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BRANDEN HENDRIX, Environmental Health Specialist - Del Norte County EH

Branden is a dedicated and experienced professional who has excelled in influencing and improving government policy. He actively shapes regulations related to hazardous materials and environmental health. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with an option in Ecological, Evolutionary, and Organismal Biology from California State University Chico, and he is the recipient of the Michael Abruzzo Outstanding Scientist Award. With over 10 years of experience in Environmental Health and the Certified Unified Program Agency in California, Branden has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence. He strives to learn about emerging technologies that pose significant threats and risks to our community and environment. Branden is certified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal for the Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act, by the International Code Council for Underground Storage Tanks, and by the California Office of Emergency Services as a Hazardous Materials Specialist. Since 2015, he has also been a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, serving the counties of Yuba and recently Del Norte. Currently, Branden serves as Treasurer on the Executive Board for the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) Forum Board. He has been an active member of the CUPA Forum Board for the past four years, playing a pivotal role in shaping statewide statutes and regulations regarding hazardous waste, underground storage tanks, and emergency response. He is particularly passionate about advocating for the rural reimbursement fund for rural county CUPAs. Branden is known for his expertise in hazardous materials incident response and fire debris removal, which have been crucial in early California wildfire debris clean-ups throughout the northern state. In addition to his professional roles, Branden is an active board member for the Fort Dick Fire Protection District and volunteers as a firefighter. He is also the Vice Chair of the Hazardous Materials Response Authority for Humboldt and Del Norte counties and is part of the Humboldt Bay Fire Hazardous Materials Response Team, where he continues to serve the public. At the California CUPA Conference, Branden will share his insights on policy, regulation, response, and inspection, drawing from his experience and interactions with top-notch staff from CalEPA, DTSC, CalOES, Waterboards, and colleagues. He is excited to engage with fellow professionals and share strategies that drive CUPA programs forward. When not immersed in his professional endeavors, Branden enjoys raising his two daughters with his wife April. He loves taking them on adventures in the Pacific Northwest, where they live. An outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys sport fishing, spearfishing, surfing, hiking, camping, and motorcycling, which provide a balanced and enriching life outside of work. Branden also enjoys coaching his daughters with his wife in soccer and basketball.

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