Emerging and Evolving Issues

Bill McDonald
St. Louis Area Dir, OSHA Region VII

Bill McDonald was selected as area director of the St. Louis Area Office of OSHA Region VII in Nov. 2001. Prior to his selection as area director, he served as assistant area director for three years.  McDonald previously served as an industrial hygienist for OSHA for 10 years and for the U.S. Air Force for five years. 

McDonald has been honored with many awards during his career with the federal government, including the OSHA Leadership Award for 2005 and the OSHA Region VII Leadership Award in 2005, 2006 and 2007.  McDonald received the St. Louis Federal Executive Board Leadership Award for small agencies in 2007.  As a result of his efforts as a strong proponent of public-private safety and health partnerships, McDonald also received the 2007 Federal Official of the Year Award from the National Association of Home Builders.

McDonald, a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), possesses a Bachelor’s degree in industrial hygiene from Central Missouri State University.

Safety Standards for Grain Handling Facilities
(Two parts)

Part I – Grain Dust Fire and Explosion Hazard Recognition and Control

Troy L. Anderson
Twin Rivers FSG Oper Leader, Cargill AgHorizons

Troy Anderson’s career at Cargill, Inc. spans sixteen years.  Since 2006, Anderson has held the position of Twin Rivers Farm Service Group (FSG) Operations Leader. In this role, Anderson oversees operations of eight terminal elevators in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa.

Prior to 2006, Anderson spent 14 years with the operations group in Cargill’s flour-milling business, where he was a plant manager at various Horizon Milling, LLC facilities.

Anderson is a native of McPherson, Kan., and received his degree in milling science from Kansas State University in 1992.  He currently resides in Overland Park, Kan., with his wife and three children.

Safety Standards for Grain Handling Facilities
(Two parts)

Part I – Grain Dust Fire and Explosion Hazard Recognition and Control

Derek Farmer,
Regional Safety Coordinator, Cargill AgHorizons

Derek Farmer is the safety coordinator of 16 grain elevators for Cargill AgHorizons-Twin Rivers and Central Kansas.  Prior to his current position, Farmer worked for Cargill Salt in Watkins Glen, N.Y. for over two years. 

Farmer holds a Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla.  He now resides in Topeka, Kan.,with his wife and two children, who Farmer says “are happy to be back in the Midwest.”

Part II – Confined Space/Lockout and Tag

Gregory Rowe,
Dir, Grain & PACMA Oper, Perdue AgriBusiness

After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Kinesiology, Gregory Rowe began working for Cargill, Inc. as a production supervisor in the Grain Division. Rowe worked for Cargill for 24 years in a variety of facilities and responsibilities culminating in the role of operations leader and also as health and safety coordinator for Cargill AgHorizons.

Rowe joined Perdue AgriBusiness in 2006 as director of domestic and international grain operations of 48 grain- and feed- handling facilities.

Rowe currently serves on the GEAPS International Board of Directors and participated for six years on the GEAPS Educational ProgrammingCommittee.

Rowe and his wife, Kyna live in Seaford, Del.  They have one child, Brandon, who attends Ball State University.

Employee Training

Kevin Clutter
Project Mgr, Conestoga-Rovers & Associates

Kevin Clutter is a project manager for Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA) and manages their Fresno, Calif. office. In his current position, Clutter leads CRA’s agricultural services division in the Western region of the U.S. Prior to joining CRA, Clutter worked for over 12 years specializing in the identification and management of safety and environmental hazards.

In 1995, Clutter started with the California Grain and Feed Association and soon after was named director of technical services. His responsibilities included managing environmental, health and safety risks for agricultural processing and manufacturing facilities. Specific areas of expertise included safety compliance, on-site audits and inspections, employee and supervisor training, air pollution, water pollution (surface and ground), hazardous materials and wastes, aboveground and underground storage tanks, and community right-to-know laws. Specific duties included workplace inspections and evaluations for environmental and safety compliance, writing reports, coordinating and instructing various topics in workplace meetings, on-site training and industry seminars and conferences.

Clutter later served as a corporate safety manager for a grain and feed milling company and as an environmental, safety and compliance engineer for a venture capital ethanol company.

Clutter possesses a Bachelor’s degree in geology from California State University in Fresno as well as a certificate in professional safety management from Safety Center, Inc. in Sacramento, Calif.

Environmental Quality and Responsibility
(Two parts)

Part I –Regulatory Overview and Practical Considerations

Kelly Jorgensen
Ag Processing Inc

After graduating from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, with a degree in industrial technology, Jorgensen started his career at E. A. Miller, Inc., in Hyrum, Utah. He was the company’s corporate engineer for 12 years with responsibilities including environmental compliance, capital projects, utilities and public liaison. Jorgensen was instrumental in helping build E. A. Miller into one of the largest and most successful beef processors in the western United States.

