Amit is a seasoned Environmental and Regulatory Compliance professional with 25 years of widely varied experience in the industry. Over the past 4 years, Amit and his team at EnviroApps are making the transportation of hazardous materials safer in Canada through digitalization of Shipping Papers. Regulations require Hazmat Shipping Papers to accompany hazardous materials during their transport, however, when an emergency occurs, Emergency Responders cannot access these paper documents from the Truck. EnviroApps is also making shipping compliance easier, thereby saving time and costs.
Mark A Bruce CHMM, CSHM is an experienced environmental, health, and safety consultant with over 38 years of experience in the industry. As owner and managing member of Bruce Environmental & Response Management, LLC (BERM) since 2017, Mark has advised numerous industrial and construction clients on numerous compliance issues relating to OSHA, EPA, and the DOT. His expertise lies in delivering positive outcomes for clients backed by nearly four decades of emergency response management, environmental remediation, and safety program experience. Mr. Bruce is an accomplished trainer of EH&S programs as well as an experienced on-site leader for environmental remediation and construction project oversite. He was honored by the industry by becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Hazardous Materials Managers (IHMM) where he continues to volunteer time in the promotion of professional credentials. Mark is a long-standing member of the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP), including a Fellow of the Alliance as the past Chair (2020) of the Board of Directors. Mark holds a BS in Business Administration and Emergency Management from the State University of New York (SUNY), Empire State College, and an AS in Math and Science Technologies from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY. Mr. Bruce is a Certified Hazardous Materials Professional (CHMM) and a Certified Safety and Health Manager, which are accredited credentials from the IHMM.
As President of Specialty Transportation and Regulatory Services (STARS), a hazardous materials consulting firm, Ms. Buckley is a dedicated hazardous materials transportation expert committed to protecting workers, citizens, the environment, and capital assets by improving safety, increasing regulatory compliance and managing risk. She has a Master Certificate in Project Management, a Master of Science in Environmental, Safety, & Health Management, and over 20 years of experience with private industry and state and federal agencies. Ms. Buckley travels around North America speaking about hazardous materials and transportation issues important to the industry and is the proud recipient of numerous leadership and business awards including: Woman of the Year, Top Professional of the Year, Top Female Executive, and others.
Larry D. Buffey, Jr. is the Principal Product Stewardship & Dangerous Goods Compliance Leader at AdvanSix, a diversified resins and chemical company. Larry began his career as an Ecological Research Assistant at the University of Michigan, where he designed and planned research studies on threatened animal species. He also developed management plans in collaboration with MDNR and other stakeholders. With over 12 years of experience in Product Stewardship, Larry specializes in analyzing chemical risks. He has served as the lead for Dangerous Goods compliance for more than 10 years and is an integral part of AdvanSix's Incident Management Team, known as M.O.T.E.R. Larry holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and a master’s degree in Ecology and Felid Biology, both from the University of Michigan.
Allison Chertack is an Associate Director of Plastics Life Cycle and Sustainability within the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division. She is responsible for positioning the benefits of plastics through life cycle assessments, data analyses, and science communication. She leads the division’s work on Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), a global plastic resin stewardship program, that is working to achieve zero plastic resin loss to the environment. Prior to ACC, Allison worked for a plastics distribution company in environmental health and safety in her hometown of Buffalo, NY. Allison holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and a Master of Science in Sustainability Systems.
Brent Conerly is the Shipping Supervisor at TotalEnergies Petrochemicals and Refining USA, Inc. Carville, LA Styrenics site. This site manufactures and ships Polystyrene pellets. He is responsible for planning, directing, supervising and managing the Shipping function, which involves the physical movements and quality assurance of products. Brent has been an employee of TotalEnergies for 35 years holding positions in Operations, Training, Maintenance and Shipping. Brent has also held the role of OCS coordinator for the site since 2019.
As International Business Director, Rich joined CHEMTREC 5 years ago and draws on over 20 years of experience working with hundreds of public and private sector organizations who have complex risk and compliance challenges. Customer collaboration is key in his role, as is a close relationship with regulators and strategic partners to help companies minimize their risk. Rich makes complex challenges simple, supporting compliance all whilst protecting their bottom line.
