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NACD Staff Biographies
Christopher L. Jahn, President - cjahn@nacd.com
Chris Jahn is President of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A. He was selected to lead this Washington, DC-based trade association in January 2007.
NACD member companies are committed to product stewardship and responsible distribution in every phase of chemical storage, handling, transportation, and disposal through compliance with NACD’s Responsible Distribution ProcessSM (RDP), which requires members to continuously improve performance in protecting health, safety, security, and the environment.
For three years prior to joining NACD, Chris served as President of the Contract Services Association (CSA), the nation’s oldest and largest association of service contractors representing over 200 companies that provide a wide array of services to federal, state, and local governments. Jahn served on the Policy Committee of the Council of Defense and Space Industry Association (CODSIA), the Defense Acquisition Excellence Council, the DAU-Industry Training Roundtable, the Acquisition Reform Leadership Council, and other leadership positions.
Prior to joining CSA, Chris served as Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY). As chief policy advisor to the Senator, Chris’s main areas of expertise included environment, transportation, fiscal and procurement issues. He also worked extensively on several congressional committees, interacting with senior EPA, DOT, DOD, Interior, and OMB officials. In addition to his Chief of Staff position, Chris served in a variety of capacities for Senator Thomas, moving up from Legislative Assistant to Legislative Director and finally, Chief of Staff.
In addition to his time in the House and Senate, Chris served as Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for NACD in 2000-2001, responsible for NACD’s government relations and communications programs. Chris left NACD to return to Capitol Hill to serve as Chief of Staff to Senator Thomas.
After graduating from Columbia University, Chris started and ran a book distribution business, contracting with the state and city of New York’s Departments of Education. He has an MBA from the University of Maryland. A native of Wyoming, Chris and his family live in Fairfax Station, Virginia.
Larry Bafundo, Manager, Member Advancement and Communications - lbafundo@nacd.com
Larry Bafundo joined the NACD staff in September, 2009 as Manager of Member Advancement and Communications. Larry serves as the primary recruiter for the Association and implements new strategies to grow and engage the membership.
Prior to joining NACD, Larry worked at the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) for 3 years in a variety of membership and business development roles. Before SOCMA, Larry served as the Senior Program and Development Associate at The European Institute, where he developed programs and grant proposals for homeland security and transatlantic defense issues.
Larry holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations from The Catholic University of America.
Sophia S. Bezas, Coordinator, Meetings & Membership - sbezas@nacd.com
Sophia S. Bezas joined the NACD staff in January 2008 as Coordinator of Meetings and Membership. Sophia's duties include assisting with the promotion and logistics of the Annual Meeting, Operations Seminar and Trade Show, Regional Meetings, and RDP workshops. She also assists with the development, maintenance, and marketing of all member programs and services of her department. In addition, Sophia is responsible for coordinating, developing, and maintaining all membership recruiting and marketing materials.
Prior to joining NACD, Sophia worked as an Affiliate Broker with McWaters and Associates, while serving as the Senior Design Consultant and Manager for The Curtain Exchange. Before that, she served St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as an Event Marketing Representative. Sophia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer Science and Education and a minor in Marketing Management from University of Memphis.
Roselle G. Foley, CMP, Director, Meetings & Exhibits - rfoley@nacd.com
Roselle G. Foley, CMP, joined the NACD staff in October 2000 as Director of Meetings & Exhibits. Roselle's duties include program development, marketing, recruitment of exhibitors/vendors, on-site trade show and meeting management, and overall meeting logistics for both the Operations Seminar & Trade Show and the Annual meeting. Roselle serves as the staff executive for both the OPSEM and Annual Meeting Committees. In addition to this, Roselle handles the overall meeting logistics for all Committee/Board meetings, Regional meetings and Professional Development workshops.
Prior to joining NACD, she has worked for the Water Environment Federation, American Boiler Manufacturers Association and the American Trucking Associations.
Roselle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the College of the Holy Spirit, Manila, Philippines. Roselle has extensive experience in association meeting management. She earned her CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) designation in January 1998. She is a member of Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA); she is the current President of the Association of Meeting Professionals (AMPs) and is also a member of the Meeting Industry Ladies Organization.
Jennifer Gibson, Vice President, Government & Public Affairs - jgibson@nacd.com
Jennifer Gibson joined the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) in October 2003. As Vice President of Government and Public Affairs, Jennifer tracks and reports on the Association's vast legislative and regulatory issues, and international activities. Jennifer is responsible for organizing the annual spring Washington Fly-In event in Washington, DC.
