Experience
Bill L. Callison is an expert in the administration and principles of pest prevention and plant nursery laws, including plant registration and certification programs. He served the State of California's Department of Food and Agriculture for 39 years professionally as a biologist; and as an outstanding supervisor, manager and program administrator, prior to his retirement on November 19, 2003.
His leadership is recognized in the State of California, United States, and North America, where he was active in the Western and National Plant Boards and the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) in leadership positions. He has worked effectively with California's agricultural commissioners, other state agencies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Mexico's Secretariat of Agriculture. He holds a certificate of qualification as Agricultural Commissioner, an agency head appointed by county boards of supervisors to administer agricultural and other programs.
Mr. Callison served often as a hearing officer for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, including management of the hearings and preparation of reports summarizing the issues raised, findings, and, when requested, making recommendations for rulemaking and other program action. He is skilled in public speaking before groups from small to more than 1,000, in a wide range of settings including public, court, industry, public agency hearings, and education.
Mr. Callison has extensive administrative experience in his capacity as a manager for two different sections of the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division; in the administration of the Division itself, (in the absence of the Director); and as President of the National Plant Board (NPB). The latter experience has included extensive work with other state departments of agriculture and several foreign countries including Canada and Mexico. Since 1985, he has attended and participated in the annual meetings of the North American Plant Protection Organization.
Post-retirement, Mr. Callison has served effectively as a consultant for the California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers, the California Citrus Nursery Society, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, and private parties.
Awards
Mr. Callison has received outstanding achievement, service, and special recognition awards from the Assembly of the California Legislature, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the North American Plant Protection Organization, National and Western Plant Boards, US Department of Agriculture's California State Plant Health Director and Western Regional Director. He has been awarded honorary lifetime membership in the California County Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association.