Meet the Trainers

Our trainer group brings a wealth of knowledge about workplace safety training and the fields of hazardous materials operations, public sector emergency response, OSHA regulations, construction safety, private sector health and safety, health and safety in healthcare, disaster preparedness, and infectious disease preparedness.

David Coffey, Training Manager

David J. Coffey is the Training Manager for TNEC , responsible for the operations of TNEC’s Hazardous Waste Site and Emergency Response training program in New England. He initially came to TNEC as a Special Projects Manager for its Weapons of Mass Destruction Worker Education & Training Supplemental Project. Since that time, he has managed multiple special projects for TNEC.

He formerly taught as a full-time Associate Professor at Hesser College in Manchester, New Hampshire, teaching in the Health Sciences Division. He also has more than 30 years experience in the public safety field, which includes positions in emergency medicine, law enforcement and emergency management. Coffey served for nine years with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary performing rescue, maritime patrols, vessel safety inspections and facility safety with the Operations and Marine Safety Divisions at the Portsmouth New Hampshire Coast Guard Station.

Stephen Corbett, Trainer

Mr. Corbett is a retired Captain with the Northampton Massachusetts Fire Department in a career that spanned 34 years.  Steve is a founding member of the MA state run HAZMAT Response System for over 16 years and attended numerous Centers for Domestic Preparedness (NCDP) first responder courses.  Mr. Corbett was an instructor for the Massachusetts Fire Academy for close to 26 years.

Mike Fitts, Trainer

Mike Fitts is a trainer for TNEC and Executive Director for the Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health (ConnectiCOSH). Prior to joining ConnectiCOSH & TNEC, he was a Welder 1st class for 24 years for General Dynamics, Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. For 10 years of his tenure at General Dynamics he was also the Chairperson of the health and safety committee of the Metal Trades Council. Among his specialties are health and safety inspections, labor and management coordination and injury reduction programs.

Neil Hawley, Trainer

Neil Hawley has over thirty years experience as a firefighter and trainer and worked for the Springfield, Mass. Fire Department from 1979-2008 as a Firefighter, EMT, arson investigator, Hazardous-Materials team instructor and public educator.  Mr. Hawley is Certified by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services and Certified by the National Firefighting Academy as a Fire Service Instructor, a Public Fire and Life Safety Educator and an instructor for all levels of First Aid, CPR and AED by the American Red Cross and an instructor for all levels of CPR/AED by the American Heart Association.

Mr. Hawley has a wide range of experience and taught first responders and emergency medical Technicians since 1977 at Springfield College, Springfield Technical Community College and the Springfield Fire Department.

Mr. Hawley has been awarded Firefighter of the Year by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Fire and Life Safety Instructor of the Year by Mass Department of Fire Services.

Frederick W. Malaby, Trainer

Fred has worked as an industrial hygienist at OSHA for 39 years and for 28 of those years he worked in the Boston Regional Offices as a senior industrial hygienist. Mr. Malaby provided technical assistance in OSHA programs involving occupational health and industrial hygiene to OSHA personnel, related professionals and the public. Fred assisted OSHA solicitors in developing OSHA enforcement cases and coordinated policy for a wide range of OSHA standards. Prior to Fred’s retirement he served as the emergency preparedness coordinator for the region and helped coordinate policy for process safety management, HAZWOPER, combustible dust, respiratory protection and global harmonization of hazard communication.

Fred earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University and is a Certified Industrial Hygienist and Certified Safety Professional.

Patricia Strizak, Trainer

Patricia is an RN with a Master in Public Health and a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). She is certified by the Center for Domestic Preparedness as a hospital emergency response trainer (HERT) as well as a Hazardous Materials Management (HAZMAT) trainer. Patricia worked as the health and safety trainer at MassCOSH for 5 years before transitioning to a full-time position at TNEC in 2019. Previously, Patricia was the Director of Training at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY where she also served as the interim Emergency Manager. Patricia worked for 10 years with Health and Hospitals Corporation, Maspeth, NY as an Emergency Medical Technician, and Paramedic Lieutenant prior to their integration with NYC FDNY..

Robert Zalewski, Trainer

Bob Zalewski. Bob is a career firefighter in his 40th year of service. In addition, he is a hazardous materials technician/specialist and a member of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hazardous Materials Regional Response Division. Bob is also a Hazardous Materials/WMD Specialist with the Department of Homeland Security’s FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force (MA-TF-1), based out of Beverly, Mass.

Bob is an Assistant Coordinator for the Hazardous Materials Counterterrorism Training Branch in addition to being an Instructor for the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy and an adjunct Instructor for the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Bob is also an Instructor for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Bob’s experience includes response to major incidents of varied types and complexities.