BIOGRAPHIES: SPEAKERS & TRAINERS |
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Ben Barrett, P.E. Senior Consultant, founder and owner of: DG Advisor, LLC
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TRAINING: IMDG Code: International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code Advanced Recurrent (Amd. 42-24) (May 9, 2025)
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Ben, a professional engineer and the founder of DG Advisor, LLC (DGA), began his career in gunpowder manufacturing. Since establishing DGA in 2006, he has played a key role for clients manufacturing and shipping explosives, an industry where safety plays an especially important role. Ben has been a delegate to IMO, ICAO, the Joint Meeting, and has attended the UN consistently since 2005. As a result, he branched out to become a generalist in the constantly evolving dangerous goods regulations, and develops special expertise wherever needed. Ben specializes in problem solving for high value, difficult challenges, with safety first and efficiency as a strong second. DGA’s services include advocacy, custom training, eLearning, permits, approvals and consulting for companies that manufacture, distribute and transport a wide range of dangerous goods and GHS hazardous chemicals. Core Competencies
Credentials
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Adam Burks Consultant DG Advisor, LLC
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TRAINING: IMDG Code: International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code Advanced Recurrent (Amd. 42-24) (May 9, 2025)
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Adam began his career in public safety over two decades ago as a law enforcement officer (retired) and an active volunteer firefighter. In 2009, while pursuing his MBA, he transitioned from full-time public safety to a role in environmental health and safety with a leading online retailer in Missouri. Over the following 14 years, he oversaw Dangerous Goods processes within Logistics Operations, focusing on process development, training design and delivery, quality control, and other critical areas. In the summer of 2024, Adam joined DG Advisor, LLC (DGA) as a Dangerous Goods Consultant.
Core Competencies
Adam holds a Bachelor of Business degree from Columbia College and an MBA from William Woods University. He also maintains his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license. |
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Tracie Cady Regulatory Specialist - Contractor Bureau of Dangerous Goods
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TRAINING: Advanced Air Dangerous Goods Recurrent (May 5, 2025)
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Tracie has more than 25 years of experience in the dangerous goods transportation industry with emphasis in compliance programs and regulatory analysis. Her extensive background includes:
Tracie earned her certification as a Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Illinois and her M.B.A. from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. |
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Robert Harris Deputy Chief Surveyor - Pacific Ports National Cargo Bureau
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TRAINING: Cargo Safety & Security/Blocking & Bracing - Ground & Rail US & IMDG Code (May 4, 2025)
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Robert has accrued 20 years of practical experience as a marine surveyor with the National Cargo Bureau (NCB) while fulfilling their mission of “Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea” and maintaining a close working relationship with the US Coast Guard. He has a strong working knowledge of 49CFR, IMDG Code, CTU Code, CSS Code among other pertinent transportation related regulations. NCB maintains eighteen (18) port office locations around the US and conducts various cargo and vessel related surveys including:
Robert currently oversees the daily operations of the US West Coast NCB port offices as the Deputy Chief Surveyor - Pacific Ports. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Logistics and Intermodal Transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point), is a licensed ex-mariner and held the rank of Lieutenant with the United States Navy Reserve. |
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Pamela Jones Dangerous Goods Specialist DGI Training
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TRAINING: Multimodal Transportation of Lithium Batteries (49 CFR, ICAO/IATA, IMDG Code) (May 4, 2025)
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Pamela joined DGI Training Center with 10 years’ experience in the hazardous materials shipping industry. She previously worked for a chemical manufacturer where her duties included regulatory compliance, classification of chemicals and training of hazmat employees. She teaches all modes of transport and all hazard classes. In addition to instructing DGI classes she also writes dangerous goods training materials and is DGI’s technical assistance guru. Pam has been with DGI Training Center for 26 years and teaches all modes of transport!
