For immediate release

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

NYCOSH Thanks Retired Board Chair, Welcomes New Chair

New York, NY—Board members of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) unanimously elected a new NYCOSH Board Chair, Jessica Garcia, Assistant to the President at the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union. Ms. Garcia was named upon the retirement of former Chair, NYSUT Safety and Health Specialist Wendy Hord.

Ms. Hord was a board member for more than three decades and stepped down after her retirement on September 20, 2019. She served as board chair for two years. In her leadership role, she led NYCOSH’s creation of its 2019-2024 Strategic Plan, which sets the stage for the organization’s success in future years to come.

“I’m honored to have been elected as NYCOSH’s new board chair.  I have big shoes to fill in succeeding Wendy Hord, whose leadership and expertise I found invaluable on the board,” said Jessica Garcia of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. “I look forward to working with the NYCOSH board and staff to implement a visionary and bold strategic plan to make New York’s worksites safer and healthier spaces for all workers.”

“We are grateful for the leadership of Wendy Hord as Board Chair and longtime NYCOSH board member. Her contributions to our work over the years have been tremendous and we are ever so grateful to her for her service and dedication,” said Charlene Obernauer, NYCOSH executive director. “We are also excited about Jessica’s new leadership role. With the tireless, passionate leadership of our new Chair, we are excited and prepared for the years ahead.”

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NYCOSH is a non-profit organization that advocates for the right of every worker to a safe and healthful workplace.