plan for certifying pesticide applicators was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency on Dec. 13 after a multi-year process.
• The Waste Pesticide Identification and Disposal Program collected and properly disposed of 91,480 pounds of unwanted or waste pesticides from 176 customers.

Plant Protection

• 

  Hanging a Japanese beetle trap

  Japanese beetle trapping and eradication efforts ramped up as new detections spread beyond the Grandview area to Wapato and Richland. The agency’s multi-year eradication plan includes expanding quarantine areas, extensive outreach to residents in infected areas, and creating a free, yard-debris drop-off site for the community. 
• Pest Program did not trap or confirm any sightings of the northern giant hornet this year, however, the program continues to engage citizens in efforts to detect hornets, for example launching an “Adopt a Wasp” program to monitor for paper wasp nests and report wasp and hornet activity.
• The Weights and Measures Program led rewriting of state rules to reflect that the sale of electric vehicle charging supply is now regulated under the same chapter as fossil fuels.

In summary: By reflecting back over the past year, WSDA and the employees who make it work have much to be proud of. From responding to avian influenza and feeding hungry families to protecting Washington’s ag products and improving customer service, the dedication and skilled work of agency employees has been on clear display. For a sampling of the agency’s achievements, read the latest Insider blog post. 

Protect yourself from winter slips and falls

 Kathy Davis, Communications

This winter came on hard and fast! In Eastern Washington, snow and cold temperatures continue. Westside residents got several days of the white stuff and later a thick layer of ice. 

Whether you are accustomed to challenging wintery weather or not, it presents unique challenges and risks to safety. For instance, social media was full of videos of Seattle residents sliding, crawling, and falling during the ice storm. Area hospitals saw a record number of patients hurt from falls. 

In partnership with the WSDA Emergency Risk Management Office and Safety Program, here are some tips and resources to help keep you safe while navigating winter, especially on foot. 

Walking on ice

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends clearing walking surfaces of snow and ice, and spreading deicer, as quickly as possible after a winter storm. 

In addition, when walking on snow or ice is unavoidable, the following precautions can help reduce the likelihood of injury from falls:

• Wear proper footwear. Insulated, water-resistant boots with deep rubber treads are your best protection for walking during or after a winter storm. Avoid shoes with smooth soles.
• Take shorter steps at a slower pace so you can react quickly to a change in traction.
• Keep your hands free to catch yourself if you start to fall.
• Do not walk while distracted; avoid looking at your mobile device.
• Use caution when stepping off curbs and walking up or down steep slopes.
• Don’t rush! Give yourself extra time to get to your destination.

The WSDA Safety Program can provide ice cleats to agency employees for added protection and grip when you must walk on hazardous surfaces. 

The WSDA Safety Program can provide ice cleats. 

Think penguin and protect your head

The Farmer’s Almanac, which provides annual weather forecasts, says people who live in colder climates are more acclimated to walking on icy surfaces because they have learned to “walk like a penguin.”

Don’t worry about looking funny if it helps keep you safe from injury. Here are the basics for walking like a penguin:

• Bend slightly and walk flat footed.
• Keep your center of gravity over your feet as much as possible.
• Point your feet out slightly – yes, like a penguin.
• Shuffle your feet and take short steps.
• Watch where you’re stepping.
• Concentrate on keeping your balance.
• Keep your arms at your sides and hands out of your pockets.
• Go slow.

If you feel yourself beginning to fall, protect your head! As unpleasant as broken bones can be, most fractures heal. Hitting your head can cause severe, long-term injury or disability. Here are some tips on how to protect your head during a fall:

• Tuck your chin against your chest to prevent your head from hitting the ice or pavement.
• Cradle your arms around your head.
• As you fall, try to fold your body into itself, which helps to decrease the height of the fall.
• As you hit the ground, roll and exhale sharply to tense up your body and allow for it to absorb the impact.
• Avoid bracing yourself with your hand to break the fall, which can cause a sprain or a break. 

Contact the Safety Program at agsafety@agr.wa.gov if you have questions or need support to keep yourself and your colleagues safe this winter. 

In summary: In Eastern Washington, snow and cold temperatures continue. Westside residents got several days of the white stuff and later a thick layer of ice. Whether you are accustomed to challenging wintery weather or not, it presents unique challenges and risks to safety. In this Insider blog post, the WSDA Emergency Risk Management Office and Safety Program offer tips and resources to help keep you safe while navigating winter, especially on foot.