Charles “Chuck” Demovic is the Stakeholder Engagement Branch Manager of the Policy, Standards, and Stakeholder Division, with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (AXH). The Stakeholder Engagement Branch focuses on safety promotion, AXH's commitment to collaborate with aviation hazardous materials stakeholders to reduce risk to the National Airspace System (NAS) through education and communication partnership efforts. Charles has more than 23 years of experience in Federal Service and 5 years working for County and City governments.
Chris oversees the sales process of the Lithium & Hazmat division. In this role, Chris communicates and leads projects for some of Americase's largest clients, in addition to effectively coordinating and executing the full sales process with our hazmat customers. However, his biggest priority is acting as an essential customer advocate, consulting in regard to hazmat regulation, drawing from his active memberships and participation in multiple industry and standards organizations, including COSTHA, PRBA, DGAC, UN Subcommittee on the Reclassification of Li-ion and Metal Cells, as well as serving as a writing and voting member of SAE G-27 and J3303, and an advisor for the MDTC.
Bruce Gacsal is the Senior Director of Security for Quality Carriers, the largest specialty chemical & hazardous material bulk hauler in North America. Bruce is a security expert with over three decades of experience in the security industry. He provides training to organizations and civilians on Active Shooter events, educating on how to respond and survive during these attacks. He also provides training on Human Trafficking, educating individuals and heightening awareness on what Human Trafficking is and how to respond and report this criminal behavior. Throughout his career, Bruce has designed and implemented effective security programs for various environments including fixed assets, transportation enterprises and personal protection. He has developed comprehensive training platforms for employees and civilians on fraud, social engineering, workplace violence, emergency preparedness and natural disaster contingency planning. Bruce has been recognized in the industry and has frequently received invitations to provide his expertise at various national conferences including Dow’s national conference where he received the 2019 Humanitarian of the Year award.
Megan’s career has spanned the 35 years in the petrochemical industry. Working prior for LyondellBasell, and Lubrizol to assist with transportation of hazardous materials as well as planning for mitigation of incidents. This is where her bond with CHEMTREC began. Megan’s current role expanded to Nouryon Chemical, LLC., in International Transportation Safety, Compliance and Emergency Response, where she is at the Supply Chain Headquarters in Houston, Texas. Megan’s MBA is from the University of Phoenix, and is currently working on her Hazardous Materials Manager certification. Megan is a state of Texas Industrial Firefighter, and HazMat Specialist. Prior to the petrochemical industry, her career was in law enforcement with the Chicago Police Department. Megan believes that being a mother to twelve children prepared her for her career in hazmat.
Mr. Clayton Hatfield brings over 35 years of transportation experience to his current position as the Chief, Field Outreach and Engagement of PHMSA. Prior to becoming Chief, Field Outreach and Engagement in October 2023, Mr. Hatfield served as a Southern Region Investigator from 2018 to 2023, and as an outreach coordinator on PHMSA’s Hazardous Materials Safety Assistance Team (HMSAT) from 2015-2018. Clayton joined PHMSA’s office of HAZMAT Safety in November 2015 in the Southern Region. Prior to joining PHMSA, Clayton was a transportation specialist for the US Navy in Virginia Beach, VA. His responsibilities included the safe and timely movement of all command operational gear and personnel to worldwide locations. He instructed and evaluated command personnel on the worldwide transportation of hazardous materials for multi modal shipment. Clayton enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1984 and served 20 years on active duty as an Aircraft loadmaster with a three-year assignment as a mission planner at Fort Bragg, NC; he retired from active duty and moved to Virginia Beach where he was a Transportation Specialist for Naval Special Warfare Command. Clayton has earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Aviation Operations from the Community College of the Air Force and a Bachelor of Science from Excelsior College. Mr. Hatfield is married to his wife, Tracy; He has two children, daughter Cayla and son Conner both resides in the Atlanta area.
