The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has named Richard A. "Dick" Strano, CAE, to be its executive director.
Strano succeeds O. Gordon Banks, CAE, who is retiring at the end of the year after 12 years as the association''s executive director.
Strano comes to the association from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), in Cincinnatit, where he served as executive director.
He is expected to arrive at AIHA in October.
"Dick has a blend of the attributes we were looking for," said AIHA President Hank Lick, PhD, CIH. "The hope was to find someone with a knowledge of industrial hygiene and experience running an association."
According to Lick, Strano is familiar with issues that are unique to AIHA and the industrial hygiene profession.
Banks underscored his approval of the selection. "I have know Dick Strano for nine years. I believe he is a fine fit for this position at this time."
As executive director, Strano will oversee a staff of 60 full-time and four part-time employees as well as an annual budget of $13 million.
Strano has 30 years experience in association management, particularly in health-related association and foundation management.
Prior to joing ACGIH, he served for eight years as president of the Washington-based American Osteopathic Healthcare Association.
Earlier in his career, Strano was executive director of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy in Washington, D.C., and as a division director for the Chicago-based American Hospital Association.
In addition to holding the credential of certified association executive, he as a BA from the University of Missouri and an master''s degree in public administration and health services management from the University of Missiouri''s School of Business and Public Administration and School of Medicine.
by Virginia Foran