Cultivating a Culture of Action

As I head to the NAFS 2024 conference in Austin, TX, I find myself reflecting on the growing number of negative headlines and heartbreaking stories. It reinforces the critical role we all play—whether we're frontline staff, supervisors, managers, or senior leaders—not only in food safety but in ensuring we perform our jobs to the highest standard. This starts with robust onboarding and training and continues with ongoing education to mitigate risks, both individually and as a team.

How many of us recognize when there’s a lack of action or troubling trends in our business? More importantly, what are we doing to drive the meaningful change needed to improve and execute at the highest level? Are we encountering barriers to progress? And if so, why? The status quo is a comfortable but dangerous place to remain, especially when consumers, clients, and partners rely on our organizations to deliver with intention and excellence. There's always something we can do better to deliver superior products or value...

I’m excited to connect with industry peers this week and exchange ideas on how we can continue to raise the bar. Together, let’s embrace the mindset and associated actions that the status quo must go!