Our Team
The Oil Containment Association is led by an experienced team of environmental engineers, regulatory specialists, industry veterans, and organizational professionals. Our staff is dedicated to advancing the science and practice of oil containment while providing unparalleled support to our 1,847+ member organizations.
Executive Leadership
Lisa Nichols – Executive Director
Lisa Nichols has served as OCA Executive Director since 2015. A licensed Professional Engineer with 22 years of experience in environmental compliance and industrial oil management, she has been instrumental in growing OCA from 340 member organizations to more than 1,847. Lisa holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Georgia Tech. She is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) and serves on the EPA’s National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan advisory panel.
Email: l.nichols@oilcontainment.org | Phone ext.: 101
Robert Nguyen – Director of Technical Services
Robert Nguyen leads the OCA’s technical programs, including standards development, research grants, and the Certified Containment Specialist (CCS) training program. Robert holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT and has 18 years of experience in polymer materials science, specializing in elastomeric coatings for industrial applications. He has authored 23 peer-reviewed publications and holds 4 patents related to polyurea formulations for containment applications.
Email: r.nguyen@oilcontainment.org | Phone ext.: 102
Sarah Williams – Director of Member Services
Sarah Williams oversees all member relations, including membership recruitment, retention, and the OCA Member Portal. She manages a team of six member services coordinators who assist members with regulatory questions, resource access, and connecting members to appropriate OCA programs and services. Sarah holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Texas and an MBA from Rice University. She has been with OCA since 2018.
Email: s.williams@oilcontainment.org | Phone ext.: 103
Michael Torres – Director of Regulatory Affairs
Michael Torres monitors federal and state regulatory developments affecting the oil containment industry and serves as OCA’s primary liaison with EPA, OSHA, and DOT. He represents OCA in agency rulemaking proceedings and coordinates OCA comments on proposed regulations. Michael has a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and a B.S. in Environmental Science from Penn State. He was previously Senior Regulatory Counsel at a major oil company for 12 years.
Email: m.torres@oilcontainment.org | Phone ext.: 104
Technical Staff
David Chen, Ph.D., P.E. – Senior Research Engineer
Dr. David Chen leads OCA’s applied research program, managing the foundation’s grant-funded research portfolio and conducting in-house studies on containment material performance. He has 15 years of experience in materials testing and characterization, with specialized expertise in polymer durability and environmental aging. Dr. Chen earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science from Caltech and has authored several key OCA technical standards.
Email: d.chen@oilcontainment.org | Phone ext.: 105
Jennifer Okafor – Compliance Program Manager
Jennifer Okafor manages OCA’s SPCC compliance assistance programs, including plan development services, self-audit tools, and the Compliance Helpline. She works directly with member organizations to help them navigate EPA regulations and develop practical compliance solutions. Jennifer holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies and is a certified SPCC Inspector with 11 years of field experience.
Email: j.okafor@oilcontainment.org | Phone ext.: 106
Mark Sullivan – Training Program Coordinator
Mark Sullivan coordinates the Certified Containment Specialist (CCS) training program, including curriculum development, instructor certification, and class scheduling. He manages OCA’s partnership with 14 training facility partners across North America. Mark has a background in industrial safety training and holds multiple certifications in hazardous materials management and spill response.
Email: m.sullivan@oilcontainment.org | Phone ext.: 107
Patricia Wade, P.E. – Standards Committee Chair (Volunteer)
Dr. Patricia Wade chairs OCA’s Technical Committee on a volunteer basis while serving as Chief Environmental Engineer at National Industrial Resources. She has been an OCA volunteer since 2010 and has led the development of 12 OCA technical standards. Dr. Wade holds a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Board of Directors (2026)
OCA is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors elected by the membership. Board members serve three-year terms and represent the geographic and sectoral diversity of our membership.
- Thomas A. Whitfield – President
- Dr. Patricia Chen – Vice President
- Marcus O. Williams – Secretary
- Sandra K. Kowalski – Treasurer
- James Brennan – Northeast Region Director
- Dr. Carlos Mendez – Southwest Region Director
- Angela Richardson – Southeast Region Director
- Howard Kim – Pacific Coast Director
- Renée Bouchard – Canada Director
- Dr. William Fletcher – Academic Representative
- Maria Santos – Regulatory Affairs Representative
- Christopher Osei – Small Business Representative
- Linda Hartman – Utility Industry Representative
- Daniel Reyes – Oil & Gas Industry Representative
- Nancy Chang – Environmental Consulting Representative
Contact Us
For staff inquiries, please contact our main office at info@oilcontainment.org or call 1-800-610-1080. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Central Time.