This secretive group of professionals fight every day to keep workplaces and workspaces safe so that the rest of us can work without fear of sickness or calamity.
1. Do your friends, family, and
loved ones arrive home every
day in good health and well-
being? If so, it's due largely to
the work of these hidden-in-
plain-sight heroes. This
secretive group of
professionals fight every day
to keep workplaces and
workspaces safe so that the
rest of us can work without
fear of sickness or calamity.
2. UNSUNG HEROES, UNCOMMON PATHWAYS
IH is code for "industrial hygienist," a codename that provides
cover for one of the most important and rewarding jobs on Earth:
protecting people from danger at work and in their communities.
These professionals use the latest breakthroughs in science,
technology, engineering, and research to anticipate potential
threats. Many of these threats surround us on a daily basis, an
unseen enemy IHs are trained to recognize and fight.
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3. FUTURE IH HEROES
Considered part of
the future of the
industrial hygiene
profession, James
and Jordan pursue a
passion in worker
health and safety
while also sustaining
and protecting the
environment around
us.
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4. EXPANDING THEIR LEADERSHIP HORIZONS
Early career
professionals, Melinda
and Marcus have a few
years of experience
under their proverbial
belts. Now they're
expanding their career
outlook by taking the
lead on projects and
volunteer groups, in
hopes the experiences
will elevate them into
future leadership roles
within the profession.
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5. MENTORS AND TEACHERS SHARING
KNOWLEDGE
Seasoned
professionals, both
Ramone and Rebecca
find themselves
immersed in various
pursuits within their
careers. Both have
begun to share their
knowledge and
experience with others
as they establish
themselves as
mentors and leaders
within the profession.
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6. THOUGHT LEADER AND INNOVATOR
At the peak of her career,
Sarah positions herself as
a thought leader, industry
expert, leader, mentor,
and more to many inside
and outside the
profession. She pursues
multiple passions within
her work, providing
influence and experience
to industrial hygiene and
occupational and
environmental health and
safety professionals
worldwide.
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7. THOUGHT LEADER AND INNOVATOR
Retired but not
reclusive, Stephen
enjoys spending his
days relaxing but also
engaged with the
profession he has
loved for decades. A
thought leader and
inspirational innovator,
he provides guidance
and knowledge on key
global topics in the
profession.
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MEET THE
HEROES…
Students
• James and Jordan
Young Professionals
• Melinda and Marcus
Professionals
• Ramone and Rebecca
Senior Professional
• Sarah
Emeritus Professional
• Stephen
IHs are everywhere; here’s
just a fraction of industries
they work in:
• Chemical companies
• Hazardous waste disposal
• Manufacturing facilities
• Colleges and universities
• Government
• Research labs
• Consulting firms
• Aerospace programs
• Hospitals
• Energy companies
• Public utilities
• Insurance companies
• Technology firms
9. MEET JAMES
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Alma Mater: University of Louisiana (BS)
Certifications: None
Interests: basketball, bowling, and SCUBA diving
James grew up the quintessential jock. An accomplished forward on his high school
basketball team, he received a full scholarship to the University of Louisiana, where
he discovered a knack for chemistry. While working for a gas refinery right out of
college, James found a passion for safety and the environment after volunteering to
help with the cleanup of a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
After spending time hearing stories and talking to several influential people at the
volunteer base camp, he decided to enter the field of industrial hygiene. Currently
interning at a major oil company, he is nearing the end of his postdoctoral study and
considering a field position in the oil and gas industry, to better prevent future
environmental and worker accidents.
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10. MEET JORDAN
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Alma Mater: University of Illinois (BA)
Certifications: First Aid/CPR/AED, OSHA 10
Interests: writing, traveling, and photography
Coming from a hardscrabble neighborhood in East St. Louis, Jordan helped support
her family from an early age by working as a dishwasher for a local restaurant. The
management introduced the NIOSH Safety Matters program to the staff; through it,
she felt inspired to do more to help protect her fellow workers.
A gifted writer, Jordan graduated college and worked as a reporter for several
regional magazines, writing comprehensive and award-winning articles on workplace
safety and labor laws. Determined to do even more, she landed a position in a
corporate safety department for a regional construction firm. She is exploring options
for postgraduate education in safety or law, recently acquired her OSHA 10
certificate, and is ready to apply for her Safety Trained Supervisor Construction
(STSC) certification.
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11. MEET MELINDA
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Alma Maters: University of Pittsburgh (BS);
University of Tennessee (MPH)
Certifications: ASP, STS, First Aid/CPR/AED
Interests: Hockey, photography, and gardening
Born to a multi-generational steel mill family, Melinda grew up working in one of
Pittsburgh’s last remaining steel mills. Taking advantage of a union’s scholarship
offer, she went to college as a pre-med student, but quickly found it was not for her.
Switching to a BS in health services, she graduated and was quickly scooped up by a
Tennessee-based consulting firm that recruited her at an AIHce Career Development
fair.
