Up Front: A Road Well Traveled

At the end of 2006, Wayne Berkner retired after nearly 33 years at AIB. Before he left, we shared stories about our careers over the phone. We talked about our training when we started at AIB. We were trained by some really great men, Ken Nyberg, Dick Makowski, Eric Funk, Keith Tovey, John Householder, and Les Baker, to name a few. They were the first generation of the AIB Food Safety Staff.

Their message to us was simple: make the facilities we visit better. Our mission was to be a third set of eyes and ears. We were taught to work hard, inspect thoroughly, and question everything. It was up to us to develop the best training tools for each facility. We were to become friends with our customers and share with them every corrective solution or experience we could offer. After all, if they did not respect us, we would never be able train them.

As most people do, Wayne and I also spent some time complaining that evening. Traveling every week meant lots of time spent away from our loved ones. Working for a non-profit organization made the stock options program worthless! But, we also talked about how proud we were of our accomplishments. How great it felt to see plants develop programs and be recognized for their achievements. We discussed the friends we had made through the years who grew in their careers and recognized our contributions. It is hard to put a value on the pride we feel for others; it is invaluable.

Looking back, life was much simpler when Wayne and I started at AIB. It was a lot of work and the schedules were difficult, but we didn’t face the pressures of multiple auditing formats, conflict of interest issues, and certification schemes that today’s auditors face. Today’s progress is great, but it takes away time spent interacting with people on the floor who, while not responsible for food safety, are getting the job done. Wayne will miss this interaction. He has spent most of his working career as a teacher, not an auditor or inspector.

Our jobs are very rewarding, but like offensive linemen, we rarely receive credit. Luckily, our team members understand the credit each player deserves. We are losing a great lineman with Wayne’s retirement. Those he has worked with, taught, counseled, and mentored will miss him dearly. Each of us is better for meeting him. Good luck Wayne. Never quit teaching. AIB

The author is Vice President of Food Safety Education, AIB International.