Beyond Data Management Podcast
The definitive podcast for government data management and stories from the field - with a special focus on Environment Health professionals.
Beyond Data Management Podcast
The Only Inspector in the County | Danielle Hurst Wraps GEHA 2026
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Danielle Hurst, MPH, is Cook County’s only environmentalist — 87 food services, septic, land use, billing, the whole door. She also emceed every session at GEHA 2026. Recorded as the conference wrapped at Lake Lanier.
She spent 10 years as an X-ray tech, started an undergrad for PA school, and applied for this job when epi didn’t have an opening. She stayed because she does not like sitting in an office.
In this conversation:
What it means to be the only EHS in a 10-county South Georgia district’s smallest county
Mom-and-pop consistency vs. corporate turnover — and restaurants that never came back after COVID
Regulating people you see in the grocery store and whose kids go to school with yours
Why she calls people like Tim Callahan “hidden heroes”
Food trucks, sister agencies, and why Georgia’s Health–Ag relationship is stronger than most states
Rolling into president-elect and running the conference again next year
How she booked the guests before the podcast even unpacked
Live from GEHA 2026, Lake Lanier, Georgia.
Beyond Data Management, powered by HS GovTech.
Chapters
00:00 Wrap-up at Lake Lanier
00:53 She booked Food Truck Matt off an episode
01:00 Emcee of every session
01:16 Cook County — 87 facilities, one environmentalist
02:34 Mom and pop vs. turnover
03:18 COVID, staffing, restaurants that closed
04:05 Neighbors in the grocery store
05:37 Was the conference a success?
07:54 Tim Callahan’s award
08:08 Hidden heroes
09:13 X-ray tech to environmentalist
12:20 President-elect next
13:10 The food truck session
13:49 Health and Ag in the same room
15:14 Find your Danielle
16:38 Tear-down / thanks
Links
AFDO Meaningful Metrics — https://www.afdo.org/training/
Please remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas Beyond@hscloudsuite.com
This is the Beyond Data Management Podcast powered by HS GovTech. Now here's your host, Cameron Garrison.
SPEAKER_01And here in Georgia for JHA 2026. And I tell you, this resort is really beautiful. Uh, it was a really good one, especially compared to like last year, right? So we are gonna wrap it up, only fitting, with the busiest lady in Jihad, Danielle Hurst. So, first of all, thank you so much for inviting us. We when we got the email originally, I was like, wow, we talked to you. And and and Matt sat in the chair too uh today, uh food truck Matt. And uh I think you actually reached out to him after you watched his episode, didn't you?
SPEAKER_02I did.
SPEAKER_01So are you tired?
SPEAKER_02Uh just a little bit.
SPEAKER_01Must be. You've been MC of every session, right?
SPEAKER_03Yes.
SPEAKER_01So you've introduced every speaker, you keep everybody in line.
SPEAKER_03I'm trying.
SPEAKER_01I hope you get a couple days off after this.
SPEAKER_03Well, I'll have the weekend.
SPEAKER_01So you're down from uh the district that's Valdasta. It's ten counties, right?
SPEAKER_03That's right. What county are you in? I'm in Cook County.
SPEAKER_01Cook County. So what do you do for the job they pay you for? Because I know that this is bonus stuff, labor of love. Um so what do you do day to day there in Cook?
SPEAKER_03So day to day, I am uh the environmentalist for Cook County. Uh we are a small rural county uh with only 87 food services.
SPEAKER_0187.
SPEAKER_03The only um yes, environmentalists. We're we're just that rural. Uh 87 total permitted facilities, uh, and then we have a land use program that uh is kind of small in comparison to some of these other larger counties.
SPEAKER_01So you're doing uh everything that comes through the door?
SPEAKER_03Yes.
SPEAKER_01You do a septic system, you do every restaurant?
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_01Wow. It must get a little crazy, right? Because you you don't have any backup.
SPEAKER_03Um Well, I love that though. I love to stay busy. Um so I like the extra volunteer work. Um I I I don't like to be sitting in an office.
SPEAKER_01Um so you're never bored because you're out and about. That's right. How is it in one that small? Are the operators um is there consistency? Like, do you have a relationship with them? Because it's been you just get to know them over time, or is there a lot of turnover even in a small district county?
