Browse Speakers

ALEX EFROS, 95th WMD CST Deputy Commander - California Military Dept

Major Alex Efros, Deputy Commander of the 95th Weapons of Mass Destruction(WMD) Civil Support Team (CST), California Army National Guard.

Print Biography

ALLISON SALDANA, Sr. Environmental Scientist (Specialist) - DTSC

Allison Saldana, Sr. Environmental Scientist (Specialist) works at the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). On January 1, 2022, her position was transferred to the Enforcement and Emergency Response Program (EERD) where she is currently working on implementing the metal recycler/metal shredder inspection program to the EERD regulated platform along with conducting transporter, e-waste and other types of inspections as needed. Shes currently based in Los Angeles out of the Chatsworth DTSC office.

Print Biography

ALLISON WILDER, Environmental Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator - CalEPA

Allison Wilder Environmental Emergency Preparedness Training & Outreach Coordinator California Department of Public Health--Center for Environmental Health I currently work with the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) program team at the Center for Environmental Health. Primary roles include preparation and organization of EHTER Awareness workshops and providing resources for environmental health/emergency response related trainings to jurisdictions throughout the state.

Print Biography

AMANDA ACKERMAN, Haz Mat Specialist II - Contra Costa County HS

Amanda Ackerman - Hazardous Materials Specialist at Contra Costa County Health Services Hazardous Materials Programs. CUPA & Stormwater inspector, Hazardous Materials Incident Responder, CCHS CERS & Database (Envision Connect) Coordinator.

Print Biography

AMY HARBERT, Director - San Diego County DEHQ

Amy Harbert, Department Director Environmental Health and Quality County of San Diego Amy provides executive leadership of the enforcement of local, state and federal laws in more than 40 public health and safety program areas, such as restaurant and hazardous materials inspections, vector control, and beach water quality monitoring. She oversees a $55 million annual operating budget, with diverse funding sources of fees, State and Federal revenue contracts and grants, and internal agreements. Amy provides leadership support, training and development for 309 staff. She has a passion, a drive to enhance and strengthen relationships with departmental and cross-functional staff, external stakeholders and the community, with a guiding value and leadership philosophy that the most effective programs are achieved through collaboration and partnership. She provided leadership through many complex public and environmental health situations of a regional nature. Amy has a passion for and a successful track record of using data analytics to guide outcome-based operations management, evidence-based policy making, and implementing technology to streamline operations, gain efficiencies, improve program performance and is focusing on assessing needs of the community to enhance service.

Print Biography

ANDY SMITH, Senior Consultant - Environmental Resource Ctr

Andy Smith Senior Consultant Environmental Resource Center

Print Biography

ANNE EKKER, Senior Environmental Scientist, Specialist - DTSC

My name is Anne Ekker, I am a Senior Environmental Scientist (Specialist) at the Department of Toxic Substances Control working in the Office of Criminal Investigations. Currently, I am the Cal-EPA Environmental Justice Task Force Coordinator. I also do Metal Shredder, Metal Recycler and Complaint Investigation case/enforcement work.

Print Biography

APOLLONIA HELM, Hazardous Materials Specialist III - San Mateo County EH

My name is Apollonia Helm, although most people call me Polly. I work at San Mateo County (SMC) Environmental Health as hazardous materials specialist. Most of my time is spent on regular CUPA program inspections, including hazardous materials business plans, hazardous waste, aboveground storage tanks, and underground storage tanks. I also spend time on compliance assistance projects and the Disaster and Response Team for SMC. This year, a significant amount of time was devoted to COVID-19 and CZU Fire activities. I also participated in the LEPC regional plan work group and the HMBP battery work group, established by the HMBP TAG to look into the questions about the future of battery reporting.

Print Biography

APRIL RANNEY, Environmental Program Manager I - DTSC

April Ranney, Ph.D. Environmental Program Manager I for the Berkeley-Clovis Office of the Enforcement and Emergency Response Division for the Department of Toxic Substance Control. I oversee the Berkeley-Clovis branch that inspects and enforces the Hazardous Waste Control Laws at various hazardous waste facilities (treatment, storage, and disposal facilities; generators; hazardous waste transporters; e-waste facilities; etc.) throughout the state. In addition, I oversee the CUPA oversight team that performs audits and assists CUPAs statewide.

