ELTAC Member Bios

Peter Arth is an environmental scientist with a passion for applying an understanding of the intersection of toxicology, biology, ecology, and chemistry to understand, navigate, and solve complex environmental issues.  Over the course of his career in environmental laboratory services and consulting, he’s held positions as analyst, project manager, and operations manager.  He is currently the Director of Enthalpy Analytical’s Environmental Toxicology division, including the flagship ELAP and NELAP-accredited laboratory in San Diego, California (formerly Nautilus Environmental).

Peter has led laboratory-driven toxicological programs for commercial, industrial, governmental, and academic partners.  Peter is well-versed in all aspects of performing and interpreting toxicity tests under guidelines published by a variety of regulatory agencies. His primary technical focus and expertise is the design, performance, and interpretation of site-specific toxicity investigations in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments.  He has been engaged in TIE and other toxicity testing method development and adaptation, advocated for novel uses of bioassays as regulatory and risk assessment tools, and has presented his work at meetings and conferences across the country.

In all programs, Peter places a strong emphasis on effective collaboration, developing clear goals and objectives and attaining them cost efficiently, using sound experimental design, achieving unassailable data quality, and gaining client and regulatory approval.  He has lent his expertise to several working groups and committees, including the Southern California BIGHT Toxicity Committees and the Southern California Stormwater Monitoring Coalition (SMC) Laboratory Intercalibration Study, and is active in regulatory affairs at the regional, state, and national level. By participating on ELTAC, he aims to support participating groups in specialty technical matters, to serve as a resource to help improve programs, and to represent the diverse stakeholders of the laboratory community. 

• Appointed: October 2020
• Term Expires: Oct. 31, 2025

Samuel Choi is an Environmental Supervisor in the Laboratory, Monitoring, and Compliance Division at the Orange County Sanitation District. Specifically, Sam oversees the Sampling, General Chemistry, and Microbiology groups in the Laboratory. He has been working in wastewater utility for more than 12 years previously serving as a microbiologist focusing on both compliance and research work. He holds a Master’s in Environmental Engineering and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Environmental Microbiology. Sam also holds a part-time faculty position at the California State University Fullerton in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2018-present).

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and outdoors.

• Appointed: October 2020
• Term Expires: Oct. 31, 2025

Dr. Agustin Pierri obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Southern California and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California Santa Barbara where he worked on synthesizing photoactive pharmaceuticals and nanocarriers. He has authored many scientific publications and has given numerous presentations at technical meetings on topics ranging from inorganic photochemistry to environmental analytical chemistry. At Weck Labs, he has worked as a bench chemist in all sections of the laboratory, which includes microbiology, inorganics, and organics. Additionally, he has extensive experience developing and validating methods for emerging contaminants by sophisticated techniques such as LC-MS/MS, GC-MS/MS, and ICP-MS.  Since becoming the Laboratory Technical Director in 2016, he continues to be active in developing methods for novel contaminants, as well as modernizing legacy analytical methods to lower detection limits and improve data quality.

• Appointed: October 2020
• Term Expires: Oct. 31, 2025

Theresa Johnson has a B.S. in Environmental Resource Management from CSU, Bakersfield. She has been the Director of Quality and EH&S at McCampbell Analytical in Pittsburg since 2016. She started as a Chemist at FGL Environmental in 2001 and worked her way up by learning vast variety of testing and compliance requirements.

She has expertise in Microbiology, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry and a strong background in Whole Effluent Toxicity. Theresa has spearheaded the lab into becoming a more efficient processes within the lab and maintaining quality at the forefront. Expansion of testing accreditation scopes into DOD test offerings, bringing on PFAS testing in multiple matrices and AIHA test offering within the lab.

Theresa is part of multiple committees to lend her part in making the laboratory community a better place with TNI Credentials Committee and Standard Methods (various Joint Task groups based on expertise). She spends her free time with her son and volunteering in her local community as a CERT Instructor and Teen CERT mentor where she teaches FEMA guided, emergency disaster preparedness to adults and Teens in 2 local high schools in Concord.

Rachel Cahill has over 23 years of experience in Analytical Chemistry, including 12 years on the bench as a chemist specializing in chromatography (GC, GC/MS, HPLC, HPLC/MS), and 11 years in Laboratory Management & Leadership. She has led a broad range of laboratories including Manufacturing, Quality Control, Contract, Application Testing and Analytical R&D. Ms. Cahill is currently the Laboratory Technical Director at Babcock Laboratories where she is responsible for all technical aspects of the organization including new product development, methodology, instrumentation, and technical strategy for the operation and expansion of the business. Her role also includes the development of operating & capital budgets, quality assurance, instrument acquisition, method validation and customer complaint resolution.

