2024 Regulatory Summit

Sam Boxerman has 33 years of experience in environmental law, including defending government investigations and enforcement actions under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). He has extensive knowledge of EPA’s formaldehyde regulation history and current risk evaluation process.

Michael Deible is a chemist, material scientist and principal investigator at RJ Lee Group, an industrial forensics laboratory and scientific consulting firm where he has worked the last seven years. His current focus is on PFAS-related projects, including developing new methods for detecting PFAS in consumer products.

Peter Feldman serves on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). He was nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2018 to complete the term of Joseph Mohorovic, who resigned from his seat on the commission one year before his term expired in October 2019. Mr. Feldman was re-nominated and confirmed to a subsequent seven-year term that will expire in October 2026.

With a background in food safety research, Dominika Gruszecka is the food and consumer products market manager at Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, which develops and manufactures equipment for researchers, scientists and manufacturers around the globe working in food safety, clinical medicine and the environment. She recently spoke at a 2024 PFAS Summit on the latest techniques for analyzing PFAS in food and the environment.

Matt Howsare is the chair of Cooley’s North American product safety practice and a leading global consumer product safety and compliance lawyer who counsels manufacturers, retailers, distributors, trade associations and consumer product companies. From recalls and defect investigations to import seizures and product liability, Matt’s experience spans the most challenging product issues companies face.

Pratik Ichhaporia has more than 15 years of experience in the testing, inspection and certification industry. He specializes in quality, safety and environmental concerns that impact the textiles, toy and hardlines industries. He is an active member of ASTM Committee D13 on Textiles and advises clients on how to prepare and respond to Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act requirements and detentions of cotton products.

Dean Kaiser has over 40 years of experience in air quality compliance and monitoring, both as a regulator in Winston-Salem, N.C., and as an engineering consultant. He founded Stratus Environmental Solutions in 1996 and has completed hundreds of air quality technical and regulatory consulting projects, including for AHFA, and successfully negotiated terms for numerous difficult air quality permit applications.

Sandeep Khatua is global technical director in the consumer goods industry for TÜV SÜD America, a globally recognized testing and certification organization with U.S. headquarters in Wakefield, Mass. He leads projects focused on process improvements, supply chain initiatives and quality assurance for diverse industries.

Chris Kleine is vice president of logistics, warehousing and compliance for Magnussen Home Furnishings Inc., working from the company’s Ontario, California distribution center. In February 2024 he handled a CPSC inspection of the company’s STURDY Act compliance with just 24 hours notice.

Amy Lally is a trial lawyer who practices in all areas of litigation. After providing several informative presentations to the AHFA membership on the nuances of Prop 65 compliance, Amy helped AHFA draft and win approval of what is known as the “furniture safe harbor” – warning language that is specific to residential furniture. She remains a leading expert on all Prop 65 updates and legal challenges.

Martha Marrapese is a sought-after legal and policy advisor on matters where technological advancement, environmental protection and governance intersect. Her clients are solving today’s major environmental security issues, including those involving climate change, PFAS contamination and ocean plastics.

As vice president of regulatory affairs for AHFA, Bill Perdue has oversight for all regulatory and technical standards impacting home furnishings manufacturers and importers. He serves as the industry’s primary liaison with legislators, regulators and government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and others.

Stephan Pesch is a international regulatory compliance specialist at TÜV Rheinland for hardlines products. He has 20 years of experience with furniture-related requirements and is a member of ASTM and BIFMA standardization committees.

Judah Prero focuses his law practice on counseling clients on chemical regulatory matters before legislators, regulators and government agencies. He advises product manufacturers on the compliance challenges posed by new federal and state laws restricting the uses of substances such as PFAS and flame retardants.

Richard Rosati has been the vice president of governmental affairs and industry standards at Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services for over seven years – his latest role in a 22-year career with the company. He is also the current chair of the ASTM International F15.42 Furniture Safety Subcommittee.

Elliot Sigal is a vice president and senior toxicologist at Intrinsik Corporation, a scientific and regulatory consulting firm providing expert toxicology and regulatory advice focused on protecting human health and the environment. He has over 25 years of experience in human health risk assessment, ecological risk assessment, toxicology and risk management.

Bill Simmons is part of the veteran team at Dutko Government Relations that includes specialists from across the political spectrum with decades of experience in the political arena. He delivers essential political intelligence and strategic guidance to his clients, drawing experience from years of frontline politics and working within the machinery of government.

Travis Snapp began his career as a staff engineer at PSI, which was eventually rebranded as Benchmark International following Travis’ purchase of the Engineered Wood Products Division of the company. The company now operates one of the most comprehensive accredited laboratories and third-party inspection facilities for the wood, concrete and steel products industries.

Professor Heather Stapleton is an environmental chemist and exposure scientist in the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. She is known in the home furnishings industry for research focused on human exposure to halogenated and organophosphate chemicals, particularly within vulnerable populations like pregnant women and children. She is now at the forefront of similar research with PFAS.

Michael Sullivan is a seasoned business litigator and a trusted advisor who counsels business clients on strategy, risk evaluation and cost management for regulatory and litigation matters. Having served as lead counsel for clients in asbestos, formaldehyde and lead litigation, he understands how to analyze technical and scientific issues as part of a successful trial strategy.

William Troutman is a partner in the Los Angeles offices of Norton Rose Fulbright, where he serves as head of consumer markets and co-lead for ESG and human rights. He concentrates his practice on product safety, compliance and environmental disputes.

Amy Vernon is an experienced product compliance expert skilled in the areas of international, federal, state and industry safety and compliance issues related to both commercial and residential furniture. She has been the director of sustainability, ESG and global product compliance for La-Z-Boy Inc., since May 2022. Prior to joining La-Z-Boy she was with Sauder Woodworking in Archbold, Ohio, for 22 years.

As founder of the environmental consulting firm Environmental Standards Inc., Rock Vitale oversees a staff of about 35 quality assurance chemists and is responsible for the technical and managerial aspects of the company’s operations. He currently serves as co-chair of ASTM’s subcommittee on PFAS, which is working to create standardized methods to measure PFAS in consumer products.

Noelle Wooten focuses her law practice on environmental and consumer product litigation, regulation and compliance. With more than 30 years of experience, she represents clients in state, federal and administrative disputes involving environmental and consumer product litigation, regulation and compliance matters.