Gary German ( Retired!) Ocean City MD GEGinOC@aol

Gary German (Retired!)

Ocean City MD

[email protected]

Gary German (Retired!)

Ocean City MD

[email protected] Central Atlantic States Association of

Food and Drug Officials May 2014

Central Atlantic States Association of Food and Drug Officials

May 2014

Now It’s Your Turn(and Personal Responsibility)

PLUS Four Years


PLUS Four Years

September 2013September 2013

CASA

CASA

Ted VeresinkTed Veresink

Would you like to give a talk at CASA in 2014? Share some wisdom...

Sure, I’d be honored. But what should I talk

about?

Gary GermanGary German

Gary’s Gray Hair...Gary’s Gray Hair...

• 1969 - 1980 Sanitarian, County Supervisor

York, PA

• 1980 - 1985 Director, Division of Food ProtectionHarrisburg, PA

• 1985 - 2010 Director, State TrainingandDirector, Division of Human

Resource Development and ORA URockville, MD

______________________________________________• 2010 to Present—Retired, Ocean City MD

• 1969 - 1980 Sanitarian, County Supervisor

York, PA

• 1980 - 1985 Director, Division of Food ProtectionHarrisburg, PA

• 1985 - 2010 Director, State TrainingandDirector, Division of Human

Resource Development and ORA URockville, MD

______________________________________________• 2010 to Present—Retired, Ocean City MD

What I’m going tell you…What I’m going tell you…

• REVIEW what I said the last time• Still valid???

• PLUS four years• What I’ve learned in retirement!

OR

• what I wish I would have known when I was working

• REVIEW what I said the last time• Still valid???

• PLUS four years• What I’ve learned in retirement!

OR

• what I wish I would have known when I was working

Gary GermanDirectorDivision of Human Resource Development

and ORA UFood and Drug AdministrationOffice of Regulatory Affairs

[email protected] [email protected]

Gary GermanDirectorDivision of Human Resource Development

and ORA UFood and Drug AdministrationOffice of Regulatory Affairs

[email protected] [email protected]

Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

April 2008Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

April 2008Virginia Beach, Virginia



So much is on my mind…(Note: I’m gonna ramble!)

So much is on my mind…(Note: I’m gonna ramble!)

RootsRoots

Ol’ friendsOl’ friends

PassionPassion

MissionMission

SuccessionSuccession

CASA/AFDOCASA/AFDO

Food and DrugFood and Drug WorryWorry

TrainingTraining

FutureFuture

and retirement some day…and retirement some day…

States/Locals/

Feds

States/Locals/

Feds

Public HealthPublic Health

Note:Knapsack of

Gary’s worries!

Note:Knapsack of

Gary’s worries!

Now it’s your turn. Now it’s your turn.

Now it’s your turn…

“Now it’s your turn” andthe possibility of retirement… “Now it’s your turn” and

the possibility of retirement…

Not quite yet, but some day….

So, today is a good time to share some worries.

Not quite yet, but some day….

So, today is a good time to share some worries.

A little review… A little review…

What is your agency’s

vision/mission?

What is your agency’s

vision/mission?

Office of Regulatory Affairs Vision

Office of Regulatory Affairs Vision

• All food is safe; all medical products are safe and effective; and the public health is advanced and protected.

• All food is safe; all medical products are safe and effective; and the public health is advanced and protected.

ORA MissionORA Mission

ORA protects consumers and enhances public health by maximizing compliance of FDA regulated products and minimizing risk associated with those products.

ORA protects consumers and enhances public health by maximizing compliance of FDA regulated products and minimizing risk associated with those products.

VDACSVDACS

The Food Safety & Security Program (FSSP) works to ensure that food products and dietary supplements in the Commonwealth are safe, wholesome and properly labeled. The Food Safety Specialists provide consumer protection by inspecting food retail stores (supermarkets, convenience stores, bakeries, seafood markets, etc.), food warehouses, and food processors. They also respond to emergencies (natural and man-made), investigate standard and tampering complaints, participate in recalls, and provide educational presentations to the food industry.

