Offering networking, training, and tours, NAHMMA鈥檚 Annual Hazardous Materials Management Conference will be your opportunity to connect with the industry and listen to others鈥� experiences.
By Kenneth Miller
Welcome to NAHMMA Corner! NAHMMA will be holding its 39th Annual Hazardous Materials Management Conference in Austin, TX at the Renaissance Austin from September 22-27, and I want to share with you some of the exciting networking, training, and transformative energy that you have the opportunity to be a part of at the conference.
Who is NAHMMA?
A little background on NAHMMA, in case you are just hearing about us. NAHMMA was established in 1993 and operates as a volunteer-run, non-profit organization, committed to pollution prevention, product stewardship, and the safe and effective handling of hazardous materials from households and small businesses. Collectively, NAHMMA includes the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands. NAHMMA supports its members with exclusive training opportunities, relevant industry news, and access to a diverse and experienced multi-national network of people involved in the hazardous waste management industry.
Our 15 Association Board of Directors currently includes representatives from the U.S and Canada. In addition, the association currently maintains nine active committees to help provide guidance to the overall association:
鈥� Affiliations Committee
鈥� Awards
鈥� Chapters and Membership
鈥� Communications
鈥� Conference Steering
鈥� Executive Board
鈥� Policy
鈥� Sponsorship
鈥� Training
There are also 10 regional chapters, each with their own chapter leadership boards. The Chapter structure provides regional direction and resources to provide networking, professional development, and focused member services for the benefit of members within the Chapter boundary.
Come for the Training, Tours, Networking, and Presentations!
Every year the annual conference unofficially kicks off with trainings on Sunday and tours and a membership mixer on Monday before the official kickoff on Tuesday, September 24 with our opening Keynote.
Transform: 鈥淚nformative and Innovative Conference Sessions and Award-Winning Programs鈥�
Are you looking for new methods to improve your facility operations, enhance your facilities recycling and reuse options, properly manage batteries and battery containing devices, and advocacy tools for improve upstream management of hazardous materials? Do you want to connect with industry leading experts with award winning initiatives? Then the 39th Annual Hazardous Materials Management Conference is the place to be!
This year I am excited to announce that we will have more than 30 sessions focused on these topics. You can head over to www.nahmma.org/conference to view the full conference session schedule to start making a list of key sessions you do not want to miss out on (Full sessions descriptions are available in the app upon registration).
You will also have the opportunity to attend the annual awards luncheon, where programs and individuals receive recognition for innovative approaches to materials management. After the awards luncheon, you will have a chance to network with the award winners and create connections to bring these approaches to your facility.
Train: 鈥淧rofessional Development for Professionals, By Professionals鈥�
鈥淎 well-trained staff is key to delivering effective, efficient service.鈥� At NAHMMA, our trainers have the field experience necessary to engage and educate the attendees in an interactive and exciting classroom format. Our trainees have said that 鈥淓xplosive and highly reactive chemical training was very informative. I enjoyed the conversations during the class and all the real-life situations we were shown in pictures. Even though the class was geared more towards the HHMs, other fields, such as mine with enforcement could completely relate. Thank you!鈥�. This year NAHMMA is planning to offer the following trainings during the conference:
鈥� 24-Hour HAZWOPER/VSQG Collections & Operations 鈥�
Tailored to HHM & VSQG Facility Operators
鈥� Identifications of Unknowns
鈥� Disaster Debris Management for HHM Managers
鈥� Explosive and Highly Reactive Chemicals
鈥� Chemistry for non-chemists
鈥� HHM Collection Facility Best Practices
鈥� DOT Hazardous Materials Awareness
Network: 鈥淐onnect and Build Relationships, Both a Professional and Personal Level鈥�
The Annual NAHMMA Conference offers numerous opportunities to network with fellow attendees, including:
鈥� Facility Tours
鈥� Membership Mixer
鈥� Tuesday evening Vendor/Sponsor Reception
鈥� Offsite event at Punch Bowl Social
鈥� Wednesday Morning Speed Networking
As previously mentioned, things officially kick off on Tuesday morning with the opening Keynote. From there it is off to the races, both figuratively and literally. No NAHMMA conference would be complete without the annual NAHMMA HHW Olympics. All attendees are invited to create teams of four to compete in a series of HHM themed events including barrel rolling, the barrel dolly slalom, and more. As a two-time medalist, I can tell you the competition is fierce (some teams train months in advance) yet fun. There is always some good-natured heckling and encouragement among the participants.
All the networking, training, and transformative energy of our conference could not happen without all our conference vendors, sponsors, and attendees. All attendees will have the opportunity to visit with vendors and sponsors during the vendor reception and in between the trainings, the sessions, and the keynotes.
I look forward to seeing you at what multiple attendees have called the 鈥淏est Conference Ever!鈥� in Austin, TX from September 22 鈥� 27. Register before August 30 and save $50 with early bird pricing and enjoy early access to the conference app where you can begin networking with other attendees, presenters, and sponsors | WA
Kenneth Miller currently serves as on the NAHMMA Board of Directors as Board President. He is the current Solid Waste Agency Administrator at the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA). In addition to his involvement with NAHMMA, Kenneth is also a member several other professional organizations, including SWANA, the Iowa Society of Solid Waste Operator (ISOSWO 鈥� Board Member), the Iowa Recycling Association (IRA), the US Composting Council, and the Iowa Composting Council (Board Member). He can be reached at (563) 581-2874, e-mail聽[email protected] or visit