Course Goals

May 12-15, 2025 | Grand Rapids, MI 

  • Provide pesticide inspectors with a basic knowledge and awareness of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) and considerations when performing inspections and investigations.
  • Enhance participants’ ability to meet the present challenges of enforcing and recording compliance with the WPS for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 inspections.
  • Provide networking opportunities for those in the pesticide community.

Target Audience

State, Territory and Tribal Pesticide inspectors operating under a cooperative agreement who would benefit from a general overview of issues and skills needed to conduct Worker Protection Standard (WPS) inspections, follow protocols, conduct for-cause investigations, and address other compliance concerns related to the WPS.

Participants

  • Adam Brockman – Office of the Indiana State Chemist
  • Adib Rahman – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Alexander Meraz – Arizona Department of Agriculture
  • Antonio Castro-Escobar – Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
  • Andy Danner – Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
  • Annie Means – Ohio Department of Agriculture
  • Camille DeStefano – US EPA Region 3
  • Chelsea Martinez – Colorado Department of Agriculture
  • Chris Smith – North Carolina Department of Agriculture
  • Corinne du Preez – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
  • Daniel Bublitz – Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
  • Danielle Tucker – Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation
  • Diedra Eicher – State of Alaska DEC Pesticide Program
  • Drew Matthews – Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
  • Harlee Seal – Georgia Department of Agriculture
  • Jacob Richard – Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry
  • Jaeden Werth – Kansas Department of Agriculture
  • Jeremi Rabalais – Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
  • Joe Fujan – Illinois Department of Agriculture
  • John Battles – Missouri Department of Agriculture
  • Julien Nadeau – Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
  • Kaleb Pearson – Montana Department of Agriculture
  • Kendall Cahill – Washington State Department of Agriculture
  • Laurie Manning – Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
  • Mark Klimok – Idaho State Department of Agriculture
  • Meg Macaluso – Florida Department of Agriculture/BIIR
  • Michael Stoliecki – Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development
  • Patrick O’Neil – Nebraska Department of Agriculture
  • Zachary Snobl – Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection

Planning Committee

  • Ofelio Borges – Washington Department of Agriculture
  • Antonio Castro-Escobar – Michigan Department of Agriculture
  • Ernesto Lugo – Arizona Department of Agriculture
  • Travis Snodgrass – North Carolina Department of Agriculture
  • Lynn Timmer – Michigan Department of Agriculture
  • Helene Ambrosino – US EPA Office of Compliance  
  • Aidan Black – US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs  
  • Kelly Engle – US EPA Office of Compliance
  • Fabiola Estrada – US EPA Region 9  
  • Ryne Yarger – US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs 

Travel & Lodging Information

  • State, Territory, and Tribal Participants
    • Lodging, flight, and ground transportation will be arranged and paid for by the PIRT team. There is no registration fee for State, Territory, and Tribal Participants.
  • EPA Participants
    • EPA Participants are responsible for reserving their own flights, lodging, and ground transportation. There is a registration fee for EPA participants.
  • More information will be shared via email after accepted attendees complete the course registration form. Please look for these in your inbox/spam folder.