The Food Safety & Security Program (FSSP) works to ensure that food products and dietary supplements in the Commonwealth are safe, wholesome and properly labeled. The Food Safety Specialists provide consumer protection by inspecting food retail stores (supermarkets, convenience stores, bakeries, seafood markets, etc.), food warehouses, and food processors. They also respond to emergencies (natural and man-made), investigate standard and tampering complaints, participate in recalls, and provide educational presentations to the food industry.

Remember…Remember…

They are counting on you and me and him

and her…

They are counting on you and me and him

and her…

Joe’s DinerYork, PA

1972

Joe’s DinerYork, PA

1972

It’s got to be safe. THEY wouldn’t

allow it otherwise.

Why do you get paid?Why do you get paid?

• How good are you at what you do?

• Do you take it seriously and do you always doyour best?

• How good are you at what you do?

• Do you take it seriously and do you always doyour best?

BestBest

Inspection Report

So what?So what?

Doctor P.B. DunbarDenver District

May 1924

Doctor P.B. DunbarDenver District

May 1924

It is the PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY of

each individual for the success of the whole

organization.

What is your personal responsibility? (Investigators/Analysts)

What is your personal responsibility? (Investigators/Analysts)

• Care/Worry• Always remember the mission• Take your work seriously!• Be technically sound, accurate • Base decisions on facts/observations • Spend the time necessary • Make a decision • Do it right (the first time)• Don’t expect others to catch

your mistakes • Your signature should mean

something *

• Care/Worry• Always remember the mission• Take your work seriously!• Be technically sound, accurate • Base decisions on facts/observations • Spend the time necessary • Make a decision • Do it right (the first time)• Don’t expect others to catch

your mistakes • Your signature should mean

something *

Report

What is your personal responsibility?(Supervisor)

What is your personal responsibility?(Supervisor)

• Care/worry• Select the best staff • Take time/resources to train and mentor • Insist on the best work• Weed out the non-performers *

• Care/worry• Select the best staff • Take time/resources to train and mentor • Insist on the best work• Weed out the non-performers *

Now… in closing Now… in closing

• Someday I (and others in my generation) will retire

• Maybe soon, maybe later

• Just as Dr. Dunbar did in 1924.

• Some Friday afternoon, with great confidence in you,I will walk out the FDA door and say to myself…

…now it’s your turn!

• Someday I (and others in my generation) will retire

• Maybe soon, maybe later

• Just as Dr. Dunbar did in 1924.

• Some Friday afternoon, with great confidence in you,I will walk out the FDA door and say to myself…

…now it’s your turn!

AND NOW…

FOUR YEARS LATER…

SOME WISDOM…

From an ol’ retired guy…

AND NOW…

FOUR YEARS LATER…

SOME WISDOM…

From an ol’ retired guy…

You’veChanged!

Note:Knapsack of

Gary’s worries!

Note:Knapsack of

Gary’s worries!

Now it’s your turn. Now it’s your turn.

Now it’s your turn…

Worry…Worry…

• To TORMENT oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts

• To TORMENT oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts

Serenity prayer…Serenity prayer…

• God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

• Courage to the change the things I can;

• and wisdom the know the difference

• God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

• Courage to the change the things I can;

• and wisdom the know the difference

Where’s the Happy

Man?

• And Abe Lincoln said…

• “Everyday, each of us makes a decision…

• …to be happy or NOT!”

• And Abe Lincoln said…

• “Everyday, each of us makes a decision…

• …to be happy or NOT!”

• Worry

and

• Happiness

• Worry

and

• Happiness

TODAYIS

a

GIFT!!!

TODAYIS

a

GIFT!!!

TODAY is a GIFT!!!TODAY is a GIFT!!!

• Look at your watch• Look at your watch


• Focus on the “now”• Focus on the “now”


• Cherish the people• Cherish the people


• Slow down• Slow down


• Do it with PASSION!!!• Do it with PASSION!!!


• Look up• Look up

Post meeting assignments…Post meeting assignments…

• Look in the mirror…

• Talk to your staff…

• Look at your watch..

• Think of the gift…

• Look in the mirror…

• Talk to your staff…

• Look at your watch..

• Think of the gift…

Go forth and

do good!!!

Go forth and

do good!!!

Documents

Gary German ( Retired!) Ocean City MD GEGinOC@aol