Food Protection Trends - July/August 2017 - 293

BEYOND the BIO

The Brodsky family
enjoying time together
in Greece. Around the
table from left to right
are: Tanja (daughter-inlaw), Josh(ua) (5-year
old grandson), Michael,
Ava, Mark (oldest son),
Aaron (youngest son)
holding Theo(dor)
(3-year old grandson).

one other conference during his 30-plus years
as an IAFP member. They have two sons,
Mark and Aaron. Mark now runs a successful
email marketing consulting business out of his
own house and Aaron teaches mathematics
and economics at an International Baccalaureate high school in Berlin, Germany, where
he lives with his wife Tanja (a mid-wife) and
their two children, Joshua and Theodore.
Establishing Success as a Consultant
After 27 years working for the Canadian
government and a short stint with Silliker
Labs, Michael decided it was time to go
out on his own. "I had no idea where that
decision would lead me," admits Michael.
"After returning from a trip to China and
Japan, the city of Walkerton, Ontario, was
in the midst of a boil-water advisory and
was in need of someone with international connections to advise them on the
situation," Michael explains. "Thanks to
connections I made through my work and
organizations such as IAFP, I was perfect
for the job, and over time, more and more
clients started to seek my counsel." His experience as a lead auditor and assessor for
various organizations also helped Michael
establish a solid reputation as consultant to
prepare organizations for lab accreditation.
"I also find myself presenting webinars for
a variety of companies these days," adds
Michael. "It's a whole new career for me,
and I can stay right in my office, which, by
the way, is in my older son Mark's former
bedroom. I took over that space the day he
moved out of the house." Ava, an independent bookkeeper, also works out of the
Brodsky home.

Michael
and Ava

Surviving Long Distance Grandparenting
At age 72, Michael sees no end in sight
for his career. "According to my wife, I have
to keep working to pay for traveling," he
explains. Traveling for Michael and Ava
means the annual 4,000 mile trip to see
their family in Berlin. Throughout the year,
the couple get to see their grandchildren
on a computer screen, but once a year they
get to hug them in person. This summer,
they will head to Toronto. "We have rented
a lake-side cottage for the entire family
for 10 days and doing something we don't

get to do that often - fish and babysit,"
comments Michael.
Living Life Serendipitously
In 1754, English art historian Horace
Walpole coined the word "serendipity" to
explain how he was always making discoveries
by accident of things of which he was not
in quest. That's a perfect way to describe
Michael's life. "Looking back on my personal
and professional life, things just seemed to
fall in place for me," admits Michael. "And I
wouldn't have it any other way!"

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?

Copper River Salmon. I had it for the first time in San Diego, but it's a rare treat.
I did develop a special fondness for Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon that even my
wife enjoys.
WHAT FOOD DO YOU AVOID?

Raw sprouts of any kind. The risk of contamination by microbial pathogens,
especially Salmonella is too high to take any chances.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE IAFP MOMENT?

We were at IAFP in Disney World for our 40th anniversary in 2007 and Frank
Yiannas had arranged "Anniversary Pins" for us. Then, in the "Hall of Presidents,"
he had also arranged for everyone to sing "Happy Anniversary" while we were on
a balcony. It was the biggest anniversary chorus we had ever heard!
BEST OR WORST THING ABOUT WORKING OUT OF THE HOME?

Best is avoiding a morning and evening commute. Worst is the lack of regular
face-to-face contact.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT TORONTO?

It's a very culturally diverse, safe and clean, large metropolis, with easy access to
many different venues of entertainment. I particularly enjoy the symphony and
Broadway musicals.
IF YOU DO EVER RETIRE, WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR TIME?

Probably more volunteer work and travel.
July/August Food Protection Trends

293
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - July/August 2017