SPEAKER_03Um, we have a good mixture of mom and pop places, so there is a lot of consistency there. Um in some of your corporations, you do see a lot of uh turnover, uh, so you don't get the opportunity to build that relationship.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and then training becomes a problem too, right? Because you just just after you got them straight, that's the last time it's somebody else, and then you gotta start over.
SPEAKER_03And I I think that that's part of some of the compliance. Like if you have a compliance issue, a lot of that comes from rapid turnover because of a lack of training.
SPEAKER_01Is it getting worse over the last two years? Because the service isn't like fast food, right? Like generally, like they have so much turnover, it's hard for them to keep the staff up. Like, I can't even imagine then how the impact it could be on just training that for keeping the place running well and clean.
SPEAKER_03It has gotten worse. Um, actually, I think since COVID, uh, that really impacted a lot of our facilities. Uh, you know, with the closedowns or the shutdowns. Um, we've seen a lot of people that just didn't return back to the workforce, uh, especially in our food industry. Uh I know personally in Cook County there were restaurants that closed due to staffing issues.
SPEAKER_01Just didn't make it.
SPEAKER_03Uh, that's right. And unfortunately, those were your mom and pop places. And it's heartbreaking because I watched uh, you know, people pour their savings into opening these food services and work.
SPEAKER_01They're part of the community, right? And I and that must be heartbreaking too, because in a small community, it's different, right, than Atlanta. That's right. Those are your neighbors.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01You're regulating them, but you're also your neighbors, and to see them like basically not make it anymore, it must be hard.
SPEAKER_03It is. Those are the people that you run into in the grocery store. I mean, it is that small of a town, you run into them everywhere. Or or perhaps your kids go to school together. Um, so I mean, it's it's it is a very small town.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, for sure. Quick break with a message from AFTO. Food inspection is a vital activity to ensure the safety of food products. AFTO's free, meaningful metrics for regulators. How to create meaningful metrics for food safety programs helps food regulators and professionals evaluate and improve food safety programs through meaningful measurements. In the 75-minute September 26th session, participants will learn the principles of good metric design, the relevant metrics for food inspections, and the best practices for collecting, analyzing, and reporting on your food inspection data. The course also includes examples of successful food inspection metrics from different jurisdictions and a hands-on activity that provides practice applying metric concepts. By the end of this session, participants will have the tools to design and use effective food inspection metrics that can help improve program performance and demonstrate value. That's 75 minutes on September 26th, and it's free. Learn more and register. Go to afto.org slash training. Afto.org slash training. Hope to see you there on September 26th. The conference was great this year. So I thank you for everything and uh having us. Um, was it a success from your perspective?
SPEAKER_03Uh, I think so. Uh, we we really appreciate all of our sponsors. Um, we thank y'all. Um, I think the podcast this brings something new and exciting to uh the platform or to the conference.
SPEAKER_01I didn't know what to expect, but the people were really excited. And there are people who would come in and just like watch and take a picture, even if they weren't coming on. I think it we I you know, I we all get nervous. Like, how's it how's it gonna be received? People were great.
SPEAKER_03Yes, they are. I I was really excited about it. Um, I have people make comments. Did you see their setup? Oh my goodness. I'm like, yeah, they're they're legit. Check them out.
SPEAKER_01It was I I really, really appreciate it. Also, like gotta thank you because you did the producer work for us, too. So a lot of times, like we gotta go talk our own guests to the coming on, and like you just like laid them all out. Like, we knew like had seven or eight people before we even showed up, and no one was nervous, which was really cool. Yeah, so no, it was wonderful. And the Kroger gift bag, I assume Kroger provided everything that was in these. This thing is heavy, if you can't tell. I mean, I could be stronger, it then I should get in the gym more. But this was a really heavy gift bag. I did want to I've never seen this before in a McCobra's gift bag. I was like, okay, that's kind of awesome. Uh shelf stable pepperoni.
SPEAKER_03Yes.
SPEAKER_01Name brand, too.
SPEAKER_03Uh Kroger never disappoints. Uh yes, we will have a hospitality suite tonight. Um, uh, they always in charge.
SPEAKER_01Yes, he is in charge.
SPEAKER_03You know what? I haven't asked him this year. Um, I have been busy with other obligations. A little bit. And so I I haven't even peeked into the hospitality suite.
