Well-known in the environmental health community, Lori Braunesreither is proud of how much she has grown. She started her professional journey with the goal of working in a crime laboratory, but as the field was relatively new, there weren’t too many open positions. She ended up taking a job with Ventura County Environmental Health instead, and it was there that her career really took off. Her coworkers and peers helped her figure out her place in the industry by directing her to different certifications and departments, ultimately leading to her involvement in related professional organizations like the California Environmental Health Association. Ms. Braunesreither was welcomed with open arms, and she hasn’t looked back since. She loves the close bonds she has formed with her colleagues and the work she does. She is currently a senior environmental health specialist for Contra Costa County Environmental Health through Contra Costa Health Services.
Over the years, Ms. Braunesreither has become a respected and trusted voice in her field. She presented “Introduction to California Environmental Quality Act” at the California Environmental Health Association in 2011, “Solid Waste 101” at the Annual Educational Symposium of the California Environmental Health Association in 2011, and “How to Write a Solid Waste Facility Permit” for the Northern Update of the California Environmental Health Association in 2006. She also created manuals and binders for the Executive Committee and developed training manuals for the board of directors of the California Environmental Health Association, and edited “CEHA Bulletin” and “The Mission Bell” for the group.
Ms. Braunesreither prepared for her endeavors by earning a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of South Dakota in 1988. She then became a certified landfill inspector and a certified manager of landfill operations through The Solid Waste Association of North America, certified in integrated waste management through the University of California, Berkeley, and registered as an environmental health specialist in the state of California.
As a testament to her success, Ms. Braunesreither was featured in numerous volumes of Presidential Who’s Who Among Business and Professional Achievers, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who of American Women. She was also honored as Chef Extraordinaire and as the Most Creative by the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, and as one of the Professional Women of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women. Additionally, she received Certificates for Department Leadership in Food Drive, a 24 Carrot Salute, a Chief Mechanic’s Commendation, a Grinching Good Job! Award, and a Heart and Soul Award from the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, among other accolades.
In her free time, Ms. Braunesreither enjoys pursuing interests like architecture, history, and movies. She is also very active civically. She has volunteered with the County Cares Food Fight and the Apple Core Committee at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano since 2003, with Shelter, Inc., since 1994, and with STAND! Against Domestic Violence since 1994. Further, she is a solid waste trainer at the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery and a member of the National Association of Professional Women.