Joe Castaneda of Winland Foods — The EHS Leader’s Vital Role in Successful Food Manufacturing

At the 2024 edition of the North American Food Manufacturing Summit series we sat down with Joe Castaneda of Winland Foods to talk about where Safety professionals are today, and what is changing in their working lives. The manufacturing sector is under constant evolution and reinvention in a changing business landscape, but Safety can never take a back seat on the shop floor or in the priorities of senior management. How does an EHS leader keep people thinking and acting in a safe manner? What do they have to know, have to do, and have to keep on top of in order to build and maintain a thriving safety culture? What are some of the obstacles all Safety professionals need to overcome in their working lives, and what are some of the best practices and new ideas helping them to meet those challenges? In this wide-ranging interview with a seasoned veteran, we get into all this and more. Give this episode a listen! -- Joe Castaneda EHS Manager Winland Foods Inc.   With over 25 years of Safety and Emergency Management experience, Joe Castaneda has led cross-functional teams on Health and Safety Projects across the Middle East and the United States. Known for thriving in fast-paced environments and driving operational efficiencies, Joe’s leadership has reduced recordable injuries by 85% over five years. He holds a Bachelor’s in Health Care Administration, an Executive MBA from Colorado Technical University, is a Licensed Paramedic, Commissioned Fire Fighter, Arson Investigator through the state of Texas, and has several certifications in OSHA and Emergency Management. Currently, as the EHS & Security Manager at Winland Foods San Antonio, Joe oversees all Health, Safety, and Security programs, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Previously, he was the Health & Safety Lead at Viatris, managing health and safety programs across multiple manufacturing sites. Throughout his career, Joe has held key positions such as Captain of the Fire Training Division at District 4 ESD in Leon Springs, TX, Safety & Health Program Manager at CPS Energy in San Antonio, and Business Development & Claims Disability Manager for KBR in the Middle East & Central Asia. These roles have equipped him with a deep understanding of emergency management, occupational health operations, program management, and quality process improvement, consistently demonstrating his ability to lead and mentor teams and manage comprehensive safety and health programs.