2023 wellness series supports personal and workplace health

 Annie Barrett, Vibrant Soulful Wellness

Annie Barrett

It is my great pleasure to invite you to join me in a monthly wellness series designed to provide WSDA staff with education and resources to improve personal and workplace wellbeing. 

This year-long workshop series, titled “Cultivating Resilience,” is sponsored by WSDA Enterprise Risk Management Services and is free to you. 

The goal is to support agency staff with strategies to improve physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, including support for developing healthy personal habits, better self-care, stress resilience, and strategies for addressing and overcoming burnout. 

I’m an educator, board-certified health and wellbeing coach, holistic wellness practitioner, and yoga teacher, and have worked in the fields of education and wellness since 1998. 

My mission is to empower you to take charge of your health, help you restore your body-mind wellbeing, and give you tools to be your best in all areas of your life.

The Cultivating Resilience series will consist of monthly interactive wellness workshops on Teams. Each workshop will include: 

• Brief mindful movement or mindful breathing practice to help you take a pause during your workday. 
• Presentation on the monthly topic. 
• Opportunity for group discussion. 
• Question and answer period.

Through a password-protected portal, you’ll have access to recordings of the workshops, the presentation slides, and additional wellness resources, such as videos and tip sheets. 

You’ll receive emails each month to remind you of the upcoming workshop and offer resources and tips for implementing the health habits I’ll cover.

2023 Cultivating Resilience workshop schedule

• Jan. 18: Mindful Self-Compassion 
• Feb. 15: Building Stress Resilience 
• March 15: Self-Care Matters! 
• April 19: From Burnout Back to Balance 
• May 17: Healthier Eating Strategies 
• June 21: Seven Strategies for Better Sleep
• July 19: Smart Movement - Easy Ways to Move More Everyday
• Aug. 16: Creating a Personal Wellbeing Vision
• Sept. 20: Smart Goal Setting and Habit Formation 
• Oct. 18: Healthier Habits for the Workplace
• Nov. 15: Resilient Workforces
• Dec. 13: Healthier Holidays

If you have questions or comments, please feel free to get in touch with me at any time. I am here to serve and support you. You can reach me at annie@vibrantsoulful.com. 

In summary: A year-long workshop series, titled “Cultivating Resilience,” sponsored by WSDA Enterprise Risk Management Services and free to you, is designed to provide agency staff with education and resources to improve personal and workplace wellbeing. This series will consist of monthly interactive wellness workshops on Teams, as well as additional wellness resources, such as videos and tip sheets. Workshop presenter Annie Barrett gives an overview of the series in this Insider blog post. 

Yakima staff gather to reconnect over food and laughter

 Kathy Davis, Communications

Brianna Hallenbeck and Robert Ring,
Chemical and Hop Lab employees,
enjoying lunch and comradery. 

After two and a half years of being disconnected and isolated due to COVID-19, WSDA staff in Yakima are gathering again to strengthen team bonds. 

The Seed and Fruit and Vegetable Inspection programs have joined forces to host two building-wide staff potluck events, on July 20 and Nov. 10. 

According to Seed Program Manager Paula Moore, her team previously had a long history of team-building gatherings and holiday celebrations. While they tried to continue with socially distant activities during COVID, “there was still a lack of personal connection that could be felt throughout the team,” she noted. 

Matthew Beltran, F&V

As public health restrictions began to ease over the past year, Seed and F&V programs came up with the idea of a “welcome back” potluck to include all staff in the Yakima building. 

The summer event was a big hit, featuring a taco bar with meat grilled by staff volunteers, as well as a variety of side dishes contributed by employees. The latest potluck was also well attended, with local staff eager to reconnect. 

The events also gave newer staff an opportunity to be welcomed into the agency and meet their colleagues. 

“Laughter could be heard from down the hall as employees mingled,” said Amber Betts, WSDA media relations specialist based in Yakima. “Some were meeting for the first time, though working in the same building, or in different programs.”

Teriann Skay, F&V

The two programs also arranged activities, such as a trivia contest, and provided donated goodie bags and door prizes. 

“Yakima-based managers of both programs see value in these types of staff gatherings and hope to continue bringing building staff together by making the potlucks a quarterly event,” Paula said. 

In summary: After two and a half years of being disconnected and isolated due to COVID-19, WSDA staff in Yakima are gathering again to strengthen team bonds. The Seed and Fruit and Vegetable Inspection programs have joined forces to host two building-wide staff potluck events, which have been well attended, with local staff eager to reconnect. The events also gave newer staff an opportunity to be welcomed into the agency and meet their colleagues. Read more on the Insider blog.