Orange County Chapter History
Our history actually began before our chapter was established in 1973. The Orange County Section was holding meetings as early as 1971 under the direction of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers.
Our chapter took on new life with the following petitions to establish the TRI County Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers with ~75 members. Our current membership for OCASSE is more than 450 members.
January 9, 1973
“The Orange County Safety Society has grown to the point where we now have enough members to file for our charter under ASSE. As you are aware, it is necessary that we receive territorial clearance from our neighboring chapters. Our chapter will be known as the Tri-County Chapter ASSE. It will encompass the counties of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino.”
…Frank A. Palmer, President
Orange County Safety Society
January 11, 1973
“ The San Diego Chapter agrees that the San Diego County line were it joins Orange and Riverside Counties is a natural and acceptable boundary in determining territorial area for our chapter and the proposed Tri County Chapter.”
…Neil D. Kellogg, President
San Diego President ASSE
January 24, 1973
“The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers endorse the petition submitted by your Orange County group of ASSE members for the area now assigned to the Los Angeles Chapter which include the counties of San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange. The Executive Committee approved this transfer of area assignment on January 22, 1973.”
…Sam M. Monson, President
Los Angeles Chapter ASSE
The first Executive Committee consisted of:
| President: Frank A. Palmer Advisor: Don Morgan First Vice President: C.K. Whiting Secretary-Treasurer: Bill Schaeck Budget: Bill Schaeck C.K. Whiting Mack Smith | Membership: Fred Gillett Bill Schaeck Programs: Bill Brown Bill Schaeck Public Relations: Don Barrett Charlie Hammons Legislative: Charlie Hammons Don Morgan |
On February 27, 1973 the chapter for the Tri-County Chapter read:
American Society of Safety Engineers
Charter
Granted to
Tri-County Chapter
To promote the advancement of the Safety Profession, and foster the well-being and professional development of its members.
Witness the signatures of its duly authorized officers affixed
This 27th day of February, 1973
Chapter Name Change 2001
The chapter changed from Orange Coast to Orange County by member vote in 2000/2001 when Patrick McDonagh was President, which happened to be the year that Anaheim was host to the ASSE’s Professional Development Conference (PDC).
Past Presidents and Notable Accomplishments
2025/2026: President Brian Nguyen MS CSP ARM
2024/2025: President Carolyna Oakes CSP, PLATINUM Chapter Recognition
2023/2024: President Brian Nguyen MS CSP ARM, PLATINUM Chapter Recognition, Dr Danny Kim Chapter and Regional SPY Award
2022/2023: President Claudia Morgado, PLATINUM Chapter Recognition, E.J. Penewell Orange County Safety Hall of Fame.
2021/2022: President Claudia Morgado, BRONZE Chapter Recognition
2020/2021: President Claudia Morgado, GOLD Chapter Recognition
2019/2020: President Sharon L’Heureux Dressel, SILVER Chapter Recognition
2018/2019: President Kaila Krichmar, GOLD Chapter Recognition
2017/2018: President Kaila Krichmar, PLATINUM Chapter Recognition
2016/2017: President Elise Fischer, PLATINUM Chapter Recognition
2015/2016: President Dr. John Breskey, GOLD Chapter Recognition.
2014/2015: President Cari Elofson, GOLD Chapter Recognition. Scott Myles Chapter SPY Award.
2013/2014: President Bill Jones, GOLD Chapter Recognition.
2012/2013: President Teddi Penewell, STARS Award. Teddi Penewell Chapter SPY Award.
2011/2012: President Georgette Quinn, Large Sized Chapter of the Year Award, Cari Elofson Chapter SPY Award, Herbert Bell Environmental Practice Specialty SPY Award. Formation of Student Section at California State University, Fullerton.
2010/2011: President Scott Myles, STARS Award
2009/2010: President Art Pedroza, STARS Award, Georgette Quinn Chapter SPY Award
2008/2009: President Andy Cuthbert, Debra Hudson Chapter SPY Award, Terrie S. Norris ASSELA Women In Safety Engineering (WISE) Person of the Year, STARS Award
2007/2008: President Debra Hudson, Charles Sandberg OC Safety Hall of Fame
2006/2007: President Bob Howarth, STARS Award, Vaughan Hargrave Chapter SPY Award
2005/2006: President Herbert Bell, STARS Award, ROC1 PDC (Homeland Security), Andy Cuthbert Chapter SPY Award.
2004/2005: President Sharon Lewellyn, STARS Award. Orange County Chapter joined the annual Joint Technical Symposium.
2003/2004: President Chris Gaylord Medium Sized Chapter of the Year, Chapter STARS Award
2002/2003: President Phillip Combest, Phillip Combest Chapter SPY Award, Chapter Achievement Award, Glenn Azevedo Region1 SPY, Safety Hall of Fame Fred Gillett, Peter Cunliffe
2001/2002: President Terrie Norris, Chapter Achievement Award, Glenn Azevedo Chapter SPY Award, Terrie Norris Region 1 SPY, Established OC Safety Hall of Fame, Inducted Lee Klein
2000/2001: President Patrick McDonagh, Dr. Hamid Kavianian Region 1 SPY Award
1999/2000: President James Boretti, Chapter Achievement Award
1998/1999: President Glenn Azevedo, Chapter Achievement Award, Dr. Hamid Kavianian Chapter SPY Award
1997/1998: President Bill Barbarow
1996/1997: President Art Robitaille
1995/1996: President Burt Dirkse
1994/1995: President Casey Conway
1993/1994: President Chuck Taylor
1992/1993: President Mary Crow