SPEAKER_01The menu is the one thing you're like, I can't.
SPEAKER_03Uh yeah, there are some things that I I didn't know what we were having for lunch today. Uh just it was good. Uh yeah, I thought it was great.
SPEAKER_01Really, really good.
SPEAKER_03Um, so Lake Lanier has always done very well with our foods and our accommodations.
SPEAKER_01So I've never been to the resort. I've driven past Lake Lanier so many times, going like, yo, Tim Callahan, who got an award today. Yes. So great. And um actually the nomination that was read was very, very, very heartfelt. It was. It was genuine. It was accurate.
SPEAKER_03Yes, accurate. That is a very good description. He is very deserving, and that's kind of what I uh call people like that that work behind the scenes, I call them hidden heroes. Um but that's kind of what I think about for Tim.
SPEAKER_01Well, and really, and that is the case in Tim because but environmental health in general are hidden heroes. Uh to a large degree. You know, I mean, you only people only usually like know in detail what you do if something bad. Like, right? Something uh outbreak or and uh we've talked to a lot of guests and Galen was talking about this uh when he was sitting here that yeah, we need to get more awareness out there of what you all do. Because two reasons. First of all, you deserve it. But secondly, we need more people to join the profession, right? Like you you know, there's always in the future you're gonna need new people. People do eventually want to retire. And a lot of people end up everybody that sits at your chair, it was to a person got into it accidentally. Or it wasn't their life plan to do this. How about you? How'd you get here?
SPEAKER_03That is the same story. Um, I worked in radiology and as is an x-ray tech for 10 years.
SPEAKER_01Um, right after hospital setting or yes.
SPEAKER_03And then I worked in a vascular surgery center. Um, the last remaining before I actually was introduced into the position that I have. Um, I was going back to school, uh, getting my undergrad degree so that I could apply to PA school. I had a couple of professors who were public health professors. Um my advisor's wife is the epidemiologist for the state of Florida. So is that something that I become interested in?
SPEAKER_01Wow. Currently for the state of Florida. Or was it amazing?
SPEAKER_03But yes, she was. Um Wow. Uh and so I I kind of thought about going into that uh career field. Uh, there was not an opening at the time. So I applied for this environmentalist job.
SPEAKER_01And here you are.
SPEAKER_03And here I am.
SPEAKER_01You love it?
SPEAKER_03I do, I do. Yeah. Uh I like the busyness of it. We were talking about handling everything. I think that's what makes it so interesting. I like to learn new things, and this job provides that opportunity.
SPEAKER_01Yes, it does. And then but and more than you even probably ask for some days. It's so big, yeah, big difference between working in a medical care setting, isn't there? And and running around like because you probably handle everything from permit applications to um the whole thing. Departments do a lot of things. Billing.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah, billing.
SPEAKER_01Fun, right?
SPEAKER_03That is probably my least favorite uh collections.
SPEAKER_01Fair enough. Well, hopefully, when the new system rolls out here as soon as the new year approaches, hopefully it'll get a little easier, but still have to bill, which is not fun. Um, but congratulations to Tim Callahan. He really he really has put in the work for 25 plus years, actually over 30 term of employment. And I I thought of him when we were chatting because I used to drive past here going to Hall County because he started in was it district 13, which has Hall County in it or 11. I'm screwing up my districts, but he was in Hall County originally, I believe, um, or that district and before he went to the state.
SPEAKER_03That's right. Yes. I think I think he told me 12 years.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, he was there a long time. And then when DHD was getting implemented, he had a knack for the data stuff. And so he provided huge value in helping get DHD configured and rolled out, and they gave him the job at the state. And it's really rare too to be able to have the same core team from 20 years ago implementing the next time. We're very used to on the HS side of the house to working with folks that in a lot of cases their first big transformation. And he had so much muscle memory. He knew everything he wanted to do different this time, and so he just launched it out of a rocket.
SPEAKER_03Oh, that's nice.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03I think that that we are gonna benefit from that greatly.
SPEAKER_01It's gonna be exciting. It's it's time for the upgrade. So are you so you're are you gonna be doing the conference again next year? Or do you get a break?
