2011 Elections Ballot
The 2011 Election Ballot will be e-mailed to ABSA members through Zoomerang. If you have not received a ballot, please contact the ABSA Office at info@absa.org.
Nominations for President-Elect
Barbara Fox Nellis, (SM)NRCM, RBP, CBSP (bio)
Rich Rebar, MS, RBP, CBSP (bio)
Nominations for Treasurer
Sarah McAbee (bio)
Rosamond (Ros) Rutledge-Burns, MS, MS, GSP, SM(NRCM), CBSP (bio)
Nominations for Councilor
Robert A. Heckert, BSc(Ag), DVM, PhD, CBSP, SM(NRCM) (bio)
Melissa Morland, RBP, CBSP (bio)
Nominations for Nominating Committee
Jyl Burgener, RBP, CBSP (bio)
A. Lynn Harding, MPH, CBSP (bio)
Julie A. Johnson, PhD, CBSP (bio)
James W. Klenner, MSc, MPH, MPA, RBP, CBSP (bio)
Cheryl Lemanski (bio)
Carol McGhan, MPH, CBSP (bio)
Krista Murray, RBP, CBSP (bio)
Anil Saxena, MBPA, RPB (bio)
Nominations for President-Elect
Barbara Fox Nellis, (SM)NRCM, RBP, CBSP
Barbara Fox Nellis – Owner of Barb Nellis Consulting for Regulatory Compliance, Environmental, Health, Safety & Loss Prevention specializing in Biological Safety & Design of High Containment & Animal Facilities. She has a total of 45 years experience in EH&S.
Barbara has been a member of ABSA since 1989 & active on numerous committees including SPC, LAC, PCC, Training, Mentoring & Awards. She is currently in her last year as an elected Council member & hopes to stay in an active role as President Elect. She feels her experience in industry, academia, life in general and ABSA, specifically, have prepared her for consideration as President Elect. Barbara is happy to accept the time commitment needed for this three year term from president elect through past president at this time in her life. Barbara is also an active voting member of the ANSI Standard Committee charged with developing a new guideline for BSL-3 & ABSL-3 laboratories & facilities.
Barbara retired from the EH&S group of Johnson & Johnson in 1999 after 33 years of service, moved to Florida to care for her elderly parents & did some private consulting & WIRB (Western Institutional Review Board) work before joining the University of Florida in 2001 as the Manager of their Biological Safety Program, Biological Safety Officer & Responsible Official for the Select Agent Program. In January 2005, she moved to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff Arizona to develop comprehensive programs in all areas of regulatory compliance (biosafety, chemical safety, radiation safety, environmental safety, hazardous material handling & waste management) & to manage their significant select agent program. Barbara finally fully retired from NAU in January of 2011 to concentrate on her ABSA, ANSI & private consulting responsibilities.
Barbara is a private consultant in Biosafety & Select Agents & has been active with WIRB, CSHEMA, AIHCE (American Industrial Hygiene Conference & Exposition) & ABSA (American Biological Safety Association). She is a Certified Biosafety Professional & Specialist Microbiologist as certified by the National Registry of Microbiologists of the American Society of Microbiology. She develops & continues to teach courses such as "Fundamentals of Biosafety", "Design, Construction & Operation of Biosafety Level 3 Containment Facilities for Small, Medium & Large Animals", "Risk Assessment", "Emergency Response", "Preparing, Conducting & Responding to various Regulatory Audits & Inspections", etc. She authored Biosafety Manuals for Eastman Kodak Company, Johnson & Johnson, the University of Florida, Northern Arizona University & chapter 9 of the book "Biohazards Management Handbook".
Barbara's personal goals for ABSA are to continue moving the organization forward, continue to build membership, find innovative ways to involve newer members, forge new alliances & support world wide efforts in biosafety.
