ACHMM Philadephia Chapter Officers and Committee Members
OFFICER BIOGRAPHIES
President
Joann Cortese, CHMM
GE Aviation
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) with a bachelor's degree in
Chemical Engineering from Drexel University. Environmental, Health, and
Safety Manager with Sartomer Company, Inc. since 1986. Responsibilities
include compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations concerning
environmental, health, and safety issues at the manufacturing sites and the
R&D facility. Previous positions held include Process Engineering (4 years)
and R&D (4 years). Years of company service began in June 1977.
In addition to the above stated responsibilities, holds the positions of the
company Responsible Care® Coordinator and have been very active in Sartomer's
community outreach.
As a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager has been active as a Charter
member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Academy of Certified Hazardous
Materials Managers since 1993. Has held the positions of Chairperson of the
Membership Committee, Treasurer and have been Chapter Vice-President since
2000.
Has coached girl's softball with husband since 1992. Have also coached girl's
soccer and basketball.
Married since July 1977 and have two daughters. Hobbies include traveling as
much as possible on vacations, reading, photography and gardening.
Vice President (President-Elect)
Michelo Kalambo
Eldredge
Michelo Kalambo currently works as compliance coordinator with Eldredge Inc.
Have experience and ability to plan, coordinate and execute multiple projects alone and in teams.
Current role involves assisting with compliance activities, as well as state and federal permits.
Other responsibilities include, maintaining companies Asbestos license and oversee personnel
certification as well as their safety in regards to OSHA. I am also a member of SWANA organization.
Secretary
Don Bowman
Maser Consulting P.A.
Mr. Bowman is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager and Professional Engineer in eight
states (Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland)
with over 30 years of diversified experience in environmental regulatory compliance. Mr.
Bowman has excelled in providing subject matter expertise in the areas of hazardous materials,
hazardous waste, solid waste, recycling, beneficial use, coal ash management, and site
remediation including environmental permitting, strategy/policy development, procedure writing,
and training, while building coalitions between clients and regulators. Mr. Bowman's range of
experience with industrial and governmental concerns includes Public Service Enterprise Group
(PSEG) in New Jersey; the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Philadelphia, PA; and since 2010 at
Maser Consulting P.A.
Treasurer
Joseph Murphy
WCD Group
Mr. Murphy's primary role as National Services Manager for WCD Group involves continuous
development and management of an internal network of subcontractor associate consulting firms
which perform consulting, laboratory, and field services work nationally and internationally
for clientele. He has over 28 years of experience in performing focused and comprehensive
environmental, health, and safety (EHS) exposure-related projects across a wide variety of
construction, commercial, industrial manufacturing, and transportation industry sectors.
He has extensive experience in the management of hazardous materials processes, remediation,
treatment, and disposal. He also serves in a wide variety of professional roles which have
contributed to his role as a "trusted advisor" on a variety of EHS compliance issues for
clients. He is responsible for account management, overall quality, technical performance,
and delivery of final client report/work product for key client accounts
Past President
H. Brandt Widdoes, Jr.
Sr. Manager, SHE
Brandt joined MedImmune (AstraZeneca Global - Supply Biologics) in 2012 in his current capacity as Sr. Manager, SHE where he is
responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the sites' SHE Management System and compliance programs to ensure
continuous improvement.
Prior to joining MedImmune / Astra Zeneca, Brandt served 17 years with Wyeth and then Baxter Healthcare's parenteral
manufacturing operation in Cherry Hill, NJ as Manager EHS. Brandt lead the manufacturing management team through the journey
to ISO 14001 certification. Through Brandt's mentoring the Medication Delivery Manufacturing site attained 5 Million hours
without a Lost Time Injury and maintained a record of no environmental NOVs. Brandt was an active participant on Regional and
Corporate Compliance and ISO audit program for Baxter Healthcare, assisting domestic and international facilities.
Government/Regulatory Affairs Chair
Mark Bruce
Environmental Products & Services of Vermont, Inc.
I have been a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) since 2002 and have
over 26 years of emergency response, corrective action, waste management, safety
management, and industrial maintenance experience.
I am a project manager for the EPS of Vermont Corporate Special Projects Group
and my duties include regional business development (Mid-Atlantic Region) and
management of long term, high profile and time sensitive projects, which includes
extensive traveling across the country. Response to emergencies and management of
projects including: corrective actions for natural and man made disasters,
facility closures, remedial investigations, procurement of in-house and out
sourced contract services, project safety lead, and project accounting. I also
assist customers with improvements to their Business Continuity and Disaster
Recovery Plans for salvage operations and hazardous materials management.
I have a degree in Business, Management and Economics with a concentration in
Emergency Management from the State University of New York (SUNY) Albany/Empire
State College.
Meetings/Professional Development Chair
Hubie Gallagher
UBG Environmental
Hubie Gallagher, has over 30 years of experience in Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS)
Management. Mr. Gallagher's career includes EHS positions at the plant level, multi-plant
(regional) and corporate level with small, mid-sized and large manufacturing companies.
Mr. Gallagher is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).
