Name: Bruce Ferree, CFS

Job title: Compliance Manager

Company: California Natural Products

IFT Division(s) to which you belong: Quality Assurance, Food Laws and Regulations

How did you go about finding your current job?  Believe it or not, it was practically handed to me.  I had performed an audit and was asked if I know anyone with a similar skill set to mine that might be interested.  Turns out I was interested.

What is your favorite perk and worst pitfall of your current job?  Perk – support for IFT time and work.  Pitfall – After auditing and consulting for a number of years and not being in the same plant every day seeing the same problems by the same people, I now miss seeing different places with different people doing different things.

What is your “Dream Job”?   Consulting or training companies to meet USA import or food safety rules.  Visiting other countries and seeing the world.

What is a change you would like to see in your industry?   FSMA is changing that now.  I want all industries to take the lead of the food industry and adopt a preventive approach to safety and productivity.

How did you make your first dollar?  The first job I ever got paid for was setting irrigation pipes for a corn field in Colorado between my Junior and Senior year of high school. I never got the knack of getting water to flow through those darn pipes – but still got paid for that day of trying.

Why did you join an IFT Division?    Career advancement (by knowing more and having resources) and IFT networking (meeting more people in IFT with similar needs and backgrounds)

Video: Become a Division Member!

What is the best career advice you have gotten?  If you’re not happy, make the change.  Don’t wait to get fired for ineptitude or lack of enthusiasm

Last but not least, what is your favorite food?  Too numerous to list (French, Italian and Mexican)

 Did you know Bruce is raising money for student scholarships? Read about his “Run for Food Science Scholarships” here!

Connect with Bruce on LinkedIn!

Send him an email at bruce.ferree@cnp.com