Teresa A. Benton

***** ****** **** ***. ********, LA 70737

***/***-**** (cell) 225/925-7226 (work)

ts9zor@r.postjobfree.com

Summary

Environmental, Health, and Safety Specialist

Accomplished Manager with over 5 years of experience as an Environmental, Health, and Safety Specialist for the Office of Public Health in the State of Louisiana. Maintained the highest quality of standards to avoid time and cost expenditures.

Quality and Safety Specialist with the ability to analyze operations, pinpoint areas for improvement, redesign and implement plans that generate profitable results. In the process of receiving a Certified Safety Professional certification and a MS in Environmental Engineering.

Excellent Relationship Builder with success in forming strong, sustainable relationships, and securing consensus among cross functional team members for key initiatives. Effective communicator and leader.

Experience

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Baton Rouge, LA

Regional Onsite Wastewater Coordinator/ Sanitarian 4

2010 to Present

Promoted to serve as the Region 2 Onsite Wastewater Coordinator; conducted testing, evaluation, and verification to ensure full compliance with regulatory and internal standards. Consulted with installers and homeowners on best practices on new installations of sewage systems.

Benchmark Initiatives- Developed and wrote EHS management system documents, including a Standard Operating Procedure for Wastewater Coordinators and a SOP for addressing compliance issues to the installer that ultimately saves the Region money.

Audit Management- Established an EHS audit function that is now a compliance driven process; currently 50% of all new installations are being evaluated.

Staff Development- Trained 18 Region 2 Sanitarians on the correct way to enter permits into SETS and on what to look for when conducting site evaluations. Also trained other Region 2 staff member on how to use their toughbooks.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Baton Rouge, LA

EHS Supervisor/Sanitarian 3

2008 to 2010

Promoted to supervise sanitarians at the East Baton Rouge Parish Health Unit. Conducted inspections of establishments and institutions as well as investigated complaints regarding unsafe conditions and recommended any necessary corrective measures to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. Collect water and soil samples. Review plans for new building projects as well as plans for well and waste water drainage systems for new construction projects. Assist in training new staff in conducting inspections and in operating equipment. Conducted performance reviews for staff and set staff schedules.

Regulatory Compliance-spearheaded EHS compliance efforts for 5 parishes. Teamed with Central Office, Regional Office, and Local regulatory agencies to facilitate compliance success.

Program Implementation- Introduced a standardized way of keeping up with daily mileage and reporting/documenting institution and restaurant closures to Central and Regional Office.

Staff Development- trained EBRPHU sanitarians on the correct way to put permits into the computer and how to conduct thorough EHS audits.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Baton Rouge, LA

EHS Sanitarian 2/1

2006 to 2008

Entry-level position with the Environmental Health Section of DHH. Started off as a Sanitarian 1 and transitioned into a Sanitarian 2 after passing a test to become a Registered Louisiana Sanitarian.

Personal development-trained for a year on the correct way to conduct environmental audits and testing.

Public Interactions-learned how to communicate effectively with a diverse group of people.

Gulf Coast Analytical Lab. (Lofton Staffing), Baton Rouge, LA

Extractions Lab Tech

2005 to 2006

Performed organic sample preparation for soil, water, oil, and TCLP samples for GC, GC/MS, and HPLC semi-volatile analysis. Became familiar with GC instrumentation. Followed GCAL SOP. Stayed in compliance with EPA regulations.

Easily established a rapport with people of all ages, cultures, and beliefs.

Folger's Coffee Co. (P&G), New Orleans, LA

QA Lab Support

2005 to 2005

Performed calibration and verification of all lab equipment. Conducted sampling and testing of instant coffee according to USDA requirements. Entered new samples and results into the computer system and prepared reports. Completed all necessary documentation, analyzed data, and made decisions on product quality. Worked with operations to resolve issues if product is outside of specification. Conducted moisture, color, and odor tests using SOP.

Able to gather, compile, and analyze information from many different sources.

Education & Training

Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA

Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry

Graduated in 2003

Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA

M.S., Environmental Engineering

Completed graduate coursework in Environmental Engineering

and Program Administration, which has significantly contributed to

my expertise in EHS. Graduating Fall of 2012.

DHH/Office of Public Health, Baton Rouge, LA

Extensive additional professional courses including: Crisis&

Emergency Risk Communication, Hurricane Preparedness,

Elements of Supervisory Practices, Documenting for Performance

& Discipline, and Onsite Wastewater.

Additional Skills

Staff Training and Mentoring Safety Training Programs Strategic Planning

Cost Reduction/Avoidance Environmental Protection Resource Optimization

Documentation Regulatory Compliance/Audit Waste Reduction

Materials Resource Planning Employee Safety Measures Computer Savvy

Licenses

Registered Sanitarian- LA State Board of Examiners for Sanitarians. Louisiana 2006

Food Safety Certified- ServSafe 2007

TWIC Card Holder-Transportation Worker Identification Credential. Louisiana 2011-2016.

Onsite Wastewater Treatment License-Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. Louisiana 2012 to 2014.

CSP- Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Louisiana. In the process of obtaining.

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