Browse Speakers
Browse all speakers for the California CUPA Forum training conference.
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Speaker Biographies
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CUPA-2027
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ADAM ESTES, Technical Program Manager - Encamp Adam Estes serves as a Technical Program Manager for Encamp. He assists Encamp as a subject matter expert (SME) for waste and chemical reporting in Encamp's efforts to build a software as solution for reporting within the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Encamp looks forward to helping environmental specialist ease the burden of reporting through software, and looks to expand to Water and Air reporting in the future.
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CUPA-2027
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AGAPE GARCIA, Founder, Executive Director - Confronting DV Agape Garcia, Founder and Executive Director of Confronting Domestic Violence a nonprofit serving the local community.
While digging deep into SB 553 with Cal/OSHA, the Dept. of Industrial Relations, and Advisory Groups, I have become a passionate subject-matter expert on understanding what Cal/OSHA is expecting organizations to have in place. My experience provides the comfort and ease of delivering the training requirements HR is responsible for having in place, while ensuring they know what to do to meet the mandates.
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CUPA-2027
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AJAY VAKIL, Project Manager - CalEPA Ajay Vakil, CERS NextGen Project Manager, California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). I am a Project Manager with CalEPAs Project Management Office. I manage and oversee multiple Information Technology projects including the CERS NextGen project.
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CUPA-2027
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ALEXA KOSTRIKIN, PSM/RMP Specialist and Trainer - APCCO Alexa Kostrikin, Environmental Scientist, CalEPA in the HMBP/CalARP Unit. Currently participating in conducting CUPA evaluations as well as Inspection and Enforcement for the unit.
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CUPA-2027
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ALEXA RINDY, Environmental Scientist - DTSC Alexa Rindy, Environmental Scientist, write hazardous waste regulations to align with federal RCRA requirements
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CUPA-2027
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ALEXANDER OCAMPO VERGARA, Assoc Environmental Safety & Compliance Advisor - Republic Services Alexander Ocampo Vergara is an Associate Environmental Safety & Compliance Advisor with Republic Services. He supports organizations across diverse industries, helping them maintain regulatory compliance. His responsibilities include preparing and submitting regulatory reports such as Hazardous Materials Business Plans (HMBPs), conducting environmental, health, and safety gap assessments, conducting compliance inspections, and much more. Alexander also delivers training typical to the Life-Sciences and Technology sectors. In addition, he is a certified Designated Underground Storage Tank Operator (DUSTO).
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CUPA-2027
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ALICIA FILIPPONE, Environmental Safety & Compliance Advisor - Republic Services Alicia Filippone, Environmental Safety & Compliance Advisor, Republic Services
In my current role, I provide regulatory guidance and technical support to facilities throughout California in the areas of hazardous waste management, environmental compliance, and safety programs. I specialize in CUPA compliance, facility closure planning, contingency plan development, and inspection support to ensure organizations meet state and federal requirements.
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CUPA-2027
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ALIN PODOREANU, Supervising Pipeline Safety Engineer - Cal Fire - OSFM Alin Podoreanu is a professional engineer specializing in pipeline safety and currently serves as a Supervising Pipeline Safety Engineer for CAL FIRE - Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
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CUPA-2027
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ALONSO MEJIA, Hazardous Materials Specialist - Los Angeles City Fire Dept Alonso Mejia is a Hazardous Materials Specialist with the Los Angeles City Fire Department.
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CUPA-2027
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ALVIN DONG, RMPPS - Los Angeles City Fire Dept Alvin currently works for the Los Angeles Fire Department conducting CalARP, APSA and Hazardous Materials Inspections and is a member of the City's Emergency Response Team.
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CUPA-2027
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ALVIN LAL, CUPA Manager - Stanislaus County DER Alvin Lal is the CUPA Manager at Stanislaus County Environmental Resources and Chair for the CUPA Forum for the FY 2023-2024. He is a CSTI Certified Hazardous Materials Specialist and oversees the CUPA Programs, Site Mitigation, Emergency Response, and Household Hazardous Waste Programs at Stanislaus County. He is also a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and was a Health Inspector with the County from 2005 to 2010. Alvin Lal is a Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator and Chaired the Central Valley Chemical Safety Day Committee in Modesto CA from 2018 to 2020. He has a wealth of experience in Hazardous Materials, Food Safety, Audits, and Inspections. Alvin has a B.S. in Biological Science with a concentration in microbiology.
