NAOSMM .

2023 Opening Keynote Speaker

CALVIN MACKIE, Ph.D. President and CEO, STEM NOLA

Opening Speaker: The Power of Congo Square

Luther Gray

Luther has been active in the New Orleans arts community since 1984. He co-founded the Congo Square Preservation Society in 1989, which has been instrumental in the resurrection of drumming and cultural activities in Congo Square. In 1993, the Congo Square Foundation was successful in placing Congo Square on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. In 1997 the CSPS led the effort to erect the Congo Square Historic Marker. In addition, in 2002-2005, he with a team of drum makers carved three Bamboula drums from a one hundred-year-old cypress tree that are now on display at the new Louisiana State Museum of History in Baton Rouge and the New Orleans Jazz Museum. The Congo Square Preservation Society sponsors weekly Sunday drum circles in Congo Square that date back to 1988. In 2013, the Congo Square Preservation Society launched the Congo Square Living Classroom Fieldtrip which consists of an on-site tour of the Armstrong Park Sculpture Garden followed by the Congo Square Drum & Dance Workshop. Most recently, the organization created the CONGO SQUARE SACRED MARKETPLACE.

Luther helped found two major musical groups: Percussion Incorporated in 1985 and Bamboula 2000 in 1994. Luther Gray and Bamboula 2000 conduct “The Imagination Tour” annually to students in elementary, middle, high schools and universities around the country. In 2005, Luther collaborated with the group Trout Fishing in America immediately following Hurricane Katrina. He co-wrote the song “Big Round World” with them which was released in 2008 and was nominated in the Children’s Music Category at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held in 2009. Luther has worked as the Community & Cultural Affairs Coordinator at the Ashe’ Cultural Arts Center from 2006 to 2020. While there, he produced the Annual Holiday on the Boulevard Festival, the Maafa Commemorations, the Annual Douglas Redd Cultural Summit and helped coordinate the Ashe’ Side By Side Program and the Ashe Tricentennial Collaboratory. Luther received a Douglas Redd Fellowship in June 2008 and since then has been working to organize African American artists in New Orleans to utilize art and culture for social change in New Orleans. He has been the primary drummer with the Guardians of the Flame Mardi Gras Indians since 1990, who have performed in Ghana, India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, France, and Martinique. During the summer of 2008 he traveled with Mardi Gras Indians on a U.S. State Department tour to Guatemala and Honduras. In 2010 he performed for the carnival in Trinidad and Tobago and in 2011 performed in South Africa. Luther is featured on the second, third & fourth seasons of HBO’s Treme’ as one of the drummers for the Guardians of the Flame.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Calvin Mackie, STEM NOLA

Dr. Calvin Mackie is an award-winning mentor, inventor, author, former engineering professor, internationally renowned speaker, and successful entrepreneur. In 2013, Dr. Mackie founded STEM NOLA, a non-profit organization created to expose, inspire, and engage communities in the opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Dr. Mackie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Morehouse College with a B.S. degree, and simultaneously was awarded a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, where he subsequently earned his master’s and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 1996. While pursuing a doctorate degree, Dr. Mackie served as an instructor of mathematics at Morehouse College. Following graduation, he joined the faculty at Tulane University. He enjoyed a respected academic career before pivoting his career towards entrepreneurship, consulting, and professional speaking. He has won numerous awards including 2019 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Board’s Chair Phoenix Award, which recognizes individuals whose extraordinary achievements strengthen communities and improve the lives of individuals and families, nationally and globally. In 2003, he was awarded the 2003 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in a White House ceremony.

Laboratory Inspections and Audits

Laboratory staff routinely inspect facilities to identify health & safety issues that need to be corrected. While this is a crucial part of any laboratory management program, it is also important to look at the “big picture”, going well beyond the visual evidence of what is essentially a snapshot of laboratory operations on a particular day and time. This can only be done with an audit, a more complete look at laboratory equipment, personnel training records, regulatory compliance, chemical inventory management, inspection records, and all other facets of keeping laboratory workers safe and productive. This presentation will delineate what goes into an inspection, and explore how to prepare for and implement an audit of laboratory operations.

Russ Phifer, WC Environmental

Mr. Phifer has over 40 years of experience in managing laboratory waste. He has had his own EH&S consulting & training firm since 1990, but also serves as Executive Director of the National Registry of Certified Chemists, which manages the Certified Chemical Hygiene Officer program.

Stayin’ Alive: How to Care for your Living Materials

Learn from the experts! Carolina Biological will be providing information on how to care for your living materials. We will give you tips on how to store and maintain your critters and tanks to make sure they are healthy and viable for your labs. Come prepared to discuss any questions you have concerning plants and animals so we can help your labs be successful. We’ll sneak in a hands-on lab too!

