We are pleased to welcome Lucas Velez to the KTL team! Lucas is an Environmental Engineer with specialized experience in solid and liquid waste management and process optimization. He has worked at some of the largest breweries in Latin America developing systems to quantify the amounts of solid and liquid residue produced in each of the plants. Lucas provides project support in these areas, as well as general environmental management (e.g., air quality, wastewater treatment, renewable energy), program development, and compliance support services. He excels at deploying environmental procedures and standards that address regulatory requirements and company policies and initiatives. He is based in Atlanta. View his full bio…

KTL is excited to be joining the 2023 Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference (MECC) in Overland Park, Kansas, September 26-27, 20023 as a featured presenter. MECC takes a fresh, regional approach to the increasingly difficult task of environmental compliance, permitting, enforcement, and other critical environmental issues that impact Midwest facilities and institutions.

KTL’s presentions are part of the workshop’s technical agenda:

What is an energy audit—and why you should do one
September 26, 2023 | 12:30 pm | Coulter Wood, CEM, CPEA, Senior Consultant

Want to reach your sustainability goals, improve your energy efficiency, and save money? Learn what an energy audit is, how it can help you better understand your energy usage and issues, and how you can leverage your audit to identify opportunities to create energy efficiencies and reduce your carbon footprint.

The big secret: you already have the software you need to manage EHS programs
September 27, 2023 | 9:35 am | Joe Tell, Principal

Implementing software to manage EHS compliance sounds expensive, but it doesn’t have to be—not when most companies already have the software they need. See how to leverage the Microsoft Power Platform® to elevate EHS and effectively manage compliance documentation and data.

KTL is pleased to introduce our newest team members:

As one of the premier events in the food industry, the Food Safety Summit provides a comprehensive conference and expo for attendees to learn from subject matter experts, exchange ideas, and find solutions to current industry challenges.

• When: May 8-11, 2023
• Where: Donald Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Illinois
• Who: Retailers, food processors, distributors, food manufacturers, growers, foodservice, testing laboratories, importing/exporting, law firms, and other food safety professionals
• Find KTL: Stop by our booth (#534) in the exhibit hall!

KTL Solutions Stage Presentation

Be sure to also update your agenda to attend KTL’s Solutions Stage presentation on Thursday, May 11 at 2:00 pm CT:

The Big Secret: You already have the software you need to build your FSMS.
Having a simple, centralized FSMS to manage, track, communicate, and report compliance program information can enable staff to complete required tasks, improve compliance performance, and support operational decision-making. It sounds expensive, but it doesn’t have to be—not when most companies already have the software and just need the right combination of food safety and IT expertise to customize it. KTL will present several examples that demonstrate how various food companies are leveraging Microsoft 365® with SharePoint and the Power Platform to elevate their FSMS and effectively manage food safety compliance documentation, data, and certification requirements.

KTL Principal Joe Tell was recently appointed to the Director’s Council of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California (UC) San Diego. Scripps is one of the most important centers for global earth science research and education in the world.

Director’s Council members are leaders in business, government, philanthropy, or the nonprofit sector. The Council meets formally twice per year to review the institution’s progress and to advise the Director in strategic planning for priorities, new directions, and high-level outreach.

Joe brings over 25 years of experience working with industrial, government, and institutional clients in operational and business risk management, process improvement, information management systems, and compliance assurance to his Director’s Council position. His expertise is focused on creating strategies for developing and implementing risk-based management systems that sustain the environment and public health, emphasize strong leadership commitment, and ensure cross-functional stakeholder engagement. Joe is particularly interested in making connections between the private sector, government agencies, and the NGO community to promote collaborative solutions to global environmental and health issues.

Scripps was founded as the Marine Biological Association of San Diego in 1903. The Institution leads research in climate change impacts and adaptation, resilience to hazards, conservation and biodiversity, oceans and human health, national security, and innovative technology to observe the planet.

KTL is pleased to welcome the newest member of our food safety team!

The Central region of APPA (CAPPA) is back hosting the 2022 Annual Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska this October–and KTL is looking forward to being part of the technical agenda this year! With the constant state of change in Higher Education, every interaction with students, faculty, staff and our business partners, vendor, etc. is important to improvement and growth in facilities. This year’s conference is filled with business and educational sessions to help support facilities management professionals in educational institutions.

