The Hellman & Associates Team
Ryan S. Hellman, MS
Founder & Principal
Mr. Hellman is the founder and President of Hellman & Associates, Inc. (H&A). It is his unique blend of experience in occupational health and safety services and his business model design that provide the foundation of success for the company. Built upon his EHS service in the manufacturing, construction, steel fabrication, wood products, health care, pharmaceutical, and vehicle service industries, his vision is to balance regulatory compliance and risk management with internal cost savings, timely service and common sense. This has come to fruition in Hellman & Associates.
Mr. Hellman has raised the company from its 1998 roots to a thriving business comprised of professionals with advanced degrees, certified safety professionals, certified industrial hygienists and a team who thrives on the relationships available as outsourced EHS managers.
Hellman & Associates’ unique niche of outsourced EHS management is a manifestation of Mr. Hellman’s vision developed through his experience managing those issues as an EHS and Production Manager.
Mr. Hellman is respected in the community as an entrepreneurial leader, an inspirational speaker about development of a safety culture, a published author and a supporter of his community.
- Master of Science, Environmental Health, Colorado State University
- Bachelor of Science, Environmental Health, Colorado State University
As a Manager of the Medical Devices Unit Operation for a medical device manufacturing company, Environmental Health and Safety Manager for a medical device manufacturing company, Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator for a hazardous waste treatment storage and disposal facility, and Industrial Hygienist for a major oil refinery, Mr. Hellman’s duties included coordination of multi-departmental operations, corporate Health and Safety policy development, employee training, technical support to corporate operating boards, and interfacing with regulatory agencies and legal counsel on compliance issues and interpretation of regulations. His expertise also includes exposure and control assessment, medical surveillance, ergonomics, hazard and operability assessments and hazardous waste collection and disposal. Coordination of workers compensation, development review and approval of daily health and safety plans for incoming waste streams and participation with fire brigade and asbestos management have also been integral to Mr. Hellman’s knowledge base.
Kenneth R. Schmerber, MS, CIH, CSP
Principal EHS Consultant
Mr. Schmerber has knowledge in the disciplines of industrial hygiene, safety and air quality. His experience includes regulatory requirement applicability analyses, health and safety compliance audits, industrial hygiene sampling, data management system development, NFPA 70E and OSHA Electrical Standard (Subpart S) expertise, OSHA written program development and health and safety training support. In addition, he has published several papers and articles in areas of health and safety and has presented them at several conferences.
- Accident Investigations
- Air Monitoring – Occupational
- Asbestos Management
- Compliance Audits
- Construction Safety
- Expert Witness/Litigation Support
- Exposure and Control Assessment
- Fire Prevention
- Hazard Communications
- Health and Safety Management
- Health and Safety Training
- Health Hazard Assessments
- Indoor Air Quality
- Information Management Systems
- Job Hazard Analysis
- Program Development
- Project Management
- Respiratory Protection
- Standards Interpretation
- Master of Science, Environmental Health, Colorado State University
- Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
Mr. Schmerber earned the 2006 AIHA “Industrial Hygienist of the Year” award. This honor was presented to him at the AIHA/ASSE Fall Technical Conference by the AIHA-Rocky Mountain Section Board of Directors. As a health and safety project manager, Mr. Schmerber’s responsibilities included process leak detection, hazard communication support, breathing air system sampling, monitoring equipment maintenance, laboratory hood evaluations, database development, health and safety plan development and training. He has evaluated OSHA required written programs and procedures for several different industrial facility types, including heavy equipment operations, ceramic processing, photovoltaic cell manufacturing, petroleum refining, optics manufacturing, and beverage distributing and conducted research on industry standards (e.g., ANSI, CGA, etc.).
Back to Top
David C. Ruddy
Principal EHS Consultant
Mr. Ruddy is a Principal Consultant in charge of H&A construction clients. He has over twenty years experience in the disciplines of process safety management, training development and delivery, and leadership. His experience includes regulatory requirement applicability analyses, health and safety compliance audits, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code Standard compliance reviews, and OSHA written program development. His experience also includes service as the acting emergency services supervisor for the largest United States Coast Guard base in the world.
