BCSP Ambassadors

Alejandro Ruiz

Alejandro Ruiz, MS, CIH, CSP, CHMM, SMS, CHST, CIT is the Executive Director of EHS and the University Safety Officer at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. He has over 20 years in the EHS field and as an active member in EHS at the local, region, and national organizations.

Ruiz served in various appointed and elected positions; including NJ ASSP Chapter President, Co-Director of the Joint NJ-ASSE/NJ-AIHA ASP/CSP/CIH Summer Review Preparation Course and Chair of the NJ State Industrial Safety Committee. He serves on the Safety Executives of New York, ANSI/ASSP Z9-Ventilation Systems Standards, ASSP’s Professional Development Conference Planning Committee, and ASSP’s Educational Standards Committee.

A graduate of NJIT, with a BS in Electrical Engineering & Technology, MS in Safety Engineering, MS in Industrial Hygiene, Alex is also an Adjunct Professor at the Rutgers School of Engineering and an instructor at the Rutgers School of Public Health.

Carl Heinlein, CSP, OHST, STSC, CIT, ARM, CPEA, CRIS, CSHM, FAIHA, FASSP joined the American Contractors Insurance Group (ACIG) in February 2002. He serves as a Sr. Safety Consultant and contributes to the successful safety initiatives of multiple construction clients. Prior to this, Heinlein worked as the Director of Construction Services for FDR Safety. He is also the past National Safety & Health Director for the AGC of America.

Heinlein holds a master’s degree in safety & environmental management from West Virginia University.

Heinlein volunteers his time as a member of the NIOSH and NORA Construction Sector. He also sits on the editorial advisory board for EHS magazine. He served as National Director-At-Large for ASSP from 2017 to 2020 and is a Past President of BCSP. Heinlein was awarded BCSP’s CSP 2019 Award of Excellence.

Cheryl “Cheri” Marcham, PhD, CSP, CIH, CHMM, FAIHA is an Associate Professor and Program Chair for the Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management degree program for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). She holds a B.S. in biology from Arizona State University, and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in industrial hygiene from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

She has served on the Board of Directors of AIHA, BCSP, and is currently serving on the Board for Global EHS Credentialing (formerly ABIH). She is an AIHA Distinguished Lecturer, the 2018 AIHA Henry F. Smyth Jr. Award recipient and received the 2018 ERAU Latitude Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Research.

Marcham’s research interests include the impacts of electronic cigarettes, 3D printers, and the potential use of drones in emergency response. She has also published articles and book chapters on the value of SH&E credentials and how certification exams are developed.

Chris Patton, CSP, SMS serves as Senior Technical Advisor to the ESH&Q Directorate for UT-Battelle at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). In this unique role, he serves as a thought leader for the development and implementation of strategies to enhance laboratory safety culture and operational performance. He focuses on improving effective interactions between front line leaders and staff.

Patton is a former BCSP Board Director and Past President. He serves as Vice President on the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations (INSHPO) and is also a Past President of ASSP. Additionally, he is a BCSP Ambassador, speaking on behalf of BCSP and promoting professional certification.

Christina Georghiou, CSP is a a Senior Manager of Global EHS Governance at SCIEX (a Danaher Company) and a Federal OSHA-authorized Construction Safety Outreach Trainer. She holds a Bachelors in Biology and Oceanography from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.S. in Environmental and Occupational Health from California State University, Northridge where she served as President of the Environmental & Occupational Health Student Association.

She has held national and international safety management, training and consulting roles with her experience spanning the aerospace, automotive, construction, insurance, and medical device manufacturing industries. She specializes in establishing effective occupational health programs, and supporting management in building and maintaining engaging safety cultures.

Christin Fine, CSP, CIT, Director for EHS at the EERC, focuses on leading the EERC’s Environment, Occupational Health, and Safety Programs. She holds an M.S. in Safety, Security & Emergency Management from Eastern Kentucky University, a B.S. in Occupational Safety and Environmental Health from the University of North Dakota and is a certified safety professional (CSP) and certified instructional trainer (CIT). Her professional development studies focus on human performance in the workplace to develop management systems which help to prevent incidents.

Location: North Dakota, USA

Hafiz Muhammad Ali Hassan, CSP, ASP, STS, CIT, the child of Nisar Ahmed Bhatti, showed an early fascination with both mechanics and safety, foreshadowing a unique career path that would blend the two fields in ways previously unimagined. Hassan has a passion for premium certifications, obtaining the CSP, SMS, ASP, STS, STSC, and being the first safety professional to become a certified CIT in Saudi Arabia. Hassan has mentored more than 2500 trainees of engineering and safety during his health and safety career. Most recently, Hassan was a crucial part of opening the new Al Bassam Center for trainees to have access to a closer training facility than TOPSYS, located in Saudi Arabia. Hassan also instructs marketing and awareness sessions in Saudia, leading more people to become aware of credentials, with many trainees achieving BCSP certification.