KTL will be joining Southeast Missouri State University’s Autumn Gentry to present the following case study:

Using Microsoft 365 and SharePoint® to Manage EHS Compliance: University Case Study
October 10, 2022 | 11:00-11:55 a.m.

This presentation will discuss how educational facilities can use Microsoft 365 and SharePoint as a tool to manage EHS compliance programs. We will provide an overview of applicable EHS regulations, discuss how 365/SharePoint can be used to address university-specific needs, and provide a demonstration of Southeast Missouri State University’s “live” EHS management system.

KTL is pleased to welcome the newest member of our EHS team!

KTL is excited to be joining the 2022 Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference (MECC) as a featured presenter live and in-person in Kansas City, Missouri. MECC examines the new environmental reality under the Biden Administration. The conference takes a fresh, regional approach to the increasingly difficult task of environmental compliance, permitting, enforcement, and other critical environmental issues that impact Midwest facilities and institutions.

KTL’s presentions are part of the workshop’s technical agenda:

City of Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Compliance Management System: A Demonstration
September 13, 2022 | 10:00-10:35 a.m.

See how the City of Lincoln, NE Transportation and Utilities Department is leveraging Microsoft 365® to build regulatory compliance management tools that help track permit requirements and other compliance obligations. Features include requirements database, workflows with email notifications, status tracking, document and records management, staff communication / collaboration tools, and management reporting.

EHS Information Management System using Microsoft 365 and SharePoint
September 13, 2022 | 3:40-4:15 p.m.

Effective information management is critical to complying with EHS regulations, but many organizations lack the resources to manage, maintain, and demonstrate compliance. This presentation will demonstrate how Microsoft 365® and SharePoint® can be used as tools to create organizational efficiency and meet regulatory compliance obligations. KTL and Southeast Missouri State University will share the university’s SharePoint site and demonstrate how they are using the system to effectively manage EHS programs, including chemical management, air quality, and refrigerant management. This session will walk through features of SharePoint, provide tips to keep tools remain simple yet effective, and highlight how SharePoint can be expanded into an effective technology platform to ensure ongoing compliance.

Get to know our KTL team! This month, we are catching up with KTL Marketing Director Stacey Pisani. Stacey has over 20 years of experience working as a communications professional exclusively in the areas of environmental, health & safety (EHS); food safety; and renewable energy. She has developed a comprehensive understanding of this subject matter that allows her to effectively add value to projects and turn technical information into meaningful content. She is based in our Madison, WI headquarters.

Tell us a little bit about your background—what are your areas of expertise?

I am originally from the Madison area and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in communications and a minor in technical writing. While I do not have an environmental background, one of my first jobs after college was working for RMT, an environmental consulting firm. I found my niche and have remained in this industry for over 20 years.

I joined KTL in 2013 and currently serve as the company’s Marketing Director. My communications and marketing expertise spans all facets of internal and external marketing and communications, including executive communications, brand management, public relations, website design/management, digital marketing, social media, newsletter development, change communications, promotional campaigns, and copywriting/editing for various media. I also am heavily involved in developing proposals and working on a variety of training, reports, and deliverables for many of KTL’s clients.

What types of clients do you work with?

While a large portion of my time is spent working with KTL staff on marketing initiatives to grow KTL’s brand recognition and client base, I am fortunate to also work on projects for many of our clients in the areas of both EHS and food safety. This ranges from developing content for client publications, to writing procedures and policies, to creating training content, to reviewing various types of reports to ensure quality end products. I don’t interface with clients directly too often but enjoy those opportunities when I do!

What would you say is a highlight of your job?

I spend a good portion of my days writing, reviewing, and editing—all things I love to do. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out how to communicate most effectively some very technical and/or critical information. I am continually learning new things in my job, which is great after 20 years. And I get to work with most KTL staff on some level—I truly enjoy being able to interact with everyone in the office and in our remote locations.

What do you like to do in your free time?

My husband and I have two daughters who fill our calendar with lots of running around to gymnastics and dance. They keep us entertained! But when we aren’t in the car or at some sort of competition, I really enjoy working out, reading, theater, cooking/baking.

Read Stacey’s full bio.