ABSA's job has only just begun with the world-wide growth of Biological Safety, Emerging Diseases (old & new) & Bioterrorism Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Rich Rebar, MS, RBP, CBSP
Rich has 35 years of experience in pharmaceutical and basic research. He's been with GlaxoSmithKline for 30 years where he started as a Research Scientist. He developed the Radiation and Biosafety Programs at GSK. He spent 15 years in the Corporate Environment Health and Safety Department conducting EHS audits at GSK sites worldwide. He helped establish the current Biosafety program in use at the GSK Biologicals vaccine manufacturing site in Rixensart, Belgium. He has had experience in European Regulations and has performed EHS audits and training in the U.S., Mexico, South America, Africa and Europe. He is also a certified ISO 14001 and 18001 lead auditor.
Rich is currently the Director of Hazardous Substance Control and Governance for GSK Worldwide and has responsibility for management of Biosafety, Radiation Safety and the Controlled Drug Substances programs. Rich has a B.A. degree in Microbiology from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ and a M.S. degree in Pharmacology from The Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, Philadelphia, PA.
Prior to joining GSK, Rich held research positions at the Frederick Cancer Research Center in Maryland where he performed cancer research in tumor antigens and monoclonal antibodies and worked at the VA Hospital in Washington, DC conducting hemostasis research. From 1975 to 1979 Rich worked for Schering Pharmaceuticals as a pathogenic microbiologist with Animal Health, was Asst. RSO for Schering and assisted in the management and operation of an automated Antibiotic Strain Development and Improvement laboratory in Kenilworth, NJ.
Rich is currently a Councilor for ABSA, served as Secretary during 1999-2001 and was also appointed Councilor in 2001. He has served as Team Leader for the Developing the Profession Team, chaired the Technical Review, Registration Evaluation and the Chapter Relations Committees for ABSA and served on various ABSA Committees. He is the Chair of the ABSA-OSHA Alliance Team and represents ABSA with OSHA. He played a major role in the development of ABSA's current RBP and CBSP credentialing programs. He is also responsible for the development of the ABSA-OSHA Fact Sheets that are posted on ABSA'a website. Rich served as President of the Mid-Atlantic Biological Safety Association from 1996-1998, MABSA Secretary from 2006-2008 and is a past-President of the Pharmaceutical Biosafety Industry Group.
I am truly honored to be nominated for President-Elect of ABSA. I joined ABSA in 1987 and have taken on increasing responsibilities within the organization over the past 24 years. The greatest achievement I have at ABSA, though, are the many friends and contacts I have made. They have proven to be invaluable to me as I progressed in my career and I hope I was able to give back to everyone I interacted with in the same manner. My vision for the future is to ensure that the entire ABSA membership is represented especially the International community. I have been working hard on several committees and taskforces to develop International credentialing standards that are fair for everyone yet still retains our highest standards. I also believe that we have made great strides in providing excellent educational courses for our membership and we need to continue to enhance the programs we have in place to make them even better. Lastly, I want to ensure that all of our members have an opportunity to become involved in ABSA activities as committee members, chairs, team leaders and eventually serve on ABSA Council. I continue to teach the ABSA 101 course and will provide anyone any help I can both personally and professionally. I want ABSA to grow and thrive and with your help we can make this happen.
Nominations for Treasurer
Sarah McAbee
Sarah McAbee is the Biosafety Officer at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia where she oversees the biological safety program, coordinates the Institutional Biosafety Committee, and develops and provides safety training. She has been the Biosafety Officer for four years and has five years previous experience in safety-related positions.
Sarah has a Bachelor's of Science in environmental science from Virginia Tech (2004) and a Master's of Science in environmental science and policy from George Mason University (2010). Sarah joined ABSA in 2007 and is a member of the Pre-Conference Course Committee and the Finance Committee.