- Construction Safety
- General Industry Safety
- Expert Witness/Litigation Support
- Exposure and Control Assessment
- Emergency Preparedness
- Environmental Response
- Health and Safety Management
- Health and Safety Training
- Surface Mine Inspections
- Health Hazard Assessments
- Standards Interpretation, both Construction and General Industry
- OSHA 30 Hour Certification
- OSHA 10 Hour Certification
- National Safety Council Retail Safety Certification
- Certificate of Occupational Health & Safety
- Navy Advanced Leadership and Management course
- Department of Transportation and Coast Guard Train-the-Trainer courses
- Coast Guard trade school for welding, plumbing, carpentry, construction, and fire fighting
- Certification programs relative to respiratory protection, confined space entry, process safety management, and overhead and mobile crane inspection
Mr. Ruddy is the former Safety Manager for a sizeable construction company specializing in main line sewer, storm sewer, water lines, concrete and asphalt paving for many governmental agencies and private sector builders in Colorado. His duties included management of the workers compensation program, OSHA compliance audits of job sites, regulatory review of standards and interpretation for implementation at the job site, safety training for the work force, DOT compliance and conducting injury investigations. He spent twenty years in the United States Coast Guard in personnel management, safety and the environmental compliance fields. While serving, he developed and conducted training seminars, and coordinated pollution prevention and recycling programs including Superfund cleanup and Tsunami preparation training.
Back to Top
Courtney Pope
Eastern Regional Vice President & Principal EHS Consultant Greensboro, NC Office
Ms. Pope has experience providing safety engineering, applied industrial hygiene and safety management to a variety of work environments in the manufacturing, service, transportation and construction industries. Experience includes OSHA written program development and implementation, health and safety training support, facility audits for hazard identification, prevention and control, regulatory requirement interpretation, accident investigations, industrial hygiene surveys for noise and airborne contaminants as well as recordkeeping and documentation maintenance. The successful implementation of these safety programs has resulted in significant reductions in workers’ compensation claims and many of her clients have achieved premium Cost Containment Certifications by the State of Colorado.
Training is an essential component to regulatory compliance and Ms. Pope consistently receives outstanding accolades for her ability to turn dry material into an engaging, informative session. Her leadership strengths motivate even the most challenging safety culture.
- Accident Investigation
- Air Quality Permits
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Compliance Audits
- Confined Space
- Cost Containment
- Emergency Planning and Response
- Environmental Health/Food Safety
- Ergonomics
- Lockout/Tagout
- Machine Guarding
- Materials Handling and Storage
- Powered Industrial Truck Training
- Program Development
- Project Management
- Respiratory Protection
- Stormwater Management
- Safety and Environmental Training
- VPP Certification Support
- Fall Protection
- Fire Protection
- Fleet Safety (FMCSR)
- Hazardous Materials/ Dangerous Goods Transportation
- Hazardous Waste (RCRA)
- Hazard Communication
- HAZWOPER
- Hearing Conservation
- Job Hazard Analysis
- B.S. Environmental Health Sciences and Safety, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
Ms. Pope has served as an Environmental Health & Safety specialist for an aerial lift truck manufacturer, an Environmental Technician for an environmental consulting firm, a Quality Assurance Technician for a food processing facility and an Environmental Health Specialist for Maricopa County, Arizona. Her duties included workers’ compensation administration; review and interpretation of regulations; training; managing plant-wide environmental, industrial hygiene and safety functions; development and integration of environmental, health and safety programs into corporate standard operating procedures; and worked with local regulatory agencies on storm water management and RCRA compliance issues. Additionally, she has conducted thorough inspections of permitted establishments; investigated citizens’ complaints; and abated health hazards by enforcing County Health Codes. She has investigated potential food-borne illness outbreaks and has taken food samples for laboratory analysis. Ms. Pope has also served as a public health educator to members of the community.
Back to Top
Chad Gillham, CIH
EHS Consultant
Mr. Gillham has knowledge in the disciplines of industrial hygiene and occupational safety consulting. He has extensive experience conducting industrial hygiene monitoring for semiconductor manufacturers. He also has experience monitoring for noise and silica dust exposures in the aggregate industry. Other areas of experience have been area sound level mapping, asbestos inspections, compliance audits and indoor environmental quality evaluations.
- Air Monitoring-Occupational
- Asbestos Inspections
- Hazard Communication
- Health & Safety Training
- Hearing Conservation
- Indoor Air Quality
- Industrial Hygiene
- MSDS Management
- Project Management
- RCRA
- Regulation Compliance
- Respiratory Protection
- Bachelor of Science, Occupational Safety & Health, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
- Certified Industrial Hygienist, Certificate No. 9458
- Colorado State Certified Asbestos Inspector
- Colorado State Certified Asbestos Air Monitoring Specialist
- Colorado State Certified Lead Inspector and Risk Assessor
- American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
Prior to joining Hellman & Associates, Inc., Mr. Gillham was a consultant working in various environments including an aggregate materials company, semiconductor manufacturing, food manufacturing, medical component manufacturer, plastics industry and the Department of Defense.
