Posted on July 15, 2024

  • Amy Bahruth is the Deputy Director of the Health and Safety Program at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in Washington, DC. With over 30 years of experience as a safety and health specialist and educator, she has made significant contributions to the well-being of educators nationwide. At AFT, Amy has trained hundreds of members and developed comprehensive curricula on critical topics such as bullying, workplace violence, emergency preparedness, and indoor environmental quality. Her work ensures a safer and healthier work environment for AFT members. Before joining AFT, Amy served as a staff representative for the Communications Workers of America in New Jersey, where she represented public employees. She is also an accomplished lecturer at Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations, teaching various courses in labor studies since 1997. Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in labor studies from Rutgers and a master’s degree in environmental and occupational health science from Hunter College, CUNY.
  • Brent Kynoch is the Managing Director of the Environmental Information Association, headquartered just outside of Washington, DC in Chevy Chase, MD. He has been the Managing Director of the Association since 1996, but previously had served EIA in other volunteer roles on the Board of Directors as an officer and ultimately as the President of EIA in 1988 and 1989. EIA has spent over 30 years at the forefront of providing its members with the information needed to remain knowledgeable, responsible, and competitive in the environmental health and safety industry. Mr. Kynoch is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he received a degree in mechanical engineering. He is called upon frequently as a speaker, as a writer and as an expert regarding environmental contaminants. He has testified before both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate regarding asbestos and has written numerous articles on asbestos management and control.
  • Linda Reinstein is an experienced public health advocate and the President and CEO of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). Her advocacy began in 2003 when her husband, Alan, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. In 2004, she co-founded ADAO, directing its efforts towards raising awareness about the dangers of asbestos, advocating for a global asbestos ban, and supporting those impacted by asbestos-related diseases. Under her leadership, ADAO has become the largest independent nonprofit in the U.S. focused on preventing asbestos exposure, eradicating asbestos-related diseases, and driving regulatory reform. Reinstein has been a powerful voice, regularly testifying before Congress and other governmental bodies, shaping national and international asbestos policies. Her work has advanced asbestos awareness, prevention, and public health protection worldwide. Reinstein has also initiated the exclusive “Asbestos: Art, Advocacy, and Action” project, which uses artistic expression to highlight the human impact of asbestos exposure and galvanize support for policy changes. She has authored numerous comprehensive asbestos reports, further solidifying her role as a key figure in asbestos advocacy. Reinstein creatively spearheaded the launch of a new website, “kNOw Asbestos,” to educate about the dangers of asbestos exposure and prevention. Currently, Reinstein is spearheading the 19th Annual ADAO Awareness and Prevention Conference and advancing the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN), continuing her relentless pursuit of a global asbestos ban and support for affected individuals and families.
  • Greg Russell serves as a Government Affairs Representative with the International Association of Fire Fighters. He oversees a diverse and expansive portfolio of fire and EMS operational issues. Joining the fire service in 1983, Greg immersed himself in the fire and emergency medicals service career field, climbing through the operational ranks to serve as an engine company Lieutenant before transitioning to the Fire Marshall’s Office. Greg retired as a Fire Marshal and Fire/Arson Investigator in 2016 after 33 years of uniformed service. Progressively rising in the IAFF since 1996, he continues to advocate for the issues of importance to the men and women of the fire service.
  • Bob Sussman, JD, is the principal of Sussman and Associates, a consulting firm that offers advice on energy and environmental policy issues to clients in the non-profit and private sectors. He has been an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and a Visiting Lecturer at Yale Law School. Bob served in the Obama Administration as co-chair of the Transition Team for EPA and then as senior policy counsel to the EPA administrator from 2009 to 2013. He served in the Clinton Administration as the EPA Deputy Administrator during 1993-94. At the end of 2007, Bob retired as a partner at the law firm of Latham & Watkins, where he headed the firm’s environmental practice in DC. Bob was a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress in 2008. He is currently serving as Chair of the Interstate Commission for the Potomac River Basin. Bob is a magna cum laude 1969 graduate of Yale College and a 1973 graduate of Yale Law School. Bob has published numerous blogs and articles on climate change and other current environmental issues.
  • James Williams, Jr. is the Director of Federal Relations for all cancer screening and early detection issues at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Williams has been the director of federal affairs for Wayne State University for the last 11 years. Williams’ Hill experience includes serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for former Congresswoman Carolyn C. Kilpatrick.