A handwashing sink…used as a shelf?! In this episode of Beyond Data Management - powered by HS GovTech, Cameron Garrison sits down with Marlene Johnson (City of Burlington, MA) - a NEHA Photo Contest winner and 20+ year Environmental Health pro. They unpack the viral photo, why handwashing still breaks systems, how Boston’s training pipeline launched her career, the unique “351 boards of health” reality in Massachusetts, and practical wins around CFPMs, food trucks, complaints, and con...
🌍 Ever wonder in what ways food safety rules differ wildly between the UK and US? In this eye-opening episode of Beyond Data Management, host Cameron Garrison sits down with Graeme Mitchell, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Health at Liverpool John Moores University, for a transatlantic deep dive. What You’ll Learn: Why the US is “50 little countries” when it comes to food codes (and why the UK isn’t) The UK’s “Primary Authority” secret to consistent inspections nationwide Covid less...
Happy Halloween! 🎃 In this spooky bonus episode of the Beyond Data Management Podcast (powered by HS GovTech), host Cameron Garrison and producer Christina Miller bring you real-life ghost stories straight from the Reddit health-inspector community — plus a very special guest: Vinny the Skeleton 🦴 (complete with a hot date named Audrey). Originally pitched in August by Tina (who knew inspectors had creepy tales), we asked the 6,000+ members of the r/EnvironmentalHealth subreddit: “Tell us y...
Join host Cameron Garrison for a riveting return visit with HS GovTech's Chirag Bhatt, former Bureau Chief of the City of Houston's Environmental Health Department. In this storytelling-packed episode of the Beyond Data Management Podcast we take an unfiltered dive into the chaotic underbelly of public health regulation, Chirag shares jaw-dropping anecdotes from his 40+ years on the front lines, including: Bribery gone wrong: From low-key "free dinners for the family" offers to a full...
Environmental Health is prevention—and prevention is hard to see. It's why they local news doesn't lead with "Another plane took off safely - details at 11" In this episode of Beyond Data Management, host Cameron Garrison sits down with Larry Ramden, current President of NEHA (National Environmental Health Association) and longtime Massachusetts EH leader. Larry shares his journey from mosquito control technician in the Caribbean to state and local EH leadership in the U.S., why uniform ado...
Ever heard of the Nasal Ranger or odor school? In this episode of Beyond Data Management, host Cameron Garrison sits down with Melissa Rogerson, former Program Manager at the El Paso County, Colorado Health Department and now Senior Project Manager at HS GovTech. Melissa takes us on a fascinating journey from her early days studying math and optometry at Colorado State University, to discovering her passion for Environmental Health (EH) and building a career that spanned food inspections, ch...
Ashley Miller has had a remarkably diverse career in environmental health. From a local inspector, to some of the largest company's in the country, she has worked in environmental health her entire career. Ashley joins us for a wide ranging conversation about her years working with , and shares with us the exciting work that she is now doing at NEHA. Send us a text Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com
Meet Mahek Zaveri, one of the bright new faces shaping the future of Environmental Health. By the time most teenagers in the U.S. were just getting their driver’s license, Mahek was already a fully trained dentist, performing advanced procedures like root canals. After moving to the United States to pursue her Master’s in Public Health, she discovered her true passion: Environmental Health. Mahek recently completed NEHA’s internship program this summer and will graduate this December, with ...
🏗️ In this episode of Beyond Data Management, we sit down with Christine Brakefield, former building official, to explore how municipal building and code departments are transforming the way plan design reviews are done. Discover how the DigePlan platform is helping local governments bring the plan review process online, using AI-enabled technology to make building departments more contractor-friendly, builder-friendly, and efficient than ever before. Christine shares her unique insights on...
In this episode of Beyond Data Management, we dive into the exciting growth and big changes happening at HS GovTech, the leading provider of digital solutions for the Environmental Health community. Join the conversation with our new CEO, Eric Thomas, and Co-founder, CTO & Head of Product, Silas Garrison, as they share insights on: HS GovTech’s vision for the future of environmental health technology How new leadership will impact innovation and growth Upcoming product developments de...
What if a tiny parasite could destroy the U.S. livestock industry? In this episode of the Beyond Data Podcast, we talk with Dr. David Dyjack (who called this threat out back in May as being real but not in the news - during a conversation on this podcast.) and he breaks down the shocking threat posed by the New World Screwworm—a flesh-eating parasite making a dangerous comeback. Discover how it spreads, why it’s so deadly to cattle, and what’s being done to stop it. 📌 Timestamps: 00:00 Intro...
In this Spotlight segment from the Beyond Data Management Podcast we talk about a health inspector viewer submission of a video of the nastiest thing they came across in a restaurant - McDonald's" kitchen during a health inspection. Send us a text Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com
In this segment from the full episode. We discuss a side bet between two health inspectors as to whether observing an employee in a restaurant kitchen using a pocket knife to cut potato's is a health code violations. Send us a text Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com
Today's episode features a panel of EH professionals, and former health inspectors, answering viewer questions about health inspection scenario's including: "I observed someone in restaurant kitchen cutting a potato with a pocket knife - is it a violation?" Also, check out the video at the end - of a violation an inspector ranks as one of the top 3 nastiest all time violations they've seen. The panel includes: Caitlin Gappa the founding director of the Douglas County Colorado Environ...
On this episode, Cameron chats with HS's very own Kristen Geary about her life as an environmental health professional and restaurant inspector. A former Environmental Health Inspector and supervisor for Jackson County, Missouri, and still currently the manager of the State of Missouri Environmental Health Association. Kristen dives into her story of working at the county office as an admin, she took a leap of faith and tells us more about how she fell in love with EH even after the Fi...
In this special segment, live from NEHA AEC 2025 in Phoenix, we chat with Shelly Wallingford the Director of Food Safety at Sprouts Farmers Market, a supermarket chain with 443 locations in 24 states. Shelly has enjoyed a long career in environmental health, working for years with agencies on the regulatory side - as an inspector - before going to the private sector. Shelly shares her journey and discusses the criticality of industry and regulators working as partners in the interest o...
In this special live segment from Phoenix, we chat with Randall Barnes the director of the Ashtabula County Ohio Environmental Health Department about his EH journey and his thoughts on the 2025 AEC. Send us a text Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com
In this special segment of the Beyond Data Management Podcast LIVE from NEHA AEC 2025 in Phoenix we visit with Toni Ousley from Pueblo County Colorado Environmental Health Department. Toni discusses the never ending adventure of being an EH professional and also talks about the importance of properly managing your agency's data. Send us a text Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com
In this segment live from Phoenix we talk to NEHA's own Evan Suttell - Entreprenurial Zone Assistant with NEHA. We discuss ab exciting new self assessment tool NEHA released for agencies at the 2025 AEC. We also talk about his experience as a Jeopardy champion, earning $20,200, and he gives us a fascinating peak behind the scenes on how the process of being on Jeopardy works . Evan is a real asset to the EH community and we enjoyed chatting with him in the exhibit hall. You...
In this special segment live from the NEHA AEC 2025 conference in Phoenix, NEHA CEO Dr. David Dyjack sits down with us to discuss the importance of the AEC and the pressing issues facing the EH community that/ NEHA is helping the community deal with. Send us a text Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com