Back to Top
Brian O'Malley, MS, CSP
EHS Consultant
Mr. O’Malley’s current and previous work activities concentrate on providing safety training, program development, project management, and compliance auditing in the construction, manufacturing and service industries. This experience involves continuous hazard recognition-evaluation-control, job specific craft training, ergonomics and comprehensive documentation. He has performed Industrial Hygiene assessments related to noise, airborne particulate, chemical, and bioaerosol exposures. With extensive experience in workplace accident/incident inspections, he has been involved in OSHA and State Health Department compliance investigations in general industry and construction. Mr. O’Malley also has experience providing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) assessments encompassing building occupant complaint investigations, mold assessments, abatement specifications, and system investigations. This includes designing project abatement specifications for the removal of microbial growth on building materials.
Through a two-year Environmental Health Educator project in South America, Mr. O’Malley is fluent in Spanish.
- Accident Investigations
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Compliance Audits
- Confined Space
- Construction Safety
- Cost Containment
- Ergonomics
- Excavation Safety
- Fall Protection
- Hazard Communication
- Hearing Conservation
- Indoor Air Quality
- Job Hazard Analysis
- Lockout/Tagout
- Machine Guarding
- Materials Handling and Storage
- Program Development
- Project Management
- Respiratory Protection
- Stairways and Walkways
- Training
- Master of Science, Environmental Health Management, Oregon State University
- Bachelor of Science, Environmental Health, Colorado State University
- Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certificate No. 19079
Mr. O’Malley has served as a Project Safety and Environmental Manager for a large construction company, Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator for a laser system and electronics manufacturer, and an Environmental Health Educator for an international volunteer organization. His duties in these positions included supervising the safety program during the construction of a $130 million roller compacted concrete dam, employee training, conveyor safety, job hazard analysis development, managing workers’ compensation cases, and accident investigations. The overseas position involved capacity building in environmental and community health issues with small project implementation.
Back to Top
Leslie Hill DeCoster
EHS Consultant
Ms. DeCoster has been responsible for the design and implementation of industrial hygiene programs for both small companies and large manufacturing environments. She has knowledge of general industry OSHA and other regulatory compliance and she is a trained Laser Safety Officer. Additionally, as a Lean Six Sigma, Greenbelt-trained professional, she has guided EHS Management systems following ISO 14001 and implemented procedures accordingly. She personifies strong communication, leadership, and time-management skills in her leadership of others. Ms. DeCoster has experience providing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) assessments encompassing building occupant complaint investigations, employee exposure assessments, mold assessments and abatement specifications, bioaerosol monitoring for fungi and bacteria, and additional chemical, building product, and system investigations. This includes designing project specifications for the removal of microbial growth on building materials or the removal and replacement of impacted building materials.
- Laser Safety
- Industrial Hygiene
- OSHA Compliance Audits
- Air Quality Investigation
- Ergonomics
- Water Systems
- Emergency Preparedness
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Food Production Assessment
- Waste Management
- Laboratory and Radiation Safety
- Bachelor of Science, Environmental Health, Colorado State University
- Programs Chair - AIHA/RMS Chapter
As a Corporate EHS Professional for a large industrial facility, Ms. DeCoster assisted with hearing and respiratory program implementation, training, and documentation under OSHA and EPA regulatory authorities. She conducted industrial hygiene assessments related to noise and airborne dust exposure. Responsibilities also included the trending of incident rates, continuous inspection of the facility to ensure safety program compliance; updating and maintaining emergency evacuation procedures; waste management; and organizing medical records, incident investigations and accident reports.
Back to Top
M. Sunny Bradford
EHS Consultant
Mr. Bradford has knowledge in the areas of safety, OSHA compliance, and training. He has developed and presented multi-media safety presentations as well as led behavior-based on-the-job safety trainings. Mr. Bradford has experience in supervising a Respiratory Protection Program, industrial hygiene monitoring, performing health and safety audits for compliance with OSHA, DOT, NFPA, and EPA regulations, and managing safety equipment and PPE.
