Stephen E. Cole, Ed.D. Email & Phone Number

Pendleton, Sc, Us

Pendleton, Sc

Administers, directs and coordinates Regulatory & Public Service programs and activities. Supervises direct reports, currently: two Department Heads and one Regulatory Services Budget Manager. Indirectly supervises staff of approximately 75 employeesSeeks and obtains needed legislative changes in statutes and regulations;Seeks and obtains appropriate budgetary approval for divisional budget;Prepares position descriptions, employee performance planning stages, conducts performance appraisals and evaluations, conducts hiring advertisement, recruitment and interviews, makes the final hiring decisions for departmental personnel vacancies, and implements other personnel actions as necessary, adhering to all applicable Regulatory Services, CU and state policies and procedures.Ensures sound fiscal management of funds, which include self-generated, state-appropriated and grant monies. Monitors and approves expenditures to certify compliance with all applicable CU, state and granting agency guidelines. Administers divisional budget for maximum efficiency in fund utilization.Ensures that regulatory departments serve and enforce their programs and statutes and ensuing regulations. Supervises staff to ensure that general professional and Clemson University standards of work are conducted by the Division personnel. Regulatory Services personnel will be efficient, timely, responsible and diplomatic to our regulated community and constituents of the state; performing to a high standard of work ethics; and personnel will be utilized for maximum productivity. Serves as the final regulatory authority, under the Crop Pest Commission and the Associate Vice President for Public Service Activities (PSA), on South Carolina statutes under Regulatory Service's purview.

Pendleton, Sc

Provides administrative oversight for DPI programs and activities including plant pest quarantines; nursery/greenhouse inspections and certifications; plant pest mitigation or eradication; exotic/invasive species survey and eradication; fertilizer, lime and soil amendment inspection and laboratory analysis; seed certification; organic certification; and homeland security programs. Participates in budget planning, personnel management, program assessment and reporting. Participates in state, regional and national associations relative to departmental programs. Develops and implements educational programs that enhance compliance with applicable regulations and standards. Ensures that all DPI functions and activities are in compliance with applicable policies and procedures and in concert with the overall goals and missions of Regulatory Services, Public Service & Agriculture, and Clemson University.

Provides overall direction, administrative leadership and oversight for the Georgia Seed, Fertilizer and Feed regulatory programs.Administers the Georgia Seed Law, the Georgia Fertilizer Act and the Georgia Commercial Feed Act. Directs regulatory policy for seed, fertilizer and commercial animal feed including Georgia Certified Seed, specialty and custom fertilizer, livestock feed, poultry feed, and pet food. Manages 2 Regulatory Program Managers, 2 Field Inspection Supervisors, 10 Inspectors and 2 Administrative Assistants.Manages and administers Seed, Fertilizer and Feed Inspector training programs.Provides leadership for federal inspections at feed manufacturing facilities, feed distribution centers and animal production facilities to assure compliance with state and federal feed safety and labeling regulations. Provides program direction and leadership for the federal BSE (Mad Cow Disease) Rule under contract with FDA and directs inspections on firms manufacturing medicated feed for compliance with federal Good Manufacturing Practices rules. Provides technical assistance and educational information to industry, groups and individuals.Provides leadership for the enforcement of the Federal Seed Act by ensuring accurate labeling and purity standards for seeds in commerce. Serves as Secretary for the Georgia Seed Arbitration Council.

Manage state pesticide enforcement and compliance assistance programs including the EPA Worker Protection Standard, pesticide container recycling and disposal programs, endangered species enforcement, Special Local Need (SLN) product registrations and pesticide ground and surface water monitoring programs. Supervise 12 Pesticide Field Inspectors, 2 Field Supervisors and 1 administrative assistant. Provides leadership and direction on the protocol and implementation of all pesticide regulatory and compliance assistance programs. Coordinates and implements all field training and related staff development programs.Work closely with several state and federal agencies on a variety of projects and programs related to pesticide regulation and use including the U.S; Evaluates regulatory and compliance assistance programs and reports program related data to cooperating agencies.Participate in grant writing and budget management for regulatory and compliance assistance programs exceeding $2,000,000 annually.Serve as a liaison to the public on a variety of pesticide issues. Plans, presents and evaluates pesticide regulatory and safety educational programs to several audiences including pesticide applicators, restricted use pesticide dealers, health care providers, high school and college students, agriculture teachers and county extension agents, homeowners and others.

Provided technical education, training and support to customers and employees on a variety of environmental research and sampling equipment.Assisted customers in identifying and selecting the proper environmental research equipment for various projects worldwide.Researched, tested, developed and maintained product related technical information for the company web site. Wrote various technical/educational articles for company quarterly newsletter and conducted product demonstrations and related training programs for customers and employees.Assisted Special Services Department in providing high volume government price quotes and locating vendors for custom equipment requests.

Planned, presented and evaluated various youth and adult educational programs in agricultural, natural resources and related subject areas.Managed the county 4-H youth educational program consisting of approximately 900 members.Recruited and trained volunteer leaders for educational programs. Provided supervision for adult volunteers participating in 4-H youth development events.Served as an educational resource for the community. Assisted the Sequatchie County Adult Basic Education program in preparing adults to pass the General Education Diploma (GED) exam.

Ed.D., Learning, Leadership, And Organization Development

Dissertation Title: Determining Essential Competencies for County Extension Educators who teach Pesticide Safety Education Courses

M.S., Agricultural And Extension Education

Title: Factors Influencing the Retention of Senior 4-H Members in Tennessee: A Focus Group Study

B.S., Wildlife And Fisheries Science