Rosamond (Ros) Rutledge-Burns, MS, MS, GSP, SM(NRCM), CBSP
Ros is Senior Advisor to the Chief Safety Officer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). From 2000–2010 she was the Chief, Safety, Health and Environment Division, NIST and 1992-2000 the Chief, Safety Operations Section, Division of Safety, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and was an Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, NIH from 1988-1992. A molecular biologist from 1984-1988 at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases focusing on retrovirology with expertise in the characterization, cloning and sequencing of the first infectious HIV isolates, she worked with the NIH to develop biosafety guidelines for handling HIV.
Ros holds a BS from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Biology, a MS from American University in Biology, and a MS in Safety Management from West Virginia University. She is a Certified Biological Safety Professional (1998) and a Specialist in Microbiology with the American Academy of Microbiology with 23 years experience and a Graduate Safety Practitioner with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. She has been an active ABSA member since first joining in 1989.
Ros is current Treasurer of ABSA, Past ABSA Secretary (2004-2006), Council Liaison for the Management Team, Professional Development Team and Conference Planning Co-Chair (2008-2009); served on the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity for NIH (2006) and ABSA Liaison National Vaccine Advisory Committee (2003); elected to Nominations Committee (1999, 2002); Chair, Scientific Program Committee (2002); active member of the Local Arrangements Committee, Scientific Program Committee ( 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008), Technical Resources Committee, Technical Review Committee, Laboratory Standards, and Finance Committee (2008-2011). She is Past-President (1994-1995) of the Chesapeake Area Biological Safety Association and member since 1988; Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), and a member of the National Capital Chapter, ASSE and the National Fire Protection Association; Past President of the NIH Chapter 123 of the Federal Managers Association; serving as their Secretary for two years. Currently, she is appointed to a second 5 year term of the Jefferson County Board of Health, West Virginia.
Nominations for Councilor
Robert A. Heckert, BSc(Ag), DVM, PhD, CBSP, SM(NRCM)
Dr. Heckert is currently the president of Robert Heckert Consulting, LLC which provides biosafety consulting and training all over the world. He is a veterinarian with a PhD in virology who has over 25 years of experience working in animal health at various levels of biocontainment. He is internationally recognized as an expert in biosafety and is accredited by ABSA as a Certified Biosafety Profession (CBSP) and by the American Society for Microbiology and as a Specialist Microbiologist (SM) in Biological Safety. He is an active member of ABSA, participating on various committees (including co-chair of the Scientific Program Committee), has taught many preconference courses and served on several ad-hoc and standing committees. In addition, he contributes to the Asia Pacific Biosafety Association and the International Federation of Biosafety Associations in various capacities. He has participated in the design, preconstruction and reviews of many different laboratories working at various biosafety levels.
Before starting his own company, he was the National Program Leader for the Animal Health program with the Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service where he was responsible for dealing primarily with emerging or foreign animal diseases. Before joining USDA, Dr. Heckert was a professor at the University of Maryland where he managed a research program in poultry diseases at BSL3. During his career, he authored or coauthored numerous publications and several book chapters and has given many presentations on biosafety and animal health.
Melissa Morland, RBP, CBSP
Melissa Morland is the Biosafety Officer and Alternate Responsible Official for the University of Maryland, Baltimore and Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Safety. She has been with the University since 1999. She manages all aspects of the University Biological Safety Program, is the administrator and voting member of the IBC, and a member of the IACUC. In addition, Melissa serves as the BSO for the Baltimore VAMC and is a voting member on the VA Subcommittee on Research Safety. Melissa is active in the design and commissioning of BSL-3 facilities on campus and the review of standard operating procedures for biological research on campus. In addition to UMB researchers, she works closely with the Middle Atlantic Regional Center of Excellence (MARCE) regarding proposed research on campus. Since 2004, she has organized and taught a 3-day, hands-on BSL-3 training course for MARCE.
Melissa holds a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, a M.S. in Environmental Management, and a MBA. She is a Registered Biosafety Professional and a Certified Biological Safety Professional. She has been an active member of ABSA since 2003 and currently serves as the Chair of the Mentoring Committee and Chair of the Member Profile Task Force. She is also a member of the International Credentialing Task Force and the Credentialing Maintenance Board. She has been an active member of CHABSA since 1999 where she served on the council from 2004-2009, including a term as President.