- Construction and General Industry Compliance Audits
- DOT Compliance/ Fleet Safety
- Leak Detection Monitoring
- Chemical/ MSDS Management
- IH Equipment Calibration
- Noise/ Sound Monitoring
- Egress/ Fire Prevention
- Surface Sampling
- Air Monitoring- Occupational
- Ground Water Safety Monitoring
- Lab Hood Face Velocity Evaluations
- Respiratory Protection Programs
- Bachelor of Arts, Communication, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
- Safety and Health Specialist, OSHA Training Institute, Lakewood, CO
- OSHA General Industry Trainer
- OSHA 30-hour Construction
- OSHA Safety Supervisor
- OSHA Electrical Standards
- HAZWOPER
- Forklift Trainer
- American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
- American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
Prior to joining Hellman & Associates, Inc, Mr. Bradford was a Safety Coordinator and Service Manager for TCI Tire Centers and Terminix Commercial. Mr. Bradford trained employees on a variety safety topics relating to their job description. He performed monthly safety compliance inspections, managed vehicle/ property collision accidents, worker’s compensation reports, and managed and compiled MSDS databases. Mr. Bradford is experienced in Industrial Hygiene equipment and calibration as well as indoor air quality monitoring. He has assisted management in budgeting for a safety program, hired and supervised numerous employees, and led driver safety trainings.
Back to Top
Daniel Zier
EHS Consultant
Mr. Zier has knowledge in the disciplines of industrial hygiene, safety and air quality. His experience includes OSHA compliance assessments, health and safety compliance audits, industrial hygiene sampling, ventilation system evaluations, data management system development, OSHA written program development and health and safety training support. Mr. Zier has also conducted process equipment containment and engineering control evaluations for highly potent and biologically active pharmaceutical intermediates and raw materials.
- Health and Safety Support
- Environmental Monitoring
- Hazard Communication Support
- IH Equipment Maintenance & Calibration
- Leak Detection Monitoring
- Containment and Exposure Evaluations
- Remediation Support
- Groundwater Safety Monitoring
- Surface Sampling
- Field Sampling
- Site-wide Chemical Controls
- Bachelor of Arts, Physics, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley
- 40-hour HAZWOPER
- HAZWOPER Supervisor
- Confined Space
As a professional EHS technician, Daniel has worked extensively in the area of Hazard Communication. He has performed hazard and FDA compliance reviews of chemicals and materials for construction, laboratory and production scale use. He also managed MSDS inventory databases to ensure personnel could readily access hazard communication information for pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing processes. His Industrial Hygiene and EHS experience include surface and air sampling studies to assess containment system effectiveness and operator work practice alignment with established occupational health and product quality goals. Mr. Zier’s duties have included; use, calibration, and maintenance of PID, FID, Toxic Gas Analyzers, occupational noise, and chemical specific monitoring equipment. He has performed air quality monitoring for bacteria, yeast, and mold, and leak detection of process components to support occupational health, Title V, MACT, and RCRA compliance programs. He has conducted environmental sampling activities including groundwater monitoring, investigative sampling for various contaminants and groundwater and subsurface remediation system equipment operation.
Back to Top
Kent Williams
EHS Consultant
Mr. Williams has knowledge in the areas of industrial hygiene monitoring, indoor air quality and hazardous waste sampling. His work as an Industrial Hygienist Technician provided extensive support for a large lead abatement project and other employee exposure evaluation projects. At H&A, he has supported employee exposure assessments, hazard audits, respiratory protection fit testing, mercury contamination evaluation project and many other environmental, health and safety tasks supporting our diverse client base.
- Visible emission measurements
- Chemical inventory
- Volatile organic compounds measurements
- Respirator fit testing
- HazWoper
- Noise Dosimetry
- Hazardous Waste Inspections
- Industrial Hygiene monitoring
- SARA Title III reporting
- Indoor Air Quality
- Bachelor of Science, Environmental Health, Colorado State University
Prior to joining Hellman & Associates, Inc., Mr. Williams was an Industrial Hygiene Technician who worked on an extensive lead abatement job conducting lead clearances, as well as, employee and area monitoring for lead dust. Previously, Mr. Williams served as a Lab Technician where he conducted hazardous waste operations, lead clearances, construction materials testing and soil sample testing. As a student, Mr. Williams authored an environmental stewardship plan discussing the best management practices for lead at an outdoor shooting range. His recent coursework has allowed him progressive knowledge for solving environmental health problems.
Back to Top