38th AFS ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH & SAFETY CONFERENCE
Jenny Pappalardo
AFS EHS Division Chair, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co.
Oakboro, NC
George W, Curry, Jr.
AFS EHS Technical Director
Schaumburg, IL
CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS
Mickey Hannum
Optimized Safety Solutions, LLC
Gulf Breeze, FL
Nicholos Dufek
Neenah Foundry Co.
Neenah, WI
Daniel Moravej
Hiler Industries
La Porte, IN
Mickey Hannum
Optimized Safety Solutions, LLC
Gulf Breeze, FL
Brad Kline
National Safety Council
Minneapolis, MN
Dan Engling
KERAMIDA, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
Austin Yurt
Industrial Safety and Training Services Inc.
Shelbyville, KY
TBA
Nicholos Dufek
Neenah Foundry Co.
Neenah, WI
Katie Hensley
Cottingham & Butler
Dubuque, IA
Moderator:
Nicholos Dufek
Neenah Foundry Co.
Neenah, WI
Panelists:
James Hart
Milwaukee Valve
New Berlin, WI
Glenn Hunneycutt
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co.
Oakboro, NC
Kristi Yates
Lodge Mfg. Co.
South Pittsburg, TN
Amanda Fedorko
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co.
Oakboro, NC
George W, Curry, Jr.
AFS EHS Technical Director
Schaumburg, IL
CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS
Nicholos Dufek
Neenah Foundry Co.
Neenah, WI
Kristi Yates
Lodge Mfg. Co.
South Pittsburg, TN
Stephanie Salmon
AFS Washington Office
Washington D.C.
Christian Richter
The Policy Group
Washington, D.C.
Brian Bigley
McWane, Inc.
Oskaloosa, IA
Air Quality
Jeet Radia
Keramida Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
Water & Waste
TBA
Health & Safety
Nicholos Dufek
Neenah Foundry Co.
Neenah, WI
- Divisional Awards
- AFS Metalcasting Safe Year Awards
- Green Foundry Awards
- Innovation & Insight Awards
Colin Green
Cottingham & Butler
Dubuque, IA
George W, Curry, Jr.
AFS EHS Technical Director
Schaumburg, IL
The classification of thermite materials has become an increasingly important issue for manufacturers, suppliers, and foundries that produce, distribute, transport, or use thermite-containing products. In September 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued guidance explaining its approach to the classification of thermite mixtures, renewing industry focus on how these materials are regulated during transportation and handling. This presentation reviews PHMSA's classification approach, the criteria used to distinguish thermite mixtures from explosive materials, and the resulting regulatory requirements that may apply when thermite products are classified as Division 4.1 flammable solids. The session is intended for EHS professionals, shipping and transportation personnel, foundry managers, and procurement and supply chain professionals responsible for purchasing and handling thermite-containing materials. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how these classifications affect the transportation, storage, handling, and use of thermite-containing products, as well as the potential impacts on foundry operations, compliance programs, and supply chains.
Ryan Burke
OSCO Industries Inc.
Portsmouth, OH
Earl Miller
Hiler Industries
La Porte, IN
Cheryl Curry
Plumb Tree Psychology
St Charles, IL
A Gen Z, generally encompassing those born between 1997 and 2012, has often been stereotyped as lazy, needy, bubble-wrapped, entitled, soft, and spoiled. But like all stereotypes, these don’t give credit to the exceptionally hard-working and talented members of this generation, who now match the number of baby boomers in the workforce. Surveys are showing that companies find their youngest employees, Gen Z, the most difficult to work with and the most mystifying to managers. But they are here to stay and have much to offer! Gain insight into this generation so as to bring out the best qualities for mutual benefit and retention.
With practical advice, useful take-aways, and a good dose of humor, this presentation will shed some
light on this generation, providing insight and data from the perspective of Gen Z’ers themselves, research on how industry is successfully responding to the differences in the workplace, and what is really behind the stereotypes.
Moderator:
Jenny Pappalardo
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co.
Oakboro, NC
Panelists: 
Bryant Esch
Waupaca Foundry Inc.
Waupaca, WI
Networking, time with Exhibitors, hors d’oeuvres, & refreshments for all.
Jeet Radia
Keramida Inc.
Indianapolis, IN
George W, Curry, Jr.
AFS EHS Technical Director
Schaumburg, IL
Mike Lenahan
Badger Mining Corp.
Berlin, WI
Dr. Janet Anderson
Exponent
Austin, TX
Dr. Sara Hearon
Exponent
Austin, TX
Dr. Anderson is an internationally recognized leader in assessing the human health risks associated with unregulated and emerging chemicals, such as PFAS, 1,4-dioxane, and microplastics. She equips clients with the technical foundation to navigate varied governmental and legal actions across domestic and international jurisdictions. She has significant experience developing corporate risk management strategies for emerging and legacy chemicals, as well as providing clients with due diligence support concerning potential liability across the full lifecycle of product manufacturing, use, and disposal, as well as when evaluating mergers and acquisitions. Dr. Hearon's product stewardship work involves managing consumer product due diligence assessments including tracking developing regulations, assisting clients with evaluating products for regulatory compliance, and reviewing health, safety, and toxicological data on product components. Dr. Hearon excels at supporting clients in understanding and addressing current and anticipated future regulations for emerging chemicals of concern, assists in developing regulatory compliance and product stewardship programs, and advises on potential compliance issues with products and supply chains. She actively tracks the development of regulations for emerging chemicals of concern in the US at the federal and state level, including state consumer product programs such as California DTSC's Safer Consumer Products program, Safer Products for Washington, and Oregon's Toxic Free Kids Act. She conducts chemical and product reviews and coordinates product testing for consumer products to support compliance assessments.
Emily Henderson
TRC
Atlanta, GA
TBA
Greg Kramer
Badger Mining Corp.
Berlin, WI
TBA
Moderator:
Jenny Pappalardo
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co.
Oakboro, NC
Panelists:
Amanda Fedorko
Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co.
Oakboro, NC
Earl Miller
Hiler Industries
La Porte, IN
Kristen Belcredi
KERAMIDA, Inc.
Indianapolis, IN