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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 2, 2025 – McLean, Va. – Two food safety veterans – whose combined 55 years of volunteer service has shaped hygienic design standards that protect hundreds of millions of people worldwide against foodborne illness – received top honors at the 3-A SSI Summit on Hygienic Design.
3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) presented Dan Erickson of Harold Wainess & Associates with its Leadership Service Award and Greg Marconnet of Mead & Hunt with the Richard K. Smith Advancement Award. These awards recognize contributions that extend far beyond individual achievement to industry-wide transformation.
"Volunteer leaders are the lifeblood of 3-A SSI," says 3-A SSI Executive Director Meri Beth Wojtaszek. "The extraordinary commitment shown by Dan Erickson and Greg Marconnet has not only advanced our mission but is inspiring others to contribute their time and expertise as 3-A volunteers."
30-Year Standards Pioneer Receives Leadership Service Award
Erickson's three-decade journey with 3-A SSI reads like a blueprint for industry impact. As a member of numerous Working Groups, he has been instrumental in developing many of the 3-A Sanitary Standards and Accepted Practices that guide food processing equipment design globally.
"While my experience with standards development predates 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., I consider these years a privilege being part of the formative years of the current organization," says Erickson. "Working with so many talented and dedicated people and witnessing the growth and food safety influence of 3-A SSI is the true reward."
Beyond standards development, Erickson has served as a global ambassador for hygienic design principles. Through leadership roles with the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) and the Upper Midwest Dairy Industry Association (UMDIA), he has expanded 3-A SSI's reach into critical stakeholder communities.
Today, his worldwide equipment and facility evaluations with Harold Wainess & Associates provide unique access to industry leaders – access he consistently leverages to advocate for the hygienic design concepts that protect public health.
Education Revolutionary Earns Richard K. Smith Award
Marconnet's 25-year commitment to 3-A SSI includes a transformation that resonates throughout the industry today. As chair from 2007 to 2009, he spearheaded the evolution of 3-A SSI's annual meeting into the dynamic Summit on Hygienic Design, dramatically increasing attendance and attracting a new generation of food safety professionals to the event.
"I am honored and humbled to have my accomplishments on behalf of 3-A SSI recognized with the Richard K. Smith Award," says Marconnet. "This award means a lot to me. I was fortunate to work with and be mentored by Richard for many years while we worked at Kraft Foods."
Perhaps Marconnet's most lasting contribution was leading the effort to streamline foundational requirements across all 3-A Sanitary Standards, creating the General Requirements Standard that processors, regulators, and equipment manufacturers rely on daily.
From his 35-year tenure at The Kraft Heinz Company to his current role at Mead & Hunt, Marconnet has consistently translated complex technical expertise into accessible education, demonstrating the real-world value of 3-A Symbol-bearing equipment to food processors worldwide.
Award Significance
The Leadership Service Award honors significant contributions to developing 3-A Sanitary Standards and Accepted Practices – voluntary standards that guide hygienic design of food processing equipment, systems, and facilities throughout the world.
The Richard K. Smith Award, named for one of 3-A SSI's most dedicated contributors, recognizes outstanding accomplishments that elevate the organization's mission to advance food safety through hygienic equipment design.
About 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc.
3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) is a nonprofit organization that develops and maintains standards for the design and fabrication of equipment and systems used to process food and beverage products in a sanitary manner. The mission of 3-A SSI is to enhance product safety for consumers around the world by developing standards and education materials that promote hygienic equipment design and practices. For more information, visit www.3-a.org.
