Thom Cate

Background

About Thom Cate

Engaging, broadly-educated, process- and inquiry-oriented, experienced and (occasionally) entertaining. Multi-disciplinary, comfortable in field, lab, or office. Expert technical writer and presenter; experienced science educator at college and high school levels.COVID-19 Senior Case Investigator and Team Lead. Deployed to San Bernardino Department of Public Health for COVID-19 outreach and investigation.Food Safety Workgroup Coordinator; Responsible for coordinating a team of 5 produce safety sampling scientists and submitting samples to residue-detection analysis at CDFA Center for Applied Chemistry for the California Pesticide Residue Program and the USDA Pesticide Data Program; applying and enforcing quarantine on violative commodities, ensuring compliance and documenting disposal and/or disposition of such produce and ensuring stakeholder support and liason.Enforcement Branch Liaison, Northern Regulatory Office of California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Responsible for oversight of county-level inspections for pesticide applications, worker health and safety, and fumigation of structures and commodities. Duties include code enforcementDeveloped new protocols for enhanced retraction of quarantined commodities from streams of trade, resulting in greater public safety. Food Safety duties include sampling for California Department of Food and Agriculture Pesticide Residue Program, and USDA Pesticide Data Program, maintaining chain of custody, working in groups, teams of 2-3 and solo.Head Fencing Coach, UC Davis