Jorgensen joined AgProcessing Inc. (AGP), a soybean processing cooperative operating 18 various grain processing and value added manufacturing plants throughout Iowa and the Midwest, in 1995 as air compliance manager before being promoted to director of environmental compliance.  Jorgensen was a key member of the design and development team for two new soy processing plants built by AGP, both of which met or exceeded all environmental compliance requirements.

Throughout his 24-year career, Jorgensen has served on environmental-related committees for national and state organizations including the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives (NCFC), National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA), Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI), and the Iowa Association of Business & Industry (ABI).

Additionally, he is past chairman of the Subcommittee for Environmental Affairs for NOPA, and currently serves as chairman of the Technical, Environmental, Safety, and Health (TECH) Committee.

Jorgensen and his wife, Lori, reside in Omaha, Neb. They have four children.

Environmental Quality and Responsibility
(Two parts)

Part I –Regulatory Overview and Practical Considerations

Michael “Mick” Durham
Grain Processing Corp

Mick Durham is director of environmental services with Grain Processing Corporation and is responsible for air, water and waste issues at plants located in Iowa and Indiana. Durham spent eight years as an environmental scientist and supervisor at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and 26 years as a project manager with Stanley Consultants, where he provided environmental consulting services to industrial, institutional and governmental clients. Durham, a certified Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP), possesses a Bachelor’s degree in meteorology from Iowa State University.  Durham joined Grain Processing Corporation in Feb. 2008.

Environmental Quality and Responsibility
(Two parts)

Part I –Regulatory Overview and Practical Considerations

Jerri Thibaut
Environmental Specialist, Bunge North America

Jerri Thibaut brings to the OM&T seminar over 29 years of experience in various sectors of the agriculture business.  Thibaut works for Bunge North America, Inc. as an environmental specialist assisting facilities in Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure plan development, as well as other areas of environmental compliance.  Prior to her four years with Bunge, Thibaut worked as a plant engineer with Central Soya Co.  During her career with Central Soya, Thibaut was involved with facility projects including project engineering, equipment purchasing, permit processing and installation to completion of a project.  Thibaut also directed facility safety programs.

Part II – Stewardship

Kim Callis
Group Leader – Global Sustainable Development, General Mills Inc

Kim Callis has worked for General Mills since 1992 in a variety of capacities, most recently as group leader, global sustainable development. Three years ago, Callis was the liaison from the Corporate Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) group to Gene Kahn, Global Sustainability Officer, and in that capacity developed sustainability value matrixes and scorecards.  Callis is currently focused on assessing and integrating a sustainability management system process across multiple divisions in the corporation.  In Dec. 2007, Callis was selected to represent General Mills in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sector Supplement Workgroup to create voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility reporting guidelines specific to the Food Processing Industry worldwide.

Callis’ career prior to General Mills included a consultant role in both environment and safety at SSOE Engineers & Architects from1989-1992 and as a civil engineer in the U.S. Air Force from 1976-1989.

Since 2003, Callis has presented a yearly lecture on strategic environmental management to students at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.  In 2006, he attended the GRI G3 Conference in Amsterdam as well as the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies (Ceres) Conference in Oakland, Cali.  In 2007, Callis attended the 3rd Annual Life Cycle Management Conference at the University of Zurich.

Callis received an economics degree from UCLA in 1976 and a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn University in 1982, and later completed graduate coursework in civil engineering at Purdue University.

Electrical Safety

Mark Wirfs
R&W Engineering Inc

Wirfs, an Oregon native, graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering degree in 1971, following which he worked for two consulting engineering firms from 1971-1978.

In 1978, Wirfs co-founded R&W Engineering, Inc., a firm specializing in electrical and mechanical engineering, including industrial power and automation systems integration.  Wirfs is currently the President of the firm, which now has over 30 staff members, including 10 registered professional engineers.

Wirfs has personally been involved in the design and commissioning of power and control systems for grain handling facilities including dust system equipment additions to plants, cleaning systems equipment additions, expansions and upgrades to plant systems equipment.

Prior to founding R&W Engineering, Inc., Wirfs was employed as an electrical engineer by CH2M-Hill and Dhillon Engineers, both in Oregon.

Wirfs, a GEAPS International member since 1994, was appointed by GEAPS as one of two delegate representatives of the organization on the National Electrical Code Panel No. 14 responsible for the modifications to articles 500-516 of that code in regards to the installation of electrical systems in hazardous locations.  In this position, Wirfs is a member of the GEAPS Safety, and Health Committee.

Wirfs is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers; the International Society of Automation; the American Council of Engineering Companies; the National Society of Professional Engineers; the National Fire Protection Association; and GEAPS.  Additionally, Wirfs has served as President of the Consulting Engineers Council of Oregon.

