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Meet your Food Safety Strategy Team

foodsafetystrategy

Updated: Jan 14

I never thought I’d open my own business, and I certainly didn’t expect to have employees. But here we are, and it’s great! Thanks to the wonderful support from clients, I’m able to bring two exceptional people onto the team, both on a part-time basis. I want to introduce them. 


First is Gretchen Wall, who is well-known in the food safety community, especially in produce safety. I was thrilled to bring her on as the first new hire at the International Fresh Produce Association, and now she’s new hire #1 at Food Safety Strategy! New hire #2 is Lucy Sokol, who just graduated from the University of Vermont and will be helping Gretchen and me keep this little boat afloat. Since the Q&A with Laura Strawn went well, we decided to use the same approach. 


Q1: How do we complement each other as a team regarding skill sets? 


Gretchen: I’ll start by saying that I’ve known Jen the longest, so I think I understand how our skill sets mesh at this point (or else I wouldn’t be her second-time first hire!). Jen brings deep knowledge and experience to every situation. However, she is also open to asking for others’ input when a fresh perspective is needed. I think this is an essential characteristic of true leadership. I’ve always appreciated that my experiences and opinions are valued within the team and hopefully add value to the conversation. Though she is an academic at heart (as evidenced by the initials that follow her name), her expertise complements my background and love for education and training. I am excited to get to know Lucy’s skill sets over the coming year, but I can already tell she’s got a real passion for sustainable food systems and is excited to learn a lot about the food industry. A cross-collaborative approach is key to solving food safety (and quality) problems effectively. Adding Lucy to the team will bring a new dimension to the work we do with clients. 


Lucy: I want to express my gratitude for this opportunity to work with Jen and Gretchen. Our team's diverse skills and experiences will allow us to approach food safety challenges from various angles. Jen brings abundant expertise and deep knowledge, particularly in food safety. Her leadership encourages collaboration, ensuring each team member's strengths are valued and utilized. Gretchen has a strong foundation in food safety, especially in produce safety, and her background in education and training adds another dimension to our team. Her experience with Jen and her appreciation for collaborative work will help us build effective solutions for our clients. 

I bring a unique set of skills from my experience as a Resident Assistant (RA) for three years at the University of Vermont, where I honed my ability to communicate and collaborate in a diverse community. These experiences have given me a solid foundation in teamwork and problem-solving. Additionally, my experience in customer relationship management (CRM) during my internship at Earthshare provided me with a solid foundation for addressing client needs and enhancing communication processes. I'm eager to learn more about food safety and am excited to contribute these skills to ensure high-quality business support to Jen and Gretchen. 


Jen: We are different, and I’m glad we have a balance. I’ve known Lucy personally and have watched her grow through high school and college, so I am familiar with her strengths. We can’t look at food safety in isolation, so her experience in sustainability will add breadth to our work. Regarding the subject matter, Gretchen is stronger in on-farm produce safety than I am (I’m more comfortable in the processed foods arena). I especially appreciate Gretchen’s ability to convey concepts visually, as she knows this is something I struggle with. Gretchen is also conscientious and catches things (big and small!) that I sometimes miss in my haste. I was a few years into my career before I realized how much a collective of complementary skill sets can achieve! 


Q2: Working for a boutique consulting firm is a risk. What excites you, and what are you nervous about? 


Gretchen: There’s a little drawing of two separate circles in my office: Inside one circle says, “Your comfort zone,” and inside the other circle, “Where the magic happens.” This is exactly what excites me and makes me nervous about working in consulting. Every project and client I’ve worked with has pushed my boundaries and encouraged me to learn something new. I hope that taking a step out of the comfort zone bubble of the association and academic work I’ve done in the past will be where the magic happens! 


Lucy: While working for a boutique consulting firm right out of college is a nerve-wracking transition, it is also a new and exciting challenge that allows me to step beyond my comfort zone and take on projects that push my boundaries. I’ve always thrived when learning new skills, and consulting will enable me to work on various projects with diverse clients. Each challenge presents a chance for personal and professional growth, and I’m motivated to see where this path leads. 

A story that reflects my drive to embrace new experiences is when I had my first job at 16. I worked at a boutique gym, selling absurdly expensive memberships to people who were often twice or three times my age. That experience taught me the value of stepping outside my comfort zone, and I’m ready to bring that mindset into the consulting world. Although I’m a bit nervous about entering a new field, I believe it’s through this discomfort that true growth happens, and I’m excited to see how it will shape both my career and personal development. 


Jen: Since Gretchen shared her drawing, I’ll share mine: “Success is like an iceberg”: the accomplishments and accolades people see and all the challenging things beneath the surface. I never expected to open a consulting firm, so that was a big leap! Now I’m responsible for two employees. That is nerve-wracking. However, I am also excited to serve a broader base and have the diversity of expertise and perspectives to do exceptional work. 


Q3: What is your opinion on the firm name: Strategy or Strategies? Legally, it’s Strategy, but many people refer to the plural form. 


Gretchen: I admit that when thinking about this question, I consulted the dictionary. One of the definitions that resonated with me for 'strategy' was ‘a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a primary or overall aim’. Aside from the name sounding ‘cleaner’ in its singular form, I think that in meeting with most clients, there is a plan of action developed and an overall aim we’re trying to achieve. While several actions may be needed to achieve that goal, the overall strategy keeps the work aligned with the client’s needs. Food Safety Strategy – final answer. 


Lucy: Not to piggyback off Gretchen, but "Strategy" works well for the firm name because it conveys a sense of focus and purpose. Similar to what Gretchen said, the name suggests that we have a clear, singular direction we're working toward with our clients, which helps keep everything aligned and intentional. While I understand that people sometimes refer to the plural form, I think "Strategy" gives the firm a more cohesive and targeted feel, reflecting our goal of developing tailored, impactful plans to address food safety challenges. 


Jen: Obviously, I picked the name. The plural form honestly never crossed my mind. A bit of me thinks “strategies” sounds a little wishy-washy, but the singular form might sound inflexible and limiting. I’ll keep thinking, and I am curious what others think!

Q4: Anything else to add?  


Gretchen: I’m very much looking forward to this next chapter in my career. While I may not become a food safety magician overnight, I hope to soak up as much as possible from working with Jen, her team, and the diverse clients and collaborations at Food Safety Strategy! Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-wall/


Lucy: I’m excited to see where Food Safety Strategy takes me. I’ve always been interested in the intersection of food systems and my background in environmental studies and sustainable landscape design, and I’m eager to deepen my knowledge of the safety and scientific aspects of the field. Since I’m new to this field of study, I’d love to connect with others on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-sokol-4b1119267/


Gretchen Wall (left) and Lucy Sokol (right) rocking their FSS hoodies.
Gretchen Wall (left) and Lucy Sokol (right) rocking their FSS hoodies.

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