Nominations for Nominating Committee
Jyl Burgener, RBP, CBSP
Jyl Burgener is the Biosafety Officer for Talecris Biotherapeutics. Her job responsibilities include:
Implementing a corporate wide biosafety program; Conducting program audits and inspections; Coordinating BioSafety education; Conducting risk assessments of all manufacturing and research laboratories; Providing technical guidance to all biological manufacturing and research activities; Overseeing biohazardous material transfer; Coordinating investigations of BioSafety incidents; Develop and implementing emergency response.
Jyl's professional interests are widespread, but she has a special interest in mycotoxins, biotoxins and their relationship to human health. Jyl holds a B.S. (The Ohio State University); M.S. (Virginia Tech.) and M.B.A. (Florida Institute of Technology) degree.
Jyl has been a biosafety officer and a member of ABSA since the 80's. She is currently a member of two ABSA Affiliates, MABioN and CABSA. She has been honored to serve as president for both affiliates. She serves on the Technical Publications and Preconference Courses Committees, has taught preconference courses, written an article for "Applied Biosafety" and served on an ABSA task force.
A. Lynn Harding, MPH, CBSP
An emeritus member of ABSA, Lynn has been active in the field of biosafety for thirty-two years. Initially, she was the Biosafety Officer at Harvard University and later became a biosafety consultant working with universities and pharmaceutical / biotechnology companies to evaluate and/or assist with establishing their biosafety programs.
Lynn has been a contributor to several editions of the ASM publication "Biological Safety, Principle and Practices" and to the 5th edition of BMBL. An active member of ABSA, Lynn served as Treasurer, Associate Editor of Applied Biosafety, and co-taught the Risk Assessment pre-conference course at the annual meeting for a number of years. She became involved with the CBSP program while serving on the Professional Certification Development Committee. She chaired the Certification Maintenance, Awards, and Bylaws Committees and served on the Finance, Technical Review and the Nominating Committees. She is a recipient of the Everett Hanel, Jr. Presidential Award and the John H. Richardson Special Recognition Award.
Julie A. Johnson, PhD, CBSP
Julie Johnson is Biosafety Officer for the Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI) and Assistant Vice President for Research Compliance at Kansas State University. With more than 15 years of biosafety experience, she oversees compliance for high-containment research projects and serves as the responsible official for campus, as well as managing the BRI's Research Support group, which involves overseeing laboratory and biosafety programs, coordinating animal care, supervising laboratory support activities, and administering internal biosafety and biosecurity training programs.
Julie previously served for 10 years as campus biosafety officer at Iowa State University where she developed a comprehensive campus wide biosafety program and served as co-chair of the State of Iowa Biosecurity Council from 2003-2006.
Julie has a B.A. in chemistry from St. Olaf College, and an M.S. in Biochemistry and Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, both from Iowa State University.
She has been a CBSP since 2001, an active member of ABSA's Professional Development Team since 1995, and also previously served on ABSA's Nominating, Certification Maintenance, and Regulatory Review committees.
James W. Klenner, MSc, MPH, MPA, RBP, CBSP
Jim is the Biological Safety Manager at Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis and is an adjunct instructor at the Columbus branch campus. He received his BS in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and an MSc degree in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology from Pitt's GSPH. While employed at NIOSH, he developed and received the first Masters of Public Health and Masters of Public Administration dual degree from West Virginia University.
He is a Registered Biological Safety Professional and a Certified Biological Safety Professional. As an active member of ABSA he serves on the Affiliates Relations Committee, and is the Chair of the Membership Committee (2005-present). He also serves as the liaison for the ABSA/FBI Alliance. He has developed and taught numerous pre-conference courses and wrote for Applied Biosafety. He is also a Past-President of the Midwest Area Biosafety Network, Inc.
