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Teams & Committees

Join an ABSA committee!

 Professional Development Team

Team Leader: Michelle McKinney, MS, CBSP

Educational Operations Commitee (EOC)

Kelly Flint
Cheryl Lemanski

Provide quality, relevant biosafety education to ABSA members and other practitioners. The committee will develop courses, serve as facilitators, review course content and handouts, on-site coordination of the course, and summarize evaluations from the course.

Instructional Technologies Committee

Mary Jo Lanzillotta, MS, RBP, CBSP
Stacey Kraemer

Continue to develop the ability of ABSA to provide quality training through various delivery methods.

Instructional Resources Committee

Madeline Dalrymple, RBP
Carol McGhan,MPG, CBSP

Develop additional individuals with training expertise to ensure the continued availability of quality training.

Curriculum Development Committee

Esmeralda Prat, RBP
Betsy Weirich, MS, CBSP

Provide continuous evaluation, review and upgrading of education and educational content.

Publications Committee

Karen Byers, MS, RBP, CBSP

Publish Applied Biosafety and other biosafety publications.

 Defining the Profession Team

Team Leader: Rich Rebar

Mentoring Committee

Melissa Morland, RBP, CBSP

Facilitate the creation of mentoring relationships within ABSA, between a mentee who wishes to enhance their biosafety knowledge in specific areas, and a mentor. The Committee's goal is to solicit knowledgeable ABSA members willing to volunteer as mentors, and match up interested parties. The Committee will also solicit feedback on the process in order to track the effectiveness and make improvements.

Registration Committee

Betty Kupskay, MS, RBP

Recognize biosafety professionals through credentialing. Review applications for registration as a biological safety professional. Determine if applicant meets established criteria.

Certification Maintenance Committee

Ray Hackney, DrPH, CBSP

Develop the continuing education criteria necessary for Certified Biological Safety Professionals (CBSPs) to maintain their certification and for administering the recertification process. Criteria for serving on this committee include being an active status CBSP.

Historical Committee

Joseph Kozlovac, MS, RBP, CBSP

Compile, record, preserve, and make available the history of ABSA.

 Management Team

Team Leader: Debbie Hunt, DrPH, RBP, CBSP

Affiliate Relations Committee (ARC)

John Balog, BS, RBP

Assists, advises and coordinates the Affiliate and International affiliate petition process with the respective petitioning organizations according to criteria approved by the ABSA Council. Serves as liaison between ABSA and it's affiliated organizations. Convenes a meeting of delegates of affiliated organizations at the Annual Conference. Makes recommendations to the ABSA Council on matters affecting Affiliate and International Affiliate policy.

Awards Committee

Elizabeth Gilman Duane, MS, RBP, CBSP

Provide the names of nominees for the Arnold G. Wedum Distinguished Achievement Award, Everett Hanel, Jr. Presidential Award, the John H. Richardson Special Recognition Award, and the Knudsen Award to the ABSA Council for review and approval.

Bylaws Committee

Erin Dunn

Review the By-Laws, propose amendments, and review other matters related to the By-Laws

Website Committee

Melina Kinsey, RBP, CBSP

Facilitate the continued development and oversight of the ABSA website as a fundamental means of communication for ABSA members and other practitioners.

Finance Committee

Leslie Delpin, RBP, CBSP

Make recommendations to the Council on matters concerning financial policy, fiscal performance, financial statements, investment of funds, and other financial matters.

Marketing and PR

David Eagleson

Promote and publicize the efforts of ABSA. Increase awareness of the field of biosafety. Develop a media plan and support documentation, develop promotional pieces on biosafety and ABSA, contact suitable organizations, associations, agencies and media for alliances.

Membership Committee

James Klenner, RBP, CBSP

Promote membership in ABSA, publish and maintain a membership directory.

Nominating Committee

Bob Hawley, PhD, RBP, CBSP

Prepare a slate of candidates for officers, Councilors, and at-large members of the Nominating Committee. Nominating Committee members are elected.

Philanthropic Committee

Craig Welence, MPH, CBSP

Identify and facilitate philanthropic activity which fosters the awareness, evolution, and practice of biosafety in underserved areas; e.g., via provision of biosafety education and information, technical expertise, safety equipment, PPE, or technical services.

 Alliance Team

Team Leader: Jeffrey Owens, MPH, CBSP

AALAS: Jeffrey Owens

ACS: Jennifer Wright

AIHA: Dina Matz, CBSP

APIC: Bernie Menue, MEd

ASM: Karen Byers, MS, RBP,CBSP

CDC: Shanna Nesby, DVM, MPH

CSHEMA: Matt Finucane, MS

EPA: Joe Kozlovac, MS, RBP, CBSP

FBI: Jim Klenner, RBP, CBSP

Griffin Foundation: Elizabeth Gilman Duane, MS, RBP, CBSP

OSHA: Rich Rebar, RBP, CBSP, Penny Holeman, MPH, RBP, CBSP

Sandia National Laboratories: Jennifer Gaudioso, PhD

USDA: Julie Johnson, PhD, CBSP

WHO: Stefan Wagener, PhD, RBP, CBSP

UN: Mary Cipriano, MBS, RBP, CBSP

Develop criteria and formal structures for alliances, including the expectations from the cooperating organizations.

 Regulatory & Technical Affairs Team

Team Leader: Andy Braun, ScD, RBP

Regulatory Review Committee

Develop and implement an effective method for reviewing and commenting on issues or regulatory concerns that impact the ABSA membership or the health or safety of the environment. Respond to requests for comments by regulatory agencies proposing new or amended regulations. Develop "white papers" and other guidance documents.

Technical Review (ad hoc)

 Conference Services Team

Team Leader: Barbara Fox Nellis

Exhibitors Advisory Committee

Steve Sowa

Make recommendations to the Council concerning issues relating to exhibitors and event sponsors. Solicit new exhibitors and sponsors.

Local Arrangements Committee

2008 Reno: Mike Kivistik, MS, Martha Mcrae, MS
2009 Miami: Jairo Betancourt, RBP
2010 Denver: Lolly Gardiner

Select and coordinate arrangements for upcoming conferences. Work begins at least three years prior to the conference date. Often members of this committee work or live in the city where the conference will be held.

Scientific Program Committee

Barbara Fox Nellis, RBP, CBSP

Solicit submissions for platform presentations and poster sessions for the annual conference, submit nominees for the Wedum and Eagleson Lectures. The SPC shall also request applications for the Gross Memorial Award, select moderators for each of the platform presentation sessions and actively encourages all presenters to prepare and submit papers for publication in the ABSA Journal, Applied Biosafety.

Want to join a committee?

Join a Committee

Have you ever considered joining a committee? When you choose to serve on a volunteer committee, you open up a world of possibilities for networking, professional growth, and career opportunities while serving your profession. Volunteer member groups are the backbone of the association. They:

  • Serve as a forum for exchange of information
  • Advance the science in all specialties of biosafety
  • Develop guidelines and standards
  • Provide education and training; and,
  • Link ABSA to many other institutions.

You should explore committees in areas of the profession where you are active or have an interest. There is a great variety; you can be sure to find one of interest to you. Please review the list of committees and identify those areas that you have some interest in participating in or contact the chair of the committee you are interested in to finding out more information about the committee's goals. You are also invited to attend the committee's meeting during our national conference or at any other time (all committee meetings are open).


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