A Message from the Executive Director

As I begin my role as Executive Director of 3-A SSI, I am honored to join an organization that plays such a vital role in ensuring food safety through hygienic equipment design standards. I want to express my sincere appreciation to Tim Rugh for his dedicated leadership and to the Board of Directors for entrusting me with this responsibility.

Throughout my career, I've focused on bringing stakeholders together to advance industry best practices. The collaborative spirit I have witnessed already among our member organizations, federal partners, and volunteers resonates deeply with my approach to leadership. I look forward to working alongside the International Dairy Foods Association, Food Production Solutions Association, International Association for Food Protection, our affiliate members – American Spice Trade Association and Institute for Food Safety & Health, and our partners at USDA and FDA to continue advancing our critical mission.

In these early months, my priority is immersing myself in 3-A SSI's operations and connecting with our community. I will be conducting one-on-one meetings with staff, board members, volunteer leaders, and committee chairs. I am particularly excited about visiting industry sites and attending events to deepen my understanding of how our standards impact day-to-day operations in food processing facilities. Let me know if you are able to host a tour.

Our upcoming Summit on Hygienic Design in Chicago on May 6-8 will provide an excellent opportunity to meet many of you in person. I encourage you to join us to share your perspectives on both the opportunities and challenges you are facing. Together we can learn and improve the industry.

Thank you for the warm welcome. I look forward to working together to advance food safety through excellence in hygienic design standards. You can reach me at mb@3-a.org.