Jim's expansive professional network and contacts make him well suited to participate in the next Nominating Committee process.
Cheryl Lemanski
Cheryl Lemanski is a Microbiologist in the Bioscience Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory where she has worked in, managed, and supervised BSL-2 research laboratories, including Select Agent work, the past 24 years. Cheryl received her MS in Microbiology from the University of New Mexico and her BS in Medical Technology (MT-ASCP) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
A strong advocate for education and training and committed to biosafety, Cheryl participates in the Institutional Biosafety Program at the National Laboratory as a biosafety subject matter expert and provides biosafety laboratory practical training. Cheryl has been a member of the Laboratory's Institutional Biosafety Committee since 1992. She also has been a member of the BSL-3 Project Facility Team, assisting in developing standard operating procedures and training for the future BSL-3 facility at the Laboratory.
Cheryl has been an active member of ABSA since 1998 and has served on the Educational Operations Committee (EOC) since 2002. During this time she has participated in facilitating pre-conference courses for eight years and has served as Chair and Co-Chair of the EOC Spring/Summer Seminar Series the past four years.
Carol McGhan, MPH, CBSP
Carol is currently Director of the Environmental Health & Safety Office at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. She has the responsibility to ensure the EHS programs provide support and guidance to the University's teaching, research and healthcare endeavors. Prior to 2009, she was the University's Biological Safety Officer and has been an active member of ABSA's Educational Operations Committee for the past 18 years. She co-chaired the Instructional Resources Committee and assisted in the development of the Principles and Practices of Biosafety Course. Carol is a charter member of the Midwest Area Biosafety Network (MABioN), an affiliate of ABSA, serving as the Treasurer since its inception in 2005.
Carol has a Masters of Public Health (M.P.H.) from the University of Iowa, is a Certified Biosafety Professional (CBSP), and a Special Microbiologist, National Registry of Certified Microbiologist (SM[NRCM]) through the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).
Carol is committed to supporting ABSA's goals to promote the discipline of biosafety through education and research, the development of standards, and expanding ABSA's circle of influence. The nominating committee plays a very important role in shaping ABSA not only for the next year, but beyond.
Krista Murray, RBP, CBSP
Krista Murray is the Biosafety Officer for the University of Delaware. She has served in this role for over 17 years, and her duties include oversight of a BSL3 facility and serving as the Responsible Official for the Select Agent Program. She is a member of the university's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee as well as the Agricultural Animal Care and Use Committee.
Krista has a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and a Master of Science in Public Health. She worked as a medical technologist in clinical microbiology before entering the biosafety field. She is a Specialist in Microbiology (NRCM), Clinical Laboratory Scientist (NCA) and a Medical Technologist (ASCP), as well as an RBP and CBSP.
Krista has been a member of ABSA since 1994 and is also a member of MABSA and ChABSA. She is a member of ABSA's Mentoring Committee and the Credentialing Maintenance Board, which she currently chairs. She's also a member of the International Credentialing Taskforce.
Anil Saxena, MBPA, RPB
Anil K. Saxena is the Manager, Biological Safety Officer and Responsible Official for the Select Agent Program at the American Red Cross – Jerome H. Holland Laboratory, located in Rockville Maryland since 2005. Anil previously worked in EH&S Department at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC, as their Sr. Occupational Safety Specialist. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Zoology from Howard University at Washington DC, and a Master's degree in Business and Public Health from Southeastern University at Washington DC. He is a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) through the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA).
Since 1998, Anil has served on the ABSA Education and Training Committee, Pre-Conference Course, Scientific Program Committee, Finance Committee, Membership Committee, and currently the Chair of the Shared Interest Groups. He has facilitated preconference courses and moderated a session at ABSA Conference.
He has been an active member of ChABSA since 1998 and has served on nominating committee, Councilor (2007-2008), Symposium Committee (2007), ChABSA Symposium Chair (2008).
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