YOUR ASSOCIATION
NEHA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Jared Matte, MS, REHS/RS, GSP Maricopa County, Arizona
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is shin- ing a spotlight on the people within our membership through this feature in the Journal . This month we are pleased to introduce you to Jared Matte, a risk control and loss prevention specialist at Mari- copa County in Arizona. He is also the current president of the Arizona Environmental Health Association (AZEHA). Jared has been in the environmental health profession for 8 years. Jared develops, coordinates, and conducts safety training; audits field work procedures; conducts injury and vehicle collision investiga- tions; and reviews field safety surveys to ensure compliance with poli- cies and regulations. Further, he reviews and evaluates work activities and procedures county-wide to advise on safety and loss prevention trends and related safety issues. He also helps county departments with their hazard communications and hazardous waste management. Why did you join NEHA and what aspects of membership have you found most valuable to your career? I joined NEHA when I was pursing my REHS/RS, but I was delighted to find how much NEHA has to offer. Often profes- sional organizations will provide credentials and memberships with little value beyond its face. NEHA’s value does not stop at credentials or an annual conference. I have found many resources and trainings for environmental health very useful, but I find the community behind it all most valuable. As president of AZEHA, I have had the opportunity to meet excellent environmental health professionals locally and nationally through NEHA. I have fos- tered working relationships with NEHA staff and their leadership team. Their staff have always been very approachable and offer many opportunities for professionals to connect with each other to collaborate on shared issues. Why did you choose the environmental health field? I find myself between environmental health and occupational safety, but one common denominator always persists. I choose to be in the business of protecting lives and the world those lives live in. We are in unique positions that can protect people from the past, present, and future. If you were not an environmental health professional, what other profession would you like to work in? If I was not an environmental health and safety professional, I would be a professor. I am an advocate for education over compli-
ance. When there is a problem that someone does not understand, I am energized by that light bulb moment a little explanation often provides. I believe environmental health professionals are all teachers at heart. What accomplishment are you most proud of? I am most proud of the work I have put into myself. I consider myself a lifelong learner—every day is an opportunity to be better and do better for the people around me. I am doing my best and I am proud of that. Who do you look up to and why? I believe everyone I meet has some insight or value from which I can learn. We all have our own perspectives—you can discuss the same topic every day and still learn more if you are open to it. Specifically, my grandpa showed me what love, confidence, and self-reliance should look like. I am forever grateful for that. Is there a resource that you use frequently for your work that you would recommend for other environmental health professionals? The Journal of Environmental Health , obviously! I encourage oth- ers to keep an eye on local legislation and join your local NEHA affiliate. If you have not looked through it yet, please review NEHA’s Green Book . This book is digitally available at www.neha. org/history and is an important part of environmental health his- tory. There is value in our history and I recommend learning the core principles in “classics” and building off that foundation. It is important to know how far we have come and to safeguard from letting history repeat itself. What was the best professional advice given to you? We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. Alternatively, you have two ears and one mouth—you should use them proportionally. Is there anything else that we did not ask that you would like to share? I want to share my appreciation and admiration for the people who work in this thankless profession. Thank you for all that you do and all that we might do together. Keep growing my friends! And I look forward to seeing everyone in Phoenix for this year’s AEC!
We thank Jared Matte for sharing with us!
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Volume 87 • Number 7
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