Who Am I?

Who Am I?

I am a 50 year old woman, married to a wonderful man; I have two terrific children, both adults one son (engaged to an amazing young lady) and one daughter; and, the funniest, most beautiful granddaughter in the world (yes, I'm biased). 

I have over 30 years of food service industry experience, from the ground up - literally.  During that time there isn't much I didn't see or experience first hand.  I've "jumped down" the trash in dumpsters, cleaned a milkshake machine that had cockroaches floating in the mix (restaurant now closed), put out more than one grease fire (at work and at home), and conducted an audit in a facility that had cockroaches falling from the ceiling (no I'm not exaggerating)...

I've had arguments with owners, operators, and chefs pertaining to the safety of the food that they had stored in their walk-in coolers (rice in a cabro pan at 70 degrees Fahrenheit is NEVER a good thing; nor are chicken wings at 57 degrees Fahrenheit) and I've questioned VP's about their policies and procedures.  This work does not typically make me the most popular person in a facility, often times I feel less liked than an auditor from the IRS.  But, what it does do is increase the safety of the customers at those facilities.  I'm not usually hired because a place has a squeaky clean record, generally their has been an issue.  A complaint to corporate or the health department, an ongoing issue with low health inspection scores, or maybe - just maybe, a company has the foresight to do some "preventative" planning.  That's where I come in...

I own a company that conducts food safety training and certification, audits, inspections, consulting, etc. for the food service industry.  It's an industry that I know and love.  I've worked for small privately owned companies, as well as national corporations and casinos.  Life is interesting to say the least!   Take for example the day I had to explain why it was not permissible for a nursing mother to store her breast milk in the walk-in refrigerator....