After securing her MPH, she is now part of an advisory team at the construction site
of a large containment facility for the Department of Energy. While her work in
monitoring workplace safety practices and procedures is fulfilling, she is already
looking ahead. She began studying for her CIH and was recently elected as secretary
of her AIHA Local Section.
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12. MEET MARCUS
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Alma Maters: University of Illinois, Chicago (BS);
University of Illinois, Chicago (MS, PhD)
Certifications: OHST
Interests: Hiking and camping, actively involved in local
school board and PTA
Marcus was inspired to build a career in public safety after seeing the debilitating
effects of asbestos in his grandfather’s life. Though he graduated with a BS in biology
and worked in the safety office of a large construction firm, he decided he wanted
more. Intrigued by his prior studies in occupational and environmental health and
safety (OEHS), he diligently pursued and acquired a MS and PhD through UIC’s
OEHS Education and Research Center. The center recently placed him in a position
at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Marcus is actively involved in his AIHA Local Section, helping to organize virtual
workshops on current safety topics and serving on a volunteer committee for the
national association. He is in the midst of acquiring his CIH and is actively looking for
more leadership opportunities.
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13. MEET RAMONE
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Alma Maters: Texas State University (BS);
University of Texas at Austin (PhD)
Certifications: CSP, CET, CIH
Interests: Horseback riding, family camping trips, charity work
Ramone always wanted to be an educator, and started teaching high school science
after earning his BS in education from Texas State. In the aftermath of a major
hurricane, he and his family helped the community recover from the extensive
devastation. Seeing first-hand the lingering health hazards posed by the damage
from the mass flooding, Ramone decided to pursue a PhD in Public Health.
Wanting to help safety professionals and first responders be better prepared, he
joined a consulting firm that instructs IH professionals in new and emerging
technologies. Ramone is now the head of their training division, chairs AIHA’s Indoor
Environmental Quality (IEQ) Committee, and recently contributed to updating AIHA’s
body of knowledge on IAQ practices.
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14. MEET REBECCA
Hometown: Winter Park, Florida
Alma Maters: University of Central Florida (BS);
University of South Florida (MPH, PhD)
Certifications: Epidemiology, CIH, CIC
Interests: Community volunteer work, local theater, travel
After serving in the U.S. Army for four years after high school, Rebecca took
advantage of the educational opportunities offered to achieve a college degree.
Working for a software developer that specialized in health information technology,
she made her first forays into epidemiology. She soon found that she had a knack for
data research and a passion for public health, receiving her master’s and doctoral
degrees in short order.
An active leader within the AIHA Local Section, Rebecca taught future professionals
for several years at UCF before leaving academic life. She is now with a private
consulting firm that works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services on a long-term health technology initiative.
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15. MEET SARAH
Hometown: Norman, Oklahoma
Alma Maters: New York University (BA, BS),
Yale University (MPH, PhD), University of Oregon (PhD)
Certifications: CIH, CSP
Interests: Gardening, family time, local chamber orchestra
A gifted violinist, Sarah attended college on a full music scholarship and graduated with two
degrees: one in music and the other in biology. While trying to start her classical music
career, she answered an ad for an insurance company looking for biology majors. She
spent the next decade inspecting facilities for insurance compliance and learned the
fundamentals of industrial hygiene.
Sarah discovered her life's calling in IH after deployment to Ground Zero's cleanup efforts.
She went onto complete her postgraduate studies and served on AIHA’s Board of Directors
for several years, before relocating her family to the Pacific Northwest when offered an
executive role within a scientific research firm. Now semi-retired, Sarah consults for a few
international manufacturers and she is in constant demand as a keynote speaker at IH
conferences around the world.
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16. MEET STEPHEN
Hometown: Bozeman, Montana
Alma Mater: Montana Tech (BS, MS)
Certifications: CIH, CSP, CAE, LEED
Interests: Mountain climbing, skiing, hunting
Fascinated with adventure from early on, Stephen loved to mountain climb around the
United States with his father. He graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering and took a
job in Canada, working at remote mining sites in the far northern reaches. After several
years as a health and safety coordinator, he returned to the USA to further his education.
Intrigued with the rising interest in sustainability, he joined a regional firm and spent several
years working towards transforming mining sites into a more ‘green’ platform. Stephen
eventually retired as a top executive for a multi-national consulting firm and a leading
expert in strategic sustainability. He also spent several years on the Board of Directors of
AIHA and the Product Stewardship Society and now actively advances sustainability
strategies through public policies and legislation at the state and territorial levels in the USA
and Canada.
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17. BE AN IH HERO!
Wondering what it's like
to be an IH Hero?
Step alongside one of
our heroes and see if
you can save the refinery
from destruction!
Earn your Hero Gear to
become an IH Hero!
Along the way, you'll learn about the 5 core tenants of industrial
hygiene and occupational health and safety science: Anticipate,
Recognize, Evaluate, Control, and Confirm (ARECC).
Got what it takes to get the gear and save the city?
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Click here to learn more.