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LIN. J. Antonio Perea Perches CDGP - IATA DGR Instructor - Director - CIFFA Global Gate Mexico (GGM)
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TRAINING: Mexican NOMs Compare with 49 CFR (May 9, 2025)
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A hardworking, motivated and proactive Dangerous Goods Specialist who has been in constant preparation in the field with 15 years of experience developing and applying optimization strategies for our client‘s international trade, transportation and logistics operations. See full biography here
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Rachel Piecknick Process Engineer Dangerous Goods, A Division of Berlin Packaging
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TRAINING: Packaging Selection & Testing and Best Management Practices (May 4, 2025)
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As the Process Engineer for Berlin Packaging, Rachel Piecknick works with the sales team and production to develop and implement new package designs, maintain existing test reports, and expand capacity in the production room. While at Berlin Packaging, Rachel designed special permit, single-bottle, multiple-bottle, and cold-chain packaging. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys traveling, tennis, and cooking. Rachel received her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.
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Julie Prescott, DGSA Sr. Regulatory Compliance Specialist COSTHA
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TRAINING: ADR 2025: Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road - Recurrent (May 5, 2025)
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Julie has more than 20 years of experience with the transportation of dangerous goods regulations (49 CFR, ADR, IATA DGR, IMDG Code & TDGR), and uses her knowledge and experience to develop and deliver training programs to ensure compliance with the regulations. She provides technical consulting services to Currie Associates, the Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA), and the International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association (IVODGA). Julie keeps current on industry trends and regulations, and through her work with the GPAC, MACTDG and the RID/ADR/ADN Joint Meeting, she maintains strong working relationships and credibility with regulatory authorities and is able to provide timely and current regulatory information to clients and trade associations. She serves as the COSTHA representative at the RID/ADR/ADN Joint Meeting, at the Multi-Association Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (MACTDG) and at the Transport Canada General Policy Advisory Council (GPAC). She also leads the COSTHA Canada Working Group ensuring members are regularly updated on Transport Canada initiatives. Read full bio here... |
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Stephen Sowa Senior Director of Sales Dangerous Goods, A Division of Berlin Packaging
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TRAINING: Packaging Selection & Testing and Best Management Practices (May 4, 2025)
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Steve brings over 27 years of expertise in the field of UN packaging, with a specialized focus on chemical and biological packaging solutions. He spearheaded the launch of BUNCKER® Pro Line Heavy to the U.S. market—a groundbreaking UN-certified packaging solution for lithium batteries. With its recently acquired DOT-SP 21690, this innovative product enables the shipment of multiple batteries per BUNCKER via freight or rail without inner packaging. Steve holds an M.S. in Environmental Science and Management from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, and a B.S. in Environmental Science from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. |
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Rebecca Spaulding Senior Consultant Environmental Resource Center
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TRAINING: Canada: Transport Dangerous Goods Canada Regulations (TDGR) - Compare with 49 CFR (May 8, 2025)
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As a senior consultant with Environmental Resource Center, Rebecca provides customized hazardous materials/dangerous goods transportation compliance assistance (DOT/IATA/IMO) for many different industries. For the past 23 years she has provided hazardous materials and dangerous goods training, consulting, and auditing services to numerous clients in the chemical, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries as well as treatment, storage and disposal facilities. Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Geoscience and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Boston College. Her technical specialties include Hazardous Materials Transportation (DOT) and Dangerous Goods Transportation (IATA, IMO, ADR, TDG, NOM, and ADG). She has customized training seminars in Spanish and English to meet the compliance requirements under DOT, IATA, IMO, focusing on shipments of infectious substances, explosives, and lithium batteries for motor carrier drivers, rail and tank car shipments, and shipments by ground within Europe (ADR). Rebecca has also managed training and consulting projects in the transportation regulations for importers and exporters into Mexico (NOM), Canada (TDG), Europe (ADR), Brazil and Argentina under the domestic regulations and Mercosur Agreement, and to Australia (ADG). She has audited dozens of facilities in the USA, Canada and Europe for compliance with their domestic and international modal transportation regulations. More recently, Rebecca has expanded training and consulting services to customers who manage fleets of drivers transporting hazardous materials and waste to ensure compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) DOT regulations. |
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Richard Trester Sr. Safety Consultant J. J. Keller
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TRAINING: 49 CFR Recurrent (May 8, 2025)
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With over 10 years experience in education and training, Richard is a highly effective consultant specializing in FMCSA regulatory compliance, hazmat and CSA best practices. Core Competencies
Credentials
Professional Education/Experience
“Connect, communicate, and cultivate — these are my three Cs to successful relationships with clients and people in general.” |
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