Meet Vedas Burkeen | CEO and Senior Food Safety Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vedas Burkeen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vedas, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  

My birthday is August 28 (8/28). This always spoke to me. God is the center of my life and I love Him. This tells me that even in the good or bad times I know that it will work out and it will be for my good. I try to keep God as the head of my life. I believe He has a purpose and a plan for my life and if I follow that, ‘It’s all good”! Emphasis on the “all”. 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are a group of minority Ph.D. Scientists in industry and science professors. We support manufacturing food safety and occupational safety endeavors for organizations. We also support Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math initiatives (STEAM) as science experts and educators.  

Our services:
– Microbial Risk Assessment
– Hygienic Zoning
– Food Safety Plan Development
– Food Safety System Review
– Record Review & Development
– Standard Operating Procedures
– Environmental Monitoring
– Program Development
– Occupational Safety Enhancement
– Safety Training
– Mock FDA Audits

We are renowned for our exceptional communication skills and our capacity to simplify complex scientific concepts. Our commitment lies in delivering innovative solutions to our clients.
We are also known for technical capacities serving as SME (Subject Matter Experts) and technical writing. We are very familiar with FDA and OSHA laws and regulations. Our academic instruction experience gives us the ability to train learners with different learning styles and a variety of levels with excellence. In addition, we develop training materials and curricula to enrich comprehension and boost productivity. This has never been an easy task, and the primary challenge remains persuading people to adopt a proactive approach to safety.  

Safety and risk management can be a tough concept for many to fully embrace. A significant portion of FDA and OSHA rules and regulations is designed with prevention in mind, serving as a precautionary measure in case unforeseen incidents occur. Complying with these regulations can be both challenging and expensive for manufacturers. However, in the event of unforeseen incidents, the costs can escalate exponentially, leaving a lasting impact on the company’s reputation and brand for years. For instance, scenarios like fatalities, food poisoning outbreaks, or product recalls are just a few of the potential issues that can arise. Therefore, our role is to assist our clients in complying with the law by helping them comprehend the underlying reasons. We achieve this through personnel training, crafting food safety plans, establishing prevention protocols, creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and developing training curricula. 

Some lessons we learned along the way is that everyone is not ready to enhance safety and that’s okay. We also learned that we have to be patient and make sure we support our client’s vision. Projects require time, and our client base largely relies on word of mouth. Therefore, the key drivers of our brand’s success are exceptional service and high-quality work. We are here to help the client whether it be a large corporation or a new entrepreneur reach the goal they envision. We listen to the needs of the client and then devise and create plans and/or strategies tailored to their needs. Often, individuals have a clear idea of their needs and desires but may lack the expertise to execute or fulfill them. This is where our creative solutions come into play. High-quality work with technical expertise is our objective. We are adaptable and committed to collaborating with our clients to ensure their vision is realized. Achieving this goal involves a process that requires time, consistency, and multiple checkpoints. We prioritize training strategies and the development of comprehensive technical curricula to educate individuals at all levels of expertise.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, I am a member of “The Gathering Spot” so we would start by getting breakfast there if it is a weekday and doing a little bit of work.  

I love the Interlock in Midtown. There are great restaurants in that area for lunch and dinner. The LOA is a great spot for weekend fun with the pool and scenery.  

If we wanted to see the city and get our walk on, I would take them to Ponce Market City and walk the belt line before or after we eat.  

We would have to do a weekday Happy hour at Perimeter Seasons 52.  

I love live music and singing so we may stop by Kat’s Cafe in Midtown to listen to open mic night on a Thursday or Live band on Saturday. Whiskey Mistress on a Saturday night in Buckhead also has live music. 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Well, I have to shout out all my educators and mentors from high school (Warrensville Heights High in Ohio) to undergrad (Alabama A&M University,) and graduate school (University of Georgia (Received Doctorate). I had so many people who have mentored me and guided me during pivotal steps in my education.  

Shout out to my family: My Grandparents that raised me, my uncles, and my God parents. Shout out to Richard E. Youngblood for being my God dad, spiritual advisor, and mentor. Special shout out to my business partner, Dr. Flood. She is the calm, steady backbone of the company. She always is with the vision and produces excellent work.  

Special shout out to my Food Safety mentor and academic mentor. They know who they are. 

Website: : www.excelscience.net

Linkedin: :www.linkedin.com/in/vedas-burkeen-ph-d-00252b19/