MDG’s Lead Safety Coordinator, she protects the team from the unexpected. From raising awareness around key workplace accidents to researching the latest PPE, we all feel safer with Jennifer around!
- What drew you to Microbial Discovery Group?
The company’s core mission to Feed, Clean and Save the world is what initially caught my interest. Once I walked through the doors, the tight-knit family feel and the desire from upper management to help their associates grow helped solidify my choice to be a part of MDG.
- What does your typical day look like?
It varies quite a bit! Lately, I’ve been conducting a lot of safety research and making phone calls to health departments and disinfectant companies. I’ve also been spending a lot of time creating response plans, policies and coordinating PPE supplies to keep our coworkers safe and healthy. Bi-weekly, I conduct a safety audit of each facility and create action plans on how we can improve. Additionally, I write content for our monthly safety newsletter, conduct regular safety training sessions, organize monthly fire extinguisher & eyewash checks, facilitate reimbursement for PPE, run first aid & injury reports and any other random safety thing that pops up!
- What are you passionate about?
I have a lot of passion for protecting the health and safety of our coworkers, who are like family to me. I’m always working to make sure we have the best policies in place, especially now with things changing so quickly.
- What’s the most inspiring or exciting part of your job?
The most inspiring part of my job is seeing behavioral changes take place over time. It can be slow-going but knowing that something I’ve done has helped someone adopt safer work practices and a better outlook on safety overall is very exciting and inspiring to see.
- What’s your favorite thing about working at MDG?
It’d say it goes back to the tight-knit family feel that we have here. I’ve worked at several different companies and the level of attention and involvement from the President here as well as his desire to connect with and help people grow is unique. There’s also a high level of autonomy that I haven’t experienced anywhere else and it’s really refreshing.
- What do you like to do when you’re not at the office?
I’m mostly a homebody. When I’m not busy trying to make my house look like a tornado didn’t just come through, I enjoy playing Animal Crossing, rewatching the same 2-3 shows on Netflix, drawing and spending time with my 9-year-old daughter, Harper, and my partner, Jordan.
- What’s your professional goal for the next 5 years?
I’d say my biggest challenge and goal is to change the behavioral aspect in a workplace culture that leads to complacency or an “I’ve always done it this way” mindset. I strive to inspire people to be compliant because they care about their own and others’ safety, not just because they’re told to do so.
- Let’s talk about Safety at MDG and the unique value it brings our team members and customers.
Safety is key to keeping us going, now more than ever. As we bring in employees to keep operations going, we must protect our people. We’ve established a number of different safety measures and policies to protect our coworkers including plexiglass barriers, face masks, thermometers, a disinfecting schedule for high-touch point areas and travel policy. These are all things that help keep us safe and able to support our customers.
