Food Protection Trends - September/October 2013 - (Page 340)

Name: Eric Martin Employment: Margaritaville Enterprises Location: Orlando, FL IAFP Member: 22 years There’s No “Wastin’ Away in Margaritaville” for Eric Martin While most people travel to distant places for their vacations, Eric Martin just returned from a “working” vacation in his garage. having restored two Corvettes in the past, Eric spent his recent vacation tackling a 1967 Mustang. however, he’ll need more vacation time to complete that job and take on more car projects. You might say Eric has an addiction for rebuilding classic cars. how bad is it? in total, he owns three Corvettes (1954, 1958 and 1992), plus the 1967 Mustang. Eric got the car bug as a high school student while working in the body shop of the local Chevy dealer in his hometown in florida. his boss was a Corvette enthusiast and that enthusiasm quickly spread to Eric. After graduating from college in 1985, Eric purchased his former boss’ pride and joy — a 1958 Corvette. he completed restoring that car 12 years later. “i could have done it in less time, but i was interrupted by a family, a career and a few moves,” explains Eric. With grown children, a stable career as director of food safety and quality assurance for Margaritaville Enterprises and comfortable in his home and garage, he’s hopeful that current and future restoration projects will move along at a quicker pace. Whether It’s Cars or Food Safety, Success is in the Details Talking to Eric about his love of rebuilding cars is like talking to him about his job at Margaritaville Enterprises. “it’s all in the details,” notes Eric. “You can’t leave anything out of the process.” As he explains to restaurant employees of Margaritaville Enterprises, if you take care of the details from the start, there will be less problems at the finish. As the person responsible for food safety in multiple restaurant chains and casinos, problems are one thing Eric strives to mitigate. 340 FOOD PROTECTION TRENDS SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2013 When Eric graduated from the university of florida in microbiology and cell science, he never imagined working in the restaurant business. After working in an independent lab for three years, Eric landed a job working in the labs at darden Restaurants. While there, he made the career move from microbiology to applying health codes and becoming a registered sanitarian. in 2004, he moved to Margaritaville Enterprises. “growing up in florida, you can’t help but being a Jimmy Buffett fan,” admits Eric, who thought working at Margaritaville Enterprises would be the coolest job in food safety. “i imagined going to work in flip flops and sipping margaritas all day long. But with a chain of stores and cafes in the united states, Canada, Jamaica and grand Turk, plus four casinos, Eric has little time for “wastin’ away in Margaritaville.” for example, this summer he was busy launching three new restaurants for the company. Add IAFP To Eric’s List of Passions When Eric’s not busy working on food safety or cars, you’ll find him tackling his various iAfp responsibilities. A member of the Association since 1991, Eric served this past year as vice chair for the program committee and chair of the developing scientists award. he is also very active with iAfp’s florida affiliate, a group known for its closing skits at the annual business meeting and an accompanying $1,000 donation to the iAfp foundation. With this year’s annual meeting behind him and the three new restaurants up and running, Eric can sit back and relax, but not for long. he is program chair of the 2014 annual meeting in indianapolis, an appropriate location for a car buff!

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - September/October 2013

Food Protection Trends - September/October 2013
Commentary
Norovirus Attachment: Implications for Food Safety
A Successful Approach to Salmonella Surveillance: Using Student Interviewers to Improve Foodborne Disease Outbreak Response in New York City
Use of Surface Water in the Production of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: A Survey of Fresh Produce Growers and Their Water Management Practices
Im Gloving It!
FSMA: Article 5
General Interest Paper
PDG Highlight
Beyond the Bio
Industry Products
Coming Events

Food Protection Trends - September/October 2013