Location: Saudi Arabia

Jeremy Mollet, CSP, CHST, OHST, STS has spent his career in diverse roles across a vast array of industries. These include, but are not limited to, agriculture, chemical, construction, mining, and oil and gas sectors. This spectrum of industries allows Mollet to hone skills in Workplace Safety, Safety Management Systems, Environmental Management, Transportation, Regulatory, Compliance, and Analysis.

Education is a central pillar in his professional journey. A holder of an MBA, Finance, and a MSc, Management, Mollet integrates Safety, Health and Environmental strategy and execution with business and management. His dedication to continuous professional growth and commitment to uphold the highest standards of safety is reflected by safety certifications and designations including, Canada (CHSC CRSP), the United States (CHST OHST CSP CHMM), and the United Kingdom (CMIOSH SIIRSM).

A strong proponent of community and social service, Mollet is committed to cultivating a culture of safety. He aims for the well-being of all individuals in the workplace, recognizing this is the foundation upon which successful, thriving communities are built. He believes safety is not just a regulatory requirement, but a value, defining how we interact with our work, our colleagues, and our world. Safety and well-being of individuals in the workplace is not just good ethics, but also good business.

Location: Canada

Jessica Bohan, CSP, OHST, ARM has worked in the field of safety and health for over two decades. She currently works for Zenith Insurance Company as a Safety and Health Manager where she manages a team of safety and health professionals and is well known for lively, interactive presentations.

Bohan has a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University and a master’s degree in public health from the University of South Florida.

She is a former Director for BCSP. In 2014, she was honored by BCSP with the naming of the 2014 scholarship the “Jessica J Bohan Technician, Technologist and Supervisory Scholarship.”

Bohan is a member of ASSP and she has served as an Adjunct Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Joaquin Diaz CSP, CHST, OHST has over 24 years of construction EHS experience. He is currently the Environmental, Health, and Safety Director for Skanska USA Building – Portland Office. Joaquin has spoken internationally and locally on EHS topics relevant to the construction industry. He is currently enrolled in a Doctor of Public Health program. He has the CIH, CSP, QEP, CHST, OHST credentials. Joaquin is the Past President of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, member of the AIHA Total Worker Health Program Committee and the Standards Advisory Group, ACGIH Nominations Committee, ASSP/ANSI A10 series Committee, and the national AGC Safety and Health committees partnering with OSHA, NIOSH, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Navy Facilities on initiatives and standards affecting the country.

Location: Oregon, USA

Kathy A. Seabrook, CSP, CFIOSH, EurOSHM is the Founder and CEO of Global Solutions, Inc. With over 25 years of diverse SH&E management experience, she works with multinational companies across industry sectors to help them strategically integrate and manage their SH&E risks through their sustainable business strategies.

Seabrook is a recognized management consultant, international keynote speaker, workshop and strategic planning facilitator, leadership coach, and published author in global SH&E management and global leadership fluency.

She is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), UK Chartered Fellow of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CFIOSH), and European Occupational Safety and Health Manager (EurOSHM).

Seabrook earned her B.S. in chemistry from James Madison University.

Kevin Chothani, CSP, CIH, CMIOSH has 18 years of experience spread across industries including solar PV manufacturing, hydro turbine and generator manufacturing and technology center, heavy engineering manufacturing, and hydroelectric projects. Currently, Chothani serves as Head-Safety, Health & Environment at Sekura Energy Limited, a portfolio company of Edelweiss Infrastructure.

His expertise is in the areas of process engineering, hazard analysis, industrial hygiene assessment, risk assessment techniques, SH&E management system, electrical safety, LOTO, environment assessment, machine safety assessment, ergonomics, fire protection etc.

Chothani is a CSP, CIH, CMIOSH, and has an international diploma in Occupational Safety & Health from the British Safety Council. He has a bachelor’s in electrical engineering and a post diploma in industrial safety from Mahatma Gandhi Labour Institute.

Bilal Jillani, ASP, CSP is a seasoned HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) and engineering professional with over 15 years of experience spanning various sectors. He holds a BS in Electronic Engineering & also pursued graduate studies in Communication Satellite.

Bilal is a certified safety expert, holding credentials such as Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP). He has been a crucial member of diverse projects, including Pakistan’s first Communication Satellite PakSat-1R team in China.