Melissa Hodges, Carolina Biological

Ms. Hodges holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology from Roanoke College in Virginia and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Elon University in North Carolina. She has been employed by Carolina Biological Supply Company for over 18 years and works currently as the Director of Product Management.

The Circle of Lab Life: Enhancing safety and streamlining processes throughout the design, startup, and closeout phases

Lab startup and closeout are dynamic times in a lab’s life cycle. Learn best practices and safety considerations from three experienced Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) professionals. Topics to be discussed by the panel include: Laboratory Design, PI Onboarding and Lab Startup, and Lab Closeout.

Ed Chainani, Ph.D.University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Ed Chainani is the Assistant Director for Safety at the Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Ed has a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He obtained his doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, and over the span of his career he has worked in, built out, and managed research laboratories. Among his duties is the enhancement of the College of Engineering safety culture which he pursues through business process improvement, establishing a review process with the College of Engineering Office of Facilities, ensuring that laboratory renovations and capital projects alike meet research goals and safety needs. In 2023, the University of Illinois Police commended his efforts in emergency preparedness with a Campus Emergency Management Recognition award.

Mary Lindstrom, Harvard University

Mary Lindstrom is a Laboratory Safety Advisor in Harvard University’s Environmental Health & Safety Office. She has a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and a master’s degree in Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis. After graduation she spent over a decade working as the lab manager for Philip Sharp’s lab at MIT. In this role she was responsible for working with architects on the design of a new lab building, moving an established lab to a new facility, and closing out the previous lab space. In 2015 she became the EHS Coordinator for MIT’s departments of Biological Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, where she took an active role in many lab startups, moves, and closeouts. In her current role at Harvard University she focuses on using her thorough understanding of lab operations and safety practices to foster a positive safety culture and provide practical safety solutions that enable cutting-edge science.

David Strick, Ph.D. Stanford University School of Medicine

David Strick is the Director of Safety & Emergency Management for the Stanford School of Medicine. David received his Ph.D. in Cell Biology from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Genetics at the Stanford School of Medicine, Department of Genetics. Subsequently, he worked in the Department of Genetics as a staff research scientist. In 2012, David moved to the Department of Environmental Health & Safety where he worked as both a Research Safety Specialist and a Biosafety & Biosecurity Specialist during his time there. In 2019, David moved back to the School of Medicine where he accepted the role as Director of Safety & Emergency Management. In this role he manages a team of safety and emergency management professionals whose goal is to make safety an integrated process in the daily work of our faculty, staff, fellows, and students.

Inventory System Show & Tell

Shopping for an inventory system? Learn about RMM (Research Material Management), a program through Jaggaer which incorporates into your university’s procurement system. RMM is considered a “one-stop tool” to manage your stockroom: chemical inventory, reporting, automatic orders, fulfillment, replenishment, and billing. Other NAOSMM members will also share in-person demonstrations of various other inventory systems. Find out which one is right for you!

Amanda Luna

Amanda Luna has been the Chemical Research and Lab Supplier for the University of New Mexico since 2019. Amanda manages the inventory system that is used by all 3 campuses at her 20,000 student University. Amanda reports directly to Purchasing and works with EHS, which makes the RMM inventory system a valuable tool for reporting, compliance, and communication.

Workplace Ergonomics

Samie will provide useful information to help design your own effective ergonomics program to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This will include outlining practical strategies for identifying and correcting ergonomic deficiencies in a variety of workplace settings.

Samie Gossfeld, Verona Safety Supply

Samie Gossfeld is the National Sales Manager for Verona Safety located in Madison, Wisconsin. He has been with Verona Safety for over 13 years and in that time has worked hand-in-hand with customers to determine proper PPE and safety procedures for a variety of job applications.

Unlocking Precision: Maximizing Your Balance and Pipette Performance Beyond Annual Maintenance

This presentation is designed for individuals with a basic understanding of balance and pipette operations and is intended to provide practical insights and recommendations for optimizing performance. During this session, we will discuss the importance of regular calibration, proper handling and storage, as well as the significance of environmental factors on instrument accuracy. Join us for this informative presentation and unlock the true potential of your laboratory instruments.

Erin Degner, Quality Assurance Services

Erin Degner joined Quality Assurance Services in July 2019, joining her father, Robert Perron, as a balance calibration technician. Also, as the office administrator, she modernized and streamlined administration features. Halfway through 2021, she chose to grow the business by adding pipette calibration services. Since then, she has completed private 1-on1 ISO 8655 Pipette Training and serviced several colleges, government and private corporation’s pipettes.

