BEAC is pleased to announce the 2010 Board of Directors and Officer appointments:

• Chair: Jack Slotnick (ExxonMobil Corporation)
• Chair-elect: James Sprowl (Murdock, Goldenberg, Schneider & Groh, LPA)
• Secretary: Jan Chizzonite (WSP Environment & Energy, LLC)
• Treasurer: Eugene, O'Neill (The Institute of Internal Auditors)


Directors:
• Steven Albert (AECOM Environment)
• James Ball (Ashland, Inc.)
• Thomas Harding (Kearfott Corporation)
• Thomas Johnston (Cal / OSHA)
• Mark Schwarz (NOVA Chemicals Corporation)
• David Sultana (Salt River Project)

In order to evaluate BEAC's progress in achieving the Mission and Vision Statements, a few months ago we sent a survey to all BEAC CPEAs and applicants. Responses were received from 400 individuals, representing 30.5% of BEAC participants. Some of the key points are summarized below, and you can access the complete survey results on our website.

Demographically, the survey showed:
· Over half (59%) are employed in industry, and 38% are employed by consultants or audit service providers
· 46.1% are located on the east coast of the United States
· Base salary is greater than $100,000 for 42.5%
· More than half (54.6%) are over the age of 50
· 91.3% prefer to hear about BEAC activities via email

Regarding the future of the profession:
· The general outlook was fairly pessimistic, with 64.8% indicating their organization will be negatively impacted by current economic conditions.
· Although most did not believe their department would be affected by layoffs, and feel that EHS management systems would be required, many did not feel that their organization would be expanding EHS activities.
· With uncertain economic conditions, a clear majority (78.2%) feel that professional certifications will be important in maintaining or finding employment.
· A majority also feel that outsourcing and contract / temporary workers will become more prevalent, and that globalization will continue to increase.

The top five success factors critical to job success are considered to be:
1. Ability to communicate effectively
2. Technical expertise and proficiency
3. Regulatory knowledge
4. Strategic thinking and planning
5. Understanding business processes and operations

The Auditing Roundtable (AR), a professional association dedicated to the practice of Environmental, Health & Safety, and Sustainability (EHSS) Auditing, announces "Incorporating Risk Management into EHSS Auditing" as the theme of their Winter 2010 meeting, to be held January 11 - 13 in Phoenix, AZ.

Three training courses are scheduled AFTER the meeting, so that you may attend both! AND, there is a $100 discount to the meeting if you sign up for a training course.
Both the conference and training courses qualify for CPD hours for BEAC CPEAs or Formal Training hours for BEAC applicants. The meeting will run from January 11-13, 2010 and the courses from January 13-15, 2010.

BEAC will be holding paper/pencil exams on Saturday, January 16, 2010. Complete an exam registration form here.

The BEAC exams are now available online at ACT test centers (follow link below to find the ACT center closest to you).

Once you have submitted an application to BEAC, and are ready to take the exam, please complete an exam registration. BEAC will provide your contact information to ACT (email address is required), and then ACT will send you an email to schedule an exam appointment at a location and time convenient for you.

BEAC is preparing an applicant handbook. You can review the section on Examinations here.

Ok, so now that the BEAC exams are available online, does this mean that paper/pencil exams will no longer be offered?

NO! BEAC may continue to offer paper/pencil exams from time to time. In fact, BEAC will be holding paper/pencil exams in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, January 16, 2010.

You can also arrange to take a paper/pencil exam in the BEAC office (we're located in Orlando, Florida).

Northeast Region:
The Auditing Roundtable EHS Auditing Skills training course is being offered January 25-26, 2010, at the ConEd Offices in New York, New York.

Qualify for a free webinar! For every 2 people you encourage to register for the New York training at ConEd, you will receive a certificate for a free webinar in 2010. Tell your friends to include your name in the "referred by" box on the registration form. Once we process their registration and payment, you will receive notice of your free webinar.

The Texas Association of Environmental Professionals (www.taep.org) is pleased to announce that the Fourth Annual Environmental Challenges and Innovations Conference: Gulf Coast 2010 will take place on Thursday, February 11, 2010, at the newly renovated Crowne Plaza Houston Medical Center in Houston, Texas.

This one-day event will provide a local forum for environmental professionals in industry, government agencies, and consulting/service companies, as well as university students in the greater Houston area to share technical presentations with their peers. After the success of the third annual event with more than 300 registered attendees, we anticipate that this conference will again be well-attended by the professional environmental community that it is designed to benefit.

Up to five simultaneous sessions, organized by topic will be presented during the February 11, 2010 meeting. Information about exhibiting, as well as underwriting and sponsorship opportunities is available on the conference web site.