Management Safety

J.R. RAO

***** **** ****** ***** ******, CO *****

Home: 720-***-**** Cell: 303-***-**** Email: *.*****@*****.***

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, SAFETY & SECURITY DIRECTOR / VP

OVER 15 YEARS OF EHSS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

2 M.S. DEGREES; EHS EXECUTIVE PROGRAMS

ISO 14001 LEAD CERTIFIED AUDITOR

Built a consistent record of advancement and achievement in meeting EHSS

objectives with Rentech Inc., Abbott Laboratories, General Dynamics Company,

Bristol Myers-Squibb Company, and GMC.

Subject-matter expertise in all aspects of EHSS management on operational and compliance

programs, with the ability to plan and implement complex, high-level compliance strategies across

multiple manufacturing sites worldwide. Currently direct all EHSS activities and functions within a

multimillion-dollar organization.

Proven success in generating multimillion-dollar cost reductions, driving double-digit safety

improvements, improving compliance for numerous global sites, affecting a culture change, and

implementing cutting-edge processes/ technologies for key EHSS initiatives.

Global background includes building relationships with key members of governments worldwide,

maintaining fluency in several languages, and understanding the intricacies of regulatory matters

in various countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Australia.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RENTECH, INC. – Denver, CO – 2011-Present

Corporate Director, EHSS

Hired for newly-created position to direct EHSS activities across all company-owned businesses in the

U.S. and worldwide. Manage all EHSS staff at corporate and operations locations; report to the Senior

Vice President of Operations. Plan and administer several multimillion-dollar budgets. Provide tools to

senior management for implementing core EHSS values, including development and integration of

policies, standards, and guidance documents.

Lead efforts in instituting a Safety Culture within all operations through assessments, a root-cause

investigation process, and various initiatives for continuous improvement. Direct company efforts

during the acquisition and divestiture process through identifying risks/liabilities and implementing

steps to mitigate risks. Work with managers across all departments and areas to drive business

growth. Establish relationships with government agencies in the U.S. and overseas.

Challenged to address several existing issues, including lack of clearly defined processes, data

management function, identified risks and liabilities, support for international operations, and

adherence to regulatory compliance

Selected Achievements & Contributions:

Contributed to $200 million acquisition of fertilizer company and identified multiple

EHSS items for completing the transaction. Reduced acquisition costs by over $50 million by

identifying EHSS-related risks.

J.R. RAO, 2 Home: 720-***-**** Cell: 303-***-**** Email:

*.*****@*****.***

Implemented EHSS Compliance tracking tool across all Rentech businesses in the U.S.

and overseas, with tool ensuring regulatory compliance at all times and facilitating allocation of

resources to highest risk areas.

Played key role in completing new business acquisitions and leading efforts for

seamless integration of acquired businesses that provided additional sources of revenue/profits.

Increased productivity by over 10% through reducing safety incidents and accident

rates; improved compliance rate by over 15% through implementation of enhanced tracking

systems.

Decreased operational costs by $500,000 through driving system and process

improvements in loss prevention and accident reduction areas.

ABBOTT NUTRITION – Columbus, OH – 2006-2010

Corporate EHS Staff, Global Operations

Directed EHS implementation activities and maintained audit-readiness at all times for manufacturing

sites (both start-up and established plants) worldwide. Supervised team that included plant EHS

managers and staff across air emissions management, waste management, water management, and

occupational health functions.

For start-up operations, led initiatives to implement the company culture and raise EHS awareness in

contractor safety, environmental matters, regulatory/community interactions, and other areas. For

established sites, provided support to ensure preparedness for audits, managing for 100%

compliance.

Selected Achievements & Contributions:

Improved the EHS compliance record for multiple sites worldwide. Reduced

environmental incidents by 20+% and lost time and recordable accident rate by 15+%. Lead

many company audits, including ISO audits for sustaining performance excellence. Drove EHS

culture change at sites globally resulting in implementation of long-term strategies.

Improved resource utilization at sites globally, including water use by 10+%, waste

generation by 15+%, as well as decreasing carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, and

Notices of Violations.

Secured over $6 million in funding for implementing EHS projects, including

ergonomic improvement, waste and water use reduction, and safety improvement initiatives.

Managed budgets within 5% year-to-year.

Improved accidents per million miles driven by over 15% and reduced fleet safety

accident percentage significantly through improved training programs, follow-up on accidents, and

the use of “bonus penalizing” on compensation.

Established outstanding relationships with government officials in foreign

countries that were deemed critical as the sites were new within these countries.

