For 10-years, Rick was the Vice President for Technical Services at MedSafe, Inc. There he was responsible for managing the technical consulting staff for the accreditation and regulatory compliance services, and focused his efforts on hospital decontamination, Joint Commission Environment of Care management and OSHA compliance. He also operationalized the MSDS Direct internet-based MSDS management program for MedSafe and currently provides this service for healthcare facilities under RT Cotter and Associates, Inc.

For approximately 12 years prior to MedSafe, Rick worked as a Corporate V.P. at Clean Harbors, Inc. Among his responsibilities were the development of all Occupational Safety and Health training programs for the corporation of 1,500 employees as well as a multi-million dollar Commercial Training Program and Hazardous Material Training Center for chemical spill response. He was also responsible for the oversight of 6 profit centers worth 50M annually.

Rick holds a degree in Biological Sciences (Human Physiology) and graduate degrees in education and environmental sciences. He is currently a Certified Trainer in Health and Safety through the OSHA Training Center in Chicago and a Certified Environmental Trainer by the National Environmental Training Association.

Related Associations:
Member, Association of American Society of Safety Engineers
Member, American Society of Healthcare Engineers

Paul M. Armas Senior Vice President, Consulting Services 781.582.8111x108 parmas@rtcotter.com

Paul Armas has fifteen years of healthcare experience in facilities management and support services. Paul is skilled in regulatory compliance, operations, and project management with strong capital planning, infrastructure knowledge and customer focus service. Paul spent over ten years at Sodexho in various roles including most recently as District Manager for the past five years. Paul offers expertise in regulatory compliance and has directly participated in more than fifty Joint Commission accreditation surveys in various roles.

As District Manager for Sodexho, Paul was responsible for providing strategic direction in the district with the hiring, developing and leadership for a team of directors and managers. This included maximizing business plans, achieving client and Sodexho financial operating budgets, management of project and capital budgets, realizing contractual commitments and client expectations, with full implementation of operating systems consistent with regulatory and quality standards.

Prior to Joining Sodexho, Paul was employed at Johnson Controls as a Systems Application Engineering, specializing in healthcare with engineering and project management responsibilities over a team of technicians and subcontractors in the design, installation and commissioning of HVAC building automation controls. Paul has extensive knowledge of mechanical-electrical-plumbing (MEP) systems.

Paul is a Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP), Certified Healthcare Facilities Manager (CHFM), Certified Business Energy Professional (BEP) and Certified Energy Manager (CEM). Paul’s formal education includes a MBA in Healthcare Management from Bryant University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts. Paul is a member of the College of Healthcare Executives, American Society for Healthcare Engineering, New England Society of Healthcare Engineers, Association of Facilities Engineering and Association of Energy Engineers.

Owen Scanlon Manager, MSDS Direct 781.582.8111x103 oscanlon@rtcotter.com

Mr. Owen Scanlon, Manager of the MSDSdirect, holds a degree in biosciences and post graduate degree in computer science. As well, he brings many years of management experience providing client services in the medical equipment and pharmaceutical industry in the area of sales, marketing, policy analysis and business development. Mr. Scanlon’s education and business experience qualifies him as an integral member of the RTCA Technical Team.

As Manager of the MSDS Direct product and related services, Mr. Scanlon’s responsibilities include account management, the on-going development of the internet-based application, on-site chemical inventories, and the management of the MSDS Direct process.

Edmund Lydon, CHFM Senior Consultiant

Mr. Lydon has 12 years experience in health care as former Associate Vice President of Facilities and Emergency Management at CVPH Medical Center and Mr. Lydon also has 10 years prior experience as an Industrial Hygienist with Con-Test, Inc.

During his tenure at CVPH Medical Center, Mr. Lydon directed the activities of support departments. He was responsible for staff in Plant Operations, Construction, Clinical Engineering, Grounds, Security and Environmental Services. Mr. Lydon also served as a facilitator and owner’s representative to implement and manage the facilities project delivery process for construction, remodeling and restoration projects and has completed 75 million dollars in construction work. Mr. Lydon was also responsible for Emergency Management planning activities and has acquired a vast amount of experience in emergency preparedness. Mr. Lydon gained his experience by serving in the field during incidents as a former police officer, an active emergency medical technician and as an active volunteer firefighter. Mr. Lydon is an experienced disaster exercise facilitator and instructor on a variety of emergency topics such as Incident Command System.

Mr. Lydon was Branch Manager with Con-Test, Inc where he organized, marketed, directed, and reviewed the work of industrial hygienists, safety professionals, and environmentalists. Mr. Lydon has experience with environmental investigations, indoor air quality surveys, and other safety and occupational health assessments.

Over the past five years, Mr. Lydon has been a leader in organizing emergency preparedness partners into productive planning committees. Mr. Lydon actively participated in the organization of the Clinton County Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Committee and emergency public health preparedness committee with Vermont, Quebec, and Clinton County emergency planning partners. Also in the last four years, Mr. Lydon has been responsible for leading the development of the Regional Resource Center concept in a five county area involving partners such as hospitals, long term care facilities, public health, law enforcement and emergency management officials for the New York State Department of Health. His responsibilities have also included directing coordination/administrative oversight of the HRSA grant activities within the CVPH Medical Center and as a New York State Regional Resource Center co-chairperson.

Mr. Lydon earned his undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies with a Certificate in Small Business Management from Johnson State College. Mr. Lydon is a Certified Healthcare Facilities Manager, Facilities Management Administrator, Board Certified Safety Technician and an active Hazardous Material Technician and Incident Commander in Clinton County Emergency Response.