The Pest Detection Management Team (PDMT) and the National CAPS Committee (NCC) would like to announce the selection of Joe Rackley, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry, for 2019 CAPS Recognition. Joe was nominated by the Oklahoma State Plant Health Director, and is recognized for his exemplary activities and achievement above and beyond his normal duties in support of the CAPS Program and the CAPS community.
‘State Survey Coordinator,Nursery Inspector,Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry,Nominated by Blain Powell’,
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In the wake of losing two State Survey Coordinators within a couple of years, and without available resources, ODAFF had decided to withdraw from the CAPS program until further notice. Joe is a nursery inspector with ODAFF, and voluntarily took on the responsibilities of the State Survey Coordinator during the vacancies to ensure the work was completed on schedule. As a field employee working remotely, it added another degree of difficulty coordinating CAPS activities. Without Joe’s dedication to drafting and submitting work plans, Oklahoma would not have been able to participate in any survey activities in 2019, and perhaps beyond. With his knowledge and understanding of the CAPS program, Joe was able to step in and save the day by completing 2018 data entry and developing 2019 work plans. Joe accomplished this while also maintaining his regular duties as a nursery field inspector, and has done an excellent job under a heavy workload. In addition, once the vacancy was filled, Joe volunteered to maintain the extra duties until the new person was comfortable with the duties of the position. It is evident that Joe’s service to Oklahoma and the CAPS community goes beyond the everyday responsibilities, and he rightfully deserves this recognition.
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Special Recognition
From time-to-time the Pest Detection Management Team (PDMT) will forward to the National CAPS Committee (NCC) for recognition consideration, individuals or groups that put in a significant effort over time to enhance the CAPS program. Often this work is done behind the scenes in collaboration with the PDMT, and the PDMT asks the NCC if there is consensus to this recognition. This is one of those times.
The Pest Detection Management Team and the National CAPS Committee would like to announce the selection of the CAPS Introductory Guidebook Team for 2019 Special Recognition. Over the course of a year, and ending with the publication of the Guidebook and three trapping videos in 2018 on the CAPS Resource & Collaboration website, the Team put in countless hours on a regular basis developing and implementing the topics, outline, and content of the Guidebook, as well as developing and reviewing three new trapping videos. The Guidebook and videos were well received, and comments like, “I wish there was a resource like this when I started in my position” were numerous. These comments attest to the value of the Guidebook and videos, and the professionalism and commitment of the Team that created them. For this successful effort, they deserve to be recognized.
The material was developed at Texas A&M University, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences in collaboration with the CAPS program through a Farm Bill-funded cooperative agreement. Team members include:
- Adrian Barta – State Survey Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
- Darrell Bays – Pest Survey Specialist, USDA, APHIS, Plant Protection & Quarantine
- Emilie Inoue – State Survey Coordinator, Vermont Agency of Agriculture
- Lisa Jackson – National Operations Manager, USDA, APHIS, Plant Protection & Quarantine
- Soo-Hoon (Sam) Kim – Risk Analyst, USDA, APHIS, Plant Protection & Quarantine
- Dan Mackesy – Biological Science Technician, USDA, APHIS, Plant Protection & Quarantine
- Tiffany Mauro – Pest Survey Specialist, USDA, APHIS, Plant Protection & Quarantine
- Erin Stiers – State Plant Health Director, USDA, APHIS, Plant Protection & Quarantine
- Lisa Keefe – Project Lead, Instructional Assistant Professor, Center for Educational Technologies, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
- Suzanne Kabat – Graphic Design, Creative Director, Center for Educational Technologies, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University
Congratulations Joe and the CAPS Introductory Guidebook Team!
The CAPS Recognition Award consists of a Pest Detection silver coin (highly prized and somewhat rare). The Group will be publically recognized at the 2019 National Plant Board Awards Banquet.
The National Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program wishes to recognize outstanding activities and achievements by members of the CAPS community, including State Survey Coordinators, Pest Survey Specialists, State Plant Regulatory Officials, State Plant Health Directors, and other individuals and groups. These individuals or groups (which may include additional cooperators) shall be nominated for work done in support of Pest Detection activities and the CAPS community, accomplished in the previous calendar year.
Next year at this time we will be announcing CAPS Recognition awardees for activities and achievements accomplished during 2019. Be aware of the work and distinctions that set your SPHD, SPRO, PSS, SSC, or other individuals and groups apart from the rest, and nominate them for CAPS Recognition next year. More detail appears on the CAPS Recognition page on the CAPS Resource & Collaboration website. The next call for nominations will go out in January 2020.