Whether you are just starting out in your career or are a seasoned professional serving the hazmat environmental industry, IHMM offers resources and professional credentials to help you advance and grow in your career.
Hear from one of IHMM’s Certificant Insiders on why they chose to pursue a credential through IHMM.
 | Q&A with IHMM Certificant InsiderDavid Cohen, CHMM |
What or who motivated you to earn an IHMM credential?
My motivation goes back to where I started, behind the wheel of a 26-foot box truck as a Lab Pack Chemist in Washington, D.C. Every day taught me responsibility, safety, and patience. One afternoon, as I got out of the back of the truck, I met a man outside a government building who told me he had once been a Lab Pack Chemist too. He was further along in his career, in a crisp white shirt, and that moment stuck with me. It showed me there was a path forward beyond the truck cab.
Years later, when I helped open a new office in Seattle, I knew I wanted to be recognized as a trusted expert who could lead with confidence. The CHMM became the symbol of that next step, growing from hands-on fieldwork to leadership in hazardous materials management.
Are there any opportunities you’re looking forward to as a result of earning an IHMM credential?
The CHMM isn’t just a credential; it feels like a launchpad. I am currently pursuing my MBA part-time at the University of Florida. Over the last decade, I’ve guided clients through DOT (49 CFR), RCRA (40 CFR), and the full maze of regulations. What excites me most is helping companies see “waste” differently. When something they once paid to dispose of suddenly becomes a resource, costs go down, opportunities open up, and they contribute to the circular economy. That shift is powerful. I also want to inspire others in this field. That’s why I co-founded the Gainesville EHS & Sustainability Meetups, a space where professionals, students, and community members come together to share ideas and best practices.
What would you say to someone who is considering earning an IHMM credential?
When someone asks me if they should earn an IHMM credential, I tell them to think about where they want their story to go. Early in my career, I often looked at people five or ten years ahead of me and wondered, How did they get there? What I found was that the people I admired, the ones leading teams, advising companies, and shaping the future of hazardous materials management, had invested in themselves through credentials like those offered by IHMM.
My advice is simple, start by finding those people. Look them up on LinkedIn, study their career paths, and notice what education, skills, and certifications they’ve gathered along the way. Then reach out, ask them where they see the industry going and what they look for when hiring the next generation. Those conversations can be eye-opening, and they’ll give you a roadmap for your own path forward.
So, if you’re considering an IHMM credential, go for it. It’s a signal to yourself, and to the industry, that you’re serious about growth, about expertise, and about shaping the future of hazardous materials management. I leaned on resources like BowenEHS free quizzes and DataChem software to prepare.
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