His achievements encompass impressive roles, including being a long-listed mentor for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) USA, a member and mentor at the International Astronautical Congress (IAF) France, and an approved consultant for Pakistan’s National Business Development Program (NBDP). He contributed significantly to HAZOP studies, electrical safety audits, and environmental compliance in various industries.

Bilal is renowned for his dedication to safety training, audit, and consultancy services. He specializes in Electrical Safety at the workplace, NFPA 70E standard, and has earned a reputation as a BCSP USA mentor. His influence extends to universities, where he conducts seminars on careers in health & safety. With his extensive expertise and continuous contributions, Bilal stands as an exemplary figure in the field of HSE and engineering.

Kris Jenkins, PhD, CSP is a results driven Certified Safety Professional with over 10 years of hands on experience in pharmaceutical, environmental, construction, manufacturing, and consulting industries.

Kristopher also has a proven track record of maintaining compliance with federal regulatory agencies, not limited to: The Food and Drug Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Dr. Jenkins has vast technical experience in Health and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Environmental, Consulting, Radiation Safety, and Construction Safety. He earned his doctorate in Industrial Hygiene at Capitol Technology University.

Location: Indiana, USA

Kristin K. Herman, CSP, CPEA, CHMM, is the Assistant Vice President of Environment, Health, and Safety for L’Oreal North America, based in Clark, NJ. Kristin’s professional responsibilities include the following: leading the ISO 45001 and VPP auditing program, coordinating the cross-functional internal auditing teams, motivating operations teams towards the achievement of ergonomics excellence, and creating an interdependent safety culture. In addition, Kristin leads her teams in promoting the L’Oreal Safe@Work-Safe@Home global initiative.

With her 25 years of EHS&S experience, Kristin has demonstrated her knowledge and leadership on the EHS stage. She has experience in chemical manufacturing (Rhone-Poulenc Inc., Rhodia Inc., Sika Corporation), paints and coatings (Benjamin Moore & Co.), and most recently, with cosmetics (L’Oreal). She is a professional member of the American Society of Safety Professionals, a board-certified safety professional, a board-certified professional environmental auditor, and a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager. She is an active advisory board member of ASSP’s Women in Safety Excellence (WISE). She is also the WISE Awards & Honors committee chairperson. In addition, she is Past President of the NJ Chapter of ASSP and is currently the Awards and Honors Chair. In the NJ Chapter of the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Managers (AHMP-NJ), she is an active member participating in meetings and community events.

Location: New Jersey, USA

Leslie Rex Stockel is a CSP with 35 years of experience in the Safety and Health Profession. She currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Professional Practice at Oklahoma State University in the Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology program.

Leslie has earned a PhD in Technical Communication and Rhetoric program from Texas Tech University, an MS degree in Engineering Technology Management and a BS degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology, both from Oklahoma State University.

In 2018, she was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and was a founding trustee and director of the BCSP Foundation. She served on the Executive Committee from 2021- 2023, serving as President of the Board of Directors in 2022.

She is a professional member of the American Society of Safety Professionals where she has held numerous leadership positions both locally and regionally. She a past-president and current member of the ASSP Oklahoma City Chapter where she serves as OSU-student section faculty advisor. In 2016 she was named Safety Professional of the Year for the ASSE Oklahoma City Chapter. In 2018, she was named ASSE Region III Safety Professional of the Year for Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Location: Oklahoma, USA

Mary L. Silva, CSP is a senior risk engineering consultant at Crum & Forster, a property and casualty insurance company. Silva is a 30+ year safety professional who has worked in the insurance, telecommunications, petrochemical/oil & gas, and construction industries. She holds a BS from the University of Oklahoma in chemical engineering, pre-med.

Silva currently holds the CSP certification and is also a BCSP Ambassador which serves to spread the benefits of certifications. She is also very active in volunteering with ASSP at the local and national level.

Matthew F. Herron, MS, PE, CSP, CPE, CSHO is the Sr. Safety Engineer for the Mechanical Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute®. He has over 13 years of experience as a practicing Safety Professional within a wide variety of industries including healthcare, R&D, automotive, and aerospace.

Mr. Herron holds a MS in Industrial and Operations Engineering (NIOSH Trainee – Occupational Safety Engineering and Ergonomics Program) from the University of Michigan and a BS in Physics from the University of West Georgia.

He is also volunteers as a leader for ASSP and was most recently elected Region III Vice President (2022-2025).

