NEHA REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PROFILES
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is governed by a corporate Board of Directors who oversee the affairs of our association. The board comprises two groups: national officers and regional vice-presidents (RVPs). We have nine different regions. See page 46 for a listing of the regions and the states and groups each region represents. RVPs are elected by our active and life members in their respective regions. RVPs serve 3-year terms. Election policy specifies that candidate profiles for RVPs be limited to 400 words in total length. If a candidate’s profile exceeds that limit, the policy requires that the profile be terminated at the last sentence before the 400-word limit is exceeded. In addition, the submitted profiles have not been grammatically edited but presented as submitted and within the 400-word limitation. Three regions are up for election this year—Region 4, Region 6, and Region 9. The candidates are listed alphabetically by region.
Region 4
Region 4
Marcie Bata, REHS/RS I am excited to run for the Region 4 Vice President position. Over the past 14 years, I have been a member of NEHA and the North Dakota Environmental Health Asso- ciation (ND affiliate). I have served on the ND affiliate executive board and continue to contribute to the association’s committees, where I’ve worked alongside colleagues to
Eric Bradley, MPH, REHS, CP-FS, DLAAS
Eric Bradley has a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health from the Univer- sity of Georgia and a Master of Public Health degree from American Public University. He has been working in the environmental health field since 1997, serving as an Envi- ronmental Health Specialist, Environmental
advocate for and improve environmental health practices. As the Director of Environmental Health at Central Valley Health District in North Dakota, I oversee a wide range of local environmental health programs, from aquatic health to on-site sewage treatment systems, and everything in between. This role has allowed me to build a comprehensive understanding of the challenges our communities face and has strengthened my abil- ity to manage diverse programs. Through this work, I have gained valuable insights into both the policy and practical aspects of environmental health, positioning me to contribute effectively to NEHA’s future. My membership in NEHA has provided me with the resources and educational opportunities necessary to grow in this field. I am especially passionate about education, which I believe is at the heart of our profession. I am continually inspired by NEHA’s leadership in driving innovation in environmental health commu- nication, and I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to this progress. By finding new and creative ways to engage the public, licensed facilities, and community stakeholders, NEHA is leading the charge in raising awareness of the critical issues we face in environmental health. My vision is simple yet powerful: I want to help make environ- mental health a household topic. It’s time to move beyond the idea of our profession being “invisible” and ensure that environmental health is understood, respected, and valued by all. As Region 4 Vice President, I will work to increase the visibility of environmen- tal health through education, collaboration, and outreach, ensur- ing that our work is recognized as vital to the well-being of our communities. I would be honored to serve as Region 4 Vice President, bring- ing my experience, passion, and commitment to advancing envi- ronmental health for all. Together, we can ensure that this critical profession is recognized and valued across the nation.
Health Manager, Deputy Health Director, and Division Chief at six county health departments across four states. Currently, Eric is the Division Chief of Environmental Health for the Douglas County Health Department in Omaha, Nebraska where he leads a team of thirty-two environmental health professionals overseeing food safety, childhood lead prevention, swimming pools, onsite sewage, wells, nuisance, and air quality, both indoor and outdoor. Eric spent eighteen years of his career in Iowa where he dedi- cated his time to the Iowa Environmental Health Association (IEHA) by serving as President (2010-2011), chairing the Legis- lative committee (2010-2024) and the Fall Conference Planning committee (2015- 2018), and collaborating with other state asso- ciations as an IEHA representative. Eric has been a Diplomate with the American Academy of Sanitarians since 2014 and achieved Diplomate Laureate status in 2022. He was elected to the Board in 2019 and in 2021, the Board appointed him the Executive Secretary and Treasurer. Eric has been a member of NEHA since 2003, a peer reviewer for the Journal of Environmental Health since 2010, and a Technical Advisor for Food Safety since 2013. He has been an instructor for the “Special Processes at Retail” and “Temporary Food Establishments” virtual courses as well as a member of the team that provided food safety training to new inspectors in the US Vir- gin Islands. Eric was one of three NEHA members selected to rep- resent the association in early meetings that set the course for the Retail Food Safety Collaborative. He is currently serving as a men- tor for the Environmental Health Leadership Academy (EHLA). Throughout his career, Eric has passionately advocated for envi- ronmental health with state legislators and partner organizations. Given the opportunity from the Region 4 members, he will repre- sent the interests of membership on the NEHA Board and continue to advocate and promote the Environmental Health profession at the national level.
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March 2025 • Journal of Environmental Health
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