Matthew Houston is currently the Dangerous Goods Transportation Safety - ESS Americas Compliance Leader at Honeywell. He has a total 17 years of hazmat transportation experience ranging from individual shipments of all modes to governance of dangerous goods transportation safety. Through the years he has held positions as Sr. Specialist, Transportation Regulatory Compliance, Transportation Emergency Response Core Team Leader, Electronics Logistics Team Lead, Import / Export Specialist, Import / Export Coordinator and Export Customer Service Representative. Matthew lives in New Jersey with his wife and five children. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration from Rutgers University.
Dr. Christopher Hoyte is the Medical Director of the Rocky Mountain Poison Center and Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology, and Pharmacology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr Hoyte is also the Fellowship Director of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety Medical Toxicology Fellowship Program. He is the current President of the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, serves on the editorial board of Clinical Toxicology, and the Medical Toxicology Sub-Board of the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He is also the Associate Vice Chair for Academic Affairs for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado Hospital. His research interest is in discovering better ways to deliver care to poisoned patients. He completed his emergency medicine residency at the Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, his medical toxicology fellowship at the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center in Denver, Colorado, and his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Colorado.
Shane Kelley currently serves as the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety’s Director for Standards and Rulemaking. In this role, he employs over twenty years of experience developing and implementing hazardous materials standards on a domestic and global scale. During his many years in public service, Shane has enjoyed working closely the regulated community and with DOT’s intermodal and interagency partners and public stakeholders to effectively advocate for safety standards that are in the public interest. He previously served as the Office’s Assistant International Standards Coordinator and maintains an active role in facilitating development of a safe and efficient global hazmat transportation system. In his spare time, Shane enjoys doing volunteer work for his church alongside of his wife Diana and playing the trumpet. Shane holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in chemistry from Columbia Union College.
Pete Kirk has worked for Dow Chemical since 1990. In 1991, he deployed to Operation Desert Storm with his Michigan National Guard 146th Military Police Unit. After his return, he continued his work at Dow Chemical, and graduated from Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan with a BA degree in Criminal Justice. Over his career he has worked in several different roles within the Emergency Services and Security Department, in the Michigan Operations of Dow Chemical. Pete is a volunteer firefighter, EMT-B and HAZMAT Technician. He is an instructor around the United States on TRANSCAER® Training Tours, and a Fire Instructor at the Midland County Fire Academy. Pete has instructed at the Michigan Department of Homeland Security HAZMAT Training Center in Lansing Michigan. Pete is currently the North American Emergency Services and Security Operations Leader for Dow Chemical. Pete lives in Midland, Michigan with his wife Lisa of 35 years. Pete has two sons.
With over 12 years of experience in Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) sales and consulting, Nick has established a robust career dedicated to promoting and implementing best practices within the industrial manufacturing and oil and gas sectors. Specializing in environmental best practices he has consistently delivered solutions that not only ensure compliance with regulatory standards but also enhance operational efficiency and sustainability for clients. Throughout his career, Nick has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by the industrial manufacturing and oil and gas industries. His expertise includes conducting thorough HSE assessments, developing comprehensive safety programs, and providing strategic consulting services aimed at minimizing environmental impact while maximizing safety and productivity. Nick's extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in these fields have made him a trusted advisor to numerous organizations, helping them navigate complex regulatory landscapes and adopt innovative practices that drive long-term success. His commitment to excellence and continuous improvement has earned him a reputation as a leader in HSE sales and consulting, with a proven track record of delivering measurable results.
Andrew LaVanway is responsible for the strategic direction and performance of CHEMTREC as well as leading the senior management team. Andrew came to CHEMTREC from ICF, where he led a series of mission-driven businesses serving both public- and private-sector clients. He is an active angel investor, former chairman of the Alexandria Public Health Advisory Commission, a certified firefighter, and an emergency medical services officer.
Mr. Leary is an international transportation specialist with the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Over the last 15-plus years Mr. Leary has become a recognized expert on U.S. and international hazardous materials transportation regulations particularly those related to lithium batteries. He participates as part of the U.S. delegation at international transportation forums including the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, and the International Civil Aviation Organization Dangerous Goods Panel.