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CUPA-2027
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ALYX KARPOWICZ, Engineering Geologist - State Water Board Alyx Karpowicz, Engineering Geologist with the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. I have worked in the Land Disposal and Waste Containment Unit within the Groundwater Protection Division for the past 18 years. I manage both active and closed landfills and cleanup sites around the Bay Area.
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CUPA-2027
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AMAL SYED, Research Scientist (Epidemiology/Biostatistics) - Office of Env Health Hazard My name is Amal Syed. I am an Epidemiologist by training and work as a Research Scientist, with an emphasis on epidemiology and biostatistics, at the California EPA's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment's Air and Climate Epidemiology Section. In my current role, I conduct large scale epidemiological studies which leverage statewide environmental exposure data and health data to understand the impact of criteria air pollutants and climate change on human health in California. My current work has focused on wildfires, extreme heat, and identifying their effects on vulnerable populations like pregnant people and children. Additionally, I work with community groups on various projects and prioritize health education for public health officials and communities on how they can protect themselves from climate change, air pollution and other environmental hazards. Our section at OEHHA also provides comments to the US EPA and CASAC on updates to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for various criteria air pollutants.
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CUPA-2027
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AMALIE LARSEN, Environmental Scientist - DTSC My name is Amalie Larsen. I am an environmental scientist with the Department of Toxic Substances Control in Clovis, CA. I currently inspect facilities that generate, handle and transport hazardous waste. I am a member of the Landfill team, and regularly inspect the two (2) Class I landfills in California. I am also a member of the team that is responsible for reviewing current Supplemental Environmental Projects. For three years, I attended environmental justice meetings in Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties to ensure the residents of the counties have a direct line of communication with the Department. Recently, I developed and provided in-depth transporter inspection training to DTSC environmental scientists throughout the state.
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CUPA-2027
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AMANDA DURAN, Deputy Director Environmental Health Specialist - Merced County CUPA Amanda Duran, REHS, Deputy Director, Merced County Environmental Health. I am the CUPA manager and oversee operations of the CUPA, I also oversee all units of Environmental Health including Land and Water, Consumer Protection and our Enforcement Unit.
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CUPA-2027
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AMBER CAMARENA, Environmental Scientist - State Water Board Amber Camarena is an Environmental Scientist and ICC-certified Inspector with the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Enforcement Unit in the Office of Enforcement at the State Water Resources Control Board. Amber assists with the enforcement of California statutes and regulations related to USTs, including permanent closure of single-walled systems, removal of abandoned tanks, and investigation of cases referred to the UST unit.
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CUPA-2027
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ANA BUI, Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist - Santa Clara County EH CUPA Ana Bui is a Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist with Santa Clara County's Department of Environmental Health. Ana oversees the UST team as well as the APSA/Cal ARP teams, a total of 10 staff in the Hazardous Materials Compliance Division and assists with training and mentoring of CUPA inspectors in those programs, as well as oversees enforcement cases in the UST and APSA/Cal ARP programs.
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CUPA-2027
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ANA MELENDEZ, Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs - CalEPA Ana Jovel Melendez was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in February 2024 to serve as Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). Ana represents the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and its six boards, departments, and offices which include the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), on matters before local, state, and Congressional offices. Ana provides advice, opinion, and recommendations on state and federal legislative affairs, and on policy and administrative matters including budget and fiscal analysis, and external affairs and communications, to the Governor and to the Secretary of CalEPA.
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CUPA-2027
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ANALYSSA QUARANTA, Supervising Environmental Health Specialist - Ventura County EH Analyssa Quaranta, Supervising Environmental Health Specialist, County of Ventura, Environmental Health Division.
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CUPA-2027
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ANDREA MORON-SOLANO, Environmental Scientist - CalEPA Andrea Moron-Solano, Environmental Scientist, CalEPA, work for the CalEPA HMBP and CalARP Unit.
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