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Colorado Environmental Health Association

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CEHA BOARD

The CEHA Board is volunteer lead and set forth in the CEHA Bylaws. The Board of Directors can maintain up to 14 members. Nominations for open positions typically take place at the Business Meeting of the Annual Education Conference.


President

Term 2022-2025

Aaron Chavez

Huerfano Counties District Health Department


I received a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University - Ft. Collins, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Science in Environmental Health. 

Upon graduation, I moved to Minnesota where I briefly worked for the City of Minneapolis as a health inspector as well as Deli Express and Pillsbury as part of their food safety teams. The bulk of my career (17 years) was spent at Ramsey County (EHS II) as part of the Solid and Hazardous Waste unit where I conducted inspections of factories, hospitals, schools, pre-demolition inspections, and various other industries. I also served as an educator and participated in various outreach activities. My current employment with LA-H involves the inspection of food, childcare, OWTS and marijuana, as well as other duties related to mosquitos, radon, tires and public health nuisances. 




President Elect

Term 2023-2026

Kara Small

El Paso County Public Health


Hi! My name is Kara. I am from all over the world and have lived on 3 continents (non military). I have a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Texas A&M University, class of 2008 (whoop!). After working as a wildlife biologist for a few years, I stumbled into Environmental Health working for a small suburb of Dallas, TX. In 2019, I wanted to live somewhere I could live my best outdoors life and found a job with El Paso County, Colorado. I am currently a Lead Environmental Health Specialist for El Paso County’s Retail Food Program and I absolutely love my job. I’ve served on the CEHA planning committee since 2019 and am really excited to serve as the Chair for the 2023 AEC. I enjoy backpacking, hiking, camping, snow shoeing, scuba diving (not in Colorado), baking, and spending my time with my animals and my family and friends.





Past President

Term 2021-2024

Conner Gerken
Arapahoe County Public Health


My name is Conner Gerken.  I was born and raised in Fort Morgan, Colorado.  I graduated from Fort Morgan High School in May of 2012.  I attended Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado and received my bachelor’s degree in biology in December of 2016. While attend school I worked numerous jobs in the healthcare field.  I worked at Eben-Ezer Lutheran Care Center in Brush as a CNA, Home Care of the Grand Valley in Grand Junction as a CNA, and at Community Hospital in Grand Junction as a surgical aide.  After graduating from CMU I worked as a service member for AmeriCorps doing after school science programs for children from low income households.  In June of 2017 I was hired as an Environmental Health Specialist at the Northeastern Colorado Health Department and have been in love with EH ever since.  I have served as the northeast representative for the CEHA board as an interim until I was voted in at the AEC in 2018. I was chair for the 2021 AEC.







Treasurer

Term 2021-2024

Laura DeGolier

Arapahoe County Public Health


I grew up in the Chicago burbs and moved to Colorado in 1993 right after I graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health. Later, I received my Master’s in Public Health at the University of Denver. I got my start in environmental health as an intern at Summit County and eventually made my way to Tri-County Health Department where I’ve settled in for 27 years assuming various positions including an Environmental Health Specialist, Communicable Disease Control Specialist/Supervisor and now in my current role as an Environmental Health Manager. I enjoy the outdoors whether hiking, stand up paddle boarding, gardening or hanging out on the patio or hammock. I also have a love for genealogy, investigating the past and learning history.     



Secretary

Term 2023-2025

Kimberly Demers

El Paso County Public Health


My name is Kimberly Demers and I am a proud Colorado native from Colorado Springs. I have a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Benedictine College in the small town of Atchison, Kansas. Always planning on working for the government in some capacity, I found Environmental Health in 2019 and am so glad I did! Attending my first CEHA conference that year gave me a glimpse into the numerous areas of EH and reignited my love of learning.  I have now been the Environmental Health Supervisor for El Paso County Public Health for four and a half years. In this role I oversee the administrative processes including licensing and permitting for all EH programs. Outside of work I enjoy swimming, concerts, cooking (plus eating), and snuggling my dog.








Annual Education 

Conference Chair

Term 2023-2024

Erinn Pablo

El Paso County Public Health




Northeast Representative

Term: 2023-2024 (needs business meeting confirmation for continued term)

Karah Merrell

Northeast Colorado Health Department


Hello! I am Karah and growing up I split my time between Seward, Alaska and The Lake of The Ozarks in Missouri. I received a dual Bachelor's degree in Pre-Med/Biochemistry from the University of Missouri in 2007. I was accepted to the UMKC School of Medicine in 2008 and moved to Kansas City but in 2010 I shifted my path to delivering babies as a Certified Professional Midwife. In 2015 I was accepted to Oregon State University and received my M.S. in Environmental Sciences with a focus in Environmental Sustainability. After working and volunteering with different environmental and healthcare organizations remotely through the pandemic I decided to pursue my dream of owning a small farm in Colorado. However, I really wanted to get in and join my community so in January of 2023 I accepted a position as an Environmental Health Specialist with the Northeast Colorado Health Department. I love my job, working with people, and have an obsession for most of the natural world (including the icky stuff). I love to travel and spend time with my family and legion of pets on my little homestead. 







