We Are All Watchmen

Nathan Painter

In the world of food and beverage safety, there are no spectators. From the packing house, to the sanitation crew, to the grocery shelf, we all share a single, critical identity: We Are All Watchmen. Our contribution is not just oversight; it is insight, foresight, and staying in the fight.

Vigilance in the Data

My journey began in the data trenches. I spent 10 years auditing contracts, purchasing agreements, and managing law firms for Walmart Stores Inc. Accurate and concise data always led me to success. The late Sam Walton would remind us that mistakes happen—now use the data to understand the why, proportion the responsibility, and mitigate the risk.

One of my fondest memories is seeing Mr. Sam at a Bentonville Walmart. He picked up misplaced merchandise and eliminated a hazard. But he didn’t stop there; Mr. Sam proceeded to tidy up the entire section to improve the customer experience. Having the title of “Richest Man in the World” didn’t stop him from being a Watchman.

The Road Warriors

I continued my journey with J.B. Hunt as a pricing analyst, evaluating and pricing freight lanes. Again, data integrity was key, having a direct impact on the nation’s supply chain. It was here I learned to appreciate the Truck Drivers who, regardless of conditions, delivered their payloads with precision and care. The Truck Drivers—they are Watchmen.

The Standard of Drew Lafferty

From there, I went to work for the late Drew Lafferty. This was my first exposure to the world of food plant sanitation. My volunteer ministry had brought me to Little Rock and I needed a paying job. Drew hired me to centralize his data and streamline the quoting process. I soon focused on supply chain, process improvement, workplace safety, and product development—predominately focused on the distribution and application of sanitation and cleaning chemicals in the food and beverage industry.

In the 20 years that I worked alongside Drew Lafferty, I never outworked him. Drew gave the same attention to the owner/operator as he did to the largest corporations. He showcased the value and necessity of providing the food and beverage industry with sanitizing and foaming equipment that worked on time, every time. And when there wasn’t a ready-made solution, Drew, myself, and others would work long into the night—collaborating, designing, and producing “Specials” (custom equipment) that undoubtedly are still used to clean food and beverage plants across the United States and around the world.

Drew’s commitment to his products, his team, and his customers is legendary. I’m reminded of his tales about the “Peanut Butter Years.” Bills were paid, quality was exceptional, employees were loyal, and customers were happy. And for this success, Drew’s reward was a steady diet of peanut butter sandwiches for dinner, as after taking care of everyone else, that was all he could afford. Like Sam Walton, Drew Lafferty manned his post, led by example, gave no regard for title, and supplied the food and beverage industry with excellent sanitation equipment. Drew Lafferty was a Watchman.

The Zero-Shutdown Team

In December 2020, just before COVID descended upon the United States, I began preparing the Supply Chain. My Asian and European suppliers were manning their posts and provided signals of the struggles to come. I later assumed the role of General Manager, working alongside a fantastic group of Watchmen.

The demand for foamers, sanitizers, dispensers, and foggers was record-setting, and everyone understood the mission. Sanitation was key to beating COVID, and we were key to building sanitation equipment. The machinists, builders, shippers, various administrators—the entire Team—were Watchmen.

The New Watch

My roles have changed, and my contributions are spread far and wide, but my calling is still the same. I am a Watchman, committed to helping and assisting as needs arise.

I’ve created SafeFoodAct.com to provide a centralized hub of news related to the food and beverage industry, categorized by impact. A clear signal to help you stand your watch with confidence. SafeFoodAct.com walks the web looking for relevant news and information, so as to arm you with insight, give foresight, and enable you to stay in the fight for Food Safety.

We are all Watchmen.