Chris Egloff, VP Strategic Business Opportunities, Lithium/HazMat Division, Americase

Chris Egloff is our VP of Strategic Business Opportunities of the Lithium & Hazmat division. In this role, Chris communicates and leads projects for some of Amerciase’s largest clients, in addition to effectively coordinating and executing the full sales process with our hazmat clients. However, his biggest priority is acting as an essential customer advocate, consulting in regards to hazmat regulation. Chris’ 15+ years of previous experience in the medical software industry built his general foundation for being successful in a sales environment. In this time, he learned the important aspects of each partnership, no matter the industry, shape, or size, with his most heartfelt lesson being in the value of honesty, high quality products, and close relationships. Chris is a member of multiple industry and standards organizations, including the Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA), The Rechargeable Battery Association (PRBA), Danger Goods Advisory Council (DGAC), and UN Sub Committee on the Reclassification of Lithium ion and Metal Cells. He is also an SAE G27 writing and voting member, and an advisor for the Medical Device Transport Council (MDTC).

James Egloff, Chief Operating Officer, Americase

James is the Chief Operating Officer for the Americase team. James oversees all personnel, including all management staff, and processes of Americase’s day-to-day operations, while also providing a focus on personal development, managing the Americase Leadership Forum, and offering guidance to business development, account management, R&D, and marketing initiatives. James has held a variety of positions in his five years at Americase prior to accepting the Chief Operating Officer role, including VP of Business Development and Director of Sales & Marketing. However, James’ prior management experience comes from his sales and business development background in the healthcare information technology space working with companies like Phoenix Ortho and NextGen Healthcare Systems.

Tom Ferguson, PG, CHMM, DGSA, President & Chief Regulatory Compliance Officer, Currie Associates and JGA Training

Tom has nearly 30 years of compliance experience with emphasis on the safe and efficient transportation of dangerous goods. He is currently the President and Chief Technical Officer for Currie Associates and JGA Training, and Administrator for the Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) and the International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association (IVODGA). Tom leads the COSTHA delegation to the UN Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCOE) and serves as the Secretary for the UN Informal Working Group on Lithium Batteries. His extensive background includes Development and delivery of dangerous goods training programs for all modes, Head of Delegation to the UN Subcommittee of Experts (UN SCOE) on the Transport for Dangerous Goods for the Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) and International Vessel Operators Dangerous Goods Association, Secretary for the UN Informal Working Group on Lithium Batteries, Successful preparation and approval of more than 30 Special Permits and competent authority approvals, Elected Member of the IATA Dangerous Goods Board, Elected Member of the IATA Dangerous Goods Training Task Force, Chairman of the COSTHA Air Carrier Roundtable, Participation on the Air Transport Association (ATA) Hazardous Materials Committee, Participation with the National Academies of Sciences Transportation Research Board on electronic shipping papers and dry ice by air. Previously Tom served as the Global Manager, Dangerous Goods Management for Delta Air Lines. Tom received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Geology from Georgia State University, and a Master of Science Degree in Coastal Geology and Hydrogeology from the University of South Florida.

Raymond James, Principal Engineer, Fulcrum Testing

Raymond designs and conducts destructive testing experiments to verify Americase packaging solutions satisfy customer and regulatory body safety requirements for shipping dangerous goods. Raymond has been in the industry since 2018 and is a member of multiple industry and standards organizations, including SAE G27, UN Informal Working Group on Hazard Classification of Lithium Batteries, and Battery Transportation Committee. He holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Paul Johnson, Senior Managing Consultant, ALL4

Mr. Paul Johnson is a Senior Managing Consultant at ALL4 with over 30 years of experience in environmental health and safety, hazardous waste management, transportation, and emergency response. Prior to joining ALL4, Paul held the position of Executive Director of Environmental Affairs at KBI. Paul was responsible for all facets of TSDF compliance at the battery recycling and precious metals recovery facilities including the oversite of all water, air, and hazardous waste permitting. Paul has experience in the hazardous waste management industry, import and export logistics and EHS compliance. Paul has specialized knowledge and experience in the battery and metals recycling industries. Prior to the position at KBI Paul began his career in the environmental services industry in 1990 working in the TSD operation, DRMO waste management and off-site emergency response. Since joining ALL4, Mr. Johnson has been involved in battery training and planning projects, transportation and facility compliance projects, Part B operating permits amendments and modifications, and environmental audits. Paul’s experience has focused on battery safety, DOT and RCRA compliance. Project support work has been performed for clients with facilities in Texas, California, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.