Mr. Leney received his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech and entered the environmental industry in 1995. Early in his career he worked on traditional remediation projects but before long he was pulled into a group focused on emergency response. Over the following 28 years he has worked on projects ranging from chemical fires to tanker rollovers to plane crashes. He is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager and served on the Board of Directors for the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Managers. He has volunteered as a Technical Information Specialist with Texas Task Force 2 Urban Search and Rescue. He is currently the Vice President at Cura Emergency Services.
Douglas LeValley is a 42-year veteran of the fire service. He serves as division chief of special projects for the Seminole Tribe Fire Rescue Department, which is headquartered in Hollywood, FL. Previously, he served with Fort Lauderdale, FL, Fire Rescue for over 29 years and as a team leader for FEMA South Florida Task Force II USAR. LeValley has been a fire service educator for more than three decades. He has served as a consultant for the branches of the military in the discipline of downrange hazmat recon, identification, and mitigation.
Mark is responsible for providing policy and enforcement guidance to FRA and State partner railroad hazardous materials inspectors and staff regarding transporting hazardous materials by rail. Additionally, Mark is also responsible for the administration of FRA’s Safety Compliance and Coordination Program (SCCOP) for the transportation of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLRW). Mark joined the FRA in January 2017 with over 20 years of transportation and hazardous materials emergency response and incident management experience. Before joining FRA, Mark worked for over 13 years at Union Pacific Railroad as Manager of Hazardous Materials Management. Before joining Union Pacific in 2003, he worked for Del Monte Foods as Transportation Manager—Central States Distribution from 1996 to 2002. Mark is a US Army veteran who obtained the rank of Captain (03) during his service, and he held qualifications in nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare and logistics. Mark has a B.A. from Northeastern Illinois University.
Prior to taking on the additional responsibilities in early 2023 Beth has been the Risk Manager for the TriCal Group of Companies since late 2018. Prior to that she has held various underwriting and management positions at Chubb, Ironshore and AIG, specifically in the Environmental and Large Casualty areas. AIG is where she “met” her current employer and she previously insured them through her AIG and Ironshore tenures. Beth also formed RCS Indemnity in 2020 which is the group’s single parent Captive. Beth is a graduate of Northwestern University, completed her CPCU in 1993 and is the 4th generation of her family in the insurance business. She has 2 daughters as well as 2 grandchildren and lives with her husband and kittens in Redondo Beach, CA.
Aaron Montgomery, a stalwart in the environmental and chemical services industry for over two decades, proudly leads OURAY as its President & CEO. His expertise has garnered international recognition, with appearances and interviews on platforms such as the BBC and Global Business Report. Aaron's journey began as an environmental technician, before steadily climbing the industry ladder to roles of increasing responsibility, including supervisor, Project Manager, and Director. In 2011, fueled by a deep understanding of industry needs and a commitment to excellence, he founded OURAY to fill critical service gaps and elevate industry standards. Today, OURAY stands as a global leader, with headquarters in Denver, USA, and Singapore, and a network of strategically positioned offices worldwide. Offering a comprehensive range of services to clients in chemical manufacturing, shipping, and transportation, OURAY specializes in emergency response, transloading, certified rail car repairs, and bespoke chemical services. Aaron's vision and leadership continue to drive OURAY's mission of delivering unparalleled support to the chemical industry worldwide, ensuring environmental safety and regulatory compliance.
Mr. Nichols brings over 30 years of transportation inspection, enforcement experience to his position as Field Outreach Coordinator for the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA), Office of Hazardous Materials Safety Field Operations, Western Region Office. Prior to his arrival to PHMSA, Mr. Nichols spent 12 years with the United States Air Force as a Transportation Specialist. Upon completion of his military tour of duty, Marc performed emergency response responsibilities with an area of focus on cylinder reclamation and radioactive materials. Marc joined PHMSA’s Southern Region and a Compliance Investigator in June 2003. Prior to becoming the Field Outreach Coordinator, Marc has held the positions of Director for Western Region from 2015 to 2021 and Southern Region’s National Lead for the System Integrity Safety Program (SISP) from 2007 – 2014. As the national lead, his duties included developing and implementing in-depth analyses of companies that have a higher-than-normal hazardous material incident rate. Additionally, he held the position of Chief Investigator for Southern Region from Start – Finish. Marc co-founded and was the head coach of The Running Panthers Track Club (RPTC), of Clayton County GA, a nonprofit organization with a mission of developing male and female athletes, mentally, spiritually, and physically.
