Jeff Ragan Oral History Interview

Mr. Jeff Ragan was a longtime director of environmental health for Sarasota County, Florida. He was deeply involved in several state agencies and held positions with the Barber Sanitary Commission, Sanitarian Registration Board, Board of Nursing, and the Board of Cosmetology. In this oral history interview, Mr. Ragan recalls his career in environmental health in Florida. He describes his career development and experiences navigating the state employment system. Mr. Regan explains the development of local health services and the relationship between state and county health organizations. He also details areas that were under his authority, including dairy and water inspections, rabies prevention and control, and sewage system inspections. Mr. Regan shares some of the challenges he encountered during his time with the state, including ensuring regulatory compliance and surviving legislative reorganizations. Throughout the interview, he recounts personal enforcement experiences and explains his philosophy of customer service