Jennifer came to the NACD from the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), where she served as Federal Affairs Representative and Press Assistant from 1994-96 and as Director of Federal Affairs from 1996-2003. In this capacity, she led NAMICs efforts on a wide variety of issues on Capitol Hill ranging from the regulation of the business of insurance, to finding ways to better prepare the insurance industry for natural and man-made catastrophes, to reforming the U.S. legal system.
Prior to entering the association field, Jennifer spent several years on Capitol Hill. She was a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and the Scheduler/Office Manager for Congressman Fred Grandy (R-IA).
Jennifer is a 1989 graduate of the University of Virginia, where she earned a B.A. with a double major in American Government and Rhetoric and Communications Studies. She is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and a member of the American Society of Association Executives and the Kiwanis Club of McLean, Virginia, where she has served as Club Secretary and Club President.
Matt Glaser, Director, Member Advancement & Strategic Communications - mglaser@nacd.com
Matt Glaser joined the NACD staff in September 2009 as Director, Member Advancement & Strategic Communications. Matt’s duties include all aspects of NACD's member retention and engagement activities, press and media relations, the Chemical Distributor (NACD’s bi-monthly magazine) and staff lead to several NACD committees and panels.
Matt has almost twenty years experience working for a variety of professional and trade associations. Most recently, Matt served as a Vice President for the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS). Prior to RAPS, Matt worked for the American Gastroenterological Association and the National Marrow Donor Program, focusing much of his time on project management, education, professional development, member services and member recruitment.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland at College Park. He earned his Master of Science degree in Management from the University of Maryland, University College in 1997.
Michael Lang, PMP, Director, Responsible Distribution Process - mlang@nacd.com
Michael Lang, PMP, joined the NACD staff in April 2007 as Director, Responsible Distribution Proccess. Mike's duties include all aspects of NACD's flagship initiative -- the Responsible Distribution Process (RDP) -- a management system that requires two third-party audit programs, focuses on continuous improvement in environmental, health, safety, and security (EHS&S) performance, and has drawn recognition from several U.S. federal agencies. He serves as Association liaison between chemical distributor members and major chemical manufacturers on industry performance and trends associated with EHS&S priorities.
Before joining NACD, Mike worked as a contractor for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as a project manager in the Office of Research and Analysis. Prior to FMCSA, Mike was the Director of Marketing and Client Relations for a training and consulting company dealing with tribal governments and organizations, and federal, state, and local governments. Mike has also worked for the American Trucking Associations, the National Automobile Dealers Association, and other organizations in marketing, advertising, and project management capacities.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland. He earned his PMP (Project Management Professional) designation in September 2005. Mike is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Kurt McMillan, Vice President of Business Management – kmcmillan@nacd.com
Kurt McMillan joined NACD in April 2007 as its Vice President of Business Management, overseeing many of the internal operations of the Association. Prior to joining NACD, Kurt served in several capacities at the Contract Services Association (CSA), first as its Membership Director and then as the Vice President, Business Management. Before CSA, he was the Assistant Director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Prior to NMWA, Kurt served in concurrent positions as the Assistant Director of the Chapters and Membership Division and as Midwest Regional Executive of Robert Morris Associates (now the Risk Management Association). Early in his career, he served as an Associate in the Public Policy Department of the Grocery Manufacturers of America as a Junior Consultant at International Public Relations in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia). Kurt earned a double major – Political Sciences and Communications – from Virginia Tech and an MBA from George Mason University.
Chris Parinello, Manager, Government Affairs - cparinello@nacd.com
Chris Parinello joined NACD in September 2009 as Manager of Government Affairs. In his role, he is responsible for running NACD’s Responsible Distribution PAC and grassroots programs, as well as advocating NACD’s environment, health care and labor interests to policymakers on Capitol Hill.
Prior to joining NACD, Chris spent 3 years with the National Community Pharmacists Association as Manager of Government Affairs. In this capacity he was responsible for developing and managing NCPA’s strategic grassroots advocacy programs, engaging community pharmacists and patients to advocate NCPA’s legislative priorities. He also successfully developed and managed NCPA’s Political Action Committee and was responsible for advocating NCPA legislative issues to Members of Congress and staff.
Prior to joining NCPA, Chris spent over 2 years with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), serving in multiple positions in their legislative and political departments.