Allison Norris is an LM Fellow for Lockheed Martin Corporation where she is part of the Corporate Environment, Safety, Health (ESH) and Sustainability organization. Allison is a board-certified safety professional with over 20 years of ESH experience. She is the Lockheed Martin corporate subject matter expert for hazardous materials transport and commercial motor vehicle safety and leads occupational safety and explosives safety initiatives. Allison’s role is to solve complex challenges associated with transportation and ESH program execution to ensure Lockheed Martin businesses exceed compliance with regulatory and customer requirements. She is responsible for the implementation and oversight of many corporate-level programs and provides support and guidance to the enterprise.
Mike Pagel is a Senior Consultant with HazMat Safety Consulting. As a dangerous goods consultant, Mike partners with clients to improve their hazmat transportation programs. This includes creating customized training courses, conducting on-site transportation compliance audits, general consulting support, assistance with Special Permits & Approvals, and developing company shipping procedures. Mike supports a range of clients with lithium battery transport and storage compliance, including producers of medical devices, battery recyclers, electric vehicle makers, packaging manufacturers, and consumer electronics companies. Mike started in the industry in 2012 at PHMSA’s Hazardous Materials Information Center (HMIC) at DOT HQ in Washington, DC. For two years, Mike supported the HMIC by answering thousands of questions on PHMSA’s Hazardous Materials Regulations. In this role, Mike worked directly with PHMSA Rulemaking, Approvals & Permits, and Technical staff. Mike is currently based in Milwaukee, WI.
A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Paramedic Program in 1994, Matt served 20 years as a Paramedic Firefighter ending his career at the Augusta Fire Department in 2012. Transitioning to the industrial sector, Matt managed the Emergency Response Team and worked as a safety professional at the Nutrien Nitrogen facility in Augusta. Four years ago, he shifted to his current position as the Emergency Response and Preparedness Manager for Nutrien’s global operations. In this capacity, Matt supports Nutrien’s site teams with emergency response planning, training, organizational structure, and guidance during actual events. Additionally, Matt oversees the Transportation Emergency Response Team for Nutrien’s Emergency Response Assistance Program in Canada. This 50-member team specializes in responding to transportation emergencies, utilizing advanced training and technology to enhance response efficiency and community safety. Active in the National TRANSCAER Task Group (NTTG) for the past four years, Matt has contributed to several national TRANSCAER training events.
More than 10 years of experience in providing efficient and effective solutions on issues related to foreign trade, national and international transport and storage. I am leading a group of very capable people and professionals with a lot of love for what they do. For 6 years we undertook the division of dangerous goods, providing integral solutions for their packaging, handling, storage and transportation, according to compliance with applicable laws. I have a certification as an instructor by the IATA (International Air Transport Association) to provide training for the transport of dangerous goods by air; having trained more than 100 Mexican companies from different types of industries.
In 1995, Mercedes Ramirez Johnson narrowly survived a commercial airplane crash that killed 160 people, including her parents. As one of only four survivors of this tragedy, she vowed that she would make her second chance at life count and that she has - not only for herself, but also for the tens of thousands of people who have heard her story and her message. Transformational, passionate, inspiring and genuine. That is how clients and audiences describe Mercedes and her programs. Many speakers who have overcome great adversity are deeply inspiring, but rarely offer their audiences more than momentary motivation. Content-driven presenters provide practical advice, but are often short on inspiration. Mercedes offers both. Weaving workable solutions throughout an emotionally compelling story, she touches people's hearts and minds. Her proprietary Second Chance Living concept, an innovative mindset and approach with a proven track record, offers participants a blueprint for change along with specific tools they can use immediately in their professional and personal endeavors. In addition, her message that experience is no guarantee is having a tangible and powerful impact on safety initiatives and programs across the country.