Acting Program Manager, Yakima WA Manage the WSDA Fruit and Vegetable program (“Program”), including the work of 140+ employees.• Responsible for the administration, operation, and strategic direction of the Program, including budget compliance, process improvements, and supervision of management staff;• Successfully coordinated and led eight foreign audits to ensure the continued success of the Program’s export and strengthened relationships with vital markets;• Spearhead the new statewide safety committee pilot program to create safer work environment for field inspectors;• Engage with USDA AHPIS to host an Israeli delegation to lay the groundwork for possible cherry exports from Washington State to Israel which represents a milestone achievement;• Connect the Program with industry support groups, Northwest Horticulture Council, WA ST Apple Commission, WA ST Fruit Commission, the WA ST Tree Fruit Association, and the Foreign Trade Committee.• Develop technical and leadership skills in direct reports and mentored all levels of staff;• Conduct fact finding investigatory inquiries related to human resources issues and litigations;• Facilitate communication throughout all levels of the organization, conducting meetings with leadership and providing guidance and support;• Represent WSDA during industry meetings and conferences and workshops to promote general knowledge of export requirements.

Regional Manager, I play a core leadership role in the Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program. • Efficiently oversee the large-scale F&V program focusing on budget compliance, process improvements, successful USDA AMS audit completions, and internal control over safeguarding of $18M operating assets;• Build yearly strategic plan of F&V program by forecasting revenue and expenses as it relates to crop estimates;• Negotiated access policy or work plans allowing Washington State fruits into foreign markets;• Design and implement policies and procedures for the program’s inspection practices;• Lead brainstorming meetings with WSDA committee members to develop new initiatives;• Develop technical and leadership skills in direct reports and mentor all levels of staff; • Facilitate communication throughout all levels of the organization, conducting meetings with leadership and providing guidance and support.

Oversaw the work of 12 Fruit and Vegetable Inspectors.• Spearheaded the Educate, Demonstrate, Guide, and Empower (EDGE) committee, working on electronic program development and continuity across the program with industry stakeholders;• Designed work processes to increase productivity (IT workstations, conference room.), reducing wasted time and improving IT efficiencies;

Inspected fruits and vegetables in 40 facilities in the Yakima region (Yakima, Wapato, Pasco).• Inspected and certified fresh fruits and vegetables at shipping point for domestic and foreign markets to meet Federal and State inspection requirements;• Provided accurate and unbiased inspections, describing quality, condition, and phytosanitary factors;• Inspected twelve commodities; Apples, Pears, Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Prunes, Plums, Nectarines, Asparagus, Processing Potatoes, Potatoes and Onions as a USDA licensee;• Conducted Good Handling Practices (GHP) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Audits as a USDA licensee;• Successfully audited cold treatments, cold atmosphere rooms, and other types of treatments and made appropriate certifications;• Led the Educate, Demonstrate, Guide, and Empower (EDGE) committee providing technical computer field support to WSDA staff and industry stakeholders; • Contributed to the Lean Project for the Yakima office, adding a conference room and IT workstations, reducing wasted time, and improving IT efficiencies;• Trained staff members in the following commodities: apples, cherries, potatoes, asparagus, onions, pears, apricots, and processing potatoes;• Trained industry personnel on the usage of the electronic Federal Phytosanitary Certificate Program (PCIT).

Responsible for the work of 25 Hop Inspectors.• Managed all operational aspects of 25 WSDA Hop Inspectors;• Oversaw daily operations including inspections, scheduling, workload maintenance and daily record entry; • Trained Hop Inspectors on daily requirements, physical grading and policies; • Collaborated with human resources to implement personnel and payroll-related corrective measures.