Paul J. Colangelo, CHST, STSC, CIT, CRIS is the president of PJC Safety Services, LLC. He has 30 years of experience as an SH&E director, manager, and consultant to the construction, general industry, telecommunications, utility, and renewable energy sectors.

He is a 20-year accredited OSHA outreach 10/30-hour construction program trainer, and a global OSHA authorized trainer.

Colangelo has written numerous SH&E-based articles for national publications and is a frequent speaker at local and national events. He is also a 2020/2021 recipient of ASSP’s Charles V. Culbertson Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.

Colangelo was appointed as a BCSP Ambassador in 2019.

Ria is an occupational safety, health and operational excellence professional with over fifteen (15) years’ leadership experience in various industry sectors, including downstream energy, transport and distribution of dangerous goods, shipping, food services, retail and logistics.

Specializing in culture change and safety leadership, Ria has a proven track record in the architecture, development, implementation, and auditing of culture-boosting Management Systems. She is a certified Safety Management Specialist (BCSP) and Lead Auditor/Implementor for ISO Management System Standards.

Ria volunteers her time to actively raise the profile of occupational safety and health in the Caribbean region.

Richard Pollock, CSP is the President of Rivendell Safety Consulting, LLC, a safety and organizational performance consulting firm, and is the Executive Director of the Fleet Safety Leadership Council (FSLC), an organization focused on issues related to direct delivery and route services. Areas of professional specialization include organizational performance, adult education, work design, and human error.

Pollock is a professional member of ASSP and was the 98^th ASSP Society President.  He serves on the advisory boards of the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater Department of Occupational & Environmental Safety. He recently served as Vice President and Director on the BCSP Board and was their representative and President-Elect to the International Network of Safety and Health Professional Organizations. Pollock was also the Vice Chair of the BCSP Foundation.

Pollock graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and is a CSP.

James “Skipper” Kendrick, CSP, CIT, FASSP is President of Kendrick Global Enterprises, LLC a consulting firm specializing in leadership, management systems, safety, education and training processes. Retired from Textron, Inc. as the Global Director of EHS Training, he also served as Corporate Manager of Safety and Industrial Hygiene for Bell Helicopter. Skipper is experienced in the aerospace, manufacturing, maritime, construction industries in addition to being an expert witness.

Kendrick received a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University in 1968 with an emphasis in safety. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Instructional Trainer (CIT) and a recipient of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) highest distinction, that of Fellow (FASSP). In 2019, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the ASSP Region III Safety Hall of Fame. Skipper also received multiple recognitions as Safety Professional of the Year; in 2009, Edgar Monsanto Queeny Safety Professional of the Year, 1998-99 ASSP Region III, 1989-1990 ASSP Fort Worth Chapter and 1985 Greater Baton Rouge Chapter. In 2009, he was recognized by Bongarde as the National Safety Trainer of the Year.

Skipper has served the American Society of Safety Professionals at various levels to include Chapter President (Greater Baton Rouge and Fort Worth), Region III Vice President ultimately being elected to the Society’s Executive Committee culminating as President and Chairman of the Board in 2003-2004. He is the author of ASSP’s original Certificate in Safety Management program and has over 34 years developing, facilitating and conducting a wide variety of professional development and educational programs for the Society.

Sondra Lavoie, CSP, ASP, CHST, STS is a Risk and Loss Control Specialist. She has over 27 years of experience in the construction industry, 13 of them being in safety, risk, and loss control. Lavoie is currently based in Boise, Idaho, and specializes in risk and safety loss control with Moreton and Company. Her passion for safety and understanding the needs for the construction workforce safety has been recognized twice by BCSP with the Award of Excellence in Safety. She is a keynote speaker on several topics regarding effective, intentional, and impactful communication for construction safety.

Lavoie received her Bachelor of Science from Columbia Southern University and was recently honored in an alumni periodical on the challenges of being an adult learner with dyslexia. She has an immense amount of grit and passion for doing a job right. She believes in adaptable leadership, and gives service to multiple safety communities. Lavoie has contributed to the American Society of Safety Professionals as part of the advisory group to the board and to the Board of Certified Professionals as an exam item writer. She can be seen volunteering for various non-profits.

Location: Idaho, USA

Subba Rao Palagummi, CSP, CMIOSH earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, a master’s in occupational safety & health with environment management, and an MBA in safety management. He has an extensive global experience of nearly three decades in implementation of SH&E management systems for oil and gas and other industries in line with international standards.

Palagummi is a CSP and serves as a BCSP Ambassador. He is a Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH) and has a Functional Safety Engineer certification from TUV Rheinland.

Rao is associate with ASSP and serving as Area Director, under Region IX.