Meet Jim DeSonia, Director of Environmental, Health & Safety
At Foremost Farms, ensuring a safe work environment is a top priority. Jim DeSonia plays a crucial role in this commitment as the director of environmental, health and safety (EHS). Through his leadership and expertise, Jim helps Foremost Farms thrive as an industry leader, with a strong focus on the well-being of every employee.
Please describe your role within Foremost Farms and your primary responsibilities:
As the director of EHS, I oversee several areas. On the environmental side, my focus is ensuring compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state and Department of National Resources (DNR) regulations. My goal is to foster a culture of continuous improvement—finding ways to reduce resource consumption, minimize waste and lower our overall environmental impact.
On the health and safety side, I prioritize the well-being of our employees, ensuring they go home the same way they came to work—safe and healthy. This involves not only meeting compliance standards, such as those set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), but also striving to exceed them. I’m dedicated to creating a work environment where safety is always a top priority and employees feel comfortable and secure.
What is your favorite thing about working at Foremost Farms?
My favorite thing about working at Foremost Farms is the people! They truly embrace our “One Team” value and work together toward common goals. Everyone here is very open to change and new ideas, and they are always receptive to them. I’m looking forward to reaching a place where my ideas are challenged, as this openness fosters a supportive and collaborative work environment.
How do you engage and motivate employees at all levels to prioritize safety?
As “One Team,” engaging with employees is key to motivating them to prioritize safety. When I’m at a plant, I make it a point to connect with the team and show them that I’m present and available. I want them to know that I’m here to make their work lives safer and better.
A big motivator comes from seeing tangible improvements. When employees see changes—like safety enhancements in their area—it helps build a culture of safety. They can point to real examples and say, “Look at the improvements we’ve made,” which encourages others to buy into the process.
The New EHS Employee Observation Program
This year, we’re introducing an Employee Observation Program where local plant leaders will actively engage with employees on the floor, offer feedback and have meaningful conversations. If we see someone wearing their safety gear, we’ll acknowledge it; if not, we’ll explain why it’s so important. We’ll also ask questions like, “What do you think is the most unsafe part of your job?” to uncover potential risks and address them. There’s nothing more important than the safety of our employees and we truly value everyone’s opinions and experiences.
Foremost Farms hosted the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) & OSHA alliance signing event in October to support dairy processor’s employee health and safety efforts. How does Foremost Farms work with these organizations?
It was an honor to host the WCMA and OSHA alliance agreement signing in October. Working with organizations like WCMA and OSHA has been invaluable. WCMA is a unique organization that we’re proud to be a part of. In many industries you must advocate for yourself, but WCMA advocates for all of us in the dairy industry. They provide valuable opportunities to attend meetings, connect with peers and build relationships.
Read the full release, here.
What’s the best piece of safety advice you’ve ever received that you think everyone should know?
“We don’t have problems, we have opportunities.” I learned this early in my career from a plant manager. It taught me to view challenges through a positive lens and focus on finding solutions.
For a complete overview of Foremost Farms’ environmental compliances, view page 23 in our 2022 sustainability report, here.