Patrick Dvorachek didn’t need another credential to do his job. But that didn’t stop him from pursuing one. As the compliance manager at Cedar Grove Warehouse in Wisconsin, he already had decades of experience across the food supply chain. Still, something in him said: Push further.

“I wanted to challenge myself,” Dvorachek says. “I wanted to show what I can bring to the table.”

That drive led him to become one of the first professionals to earn the Certified SQF Practitioner credential, a designation launched in 2024 by SQFI and administered through Exemplar Global. Although it wasn’t required for his role, the credential offered something deeper: personal validation and a public demonstration of food safety leadership.

Dvorachek’s journey in food started long before warehousing. He grew vegetables, then moved into operations at a plant producing canned and frozen products. Over time, his focus sharpened toward quality and food safety.

“What attracted me to my current role was the chance to take something that was already very good and make it great,” he says.

Cedar Grove Warehouse specializes in aging and distributing dairy products, primarily cheese. As a warehousing and logistics business, its food safety challenges differ from manufacturing—but the principles of strong safety culture and employee engagement still apply.

“I enjoy bringing tools from my past roles into this new environment,” he says. “And I’m always looking for ways to grow myself, too.”

When Dvorachek joined Cedar Grove Warehouse, the SQF credential was already on his radar. Once he saw how it could complement his new role, he acted. Two months later, he earned the credential.

That decision paid off quickly. As the lead on several audits, Dvorachek found the credential helped build trust with third-party auditors.

“They come in with a higher expectation but also more confidence in what I know,” he says.

It also gave him a stronger voice in shaping the future of his company’s food safety program. With Edition 10 of the SQF Code on the horizon, Dvorachek is using his knowledge to prepare Cedar Grove Warehouse now—not later.

“At our most recent monthly meeting, I brought up Edition 10,” he says. “We’re asking how to strengthen our food safety teams and increase engagement. These aren’t just checkboxes. They’re critical parts of doing food safety well.”

For those considering the Certified SQF Practitioner path, Dvorachek is direct.

“If you’re doing the work, you already know the material. This credential is a way to confirm that, to show your commitment.”

As the industry continues to evolve, Dvorachek believes the credential will stay relevant—and that it opens doors for anyone ready to step up.

“It’s an invitation to the discussion,” he said. “And everyone’s welcome.”

Ready to elevate your food safety journey?

Learn more about how the Certified SQF Practitioner credential can advance your career and impact. Visit the SQF training page to get started.