[Auditor Profile] Wayne Berkner

After nearly 33 years as an AIB auditor, Wayne Berkner is moving on to a new adventure in life. Wayne leaves his successor a big pair of shoes to fill. It would be impossible to put a value on the amount of knowledge and experience he has collected through his years in the food industry.

Wayne graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Lacrosse with a bachelor’s of science degree in microbiology. His education prepared him to understand the numerous problems and situations that arise in the food industry, so he dove headfirst into a successful career.

When he joined AIB International, it was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. There was 13 field staff members scattered across the United States. At that time, his territory covered the eastern Canadian provinces, south to Tennessee, Kentucky, and west to Ohio. Since then his territory primarily has been the mid-Atlantic states.

Some of the most memorable experiences during his career were training with Keith Tovey on the West Coast, Richard Makowski in Wisconsin, and John Householder in Tennessee. "These gentlemen imparted untold wisdom as to how to make the audit procedure a learning experience for all participants at the plant level. They especially instilled in me the importance of solving plant problems and, more significantly, the concept that I was to assist and teach plant personnel the value of food safety," Wayne says.

Over the years, he has made a number of unusual and interesting discoveries during audits. Once, he found a full bottle of Jack Daniels hiding in an electrical panel in a processing area. He also found an empty beer bottle in a tall rubber boot used by a sanitation crew member. Apparently these employees were full of "spirit" at work!

One of the perks AIB auditors enjoy is the travel adventures. Although it can be very trying to be away from home so often, the job allows many opportunities to visit the world! Perhaps Wayne’s most exciting travel memory was when he watched the Royal Navy attempt to dislodge an iceberg blocking the mouth of the St. John harbor with shellfire during an audit trip to Newfoundland.

Training is an essential part of any job, but it is especially important in the food industry. As an employee, Wayne always took opportunities to learn new ideas. Over the years, he attended the AIB Baking Course for Allied Personnel and numerous food safety and HACCP seminars. For 25 years, he attended the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. pest control update and has maintained his licensure as a pest control operator and registered sanitarian in Maryland. Wayne was not only a great learner; he was also a great teacher. He provided GMP training for several manufacturing plants throughout the years and has also presented at the American Salad Institute Convention.

Every facility asks questions of their auditors. The most popular question asked at AIB is "How can we improve our AIB rating?" The second most popular question Wayne receives is, "How can we eliminate the condensation problem and mold development on walls and surfaces?" Fortunately, his experience in the industry has aptly prepared Wayne to answer this and any other question that comes his way.

Wayne is a beloved employee and will be greatly missed. Although we are sad to see him go, we are grateful for the wonderful years of service he gave AIB. We wish Wayne and his wife Marie the best in this next adventure in life. AIB

Kerry Beach is Publication Coordinator, AIB.