[avatar user=”seanodom” size=”160″ align=”left”]Sean Odom
Membership Committee Chair of the International Packaged Ice Association[/avatar]
How hard is it to become an IPIA member? Well… it depends on a few things such as how bad do you want to be one as a part of a group of Ice professionals that value food safety for their own businesses and the industry? With a little effort it’s not really hard at all!
Did you know that the IPIA will furnish you a mentor to help answer PIQCS questions and even provide documentation templates if needed? That’s right, we don’t leave you hanging out there overwhelmed with the thought of trying to pass your first PIQCS audit. I have mentored a few people and it really didn’t take much of my time at all and it’s rewarding to see people wanting to become better at ice food safety in their plants. And let’s be realistic, that now that FSMA is upon us, you will need to be a food safety professional. Membership in the IPIA puts you on that course.
One of the best sales tools you can have in your back pocket when making that big presentation is an IPIA membership! I can promise you that some of your customers know what the IPIA is doing in regards to food safety too. I have made several sales calls in last few years where the customer asked if I was a member before I got to brag that I was. Retailer awareness of the IPIA and its’ PIQCS accreditation program is increasing each year and will continue to.
We have 12 company applicants currently working towards PIQCS accreditation and if you are not one of them, then contact me or Jane for an application to start the process of being a member of the IPIA. As I mentioned, with a little effort it’s really not that hard.
Have a great summer!