Since enrolling in the FDA Retail Program Standards in 2010, the county has systematically identified high-risk behaviors in food establishments to craft targeted, evidence-based interventions. This shift toward precision public health helped Mecklenburg County emerge as a primary advocate for statewide FDA Food Code adoption in North Carolina. The department now utilizes customized PowerBI dashboards to maintain staff training consistency and monitor inspection trends, a model that has become a benchmark for other jurisdictions.

Beyond internal metrics, the department has served as a cornerstone for training sanitarians across the state, helping shape North Carolina’s Centralized Intern Training program. Chrystal Swinger, Director of Mecklenburg County Environmental Health, credited the team's ability to manage safety protocols amid the region's rapid growth and its high-profile sporting events. The award will be formally presented at the National Environmental Health Association’s Annual Educational Conference in Kansas City this August.