Southeast Representative

Term: 2023-2025

Amy Jamison

Fremont County Department of Public Health and Environment

Amy Jamison is the Environmental Health Specialist at the Fremont County Department of Public Health and Environment, where she works as an environmental health department of one. Primarily responsibilities include retail food, childcare and school inspections. She was raised in Colorado and received her Bachelors of Science in 2015 from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. In addition, she received the REHS credential in 2021. Outside of work she enjoys hiking and spending time with her family.


West Slope Representative

Term 2023-2025

Danielle Salinky

Eagle County Public and Environmental Health


Hi! My name is Danielle Salinsky. I was born and raised in Seabrook, TX. I attended Texas Tech University where I received a bachelor's and master's degree in Kinesiology. I then attended the University of Texas School of Public Health and received my master's in Public Health and a graduate certificate in Global Health. I moved to Vail, CO in 2018 to coach gymnastics while finishing my master's degree. I was hired by Eagle County Public Health & Environment in 2020 as an Environmental Health Specialist. I had no idea what the job entailed when I was hired, but fell in love with the field and spreading education to others. I currently coordinate our Retail Food, Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Child Care program.

Metro Representative

Term 2022-2024

Connor Carrillo

Denver Department of Public Health and Environment

Connor Carrillo is a Communicable Disease Epidemiologist with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. Connor earned a B.S. in Microbiology from Washington State University and MPH in Epidemiology from the Colorado School of Public Health. Connor started his career as an Environmental Health Specialist with Tri-County Health Department before transitioning to an Epidemiology role at Tri-County and then later joining DDPHE. Connor’s work is primarily focused around enteric diseases in retail food establishments, childcare centers, and long term care facilities. Outside of work you can find Connor trail running in the mountain parks along the front range.


















Industry Representative

Term 2023-2024 (needs business meeting confirmation to continue term)

Shannon Hayhurst

VP of Front Range Precast Concrete

Shannon is the Executive Vice President of Front Range Precast Concrete and has been with the
company since October 2017. She has over 20 years of executive management experience and team
development with national organizations across a variety of industries. She has a Bachelor of Science
degree in Construction Management as well as a Master of Business degree in Business Administration,
both of which were obtained at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. She has furthered
her education in the industries that Front Range Precast Concrete serves, by obtaining credentials as a
NAWT, OWTS Designer, Soils Technician, and Onsite Wastewater System Inspector, and has attended
numerous conferences and lectures available from many different local and national organizations;
CPOW, CEHA, NOWRA and CWWCA. She also served on the Wastewater Committee Board as a member
of the National Precast Concrete Association. In Shannon’s spare time, she enjoys being with family and
friends, traveling, and is an outdoor enthusiast. You will find her golfing, boating, paddleboarding,
snowshoeing, camping, skiing, or hiking.












EH Director

Dan Joseph

Dan Joseph

Weld County Health Department

I am originally from Illinois and ended up moving to Colorado to attend UNC.  I earned a degree in environmental earth science with a minor in environmental studies.   My studies required an internship and I found one with the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment.  Six months after graduating a position opened with Weld and I was hired.  That was 22 years ago!  My entire career has been with Weld, but it has allowed me to hold many different positions at many different levels giving me a lot of knowledge and relationships to draw upon.   I love my new position, but retail food will always be close to my heart.  When I am not working, I love playing sports (racquetball and hockey) and spending time with family and friends.  I have been a member of CEHA for a long time and am happy to be part of the team.


Student Representative, Term 2022-2024

Veronica Neujahr

Colorado State University- Fort Collins


I am a third-year student at Colorado State University studying Environmental Public Health. I decided to study Environmental Public Health because I am fascinated by how our environment can cause adverse health effects and how we can find those patterns in public health. I have developed a strong curiosity for this field and love learning about it! I am originally from Larkspur, CO. When I am not doing schoolwork, I love to run and crochet. I would love to get out and hike more, though!


Student Representative, Term 2023-2025

Trevor Hale

Colorado State University- Fort Collins


I am a third-year undergrad at CSU in the amazing Environmental Public Health program! I am from Kansas and decided to come to CSU as a pre-vet student. I quickly became interested in the field of environmental health, and, although I’m no longer aiming for vet school, I’m still interested in learning about the interaction of animal, environmental, and human health within the One Health framework. I was motivated to become more engaged in the field after learning from so many talented and passionate professionals doing amazing work all over Colorado! When I’m not in class or working, I love to be outdoors hiking, biking, or camping (never been skiing, but it’s high on my list to try!) I also enjoy getting my hands dirty in a garden occasionally (if only I had one) and taking care of my oversized collection of houseplants.


To promote environmental health as a profession, which strives for continual improvement in environmental quality and the growth of individual professionalism.

Contact
Office: +1 (719) 501-3184
Email: coenvirohealthassoc@gmail.com

Address:

1675 Garden of the Gods Rd Ste 2044

Colorado Springs, CO 80907

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