SPEAKER_03I will be involved. Um, and I'm gonna help our so as we transition into new leadership roles, um, I'll roll into the president elect position, and then I will support the new vice president in organizing the conference for next year.
SPEAKER_01So you're gonna have to do it all again, and then then I guess the year after that, you'll be in the big chair.
SPEAKER_03Yes.
SPEAKER_01And then you can like delegate it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so to speak. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I know you won't, but um and Austin, Austin was he sat here. So yeah, thank you so much for all the guests that you lined up. It was a really wide variety of people, and it was it was really, really good. What was the most memorable part of it for your session? About to put you on the spot.
SPEAKER_03Of like our speakers?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, like which one, like you say you're like, wow, they brought it.
SPEAKER_03There's been so many good, and they're they're all slightly different, you know, avenues. Um, I think the the food truck uh is caught my eye, uh, partially because you know, they're like Matt said, at uh, you know, when he started, they're really pushing for regulation, and now he's been in it and there's kind of a back-off regulation.
SPEAKER_01But never mind.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and so you really don't realize how uh different other states are from your own. Um, I'm very grateful for the leadership that we have uh in Georgia. We have a lot of support for our environmental health program here.
SPEAKER_01You do, and you've got a great partnership with the Department of Ag.
SPEAKER_03Yes.
SPEAKER_01Which, you know, generally they you they have to work together in all states, but I can tell you firsthand, your relationship with them is stronger than average.
SPEAKER_03Well, we will have our Department of Ag um retail manager here tomorrow morning is our first speaker.
SPEAKER_01Saw that.
SPEAKER_03Um our Ghaw conference, that's what it's all about is bringing our sister agencies together. I firsthand have relied on Department of Ag to meet me at facilities. Uh facilities evolve. Uh they have a business plan in the beginning, they change those business plans.
SPEAKER_01Um, they they do. They have it it and then it gets like in between things, doesn't it?
SPEAKER_03That's right, yes. And we work very close uh together in what we permit, you know, and and we've met with uh different operators to figure out whose it is or if they should have a permit from each of us. Um so that is very interesting, and I was grateful to know uh some of the inspectors before meeting them or making that connection and having that um really just feeling like I could reach out because I I could put a face with the name from meeting them.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no, good people in Georgia, all across the country. But yeah, Georgia, I'm from the south, so be biased, right? But um, no, it's um the great state. It's been an honor to be involved in their data management for over 20 years. I'm getting old, but and we're really excited about the rollout. But no, thank you. I um I hopefully we'll be back next year, and um you like I I've said this in a there's a couple conferences, and I said it to somebody here. There are some conferences that you go to, and the difference is a person, truly. And um, Megan in California, she does a great job with Cha and Danielle in Georgia. So all the other states, you need to find your Danielle because must be tired, but does it with a smile, does a great job, does like was taking care of everybody plus some. So seriously, great, great job. And um, we hope to be back here next year and um and also we'll be in the state a lot as the system rolls out.
SPEAKER_03Yes, we look forward to that. We would love to have you back next year. Um, I know that bringing all of this must be a lot of work, but I think this is so much fun.
SPEAKER_01It's it's fun, and it also gets a flavor. You had a lot of great people here, and so the guests are great, and now you just share it with everybody. So we would bring it back in a heartbeat.
SPEAKER_03Awesome.
SPEAKER_01So, Danielle, thank you. I know that you've got other things to do. We're about to wrap up day two, but seriously, thank you so much for everything that you did and for having us here.
SPEAKER_03And y'all too. Thank you.
SPEAKER_01Happy to be here. We will do it again. Thank you for all you gotta do is call. Okay, you're welcome. All righty. So it was a great couple of days here, and this will be our cue to start to tear down. You can't see what's behind the cameras, but we've got a bunch of gear to tear down here. Special thanks to Morris, yes, Relation Garrison, uh, making it all happen and come together, producing this thing by himself over there again, off-camera. It's always the off-camera people that are the heroes. Uh and uh, but we just it was really great to talk to everyone and hope you all have enjoyed it and enjoy all of the uh information and conversations as much as we did. That'll do it from here from Jihad at Lake Lanier for 2026, and for all of us at the Beyond Data Management Podcast powered by HS GovTech. Thank you so much for watching. Thanks to Jiha, and we'll see you in the studio again soon.