Shannon Sked, Ph.D., BCEis an entomologist and the National Technical Director at Orkin. He received a B.S. degree from Rutgers University, an M.S. degree in Entomology from Penn State University, and a Ph.D. from Rutgers' Urban IPM Entomology lab. Dr. Sked's research focuses on distribution and temporal modeling of insect and rodent communities in order to design effective pest management programs. He began his career as a Navy Entomologist overseeing structural pests, specifically focusing on pests related to imports, exports, and within the logistics chain for Navy operations. He had the unique opportunity to practice applied entomology and invasive species management in the Middle East, North Africa, the Caribbean, and the eastern shore of the U.S.
In his role for Western Fumigation, a Rollins Brand, he oversaw pest prevention systems within international produce, commodity, and equipment logistics with a focus on public health, food safety, food security, and invasive species management. As the National Technical Director at Orkin, he integrates research on the spatial dynamics of economically important pests with novel technologies to develop modern and practical management methods to support public health, property, brands, and global supply chains.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Sked [2:34] about:
How the Food Safety Modernization Act shifted food safety toward prevention, and the mindset changes required to manage risk proactively
Where pest prevention fits alongside sanitation, employee practices, environmental monitoring, and facility maintenance as a prerequisite program
Why pest activity can be a symptom of broader food safety, sanitation, maintenance, or operational vulnerabilities
How Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can strengthen food safety plans and support regulatory compliance
Why collaboration among food safety, quality, sanitation, maintenance, and operations teams is essential for effective pest prevention
Commonly overlooked facility vulnerabilities that can undermine otherwise well-designed food safety programs
Practical strategies for making pest prevention part of everyday operations and building a stronger preventive food safety culture
How technology, monitoring, and trend analysis can help facilities identify emerging risks and improve pest prevention
What distinguishes a proactive pest management program from a compliance-focused approach during regulatory inspections and third-party audits.
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