Hester Gidget Bennett Email & Phone Number

Columbia, Sc, Us

Columbia, Sc, Us

Columbia, South Carolina, Us

• Review of applications for certification for completeness.• Review of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for compliance with EPA approved methodology.• Review of proficiency testing (PT) results.• Review of technical data to ensure compliance with the SOP and the EPA approved method.• On-site laboratory evaluations are performed to evaluate the analytical techniques, instrumentation, quality control procedures and record keeping practices of laboratories reporting environmental monitoring data to the department.

Tallahassee, Us

• Responsible for supervising the nutrient analysis of samples within the Office of Agricultural Water Policy’s (OAWP) Analysis Unit of the Bureau of Agricultural Environmental Laboratories.• Acts as supervisor of the OAWP Analysis Unit. Assists the Environmental Manager in planning the overall operation of the unit. Performs supervisory responsibilities including leave approval; coordination of workload distribution and priority; ensuring appropriate analytical methodology is utilized for generating analytical results for sample analysis and ensures accurate and timely completion of assigned samples/projects. Responsible for the daily assignment of samples, monitoring overall sample status and turnaround times and review and evaluation of final results submitted prior to reporting. • Prepares and performs nutrient analyses of environmental samples utilizing an automated flow injection chromatography (FIA) system, Kjeldahl digestion, and total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer. Duties include preparing extraction solutions and analytical reference standards and standardizing solutions required in the analysis of environmental samples. Performs calibration procedures on analytical instruments and support equipment to certify that they are suitable for use in the analysis of environmental water samples. Interprets and calculates analytical test results obtained through analytical measurements, and reduces raw data to final reportable results. • Oversees the maintenance of all equipment and instrumentation necessary for analysis of all samples received by the OAWP Analysis Unit. Ensures that analytical instruments are maintained in a state of constant readiness according to laboratory SOPs. • Assists with writing and maintaining laboratory SOPs in support of TNI and ISO 17025 Accreditation. Responsible for following and implementing standard department safety procedures and protocols.

Tallahassee, Us

• The duties and responsibilities for this position are directly related to the agency mission of the number of official samples analyzed and analytical tests conducted under the Office of Agricultural Water Policy’s (OAWP) Live Oak project. This position supports the OAWP Analysis Unit within the Bureau of Agricultural Environmental Laboratories. • Prepares and performs nutrient analyses of environmental samples utilizing an automated flow injection chromatography (FIA) system, Kjeldahl digestion, and total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer. Duties include preparing extraction solutions and analytical reference standards and standardizing solutions required in the analysis of environmental samples. Performs calibration procedures on analytical instruments and support equipment to certify that they are suitable for use in the analysis of environmental samples. Interprets and calculates analytical test results obtained through analytical measurements, and reduces raw data to final reportable results. • Calculates and evaluates all analytical results for precision and accuracy of quality control data. Follows prescribed quality assurance/quality control procedures delineated in the Laboratory's methodology and standard operating procedures (SOP). Responsible for following standard safety procedures and protocols. • Responsible for performing preventive maintenance on analytical laboratory instrumentation and support equipment. Evaluates and optimizes the performance of the instruments and support equipment. Takes corrective action to ensure data quality through routine and non-routine maintenance programs. • Performs minor method evaluation/improvement studies and validations on methods utilized by the laboratory.

Tallahassee, Us

• Other Personal Services (OPS) position with funding ending at end of August 2020. • This position supports the Feed Laboratory within the Bureau of Agricultural Environmental Laboratories. • The responsibilities include sample preparation and analysis of feed and feed related samples involved in surveillance and investigative cases. • Follows established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for riffling, quartering, and splitting feed samples. • Prepares feed and feed related samples for analysis by utilizing appropriate sample preparation procedures according to written standard operating procedures (SOPs). • Utilizes the following sample extraction techniques: liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), soxhlet extraction, and solid phase extraction (SPE). • Prepare and analyze samples for Mycotoxins by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). • Interprets, evaluates and calculates results and enters them into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). • Submits analytical data sets and complies with all ISO17025 requirements and department Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Quality Assurance, and safety protocols.

Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Us

• Began traing on analysis of environmental samples for Mercury (atomic absorption spectroscopy), Sulfate (ion chromatography), oil & grease (liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction), and sample prep for metals analysis (digestion)• Primary duties:◦ Assisting all sections as needed including: sample prep, analysis, disposal, cleaning◦ Scanning data sheets◦ Assist Quality Assurance with duties including filing and sorting of paperwork, cataloging paperwork and developing/using NELAC (National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference) compliant record keeping system. ◦ Assists department management on special projects.◦ fill-in as needed with clerical duties for department.

• Supported a non-profit church by handling all communications including organizing weekly emails, monthly newsletters, Sunday orders of worship (bulletins), weekly notices and calendar of events into the bulletin, and monthly calendar and schedules of service participants. • Managed the office volunteers including front desk receptionists and newsletter collators (Holy Folders). • Interfaced with diverse populations of individuals including parishioners and the homeless and needy who come in seeking assistance.

• Shadowed environmental health professionals, sampling private wells for presence of petroleum products, dry-cleaning products and other chemical contaminants. • Sampled limited-use wells for E. Coli and fecal coliform bacteria. • Evaluated Medical Waste Plans at doctor’s offices, nursing homes and funeral homes. • Participated in septic tank permit creation and evaluation.

Melbourne, Florida, Us

• Graduate Assistant in the Marine and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory• Conducted grain size analysis, sediment digestion, atomic adsorption spectroscopy, and graphing assignments. • Initiated a research project to identify runoff from sod as possible source of muck in Lake Worth Lagoon and the C-51 canal.

• Completed Pine Jog Fellowship 3-semester program. • Responsibilities include the creation and implementation of projects within the community and with an after-school group of school age children to foster environmental awareness and responsibility.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Liberal Arts & Sciences, Environmental Chemistry

Public Health, Environmental Health

Environmental Chemistry