# Monty J. McGuffin; BS, RS

Senior Sanitarian

Food & Environmental Division

San Antonio Metropolitan Health Department

San Antonio, TX 78205

## Biography

Monty Joe McGuffin, BS, RS, is the Environmental Services Manager for
the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, Environmental Division for
Food and Environmental Health Services.

Mr. McGuffin is currently responsible for supervising a staff of six
field agents plus six clerical staff. They conduct routine
investigations for swimming pools, mobile home parks, rendering plants,
air pollution sources, carriage companies, horse stables, and school
surveys. His staff also investigates complaints in regards to illegal
dumping, recreational water pollution, hotel/motel complaints, lead
based paint, air quality, water quality, and waste removal. The staff
also inspects and investigates all environmental and food issues that
take place in the unincorporated areas of Bexar County.

Previously, Mr. McGuffin worked in the Food Safety Division of San
Antonio for two years receiving his certification as a Registered
Sanitarian in 2002.

Mr. McGuffin has been responsible for a myriad of tasks including being
a key team member for displaced people during the Katrina/Rita
catastrophes that impacted over twenty thousand individuals from the
gulf coast region; being a key member of a Bio-terrorism Response Team;
aiding in the developing of an automated inspection program for
sanitarians and also presenting briefings regarding environmental health
issues to companies and community groups.

Mr. McGuffin has received recognition for his professionalism and
devotion in his work in the arena of environmental health. He was
2005-2006 Central Texas Chapter President of the Texas Environmental
Health Association (TEHA). He is a member of various professional
organizations including the Alamo Air & Waste Management Association
(A&WMA), Alamo Chapter. He is a member of the National Environmental
Health Association (NEHA). Mr. McGuffin is also a certified Pool
Operator and a certified Lead Risk Assessor. Mr. McGuffin received his
undergraduate degree in Animal Science/Science from Sam Houston State
University.

## Leadership Development Opportunities

This awesome opportunity to be a part of EPHLI has been a huge
eye-opener and change from my normal routine. My typical day consists of
answering questions and solving problems that require an immediate
response. The inspection of facilities, answering impromptu questions
from citizens, and solving health issues all have to be accomplished at
the same time I'm trying to train and develop a competent staff. The
division I manage is the catch-all for the city's health issues. If no
one else on the city's staff can help, citizens' complaints are referred
to my department to review, analyze and solve. Since I work in an
environment that expects immediate responses and results, I readily
don't have time to analyze a problem in a systems thinking manner. EPHLI
has given me tools to look at situations in a different sight picture,
and I will share these tools and ideas with my staff to recognize better
problem solving techniques.

I also am thankful for the new friends and "professional contacts" I
have met. I plan to use the tools given me to expand my role in
environmental health, thereby increasing my department's value,
knowledge, skills and ability.