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History

The Potomac Section is a local section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). We serve the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the adjacent Maryland and Virginia counties, but are all welcome to join!

This Potomac Section website serves to keep members, colleagues, community, and AIHA National informed of its many activities. The section provides its members continuing education and networking opportunities through monthly section meetings from September through June. In addition, the section sponsors professional development meetings - with the Smithsonian and Conservation Groups in the Fall and a general meeting in early spring. We also sponsor awards and provide judges for local middle school and high school science fairs.

AIHA Potomac Section Board Members



President, Lauren Kesslak


Lauren E. Kesslak, CIH, CSP is an Industrial Hygienist in the DC metro area.  She is currently a Certified Industrial Hygienist for Inspection Experts, Inc. in Columbia, MD.  Lauren has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Saint Francis University (Loretto) and a Master of Science degree in Biology from Shippensburg University.   She is Certified in Comprehensive Practice by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (CIH), and by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (CSP).




Past-President, John Engel



President-Elect

Richard Dillahunt Jr, MS, CIH, REHS, serves as a Program Manager of Environmental Health and Safety Services at Federal Occupational Health, a component of the Program Support Center (PCS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Throughout his 10-year career, he has provided industrial hygiene, occupational safety, food safety, pest management, water quality, and emergency response services to various government and private sector organizations. Richard is a Lieutenant Commander in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. He is the 2022 John C. Eason Award recipient, awarded by the U.S. Public Health Service’s Environmental Health Officer Professional Advisory Committee annually, to recognize the accomplishments of an outstanding Junior Officer. He has worked as an industrial hygienist for the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Marine Chemist Services Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA.



Treasurer, Kay Dietrich

Kay has many years of experience in occupational health and safety including work as a consultant, at a teaching hospital/university, in a refinery, at a natural gas distributor and at a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL). She is currently working as a Health and Safety Specialist for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.  She has both a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from North Carolina State University and is a Certified Industrial Hygienist and Certified Safety Professional.


Treasurer-elect, Max Chmielinski

Dr. Maximilian Chmielinski completed his PhD at the University of Washington investigating ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure in agricultural workers under the supervision of Dr. Christopher Simpson. His academic work contained three components: dosimetric monitoring of solar and lamp sourced UV, designing a control system to operate a bench top spectroradiometer as a dosimetric device, and using an open-source architectural light simulation engine to predict ambient radiation conditions created by indoor vegetation supplemental lighting. His current position is a consultant working at HP Environmental, where he has managed large water losses nationwide and performed environmental oversight during large renovations on Capitol Hill. Outside of work, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Explorers Club Washington Group and has a wonderful cat that does tricks and comes when called.




Secretary, Damien Hammond

Mr. Hammond has over 20 years of experience providing environmental, health and safety services. Damien possesses a broad knowledge of environmental regulatory compliance requirements, he has a strong educational foundation as well, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of the District of Columbia and a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Public Policy from George Mason University. He has served as President of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (Potomac), a Board Member for The Campagna Center, a Human Rights Commissioner for the City of Alexandria, and a Subject Matter Expert for the US Black Congressional Caucus and the US Chamber of Commerce.


Secretary Elect, Aaron Stern


Director Web Admin, Nigel Robinson



Director At Large, Joy Erdman

Ms. Erdman is a private consultant in occupational safety and health, based in Falls Church, Virginia. Prior to this, she was the senior civilian CIH & CSP working in the Pentagon in support of the U.S. Navy’s occupational safety & health program. Ms. Erdman served on a variety of DoD and Federal Interagency committees and completed the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executive Fellows. She has taught ethics for industrial hygienists seeking certification maintenance for over 10 years. In 2012, ASSE recognized her as one of 100 women making a difference in safety and in 2020, AIHA recognized her as an AIHA Fellow. Ms. Erdman is past chair of the AIHA Leadership and Management Committee, the current Chair of the AIHA Conference Program Committee, and on the Board of Directors with the AIHA Potomac Section.


Director At Large, Karen Capwell



Director at Large, Damien Hammond

Mr. Hammond has over 20 years of experience providing environmental, health and safety services. Damien possesses a broad knowledge of environmental regulatory compliance requirements, he has a strong educational foundation as well, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of the District of Columbia and a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Public Policy from George Mason University. He has served as President of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (Potomac), a Board Member for The Campagna Center, a Human Rights Commissioner for the City of Alexandria, and a Subject Matter Expert for the US Black Congressional Caucus and the US Chamber of Commerce.


Director at Large, Mark Geiger

Terms for Current Board Members

Member

Role

Term

Lauren Kesslak

President

2025-2026

John Engel

Past-President

2025-2026

Richard Dillahunt

President-Elect

2025-2026

Damien Hammond

Secretary 

2025-2026

Aaron Stern

Secretary-elect

2025-2026

Kay Dietrich

Treasurer

2024-2026

Max Chmielinski

Treasurer Elect

2024-2026

Karen Capwell

At Large Director

2025-2027

Nigel Robinson

Director of Web Admin     

2025-2027

Derek Falzoi

At Large Director

    2025-2027     

Mark Geiger

At Large Director

2024-2026

Joy Erdman

At Large Director

2023-2025


AIHA Potomac Local Section

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