Browse Speakers

ALVIN LAL, CUPA Manager - Stanislaus County DER

Alvin Lal is the CUPA Manager at Stanislaus County Environmental Resources. He is a CSTI Certified Hazardous Materials Specialist and oversees the CUPA Programs, Site Mitigation, Emergency Response and the Household Hazardous Waste Programs at Stanislaus County. He is also a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and was a health Inspector with the County from 2005 to 2010. Alvin Lal is a Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator and Chairs Central Valley Chemical Safety Day Committee in Modesto Ca. He has a wealth of experience in Hazardous Materials, Food Safety, Audits and Inspections. Alvin has a B.S in Biological Science with concentration in microbiology.

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ARLEEN GURFIELD, Supervising Environmental Health Specialist - San Diego County DEHQ

My name is Arleen Gurfield. I have worked for the County of San Diego for over 15 years and am currently a Supervising Environmental Health Specialist for the Hazardous Materials Division (HMD). I have been an SEHS for over 5 years and oversee the inspection, compliance, and enforcement of 3,500 facilities. I am also the technical lead for hazardous and medical wastes in San Diego County, specializing in Healthcare Facilities, Shooting Ranges, and Universities.

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DARWIN CHENG, Director - Orange County EH

Darwin Cheng is the Assistant Director for Orange County Environmental Health. He has 24 years of environmental compliance experience. He is also responsible for overall administration of Food and Pool Safety, Unified Programs, Land and Water Quality Programs. He is a CSTI Outreach Instructor for FRA, FRO and Hazardous Materials Technician. He has a B.S. Microbiology Degree from Cal. State Long Beach and a Juris Doctor from Western States University College of Law.

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DENNIS KARIDIS, Supervising Environmental Specialist - Sacramento County EMD

I was a CUPA evaluator with the California Environmental Protection Agency from 2001-2005 and have been an Environmental Specialist/Supervising Environmental Specialist with Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) from 2005-present. My current duties include supervising EMD's incident response team, enforcement program, California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) program, and hazardous materials/waste programs. I am the Secretary on the CUPA Forum Board (CFB) and a representative for the Bay Area region. As a CFB member I am a co-chair on the CalARP and Enforcement steering committee's and participate in a number of other working/advisory groups.

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DIANA NGUYEN, Industrial Hygienist - Los Angeles City Fire Dept

My name is Diana Nguyen. I am an Industrial Hygienist for the Los Angeles City Fire Department CUPA. I provide support to our program and inspectors on chemical and occupational safety, develop department policies and procedures, and respond to hazardous materials incidents.

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ERIK CHENG, Hazardous Materials Specialist I - Los Angeles County Fire

Erik Cheng Hazardous Materials Specialist III Los Angeles County Fire Health Hazmat Division Review documents and Hazardous Materials Business Plans in the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS) Interpret, explain, and enforce hazardous materials and waste control laws and regulations Regulatory oversight of the following Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPA) programs (includes complex sites with multiple program elements): Hazardous materials and waste control, tiered permitting, hazardous waste recycling, and aboveground storage tanks (APSA) Analyze data from samples for hazardous waste determination Conduct inspections and investigations at PBR facilities and annual reauthorized their tiered permitting operations Provide technical guidance and assistance to staff

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FREDERICK CHUN, Assistant Fire Marshal - Santa Clara City Fire Dept

Frederick Chun, Assistant Fire Marshal, Santa Clara City Fire Department

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GARY CANTWELL, Environmental Health Supervisor - Yuba County EH

Gary is from Chico and a 2004 CSU, Chico graduate with a degree in Biology. He has been with the Yuba County Environmental Health Department in the CUPA program since 2005. He has been the Environmental Health Supervisor since September 2016.

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HEATHER TANNER, Enforcement Coordinator - Sacramento County EMD

Heather Tanner, Environmental Specialist, Sacramento Environmental Management Department, Environmental Compliance Division (CUPA). Enforcement Coordinator

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JASON PARKER, Inspector 1 - Los Angeles City Fire Dept

Jason Parker is Fire Inspector I with the Los Angeles Fire Department CUPA.

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JENNA HARTMAN, Environmental Scientist - State Water Board

Jenna is an Environmental Scientist at the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, UST Leak Prevention Unit.

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JEREMY DAVIS, HAZMAT Assistant Fire Marshal - Santa Clara County Fire

Jeremy Davis, Hazardous Materials Assistant Fire Marshal, Santa Clara County Fire Department. I oversee and direct the development, organization, coordination and implementation of hazardous materials, fire investigation, and CUPA Programs. Supervise, evaluate and train Prevention and Fire Suppression Personnel in the area of fire investigation and hazardous materials. Respond to fires and hazardous materials incidents.Conduct fire prevention duties including but not limited to inspections and origin and cause investigations and enforcement of laws relating to fire prevention and fire suppression. Detection and apprehension of persons who have violated any fire law or committed insurance fraud.

