John Duffy, CHST, CBRE
Current President-Elect

John has been safety professional for over 20 years. He currently is The HSE Lead for the Industrial and Logistics PJM group for CBRE/Turner & Townsend. He served as the HSE by Design Program Manager for Novartis Americas. Prior to CBRE/Novartis he was an Executive EHS Consultant with Signature Safety. Before joining Signature Safety, he was the Safety Manager for one of the largest mechanical contractors in New Jersey. Prior to that position he worked on a several high-rise projects as the site safety manager. John is an OSHA Authorized Instructor, Certified MEWP/Forklift/Telehandler instructor and teaches numerous safety awareness topics for clients. John has served as a member of his church’s parish council with a tenure of 10 years as its president. He currently serves as the chairmen of the Zoning Board in his town.

Phillip Bauknight, Esq.: Fisher Phillips
Current Vice President

Phillip C. Bauknight represents and serves as trusted counsel for employers in a broad range of employment, business, and labor issues. As part of his practice, Phil handles OSHA and workplace safety matters across the country. He routinely helps clients contest and litigate OSHA citations and has experience representing employers during OSHA inspections and investigations, conducting OSHA compliance audits, and defending whistleblower/retaliation claims as well as providing OSHA compliance counseling to clients. Phil also counsels and represents his clients on employee hiring, discipline, and termination issues, performance management, discrimination, retaliation, employee leave, and disability accommodations issues.

Cristiano Godoy, CHST
Current Treasurer

Cristiano Godoy, CHST, is a passionate and dedicated safety professional with over two decades of experience in the construction industry, including more than 20 years specializing in health and safety. He has been an active member of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (NJASSP) since 2015 and currently serves on the chapter’s Standing Committee and Executive Board, holding the position of Treasurer for the past four years.

Cristiano’s career began in Florida, where he successfully owned and operated a construction company for five years. After selling his share of the business, he transitioned into a role as a coating inspector. It was in this role that he identified a widespread need for improved safety knowledge on job sites—an observation that sparked his deep commitment to safety education and advocacy.

Jess Vallee-Vasquez

My name is Jess Vallee-Vasquez and I am running for the position of Treasurer for the NJ Chapter of ASSP. ASSP, recognized as the premier global safety professional organization, has been a driving developmental support throughout my educational and professional career. I would love to give back to the chapter that has helped me become the safety professional I am today. I have been a member since 2015, starting as a student member during my time at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). As a recipient of two NJ ASSP scholarships, I know how important financial strength is to this chapter and its impact on our members. Solid financials are the cornerstone for all the wonderful events and value we give to our members.

After graduating from IUP and Chatham University with a B.S. in Environmental Biology, a Master’s in Sustainability, and an MBA, I entered the safety field with Sompo as a Risk Control Trainee under the management of Christine Sullivan. I was fully immersed in all the facets of EHS- worker safety, environmental protection, and consumer safety. I am grateful for this career opportunity because I get to see all the ways that EHS is interwoven throughout daily life and its positive impact. I will soon be celebrating my 5th year anniversary with Sompo as a Risk Control Consultant.

The New Jersey Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (NJAIHA) is offering a comprehensive Industrial Hygiene Course.  The course is designed to provide basic training in some critical areas of industrial hygiene and will likely be beneficial for those entering the field as well as those who are just looking to sharpen their skills in certain technical areas.  In addition, many of the people who have attended the program have found it to be very helpful in preparing for the CIH examination.  Certified Industrial Hygienists have the opportunity to obtain CM points per lecture (0.167 points per contact hour).  Participants are welcome to attend any or all of the lecture sessions, depending on their individual training needs.

Registration Website: https://www.njaiha.org/events/njaiha-summer-review-course/

Below is an article written by the NJ Chapter Secretary Phillip Bauknight who is a Partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming all aspects of the work environment, including the workplace safety sector. As your organization strives to minimize workplace accidents, improve safety protocols, and ensure regulatory compliance, AI provides you with a new opportunity for progress and enhanced efficiency. What do you need to know about the benefits, risks, and legal implications of AI in the workplace safety space?

Benefits of AI in Workplace Safety

What are the benefits that AI can bring to the world of workplace safety?

Real-Time Hazard Detection and Prevention

One of the most impactful ways AI can improve workplace safety is by enabling real-time hazard detection. Traditional safety measures often rely on periodic inspections, manual monitoring, and reactive responses to incidents. AI, on the other hand, could allow for continuous monitoring of environments using sensors, cameras, and wearables, providing immediate feedback when potential hazards arise.