Prior to joining Quality Assurance Services, Erin was a corporate trainer for Brinks Home Security, a kindergarten teacher for several years, owned her own small business and was an executive assistant for several large companies.

NAOSMM’s Got Talent!

Did you know there are over 15 NAOSMM committees that help keep this organization running smoothly? Do you know what all of them do? This is a time to learn about opportunities available to showcase your talents. Get a feel for which skillsets are needed for each committee, and see where you can shine!

Mary Toth, Bowling Green State University

Mary Toth has been the Lab Supervisor for the Department of Chemistry at Bowling Green State University since May 2000, and serves as a co-advisor to the Chemistry Club. Mary has been a member of NAOSMM since 2003 and her first conference attended was 2008. Mary has been actively serving NAOSMM since 2008, holding such positions as Hospitality Chair, Awards Chair, Finance Chair, Treasurer, and is currently Vice President.

Proven LinkedIn Profile Strategies to Boost Your Career

Did you know you can boost your career opportunities by enhancing your LinkedIn profile and tapping into LinkedIn algorithms? In this class, you'll learn how to: build a LinkedIn profile like a rock star, attract more prospective employers and recruiters, align key elements of your resume in your profile, and move up the rung in LinkedIn searches. You'll walk away with ideas you can use right away!

Brooke Miles, Miles Scientific

Brooke Miles is founder of Delaware ShoutOut, an award-winning social media firm that helps businesses and individuals shine online. Her company has served hundreds of clients—who have reported significant gains in followers, engagement, and website traffic—by creating a social media experience that's just right for them. Brooke works with all major social media platforms, and LinkedIn is her favorite. That's because LinkedIn enables individuals to build their personal brand, opening doors to new professional opportunities. LinkedIn is also a regular topic on her Delaware ShoutOut YouTube channel, where you'll find lots of tips on everything from profile hacks to content strategy. Brooke is a Board Member of the Delaware Small Business Chamber and is a highly sought-out public speaker, having won multiple awards from Toastmasters International.

TTB Permits & You: Industrial User Permits for Tax Free Alcohol

The TTB's regulations on Ethanol can be mind boggling. Even more so for those who hold TTB permits for Tax Free Alcohol and, by the very nature of their organizations, have no other contact with the TTB or its regulations. This presentation covers the who, what, and why of tax free ethanol - who may receive it, what you need to do to obtain and maintain your tax free permit with the TTB, and the regulations that are the why of all of it.

Amanda Kelty, Greenfield Global

Amanda Kelty is the Director of Regulatory Compliance at Greenfield Global USA Inc. where she is responsible for compliance to the alcohol, food, safety, and environmental regulations of local, state, and Federal agencies in eight locations across five states. Her primary specialty is Federal Alcohol Regulations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business, Accounting, and a Master of Business Administration. Ms. Kelty resides in the heart of Bourbon country in Central KY and began her regulatory career in the beverage Distilled Spirits industry over 12 years ago, transitioning to Industrial Distilled Spirits and High Purity Chemicals in 2019. Ms. Kelty has experience in all aspects of Distilled Spirits compliance and has built a TTB compliant records system from scratch resulting in a TTB audit with zero violations.

Bring the CRISPR Revolution to Your Labs

Dig into CRISPR, a revolutionary technology in gene therapy. During this session you'll learn the essentials of gene editing while engaging in a hands-on lab experience with CRISPR-Cas9.

Leigh Brown, Bio-Rad Laboratories

As a Curriculum and Training Specialist at Bio-Rad, Leigh helps life science instructors bring cutting-edge science into their classrooms. A former high school biology teacher with a background in virology research, she enjoys presenting hands-on workshops and sharing innovative tips and tricks for Bio-Rad Explorer products. She also assists instructors with curriculum alignment and can provide advice regarding lab activities and equipment that best fit the goals of a course.

Compliance and Ethics

Ethics and Compliance programs are often misunderstood, and are seen as complicated, expensive, or “in the way”. But they don’t have to be! When done well, these programs can help support your efforts and help you “level up” your programs and processes. This session will help explain what they should be, why they matter, and maybe even share some horror stories along the way!

Marcy Huey, PhD, University of Alabama

Dr. Marcy Huey is the Executive Director of Institutional Compliance in the office of Compliance, Ethics, and Regulatory Affairs at The University of Alabama. Prior to assuming institutional compliance duties, she served as the Assistant Director for Research Safety and Compliance at the office of Environmental Health and Safety at UA. She has a BS in Biochemistry, an MS in Chemistry, and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on compliance and safety culture in academic institutions.