Provided recommendations subsequently implemented by Abbott, including incident

investigation process, Dupont’s Safety Training Observation Program, enhanced management

safety, and safety culture assessment.

GENERAL DYNAMICS – Bath, ME – 2004-2006

Director, Environmental Safety & Occupational Health (ESOH)

Directed implementation of EHS in “Design of Surface Combatant Ships” program for the United

States Navy, including building-enhanced safety features within the ship and ensuring top-class

safety for sailors. Ensured compliance with multiple Department of Defense regulations and

J.R. RAO, 3 Home: 720-***-**** Cell: 303-***-**** Email:

*.*****@*****.***

requirements. Supervised team of 7 and interacted with defense contractors such as Raytheon,

Northrup Grumman, BAE Systems, and Bofors to ensure fulfillment of DoD objectives.

Selected Achievements & Contributions:

Successfully implemented DoD requirements that included Navy requirements for DDX

class of ships, fire testing on USS Shadwell, safety measures for firing weapons (e.g. Peripheral

Vertical Launch System, Advanced Gun System), and safety measures on weapons firing based on

tests in Utah and California. Improved overall safety as a result.

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB COMPANY – Syracuse, NY – 1993-2004

Associate Director, EHS Global Operations

Designed and integrated EHS programs, systems, and infrastructure components for meeting ever-

changing EHS regulations worldwide. Supervised team of 12-15 plant EHS managers. Audited sites

and prepared audit reports, scheduling and communicating audits to relevant team members.

Implemented ongoing training at sites. Worked with individuals from a multitude of countries to

ensure compliance with regulations. Planned, administered, and monitored budget.

Selected Achievements & Contributions:

Generated $3 million-plus in CERCLA remediation through adoption of newer

remediation technologies and negotiations with government on oversight costs, with savings

subsequently used to expand the business. Saved several million dollars in waste disposal, solvent

reuse, and recycling through continuous improvement programs.

Led several hundred million dollars of business expansion initiatives in emerging

markets through contributions to acquisitions and divestitures.

Implemented a viable third party manufacturing (TPM) audit program that ensured

the presence of business continuity at global locations.

Reduced accidents by over 15% through designing and implementing numerous safety

programs at each site. Decreased safety-related incidents with contractors at projects worldwide

by over 50% in 4 years.

Ensured 100% compliance for all aspects of standards on a line-by-line basis through

implementing a Compliance Manual system. Improved overall compliance through the installation

of a series of EHS infrastructure projects.

Secured Part B RCRA permit for the Puerto Rico site for on-site incineration of liquid

hazardous waste, earning the President’s Award as a result; led installation of wastewater pre-

treatment facility in Syracuse and cut discharge violations to zero, resulting in Division President’s

Award.

Contributed to a $40 million-plus reduction in remediation costs by negotiating

explanation of significant differences with the USEPA, with the ESD changing the remedy selected

for a site with another alternative.

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION – Dayton, OH – 1984-1993

Divisional EHS Manager

Ensured compliance with GMC EHS standards and local regulations for 6 manufacturing sites in the

U.S. and Mexico within the Delco Chassis division. Directed and coached team of 7 site EHS

managers. Functioned as a Subject Matter Expert for EHS-related topics. Managed sites undergoing

audits, including completion of audit action plans for addressing findings.

J.R. RAO, 4 Home: 720-***-**** Cell: 303-***-**** Email:

*.*****@*****.***

Selected Achievements & Contributions:

Saved several million dollars in added compliance costs by providing numerous

comments to the USEPA regarding Title V of the Clean Air Act, with comments benefiting the auto

industry significantly.

Completed the underground storage tanks compliance efforts in the State of Ohio

and USEPA Region V levels; secured several operational environmental permits for sites that

maintained operations with zero enforcement actions.

Led negotiations with stakeholders such as Federal EPA, Region II EPA, NYSDEC,

Government of Ontario and Akwesasne Indian Nation, resulting in a consent decree for the

nation’s first fully private owned TSCA Superfund site.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering: North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro,

NC

Master of Science in Production Engineering: Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University,

Hyderabad, India

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering: Osmania University, Hyderabad, India;

Valedictorian Graduate

Certifications & Designations: ISO 14001 Lead Certified Auditor; RCRA Trained; DOT Certified; UST

Installer and Air Emissions Opacity Reader, Ohio; Former Secret Clearance issued by the Department

of Defense (currently inactive)

Professional Training: Corporate EHS Executive Programs, Yale School of Environmental

Management, New Haven, CT; Corporate EHS Executive Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette,

IN

Professional Affiliations: Director, Air and Waste Management Association of Central Ohio, 2

years; Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Contact this candidate