Wirfs is a Professional Registered Engineer in the States of Oregon, Washington, Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Montana and New York.

Transportation Safety

Dwight Siewert
Driver Compliance Services Group, JJ Keller & Associates Inc

As senior compliance consultant at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., in Neenah, Wis., Dwight Siewert calls upon his 30 years of industry experience every day as he advises Keller clients on a broad range of transportation- and safety-related regulatory topics.  He focuses on compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR); Hazardous Materials Regulations of the Department of Transportation (DOT); OSHA Hazard Communication Standard; International Air Transport Association (IATA); and International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) requirements.

At Keller, the wide scope of Siewert’s consulting responsibility encompasses driver and employee training, developing compliance programs and providing regulatory services, and customer relations.  He has developed and presented seminars and workshops, contributed to the development of comprehensive safety and compliance programs for Keller clients, and assisted Keller services sales representatives by providing technical information and insight for major client companies.

Siewert was formerly Director of Corporate Services for Bird Trucking Co., Inc., in Waupun, Wis., where he was responsible for implementing Department of Transportation (DOT) safety and hazardous materials compliance programs, recruiting and hiring drivers, coordinating driver training, investigating accidents, and securing insurance for their 900 company employees, drivers and owner operators.

Siewert earned an Associate’s degree in civil engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and production management at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and has earned credits toward a Master’s degree in industrial engineering.  Siewert has completed numerous regulatory compliance-oriented training courses, including DOT Motor Carrier Safety Regulation Compliance for Industry, DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation, and Voluntary Compliance at the OSHA Training Institute.

Facility Security – Food and Feed Defense

Wayne Bauer
Safety & Security Dir, Star of the West Milling Co

Wayne Bauer’s career in the grain industry spans more than 36 years.  Bauer currently serves as safety and security director for Star of the West Milling Co.    Bauer served as GEAPS International president from 2004-2005 and is co-chair of the Michigan Food & Agricultural Protection Strategy Committee, where he works with over 175 Agricultural and Food-related firms in Michigan and has been an active participant since 2005. 

Since 2007, Bauer has served on the joint U.S. Agroterrorism—Prevention & Facility Security Committee with representatives from GEAPS/NGFA and North American Export Grain Association.    Bauer has been a member of both the Saginaw and Tuscola County Local Emergency Planning Committees since 1996.  Bauer joined the Michigan InfraGard in Nov. 2007.  Bauer graduated from Michigan State University in 1971 with a degree in Agricultural Mechanization from the college of Ag Engineering.

Facility Security – Food and Feed Defense

David Powers
VP - Oper, RCI

David Powers is vice president of operations for Regulatory Consultants Inc. (RCI), which services clients in the agriculture business in 48 states.

Prior to joining RCI seven years ago, Powers spent 14 years in the grain agronomy business, spending the final five years of that time as agronomy department manager for an independent retailer in central Iowa. 

Powers, a Certified OSHA instructor, is currently on the Ag Business Association of Iowa Agronomy Committee, and is a member of the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS).

Powers, who grew up on a diversified crop and livestock farm in central Iowa, holds a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from the University of Wyoming, located in Laramie, Wyo. Powers and his wife Jill reside in Boone, Iowa, with their two sons, Wyatt, and Weston.

Facility Security – Food and Feed Defense

David William Kennedy Acheson, M.D., F.R.C.P
Asst Commissioner for Food Defense/Food Safety, US Food and Drug Administration (invited)

Dr. David William Kennedy Acheson graduated from the University of London Medical School in 1980, and following training in internal medicine and infectious diseases in the United Kingdom, moved to the New England Medical Center and Tufts University in Boston in 1987. As an Associate Professor at Tufts University, he undertook basic molecular pathogenesis research on foodborne pathogens, especially Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.  In 2001, Dr. Acheson moved his laboratory to the University of Maryland Medical School in Baltimore to continue research on foodborne pathogens.

In September 2002, Dr. Acheson became the Chief Medical Officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN). In January 2004, he was named Director of CFSAN’s Food Safety and Security Staff. In January 2005, the mission of the office was expanded and renamed the Office of Food Safety, Defense and Outreach; in January 2007 it was further expanded to become the Office of Food Defense, Communication and Emergency Response. In May 2007, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Andrew von Eschenbach, appointed Dr. Acheson the Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection to provide advice and counsel to the Commissioner on strategic and substantive food safety and food defense matters. In January 2008, Dr. von Eschenbach expanded Dr. Acheson's portfolio by naming him Associate Commissioner of Foods, which gives him an agency-wide leadership role for all food and feed issues, including health promotion and nutrition.

Dr. Acheson has published extensively and is internationally recognized both for his public health expertise in food safety and his research in infectious diseases. Additionally, Dr. Acheson is a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians (London) and the Infectious Disease Society of America.