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JUSTIN TAO, Hazardous Materials Specialist - Los Angeles County Fire

Justin Tao Hazardous Materials Specialist LA County Fire HHMD I am a CUPA inspector conducting inspections in Hazardous Materials Business Plan, Hazardous Waste, Tiered Permitting, and Aboveground Petroleum Storage Act.

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KRISTEN WARD, Deputy Fire Marshal - San Bernardino County Fire

Kristen Ward is an Assistant Fire Marshal for San Bernardino County Fire Department's CUPA Program. She has over 20 years of experience in the Unified Program. She currently supervises 15 dynamic inspection staff who are responsible for implementation of the Certified Unified Program. Kristen is an active member of the California CUPA Forum. She was the CUPA Forum Board Chair in 2015/2016. At this time, Kristen is focusing on her responsibilities as the Statewide Training Issue Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Annual Unified Program Training Conference.

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LEE KIRBY, Hazardous Materials Specialist - Downey Fire Dept

Lee Kirby Hazardous Materials Specialist / Fire Inspector Downey Fire Department Responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating Hazardous Materials Business Plan and California Accidental Release Prevention programs. Provide technical expertise on fire code regulations related to the storage, use, and handling of hazardous materials; perform hazard analysis and reviews. Conduct plan review and fire-life safety inspections for various occupancies and perform emergency response to hazardous materials releases coordinating spill mitigation and clean-up.

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LEON WIRSCHEM, Supervising EHS, HMS - San Diego County DEHQ

I am a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and Hazmat Specialist working for the County of San Diego DEHQ Hazardous Materials Division (HMD). I respond to chemical, biological or radiological emergencies, assist CUPA with sampling and enforcement and respond to complaints that impact public or environmental health. I work with regulatory agencies at the federal, state and local level in San Diego for various issues. I also conducts inspections for the Household hazardous waste program I now serve as a Hazardous Incident Responder for San Diego DEHQ. I've spent 23 years with DEHQ and have worked as a compliance inspector, Enforcement Coordinator and Emergency Responder among other roles. I spent several years on the Hazardous Waste TAG and currently serve as ER TAG co-chair. Outside of work the family enjoys sports. My boys play baseball and beach volleyball for their school/college.

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MARIO TRESIERRAS, Division Chief - Los Angeles County Fire

Mario Tresierras - Chief, Health Hazardous Materials Division, Los Angeles County Fire Department, 5825 Rickenbacker Road Commerce, CA 90040 - Mario is currently the Chief of the Health Hazardous Materials Division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He earned his bachelors and masters degrees in Environmental & Occupational Health in 1993 and 2000. He is in charge of the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) that oversees the regulation of the hazardous materials and waste regulatory programs including emergency response. Chief Tresierras spent 13-years in the Inspection Program, 7-years as a supervisor in emergency response, two-years as the Assistant Chief in the Administration and Planning Section and promoted to Division Chief in 2019. He is also a member of the statewide CUPA Forum Board and as the Participating Agency Representative. As a Board Member he is the co-issue coordinator for emergency response and disaster preparedness throughout the State of California. Mario believes in and supports the divisions mission statement; To protect the publics health and the environment throughout Los Angeles County from accidental releases and improper handling, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials and wastes through coordinated efforts of inspections, enforcement, site mitigation and emergency response.

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MAXWELL WAGNER, Hazardous Material Specialist I - Stanislaus County DER

Maxwell Wagner, Hazardous Material Specialist I, Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Resources, Hazardous Material Specialist & CUPA Inspector

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MIGUEL ZEPEDA, ARP Engineer - Contra Costa County HS

My name is Miguel Zepeda, I am an Accidental Release Prevention Engineer for Contra Costa County Health Services. My job takes me to industrial facilities within the county that are subject to the CalARP regulation. As a CalARP engineer, I audit the process safety programs at chemical plants, petroleum refineries, power plants, and facilities that use ammonia as a refrigerant.

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NICHOLAS CRAIN, Program Chief - Riverside County DEH

Nick Crain has been with the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health for over 13 years and has over 15 years of experience in the field of hazardous materials. He is currently the CUPA program manager for Riverside County. Nick also represents Southern California on the CUPA Forum Board, serving as a co-Issue Coordinator for the Hazardous Waste program.

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