Monty J. McGuffin; BS, RS

Senior Sanitarian

Food & Environmental Division

San Antonio Metropolitan Health Department

San Antonio, TX 78205

Biography

Monty Joe McGuffin, BS, RS, is the Environmental Services Manager for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, Environmental Division for Food and Environmental Health Services.

Mr. McGuffin is currently responsible for supervising a staff of six field agents plus six clerical staff. They conduct routine investigations for swimming pools, mobile home parks, rendering plants, air pollution sources, carriage companies, horse stables, and school surveys. His staff also investigates complaints in regards to illegal dumping, recreational water pollution, hotel/motel complaints, lead based paint, air quality, water quality, and waste removal. The staff also inspects and investigates all environmental and food issues that take place in the unincorporated areas of Bexar County.

Previously, Mr. McGuffin worked in the Food Safety Division of San Antonio for two years receiving his certification as a Registered Sanitarian in 2002.

Mr. McGuffin has been responsible for a myriad of tasks including being a key team member for displaced people during the Katrina/Rita catastrophes that impacted over twenty thousand individuals from the gulf coast region; being a key member of a Bio-terrorism Response Team; aiding in the developing of an automated inspection program for sanitarians and also presenting briefings regarding environmental health issues to companies and community groups.

Mr. McGuffin has received recognition for his professionalism and devotion in his work in the arena of environmental health. He was 2005-2006 Central Texas Chapter President of the Texas Environmental Health Association (TEHA). He is a member of various professional organizations including the Alamo Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA), Alamo Chapter. He is a member of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). Mr. McGuffin is also a certified Pool Operator and a certified Lead Risk Assessor. Mr. McGuffin received his undergraduate degree in Animal Science/Science from Sam Houston State University.  

Leadership Development Opportunities

This awesome opportunity to be a part of EPHLI has been a huge eye-opener and change from my normal routine. My typical day consists of answering questions and solving problems that require an immediate response. The inspection of facilities, answering impromptu questions from citizens, and solving health issues all have to be accomplished at the same time I’m trying to train and develop a competent staff. The division I manage is the catch-all for the city’s health issues. If no one else on the city’s staff can help, citizens’ complaints are referred to my department to review, analyze and solve. Since I work in an environment that expects immediate responses and results, I readily don’t have time to analyze a problem in a systems thinking manner. EPHLI has given me tools to look at situations in a different sight picture, and I will share these tools and ideas with my staff to recognize better problem solving techniques.

I also am thankful for the new friends and “professional contacts” I have met. I plan to use the tools given me to expand my role in environmental health, thereby increasing my department’s value, knowledge, skills and ability.