ATLANTA, Nov. 6, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Richard Kowalski, president of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc. (AAOHN), www.aaohn.org, has been named one of the 50 most influential industry leaders by EHS Today Magazine.
The magazine said Kowalski had a strong and lasting impact on the environment, health and safety in the workplace. AAOHN is the leading association for educational programs, career resources and the advancement of occupational and environmental health nursing.
Kowalski, RN, MSA, COHN-S, the first male president of AAOHN, served for 31 years as an occupational health nurse (OHN) for General Motors/Delphi Automotive before retiring in 2003. Currently he serves as a consultant at Northern Michigan Occupational Health Consultants. Kowalski has served his community for 21 years as a board member of the Bangor Township Schools Board of Education in Bay City, Michigan, and currently serves as its president.
"It's a great honor to be included in this group of influential and accomplished leaders," said Kowalski. "It is an honor that AAOHN is also deserving as an association, as are the occupational and environmental health nurses who are on the front lines everyday. Their dedication to promoting and protecting the health and safety of workers makes a real difference in increasing productivity and impacting employers' bottom lines."
EHS Today Magazine, which is targeted at the environment, health and safety community, said Kowalski and others on the list are highly respected leaders in government, academia, politics, professional associations, corporations, and labor advocacy groups.
The criteria for making the list speaks to Kowalski's positive work in the field. According to the magazine, these 50 leaders "all have one thing in common: Through their work, their mentoring, their lecturing, their lawmaking, their research, their administration or their advocacy, they have had a strong and lasting impact on EHS in the workplace."
"This is an exciting time for AAOHN," said Kowalski. "The role of the OHN is evolving and the profession is poised to play a pivotal role in not only continuing to ensure safe and healthy work and community environments, but also in finding real solutions to the growing healthcare challenges that employers face."
AAOHN, found at www.aaohn.org, is a global organization with members who encompass the entire range of health and safety workers, worker populations and community groups.