UBG has primary EHS Management experience in the following industries: Electronics, Waste
Management/Remediation, Flexible Polyurethane Foam, Pharmaceutical, Hazardous Material
Warehouse/Distribution, Printing, Flooring, Plastics, Flavors, Adhesives, Lubricants, Paint
and Coatings, Municipal Water, and Military Defense.
Hubie has been involved with the Philadelphia Chapter since its inception.
Membership Development Chair
Joann Cortese, CHMM
GE Aviation
Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) with a bachelor's degree in
Chemical Engineering from Drexel University. Environmental, Health, and
Safety Manager with Sartomer Company, Inc. since 1986. Responsibilities
include compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations concerning
environmental, health, and safety issues at the manufacturing sites and the
R&D facility. Previous positions held include Process Engineering (4 years)
and R&D (4 years). Years of company service began in June 1977.
In addition to the above stated responsibilities, holds the positions of the
company Responsible Care® Coordinator and have been very active in Sartomer's
community outreach.
As a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager has been active as a Charter
member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Academy of Certified Hazardous
Materials Managers since 1993. Has held the positions of Chairperson of the
Membership Committee, Treasurer and have been Chapter Vice-President since
2000.
Has coached girl's softball with husband since 1992. Have also coached girl's
soccer and basketball.
Married since July 1977 and have two daughters. Hobbies include traveling as
much as possible on vacations, reading, photography and gardening.
Website Maintenance Chair
Donna Switzer, CHMM
Beyond Compliance Consulting
Donna became a CHMM around 1994 and joined the Philadelphia ACHMM Chapter
soon after. She started her involvement with the Chapter as the Meetings
Committee Chair and then progressed from Chapter Secretary to Chapter
President. She currently holds the Treasurer position for the Chapter and
sits on the National ACHMM Chapter Development Committee.
She started in the environmental industry in 1989 in the Asbestos industry.
She was employed by one of the Waste Management, Inc. divisions or
subsidiaries or joint ventures or whatever for about 10 years, focusing on
Hazardous Waste disposal and cleanup. She then earned a Masters Degree in
Environmental Science and made a jump to waste generation. Once on that side
of the fence, she managed compliance for several manufacturing companies –
plastics, pesticides, lead-acid batteries.
POSITION DESCRIPTIONS
All Officers shall be Members in good standing with the Chapter and the
National AHMP. They shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of Chapter
affairs, implementation of policy set by the Board of Directors, and execution of the
Operating plan.
Elective Offices/Board of Directors
The Elective Officers shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer, all of whom must be voting members of the Chapter. The Elective Officers, in
addition to the Immediate Past President, will be considered the Board of Directors of
the Chapter.
Officer's Duties
- President:
The president, elected to serve at least two years, presides over Chapter meetings and
interfaces with other chapters, the Academy, and other environmental organizations. All
committees report to the President, who is responsible for day-to-day Chapter management.
In the absence of the president, the Vice-President shall preside at these meetings. In
his (her) absence, the Secretary shall preside at these meetings.
- Vice-President (President-Elect):
The vice-president, who is elected to serve at least two years and expected to serve as
President the following term, presides over Chapter meetings in the absence of the
President and ensures the development and execution of an appropriate annual educational
program for the Chapter.
- Secretary:
The secretary, who is elected to a term of at least two years, documents Chapter meetings,
maintains and updates Chapter records and mailing lists, documents Chapter-sponsored
training, and manages mailing of official notices to the membership.
- Treasurer:
The treasurer, who is elected to a term of at least two years, documents Chapter membership,
manages the Chapter's financial affairs, maintains the Chapter's financial records, mails
invoices, pays obligations, collects receivables, makes bank deposits, and interfaces with
applicable government entities to maintain the Chapter's nonprofit and corporate status.
- Immediate Past President:
The responsibility of this unelected position, which is assumed by the previous term's
President, is to recruit Chapter members and assist the Board of Directors in achieving
Chapter objectives.
Committees
The work of the Chapter shall be conducted by four Standing Committees of which the
chairperson is expected to serve for a period of at least two years. The Elected Officers
shall appoint committee chairpersons for the following standing committees:
- Government/Regulatory Affairs:
This committee is the focal point for communication to the Chapter on actions, proposed or
otherwise, taken at all levels of government in regard to management of hazardous materials.
The chairperson is encouraged to be a member of the National Government Affairs Committee
and shall conduct the chapter committee efforts in concert with the National Academy.
- Meetings/Professional Development:
Continuing education of the CHMM is an important part of the fulfillment of the Chapter's
Mission. This committee will develop the educational programs for the Chapter meetings, as
well as any other programs that can be used to further the exchange of information and ideas.
- Membership Development:
Working with the immediate Past President, this committee recruits new members for the
Chapter. The committee will develop and execute recruiting plans including the direct mail,
telephone campaigns, and membership incentive.
- Website Maintenance:
The primary purpose of this committee is the establishment and maintenance of a positive
impression of the CHMM certification, the membership, and the Chapter through the Chapter
website. This committee will focus on efforts that will increase the awareness of the CHMM
program and attract new members, and provide Chapter information to its membership.