Task Forces & Liaisons

American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Liaison

AAA Liaison Description:
This liaison facilitates communications on contemporary issues related to the prevention of occupational and nonoccupational hearing loss between officers and members of NHCA and the American Academy of Audiology. The Academy is the world's largest professional organization of, by, and for audiologists.

AAA Liaison:
Richard W. Danielson, Ph.D.

American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) Liaison

AAOHN Liaison Description:
This liaison conveys information about activities of AAOHN as it pertains to hearing conversation to the NHCA Executive Council.

AAOHN Liaison:

Vacant

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) Liaison

ACOEM Liaison Description:
The ACOEM liaison serves as a link between NHCA and the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  While there have not been many recent updates directly related to hearing conservation, two past position statements are of interest to NHCA members and others involved in hearing conservation.

ACOEM Liaison:
Bruce Kirchner, COHC, FACOEM, MD, MPH

American Industrial Hygiene Association 
(AIHA) Liaison

AIHA Liaison Description:

AIHA Liaison:
Laurel Davis, MPH, CIH

American Society of Safety Engineers 
(ASSE) Liaison

ASSE Liaison Description:
Founded in 1911, The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) is the oldest professional safety organization.  Its more than 33,000 members manage, supervise and consult on safety, health, and environmental issues in industry, insurance, government and education.  The goal of this liaison is to facilitate communication between NHCA and ASSE on issues related to noise exposure and hearing loss prevention.

ASSE Liaison:
Bob Anderson

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Liaison

ASHA Liaison Description:
The goal of this liaison is to provide a link between NHCA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) on issues of mutual interest to both organizations.  Hearing loss prevention is a special focus within ASHA, managed by its Special Interest Group 8 on Public Health Issues Related to Hearing and Balance.   SIG 8 sponsors educational events, publishes an annual journal on relevant clinical and research issues, provides networking opportunities for professionals interested in the public health aspects of audiology, and advises the organization on policy and other issues related to public health.  The ASHA liaison to NHCA serves as a link between the two organizations and shares information of interest in both directions.

ASHA Liaison:
Christa Themann, MA, CCC-A

ANSI S3 Representative

ANSI S3 Representative Description:
This liaison is the official NHCA representative to the ANSI S3 Committee on Bioacoustics, and conveys information about the activities of the committee to the NHCA Executive Council.

ANSI S3 Representative:

Eric Fallon

Alternate S3 Representative:
Dick Danielson, Ph.D.

ANSI S12 Representative

ANSI S12 Representative Description:
This liaison is the official NHCA representative to the ANSI S12 Committee on Noise, and conveys information about the activities of the committee to the NHCA Executive Council.

ANSI S12 Representative:
Laurie Wells

Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO)

ARO Representative:

Colleen Le Prell 

Audiometric Referral Criteria Task Force

ARC Representative:

Theresa H. Small

Audiology Quality Consortium (AQC)

AQC Representative:

Sharon Beamer

Conference CEUs Task Force

CEU Representative:

Vacant

Council for Accreditation in Occupation Hearing Conservation (CAOHC) Liaison

CAOHC Liaison Description:
The CAOHC liaison provides updates to NHCA about on-going CAOHC initiatives twice a year or as requested.

CAOHC Liaison:
Madeleine Kerr, Ph.D., RN

Expanding OSHA Age Correction Tables Task Force

Expanding OSHA Age Corrections Tables Representative:

Nancy Wojcik

Hearing Center of Excellence (HCE):

HCE Representative:

Kristen Casto

Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA (INCE/USA) Liaison

INCE/USA Liaison Description:

This liaison is the official NHCA representative to the Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE), and conveys information about the activities of INCE to the NHCA Executive Council.

INCE/USA Liaison:
Jeffrey Komrower, PE, INCE.Bd.Cert.

IJA Task Force

IJA Task Force Chair:

Colleen Le Prell

Legislation Task Force

Legislation Task Force Description:

This liaison monitors governmental activities in the broad area of hearing conservation and the preservation of hearing and reports to the members items of interest in a timely fashion.

Legislation Task Force Chair:
Evan Nass

Leadership Advisory Team Task Force

Leadership Advisory Team Task Force Description:
The Advisory Board serves in an advisory role to the Executive Council with two specific tasks: 1.) conduct and review the management firm evaluation at the summer council meeting and 2.) review the Association's Long Range Plan each year and recommend changes to the Executive Council.