Mike Pagel, Senior Consultant, HazMat Safety Consulting

Mike Pagel is a Senior Consultant with HazMat Safety Consulting. As a dangerous goods consultant, Mike partners with clients to improve their hazmat transportation programs. This includes creating customized training courses, conducting on-site transportation compliance audits, general consulting support, assistance with Special Permits & Approvals, and developing company shipping procedures. Mike supports a range of clients with lithium battery transport and storage compliance, including producers of medical devices, battery recyclers, electric vehicle makers, packaging manufacturers, and consumer electronics companies. Mike started in the industry in 2012 at PHMSA’s Hazardous Materials Information Center (HMIC) at DOT HQ in Washington, DC. For two years, Mike supported the HMIC by answering thousands of questions on PHMSA’s Hazardous Materials Regulations. In this role, Mike worked directly with PHMSA Rulemaking, Approvals & Permits, and Technical staff.

Duane Pfund, Senior Consultant, HazMat Safety Consulting

Duane Pfund brings more than 35 years of hazardous materials safety expertise to his role as Senior Consultant at Hazmat Safety Consulting. He supports clients by developing custom dangerous goods (DG) training, conducting compliance assessments, assisting with Special Permits and Approvals, and providing regulatory interpretation and strategic consulting.

Before joining Hazmat Safety Consulting, Mr. Pfund spent 25 years with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), including 20 years as Director of the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety Program. He also served in senior leadership roles such as Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety and Acting Director of the Sciences, Engineering and Research Division.

On the international stage, Mr. Pfund led the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods for 20 years, serving the last 10 years as Chairman. He represented the United States for a decade on the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel and led delegations at the International Maritime Organization and the European Joint Meeting of the RID/ADR/ADN. He also served as Designated Federal Official for the six-year Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee, guiding U.S. policy on one of the industry’s most critical safety challenges.

A graduate of Michigan State University in Packaging Engineering and of the Department of Interior’s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, Mr. Pfund combines technical depth, regulatory leadership, and international collaboration. His experience allows him to deliver practical, compliance-focused solutions that help clients manage risk and adapt to evolving DG regulations worldwide.

Hernan Sanchez, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Exponent, Inc.

A chemist by training, Dr. Sanchez’s background encompasses both materials synthesis and characterization, specializing in the analysis of lithium-ion batteries and renewable energy catalytic processes. During his time at Exponent, Dr. Sanchez has worked on evaluating current and next-generation battery and energy storage technologies via quality analysis, performance and accelerated lifetime testing, cell design/materials evaluation and failure analysis. Dr. Sanchez is also skilled in a variety of both destructive and non-destructive characterization techniques, which he has applied to a variety of industries, including consumer electronics, chemicals, medical devices, transportation and aerospace. Besides his primary foci in high-resolution computed tomography X-ray (CT) scanning and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Dr. Sanchez also has extensive experience in various electrochemical (voltammetry, amperometry), microscopy (SEM/TEM, AFM), material properties (TGA, DSC, BET) and spectroscopic (XPS, XAS/XES, Auger, UV-Vis, Raman, XRD) techniques. On the synthesis side, Dr. Sanchez is knowledgeable in both hydrothermal and solution synthesis of macro, meso and nanostructured materials. Dr. Sanchez is experienced in the synthesis of carbon-metal composite nanomaterials on either graphene or carbon nanotubes for battery and super capacitor applications.