Worker Protection Standard Pesticide Inspection and Investigation Training

March 17-20, 2026 | Phoenix, AZ

• 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.

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.

• Adam Williams – Hawaii Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity
• Africa Dorame-Avalos – Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
• Alejandro Perez – Arizona Department of Agriculture
• Alex Meraz – Arizona Department of Agriculture
• Audrey Blondfield – Nevada Department of Agriculture
• Brian Parker – Gila River Indian Community
• Brittany Clark – Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
• Camilo Perez Cortez – Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community
• Carlie Coe – Kentucky Department of Agriculture
• Carlos Sanchez Barahona – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Caroline Deshotels – Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
• Clark Parmelee – Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets
• Dawn McCluskey – Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
• Diego Espineira – Idaho State Department of Agriculture
• Eric Trumbull – Nebraska Department of Agriculture
• Erik Hodson – Washington State Department of Agriculture
• Fred Oakes – Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
• Isaac Gonzalez – Arizona Department of Agriculture Office of Environmental Services
• Jeffrey Wallace – Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation
• Jose Hernandez – Arizona Department of Agriculture
• Kevin Minges – Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
• Marangely Alvarado-Rivera – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Nicholas Kiggins – Colorado Department of Agriculture
• Rebecca Orgaard – North Dakota Department of Agriculture
• Robert Borntreger – Delaware Department of Agriculture
• Ryan Rutherford – Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
• Shannon Gustafson – Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry
• Spencer Kerkhof – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
• Stacy Ward – Missouri Department of Agriculture
• Stephanie Theriot – Texas Department of Agriculture
• Theodore Puetz – Ak-Chin Indian Community
• Vanessa Capiz – Arizona Department of Agriculture Office of Environmental Services
• Zackary Hovland – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Ernesto Lugo – Arizona Department of Agriculture
• Alex Meraz  – Arizona Department of Agriculture
• Jenny Webber – University of Arizona Pesticide Safety Education
• Neil Richmond – Florida Department of Agriculture
• Emma Cross – US EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
• Isabel Gross – US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
• Ryne Yarger – US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs
• Travis Snodgrass – North Carolina Department of Agriculture
• Africa Dorame-Avalos – Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
• Anthony Lamanno – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

• 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.