Faces of Food Safety: Meet Jeffery Jacobsen of the FSIS

By Suzanne Hensell, OPACE

A freshly called deputy district supervisor (DDM) in the Des Moines District, Jeffery Jacobsen started his Food Safety Inspection Service profession in March 2000 as an periodic food inspector in Crete, NE. In 2013, he was included in the Faces of Food Safety when he was an Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officer (EIAO). Fast forward 11 years, and now DDM Jacobsen monitors the Supervisory Enforcement, Investigations and Analysis Officers (SEIAO) and the frontline managers (FLS) who manage inspectors throughout the Des Moines District. This whole group works together to assistance guarantee the country’s food supply is safe.

FSIS profession course

During his 2 years with the firm, Jacobsen hasactually held various positions, however his veryfirst experience with FSIS was years earlier as a young kid. His household owned a little custom-made exempt meat locker center where regional farmers would bring their cow, pig or goat and his dad would massacre and procedure them for the farmers’ own intake (not for sale). FSIS would audit the custom-made exempt center, generally when a year, to make guarantee all sanitation and labeling requirements were fulfilled.

Years lateron while participatingin the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, his dad recommended he use to the periodic inspector position in Crete. After 6 months, Jacobsen transformed to a full-time food inspector. Jacobsen discovered about the function of a customer security inspector (CSI) from the CSIs in the plant where he worked. In 2003, the supervisory public health vet recommended he use for a CSI task. For the next 4 years, Jacobsen served as a night-shift CSI in Algona/Humboldt/Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Looking for development, Jacobsen used for EIAO tasks all over the nation. He moved to Sioux City, IA, in 2007 where he hadactually been picked for an EIAO position. Wanting more of a difficulty and urged by District Manager Dr. Dawn Sprouls, in 2015 he used for an FLS position in Ames, IA. For 6 years, Jacobsen served as FLS covering the Ames, Storm Lake and Sioux City circuits. Once onceagain lookingfor a brand-new obstacle, he used for the DDM task in Des Moines. DDM Jacobsen started this function in December 2021, straight monitoring 2 SEIAOs and 5 FLSs.

He takespleasurein offering assistance to those in the field; provided his background, Jacobsen discovers it simple to comprehend their requirements. Regarding his durability with the company, Jacobsen stated, “I am humbled with what I haveactually done throughout my profession and thrilled for the future of FSIS.”

FSIS core worths

Jacobsen thinks he shows all 4 FSIS core worths — Accountable, Collaborative, Empowered and Solutions-Oriented — however concerns Solutions-Oriented as his biggest strength. Said Jacobsen, “As an FLS, you’re constantly attempting to supply support and options to folks while they’re out in the field. For example, I established requirement operating treatments for PHIS exports and sentout them to inspectors in the Sioux City circuit. The detailed procedure was simple to follow and assisted makesure we fulfilled all the requirements.” However, Jacobsen is most happy of his informal function mentoring individuals in his circuit; numerous were promoted and moved up in the firm and he hopes his mentoring and training assisted them attain their profession objectives. He recommends, “Learn as much as you can from as lotsof individuals as you can. There are so lotsof folks in the firm with various strengths that can assistance you accomplish your objectives.”

Throughout his FSIS profession, Jacobsen has felt Empowered (another FSIS Core Value) by the assistance he got from his managers, consistingof present manager, Dr. Sprouls, who has mentored him his whole profession.

“Jeff has worked extremely hard to discover as much as he can in each position he hasactually held. He has constantly been prepared to take on brand-new chances, consistingof being detailed to a SEIAO position in another district, as well as mentoring brand-new FLSs in the district. He has the regard of his FSIS group and coworkers, as well as market management. He is understood for being company, sincere and reasonable in his actions and choices,” stated Sprouls. “He is a fantastic property to the district, and I takepleasurein working with him in his brand-new function as a DDM.”

Another coach, DDM Dr. Mark Johnson, taught Jacobsen how to offer with misfortune and keep moving forward, as well as how to offer with everybody inadifferentway to attain the verysame objective.

Outside of Work

Jacobsen and his spouse Brittany have 3 kids (Austin 11, Hailey 8 and Raelynn 19 months) and one on the method – due May 2022! “The 2 older kids love to assistance cook supper for the household, so it makes it simple to teach them about food security and the value of keeping things tidy and cooking to correct temperaturelevels,” stated Jacobsen.

When he’s not working, playinggolf, searching, fishing, riding his motorbike or costs time with household and buddies, Jacobsen volunteers to cook meals of prime rib, fish and chicken at Friday night fundraisingevents for the Elks Club in Sioux City.

He likewise delightsin contending in Steak Cookoff Association competitors where he cooks steaks to be evaluated. Last year, he ranked 11th in the United States and completed in the World Food Championship in Dallas in November, where he made 8th location in the steak department. While Jacobsen has to cook steaks to a ideal medium temperaturelevel for competitors, he chooses his own steaks well done.

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