Sushmitha Reddy is the Manager of Laboratories for Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA). She has a Masters in Management (MBA) and Bachelors of Science in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Alabama and has been active in the community of accredited regulatory compliance laboratories for over 20 years. She served on the ELTAC subcommittee tasked to develop the alternate regulations for Laboratory Accreditation and the Association of California Water Agencies Laboratory Regulations Workgroup. She worked for several small and large scale laboratories including Coachella Valley Water District, E.S. Babcock, TestAmerica, Eurofins Eaton Analytical and Sentinel and in that capacity assisted ELAP and other state and federal agencies in assessments of laboratory practice. Her areas of expertise are in the knowledge of analytical methods, analysis of several Organic and Inorganic contaminants, including microbiological constituents, detection limits, quality systems including evaluation, development and implementation, data evaluation, compliance reporting, laboratory operation and laboratory accreditation.

• Appointed: October 2020
• Term Expires: Oct. 31, 2025

Suguna Pillay is the Manager of Laboratories at the RWQCP Lab-City of Palo Alto, with approximately 16 years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. She holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and a Bachelor’s in Chemistry, along with additional qualifications in Biotechnology, Computer Science, and Strategic Leadership and Management. Suguna is a CWEA Grade IV Laboratory Analyst and was honored as the CWEA Laboratory Analyst of the Year in 2017. She also serves as the Laboratory Vocation Representative on the CWEA TCP Executive Committee. Her expertise spans a broad range of testing and methodologies, including organic and inorganic analysis, microbiological studies, and toxicity assessments in water and wastewater. She played a pivotal role in organizing TNI training sessions across the Bay Area.

James Forrest is the Manager of Laboratory Services at California Water Services Group in San Jose California. Mr. Forrest is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and holds bachelor’s degrees in marine science and environmental science from Savannah State University in Savannah Georgia. He began his environmental chemistry path at Skidaway Institute of Oceanography in 1999 and has been working in the environmental laboratory business ever since.

With 24 years of experience in the environmental laboratory industry, Mr. Forrest has held almost every position available in a TNI accredited lab. His roles have ranged from laboratory analyst to laboratory manager and technical manager, also working as project manager and customer service manager before transitioning to lab manager. Since his first role in a TNI commercial lab in 2001, he has acquired extensive experience in the TNI standard, playing an active role in the bi-annual audit process.

Judith (Judy) Morgan is VP and Chief Compliance Officer for Pace Analytical Services, LLC. With over 30 years in analytical testing and compliance, she provides the necessary leadership to oversee a strong corporate compliance program that includes quality assurance, EHS and sustainability, international standards, government relations, and ethics and confidentiality. Well known to the industry she is, a respected expert witness, formerly a registered lobbyist, and has analytical experience in both organic and inorganic analyses. Her experience and dedication to the testing industry has allowed her to apply technical expertise as an active member for multiple National/Federal Committees and organizations such as TNI, ACIL, SETAC, A2LA, and EPA, where she has held multiple roles including, chairman, board member, ethics officer, vice president, treasurer, member and speaker.  In addition to her B.S. Chemistry and M.S. Analytical Chemistry, Ms. Morgan has completed environmental analytical research, at Vanderbilt University. She is affiliated with many professional organizations, receiving high honors including the Preston Millar Award and the esteemed Charlie Carter Award.

• Appointed: October 2020
• Term Expires: Oct. 31, 2025

Kelvin Yuen is the Laboratory Superintendent of the San Jose Creek Water Quality Laboratory at the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) overseeing a team responsible for a wide array of analytical testing. With an extensive background spanning over 20 years in the environmental laboratory field, Kelvin currently serves as the Technical Manager for one of LACSD's main laboratories, which includes an additional eight satellite laboratories. He manages all aspects of laboratory operations including wet chemistry, semi-volatile organic analyses, toxicity assessments, microbiology, and various research projects. Kelvin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Loyola Marymount University (LMU). He is actively involved in professional committees, notably as an associate member of both the TNI Chemistry Expert Committee and the Quality Management Systems Committee, where he contributed to subcommittees updating TNI to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Most recently, Kelvin played a pivotal role in the successful implementation of the 2016 TNI Standard across the ten Districts’ laboratories, positioning them as early adopters of the new ELAP regulations.

Melissa has overseen the Division of Drinking Water's Regulatory Development Unit since August 2017.  She has worked for the State and Regional Water Boards since 1999, including 10 years at the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board in various core regulatory wastewater programs, before joining the State Water Board's Office of Enforcement in 2009.  Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering and is licensed as a professional civil engineer. 

• Appointed: October 2020
• Term Expires: Oct. 31, 2025