Chris graduated from James Madison University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Randy Ray Schlegel, Director, Information Services - rschlegel@nacd.com
Randy Ray Schlegel joined NACD in February 1986. Since January 1995 he has held the position of Director, Information Services. In this capacity he manages all NACD/CEF databases. He also maintains a part of the accounting system. He oversees computer operations, and is responsible for keeping all information technology up-to-date.
Before joining NACD, Randy was employed as a physical scientist with the Federal Government (DOC/NOAA), where he produced and wrote monthly and annual reports on the economic impact of weather phenomena on various sectors of the US economy. Randy has attended the University of West Virginia and the University of the District of Columbia and holds degrees in Physical Oceanography and Environmental Science, with minors in mathematics and biology.
Lucinda A. Schofer, Vice President, Marketing & Member Programs -lschofer@nacd.com
Lucinda A. Schofer joined the NACD staff as Vice President, Marketing & Member Programs at the end of March 2008. She is responsible for the Marketing & Member Programs department which handles the majority of dues and non-dues revenue generating member programs and services, including membership/affiliate programs, strategic partnership programs, and the Association’s major conferences. In addition, NACD’s communication efforts have merged into this department.
Lucinda worked for the American Chemistry Council (ACC) for the past 16 years, most recently as Director of Marketing. In that role, she was responsible for the development and management of major conferences, network meetings, and workshops. Lucinda was also instrumental in the ACC’s sponsorship program and related activities. In addition, she directed ACC’s products’ sales through an on-line store to members and other audiences, specifically in the areas of economics, industry statistics, training, Responsible Care®, community outreach, emergency response, and compliance assistance. Lucinda’s other roles for ACC included being responsible for the coordination of compliance assistance services. She also served as the staff manager for a training issues group and the transportation outreach program TRANSCAER®. Lucinda holds a B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Maryland.
Donna Thomas, Administrative Coordinator - dthomas@nacd.com
Donna Thomas joined NACD in September 2004 as receptionist and performs administrative duties in support of the NACD Staff. Donna has over 15 years experience in many aspects of association management, specializing in member services and data processing.
Chemical Educational Foundation Staff
John M. Rice, Executive Director, CEF - jrice@chemed.org
John M. Rice joined NACD in March 2003 and serves as the Foundation's Executive Director. In this role he is responsible for all Foundation activities and works closely with NACD staff to develop programs and initiatives that benefit NACD members and Foundation contributors.
John has over a decade of experience working in the not-for-profit arena, focusing on member services, fundraising, program development and administration. Prior to joining CEF, John's professional experience included working with a number of prominent national and international non-profit organizations. From 1998 to 2002 John served as Business Development Director for Public Technology, Inc., a group working to increase the use of technology in local governments. Prior to that position, John served as Business Development and Member Services Officer for The International Dairy Foods Association from 1994-1998. In addition to these positions John also held positions with The Close Up Foundation, the nation's largest civic education organization, and The Mattress Factory Museum, a contemporary art museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, John worked as a consultant for The Commodity Futures Trading Commission in the area of strategic and enterprise architecture.
John did his undergraduate studies at The University of Keele, Staffordshire England, and graduate studies at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Laurel Brent, Manager, Manager of Communications - lbrent@chemed.org
Laurel Brent joined the CEF staff in August 2003. Her areas of responsibility include coordination of CEF Award programs; the development, production and distribution of CEF Solutions bulletins; the CEF Web site; and the continuing development, marketing and advertising of You be the Chemist Challenge and other CEF programs.
Prior to joining the CEF staff, Laurel worked as a communications intern at a Central Virginia law firm. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Corianne Pafford, Manager, Programs and Outreach - cpafford@chemed.org
Corianne Pafford joined the Chemical Educational Foundation (CEF) in June of 2005. As Manager of Programs and Outreach, she manages the day-to-day activities required to run CEF’s current programs, assists in developing new programs, and oversees CEF’s educational program outreach efforts. She is also responsible for coordinating the layout and design of print and Web materials according to the CEF vision.
Prior to joining the CEF staff, Corianne completed two internships in the field of special events. In 2003, she worked as a Special Events Representative at Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, and in 2004 she worked for Events Plus, Inc., in Collingswood, New Jersey. Corianne earned a Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University in both Communication Studies (with a Public Relations concentration) and Technical and Scientific Communication.
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