Print Biography

AUSTIN LEMIRE-BAETEN, Water Resources Control Engineer - State Water Board

I am Austin Lemire-Baeten, and I am a Water Resources Control Engineer at the State Water Resources Control Board's Division of Water Quality, Leak Prevention Unit. At the Leak Prevention Unit, I review third party evaluations and results of leak detection equipment and methods to determine if they meet performance standards required by California Code of Regulations. I also provide statutory and regulatory guidance for UST stakeholders for compliance with water quality protection aspects of UST operation.

Print Biography

BAVNEET BENIPAL, Sr. Environmental Scientist - Consultant

Bavneet Benipal is a Sr. Environmental Scientist in Policy Implementation and Support Branch of Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Prior to that, she was in Enforcement and Emergency Response Division of DTSC, where she managed inspection projects of environmental law violations and potential threats to public health and the environment. Her previous work experience includes Adjunct Professor position at Life Chiropractic College West, Hayward, CA where she instructed health care professional students in teaching laboratory techniques and instructed aspects of community and environmental health. Specifically, she developed lecture presentations to teach Public Health, Histology and Microbiology labs and gave lecture presentations in Toxicology courses. Bavneet received her B.S in Biochemistry from University of Michigan and her PhD in Pharmacology from Wayne State University (School of Medicine). She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Institute for Environmental Medicine at University of Pennsylvania. During her research career, she published several research articles in scientific journals such as Environmental Technology, Biochemical Pharmacology, International Journal of Molecular Sciences and Redox Biology journals.

Print Biography

BRIAN OTTER, Instructor - Otter Training & Consulting

My name is Brian Otter, Retired from San Bernardino County Fire and I currently teach Hazardous Materials Safety courses

Print Biography

BRIAN TAYLOR, Senior Engineering Geologist - State Water Board

Mr. Taylor is a supervising Senior Engineering Geologist with the Underground Storage Tank Enforcement Unit in the Office of Enforcement at the State Water Resources Control Board. Mr. Taylor has been with the Office of Enforcement since February 2019.

Print Biography

CAMERON GARRISON, COO - HS GovTech

Cameron Garrison is the COO and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is an experienced high tech entrepreneur and small business investor with more than 15 years in the food safety and environmental health field, with concentration on developing innovative technology for both office and field use. Cameron also serves on several boards of tech companies outside of HealthSpace.

Print Biography

CARL BAUTISTA, Lead Unity Developer - Spectral Labs

My name is Carl Bautista. I'm a Project manager and the Lead Unity Developer at Spectral Labs. I design and develop many of the interactive features for the different virtual simulation projects that Spectral Labs has to offer and am currently manager and PI for a project aimed to provide virtual HAZWOPER training.

Print Biography

CHER VUE, ES III - Sacramento County EMD

Cher Vue, Environmental Specialist III from Sacramento County CUPA. Works in various CUPA programs, Co-Chair for UST Bay Area TAG.

Print Biography

CHERYL PROWELL, Supervisory Water Resource Control Engineer - DTSC

Ms. Prowell is the head of the UST and Site Cleanup Section at the State Water Quality Control Board. Her section includes the UST Leak Prevention Unit, Leaking UST Cleanup Program, Site Cleanup Program and Department of Defense Cleanup.

Print Biography

CHRISTINE ALLSTON, Project Manager - Chainbridge Technologies

Christine Allston, Project Manager for CBRNResponder, Chainbridge Technologies Christine Allston has been with the CBRNResponder Program at Chainbridge Technologies since 2018. Christine started as a Program Analyst and is now a Project Manager for a number of contracts. She is also responsible for CBRNResponder's outreach and training, communications and social media planning, UX design, managing the special feature webinar series, and leading user support and engagement. Christine graduated from Florida State University in 2016 with a B.S. in International Affairs.

Print Biography

CRAIG FLETCHER, Principal - Fletcher Consultants

Craig R. Fletcher is the principal of Fletcher Consultants, Inc., a California environmental consulting firm providing regulatory compliance, permitting, and water quality services for a diverse mix of clients. Founded in 2002, the firm specializes in tank system compliance, including preparing California SPCC Plans, Title 22 Hazardous Waste Tank System Assessments, conducting Steel Tank Institute (STI) Certified Tank Inspections, as well as providing training and technical support for SPCC and tank system regulatory compliance. The firm also provides technical support to RCRA permitted hazardous waste facilities. Additional information about the firm is available at www.fletcherconsultantsinc.com.

Print Biography

CRAIG SANCHEZ, Water Resource Control Engineer - State Water Board

Craig Sanchez is currently working at the State Water Board as a Water Resources Control Engineer and the Acting SCAP Unit Chief.

Print Biography