Following a nationwide search, he was appointed to this position in 1983 by the association's board of directors. He is the longest tenured executive director that NEHA has ever had.

Nelson has his B.S. degree in (Systems) Engineering from Oakland University and his M.S. in Management Engineering from Wayne State University. He also has additional coursework in philosophy/religious studies from the University of Windsor in Windsor Ontario, Canada.

Nelson currently sits on four boards of directors including - the National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education, Colorado Society of Association Executives, the National Environmental Health Association, the NEHA Training LLC, and the Rocky Mountain Leadership Institute for Health and the Environment - of which he is Chairman. He also serves on the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business Institute for Executive and Professional Development Advisory Board. He has served on numerous boards and committees and was previously the president of the National Health and Energy Alliance.

Nelson has also held elective office serving as Mayor Pro Temps for the city of Berkeley, Michigan.

In addition to his various board duties and association responsibilities, Nelson serves on an array of different committees, task forces and initiatives. He has been extensively involved in a number of programs undertaken by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention - including an initiative to revitalize the nation's program of environmental health services. He is currently assisting the CDC in its effort to find a new director for its National Center for Environmental Health.

He authors a regular column in the Journal of Environmental Health and he is a contributing columnist for Association Management - the official journal for the American Society of Association Executives. He has given many keynote presentations, contributed articles to various publications, lead panel and focus group discussions, lectured at various colleges and universities across the country and been involved in the design and launch of a new international company (NEHA Training LLC) that targets the subject of food safety education and training.

Nelson has lead the National Environmental Health Association over a time when the association has significantly increased its staff, budget and product/service line. Prior to joining NEHA, Nelson was the Manager for the Department of Environmental Standards and Regulations for the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, the Director for Environmental Health at the Comprehensive Health Planning Council of Southeast Michigan, and a Project Coordinator at the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

Nelson currently resides in the Denver Colorado area - which is where NEHA is nationally headquartered.

Health, Environmental Policy, Environment,