After Katrina

After the tragedy of hurricane Katrina in 2005, USACE (United States Army Corps of Engineers) was tasked with repairing and restoring the New Orleans flood management system. Boyett will use the post-Katrina hurricane system and subsequent work in south Louisiana to illustrate how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers first actively sought the best science, engineering, and technology to transform its approach to delivering sustainable and resilient flood management systems for the Nation.

Ricky Boyett, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Ricky Boyett joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District in 2008. As Chief of Public Affairs, he oversees communications for one of USACE’s largest Civil Works missions, executing approximately $1 billion annually on projects in South Louisiana. This mission includes construction of the $14.5 Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, $3.2 billion West Shore Lake Pontchartrain, $1 billion Comite River Diversion, and the largest dredging program in the history of the United States. In an average year, Boyett conducts 300 media interviews, guides 25 tours, delivers 15 presentations, and facilitates 30 public meetings. An experienced risk communication practitioner, Boyett has been activated as lead communicator in 26 declared emergencies to include the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill; Hurricanes Isaac, Sandy, Laura, Delta, Zeta, and Ida; Mississippi High River events that included six of the 15 Bonnet Carre’ operations since 1930; and three of the five most significant Mississippi low water events. In his free time, Boyett sleeps.

Panel Discussion with Lamar Houson and Other Lifetime Members

To quote American historian, David C. McCullough, “History is a guide to navigation in perilous times.History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” Please join us to learn more about NAOSMM:who we are as an organization, why we are the way we are, and help guide us into the next 50 years!

Panel includes: Bill Best (Lifetime Member, joined ‘82), Dottie Boone (Retired Corporate member andTrade Show vendor 1984, 1990-2022), Dennis Clark (past president ‘90-’91 and Lifetime Member, joined ‘85), Lamar Houston (NAOSMM founder past president ‘74 -’75 and Lifetime Member), andMaryAnn Stoll (Lifetime Member, joined ‘87).

Moderated by Kathryn Malody

Kathryn Malody has a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Science and a M.S. in Botany. She joined the staff at Hamline University, St Paul MN in 1990. Kathryn has enjoyed a diversity of duties and challenges: overseeing the creation of new biology laboratory spaces, training and supervising biology staff and student workers, and managing all aspects of running the biology teaching and research labs. The common themes among all of this have been enhancing the laboratory experience for students, faculty and staff while at the same time creating an environment and procedures that promote laboratory safety.

Imposter Syndrome and Avoiding Burnout

Individuals dealing with imposter syndrome, feel that they are not qualified for their role despite their experience, education, or work ethic. They may feel the need to take on more responsibilities and work longer hours in order to gain recognition in the workplace, be viewed as “valuable,” or live up to the standards placed upon them by society and/or themselves. This can lead to lower retention rates—particularly in leadership positions— due to physical, mental, and emotional burnout. This session will present an overview of what leads to imposter syndrome and burnout, and the steps you can take to mitigate these stressors. The presenter will also offer guidance on how you can build confidence as you advance in your career.

Dr. Ofelia Olivero, National Institute of Health

Dr. Ofelia A. Olivero obtained her PhD in cytogenetics in Argentina and subsequently joined the National Cancer Institute (NCI) where she has worked since 1987. Together with her colleagues, she showed for the first time that the nucleoside analog used in the earliest AIDS therapy was a transplacental carcinogen in mice. She pioneered the discovery of nucleoside analogs induced centrosomal amplification and aneuploidy working as a Senior Staff Scientist in the Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics at NCI. She is the author and co-author of more than 75 scientific articles, book chapters and her book entitled, Interdisciplinary Mentoring in Science: Strategies for Success. Her dedication to empower and inspire young females to choose scientific careers was recognized by the US State Department in her selection to be part of a delegation of female scientists to visit Brazil and Colombia to promote the participation of women in science. Dr. Olivero is the recipient of the Leading Diversity Award given by the NCI Director in appreciation of efforts furthering diversity and equal employment opportunity. She has received a Mentor award from AWIS in the year 2013 because of her commitment to mentoring young minority females, a mentoring award from the National Cancer Institute in 2016 and was recognized as a “Game Changer” from the office of Equality Diversity and Inclusion from NIH. As the Chief of the Diversity Intramural Workforce Branch (IDWB) she led the efforts of NCI to increase diversity in the workforce coordinating efforts to attract, recruit, and foster a community of scientists from diverse backgrounds at NCI. Dr. Olivero is an International Coaching Federation (ICF) certified Life Coach. At ICF she serves as a Secretary of the Maryland Board of Directors. As a Coach, she is empowering people to be their own selves, look for their passions, and move forward with their own solutions. She seeks to work with the whole person, in career development, leadership skills or other issues that impact their lives.

