Image: The skyline of Port of Spain, Trinidad. Credited to Getty Images and Leonid Andronov.

The opinions, claims, conclusions, and positions expressed in this post are those of the author or person quoted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, AIHA, The Synergist, or SynergistNOW.

When I first began presenting sessions and professional development courses at AIHce EXP, the predecessor of AIHA Connect, I would not have predicted it would land me a plum position at UC Davis, propel me to a Caribbean island, and earn me praise from my peers. I’ve had a nearly 40-year career in occupational and environmental health and safety, as well as a wonderful life full of positive experiences. Much of this resulted directly from my conference sessions and PDCs. I’m grateful I took the chance to propose, speak, and teach.  

Of course, no two OEHS careers follow the exact same trajectory, but the stories I share in this blog attest to the many potential benefits of presenting at AIHA conferences. Submit a proposal, and you might change your life.  

A University Opportunity

Some years ago, I had just finished presenting at AIHce EXP, the predecessor of AIHA Connect, when an attendee caught me in the hall. He introduced himself as Larry Wong with the University of California Office of the President. “My brother’s name is Larry, too,” I said, “so call me Jonny.” That moment sparked a great friendship and sense of brotherhood between us that continues today.  

My session had been about my experiences directing lab safety for the engineering department at Arizona State University. Larry asked me if I’d be interested in co-arranging round tables on lab safety with him. “Sure!” I said. That began a string of several lab safety round tables.  

Each year, I got to know the other round table panelists, many from the UC system, and they got to know me. Pretty soon, they were encouraging me to apply for environmental health and safety director positions at the various UC campuses. Eventually, I landed a new position at UC Davis as the engineering department’s first director of strategic change in safety culture. It’s amazing to realize that my presentation at AIHce EXP facilitated and led me to such a plum position.  

My role at UC Davis propelled me into the spotlight and helped me network with other OEHS leaders. Those relationships persist to this day as well, and they have helped me advance in my career many times.

A Caribbean Connection

Presenting at the conference hasn’t only led me to opportunities within the United States. It’s even taken me outside of the country.

My earliest AIHce EXP presentations were about adult learning and training, since that was my area of specialty and the focus of my master’s degree. My first PDC was an all-day train-the-trainer session called “If I’m Teaching, Why Aren’t They Learning?!” It did well enough that I delivered it several times over the years. I then branched out and developed a PDC on wellness. These two PDCs drew attention to the needs of effective OEHS training and wellness as part of OEHS. They also helped me get work as a trainer and consultant.  

One of the learners in my wellness PDC asked me what it would take to get me to deliver industrial hygiene training in Trinidad and Tobago.  

Besides paying my retainer fee, I said, “schedule it for January, and nice weather.”  

“Of course!” he said. “It’s always nice in Trinidad and Tobago.”  

“Great!” I replied. “It’s freezing in Maine in January!” We laughed.

Sure enough, the next January, my wife and I flew from Maine to Trinidad and Tobago, where I taught a week-long IH course. My host, sponsoring company, and learners all gave us the best reception we’ve ever had. They asked me back a year and half later to do more training and help a liquefied natural gas plant with a vexing heat and confined space challenge.  

During this trip, I stayed in a centrally-located hotel, where I had more adventures outside of work. One day, I was doing laps in their pool when a guest asked if his son could race me. “Sure!” I said, not knowing what a spitfire the young boy was—I could barely keep up with him! Later, as I worked in my hotel room, I watched my first Bollywood films, enthralled by the colors, music, and dancing. After a while, I decided to take my laptop down to the café to work. I was shocked to see it was packed. The World Cup was on, and I quickly got caught up in cheering for Trinidad and Tobago with all the locals and other visitors.  

At AIHA Connect 20 years later, my travel recollections helped me bond with an exhibitor from Trinidad and Tobago. We both want to go back there and do a project together. With any luck, I’ll make another trip to my favorite Caribbean islands. But since I now live in Arizona, I hope it’s a summer trip to escape the desert heat!  

Praise from Peers

Presenting has paid off with recognition from my peers at AIHA and beyond. A well-received session at one year’s conference may result in me being invited back the next year. And presenting has put me in contact with people who share my professional interests, leading me to other opportunities to share my knowledge.

One of my sessions won AIHA’s Donna Doganiero Award for exceptional contributions to safety education. I had taken a chance with the more ambitious “Safety Training Games, Let’s Play!” Its success gave me more ideas and the confidence to propose other innovative sessions: “Training Tips and Tricks,” “Training from Hell!” and “Anything But Lecture!” the last of which was also recognized by AIHA. These led to more professional attention and an invitation to write an article on chemical hygiene training approaches in a peer-reviewed journal.  

AIHA asked me to develop a PDC on communicating OEHS concepts, as this is an AIHA content priority, and I collaborated with AIHA CLO Alla Orlova on this project. One outcome was that I was asked to join a new working group on the topic and have since become its chair.  

At AIHA Connect 2026 in New Orleans, Billy Bullock, Eric Randleman, and I hosted a pop-up session in which we acted out three scenarios on communicating OEHS concepts. Our effort was rewarded with a large audience, great feedback from many attendees, and a very high rating. Our working group is already excitedly planning to submit a full education session on this topic and maybe a PDC, too, for next year’s conference.  

I’ve lost count of how many sessions and PDCs I’ve done over the years. Not all of my proposals have been approved by AIHA—I’ve had plenty get rejected, but I’m not dejected. I just keep on keeping on. My sessions on the science and art of storytelling have earned me some very kind reactions, which are more valuable than any rejection. Many learners have let me know how affected they were by my sessions, and one colleague has called me “AIHA’s story champion.” I think she meant I champion and promote the use of storytelling in OEHS.  

AIHA has even used some of my talks to help speakers learn best practices for delivering engaging sessions. My research-based advice for conference presenters is this: tell affective, purposeful stories that nail your point. Don’t hold back. Deliver the goods. If attendees tear up or otherwise respond emotionally to your session, so much the better.

A Word for First-Timers

So you’ve never submitted a conference session to AIHA before. Are you nervous? Hesitant? Anxious about public speaking? Do you have imposter syndrome? Great! I’ve felt these things, and I still do. Here’s how I work through my fears.  

First, I decide I’m going to go for it anyway. I remember that we all have fears, but the people attending my talk will want me to succeed. And if I get approved, then an AIHA committee has validated my proposal.  

When I’m presenting, I give it my all. I pour my heart out to a hundred colleagues—and it feels awesome. Some attendees always come up after and tell me they liked this or that part.  

Wayne Gretzky said, “I miss 100 percent of the shots I don’t take.” So have no regrets, my friend. Take your best shot. I’ll be at your session.

If you're interested in presenting at AIHA Connect 2027, an outline of the Conference Program Committee's proposal review process is available on AIHA's website. More information can be found on the AIHA Connect 2027 Call for Proposals webpage. All proposals for educational sessions, professional development courses, case studies, scientific research, and professional posters to be presented at AIHA Connect 2027 must be submitted by Sept. 9, 2026.