Leadership Advisory Team Task Force Chair:
Kristen Casto
*Term Expiration: 2017

Licensing and Ethics in Audiology Task Force

Licensing and Ethics in Audiology Representative:

John R. Allen

Marketing Task Force

Marketing Task Force Chair:

Vacant

Military Audiology Association
(MAA) Liaison

MAA Liaison Description:
This liaison serves as a link between NHCA and the Military Audiology
Association (MAA).  The goal is to facilitate communication and foster a synergistic relationship between the two organizations to further the
efforts of hearing loss prevention.

MAA Liaison:
LTC Amy Blank, Au.D., CCC-A

NHCA Scholarship Foundation Liaison

NHCA Foundation Liaison:

This liaison is the official NHCA representative to the NHCA Scholarship Foundation, and conveys information about the activities of the Foundation to the NHCA Executive Council. The NHCA Scholarship Foundation (a tax exempt organization - 501c3) provides scholarship awards to graduate, post-doctoral and residency students focusing on applied/practical studies in hearing loss prevention/hearing conservation who are enrolled at regionally accredited institutions/agencies.

Website of the NHCA Scholarship Foundation:
http://www.hearingconservation.org/?page+A8

For donations to the foundation click here:
https://nhca.site-ym.com/donations/

NHCA Foundation Liaison:
John R. Allen

NIOSH Liaison

NIOSH Liaison:
This liaison is the official NHCA representative to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and conveys information about the activities of NIOSH to the NHCA Executive Council.

NIOSH Liaison:

Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, CPH, COHC

Nominations Task Force

Nominations Task Force Description:
This task force is responsible for identifying NHCA members who are willing to run for a position on the NHCA Executive Council, and for preparing the ballot for the annual NHCA officer election.

Nominations Task Force Chair:
Colleen Le Prell
*Term Expires: 2017

OSHA Liaison

OSHA Liaison Description:
The purpose is of this liaison is to facilitate communication between NHCA officers and members and OSHA personnel, and to keep NHCA members apprised of OSHA activities in noise and hearing loss prevention.
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation

OSHA Liaison:
Alice Suter, Ph.D.

Programs Task Force

Program Task Force Description:
The conference committee works very closely with the Executive Committee and the Executive Director to plan and present the annual NHCA conference.

Program Task Force Chair:
Rachel Bou Serhal, M. Sc
Term Expires: 2018

Program Task Force (Chair- Elect):
Edward Lobarinas
Term Expires: 2019

Public Inquiry Respondent

Public Inquiry Respondent:
Coming Soon!

Public Inquiry Respondent Chair:
Laura Kauth

Safe in Sound Task Force 

Safe in Sound Task Force Liasion/Chair:

Thais Morata

Social Media Task Force

Social media Task Force Chair:

John Byram

Task Force on Children and Noise

Children and Noise Task Force Description:
This task force is working to identify and develop educational materials to further hearing conservation efforts for children.

Children and Noise Task Force Chair:
Deanna Meinke, Ph.D.

Task Force on Material Content Review

Material Content Review Task Force Chair:
Cory Portnuff Au.D., Ph.D.

Task Force on Music-Induced Hearing Disorders

Music Induced Hearing Disorders Task Force Description:
This taskforce seeks to promote efforts to reduce the risk for developing music-induced hearing disorders in musicians, music-industry professionals, and music listeners. Hearing loss, tinnitus, hypersensitivity to loud sound (hyperacusis), and abnormal pitch perception (diplacusis) are potential consequences of intense exposure to music. However, with effective interventions, risk for these hearing disorders can be minimized, allowing people to engage in the production or appreciation of music.

Music Induced Hearing Disorders Task Force Chair:
Cory Portnuff, Au.D., Ph.D.

Task Force on Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Firearm Noise

Prevention of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss from Firearm Noise Task Force Description:
The task force to prevent noise-induced hearing loss secondary to recreational firearm noise exposure was formed to conduct research in the acoustical measurement of firearm noise to define the risks of firearm noise exposure on hearing under different exposure conditions and to educate the firearm user population about how to adequately protect themselves from dangerous exposures. 

Task Force Chair:
Michael Stewart, Ph.D.

Task Force Members:
Jacob Soendergaard
Don Finan
CPT William Murphy
Greg Flamme
Deanna Meinke
James Lankford

University Academic Programs Task Force

UAP Task Force Liaison/Chair:

Vacant

Webinars Task Force

Webinars Task Force Chair:

Jeffrey Goldberg

Website Content Task Force

Website Task Force Description:
The Website Task Force has recently worked to redevelop the NHCA website for easier navigation and speedier updates. Improvements include a public-access service provider search, as well as members' only directory search, online registration and other transactions, and a reformatted front page featuring our social network connections and current news.

Website Task Force Chair:
Rob Brauch