Building a Radiation Safety Program: Lessons Learned from Managing a Small Program

Colleges and Universities with small radiation safety programs may assign the role of Radiation Safety Officer to lab managers and coordinators. Challenges with authority, communication, documentation, and compliance will be discussed along with suggestions on how to effectively organize all types of radiological concerns from radioactive material to radiation producing instrumentation. Radiation safety officers or those who help manage programs at their own institutions are welcome to attend and add to the discussion.

Eydiejo Kurchan, PhD, Villanova University

Dr. Eydiejo Kurchan is the radiation safety officer at Villanova University and the lab manager for the department of chemistry. Her responsibilities include managing the radiation safety program, chairing the radiation safety committee, and ensuring regulatory compliance for all users. Dr. Kurchan acts as the university representative with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Radiation Protection recommending and verifying implementation of corrective actions. As the laboratory manager for the Department of Chemistry she manages a team of chemists serving undergraduate teaching laboratories. In her role as an adjunct professor she created and teaches a graduate course focused on the principles of laboratory safety to chemists, biochemists and chemical engineers. She strives to foster a safety culture with students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Kurchan holds a PhD degree in Biochemistry from The University of Denver and Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Seattle University and her past professional experiences include a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Roundtable: Student Organizations and Clubs

Have any questions about student organizations at your school? Have questions about being a student advisor? Do you struggle to get students involved? How do you include non-science majors in your activities? Need ideas for fundraisers? Join us for a Roundtable all about student organizations and clubs.

Mediated by Mary Toth and Dustin Andert

Mary Toth has been the Lab Supervisor for the Department of Chemistry at Bowling Green State University since May 2000, and serves as a co-advisor to the Chemistry Club. Mary has facilitated activities such as Women in Science, STEM In The Park, and Tech Trek.

Dustin Andert has been the Laboratory Manager for the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology at the University of Wisconsin River Falls since the fall 2006. Mr. Andert has served as the chemical hygiene officer for the campus since 2013. Mr. Andert has also served as a co-advisor to the chemistry club and its campus affiliate organization “Chem Demons”.

Helium Conservation - The Science Behind He to H2 Carrier Gas Method Conversion

We will discuss the options of moving away from the need for helium for gas chromatography utilizing alternative carrier gasses such as nitrogen and hydrogen.

Kevin Fogg and Kelly Beard, Agilent Technologies

Kelly Beard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of Mechanical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He has been an Application Scientist with Agilent Technologies for the past 11 years. Previously Kelly worked with an Agilent channel partner for 8 years. He specializes in complex valve GC and GCMS configurations as well as the portable 990 uGC supporting North America. He is a member of the Gas Processors Association in the natural gas industry and supports our members of ASTM.

Microsoft Excel: Wouldn’t It Be Cool If…?

Microsoft EXCEL can be a useful tool, yet with so many different functions, discovering the use and application of those functions can be a real challenge. Classes in EXCEL can only go so far, as they are structured to expose new users to components of the app such as formatting, tables, and Slicers. The goal of this presentation is to expose participants to ways EXCEL has been implemented in more complex, and at times, elegant, ways and to hopefully spark interest and imagination, leading to the question: Wouldn't it be cool if...?

Daniel E. Martin, Lawrence University

Beginning his 11th year as the Laboratory Supervisor for the Chemistry Department at Lawrence University, Daniel has actually been with Lawrence since the fall of 2003. First as a student, then serving in a temporary position after graduation for just one year, Daniel has held the position as Assistant Swimming & Diving Coach the longest--15 seasons. His mind really does operate in EXCEL, having developed and applied those skills to a myriad of tasks and projects as an assistant coach, a clinical laboratory specialist at a blood center, and now a lab supervisor.

OSHA Update

Representatives from OSHA Baton Rouge will describe what OSHA does, the process of inspection walkarounds and the employee interview process, employee/employer rights, top 10 OSHA violations, and discuss the Laboratory Standard 1910.1450.

Terri Irvin, OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist

Terri Irvin is the Compliance Assistance Specialist for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) -Baton Rouge Area Office (Region VI). This federal OSHA office covers private sector employers and workers in the state of Louisiana. Terri has 32 years’ experience with OSHA. Prior to becoming the Compliance Assistance Specialist, Terri was a Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Officer in the Baton Rouge Area Office. Terri has conducted over a thousand safety and health inspections throughout the state of Louisiana.