The Team
Teresa Hayes
Lead Chair
Kim Tran Franchi, REHS
Treasurer
Kim Tran Franchi is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS). Her work includes 16 years of dedication to public health for the Washoe County Health District (WCHD) now Northern Nevada Public Health. She has worked as a Health Inspector/Sanitarian for the county with subprogram work in the Special Events/Temporary Foods Program, Plan Review Program, Childcare Institution Program, and in Public Accommodations (Hotel/Motel Program).
In 2018 she became the Environmental Health Supervisor, for the Vector-Borne Diseases Program for all of Washoe County. She led mosquito collection, specimen identification, and testing for both Clark and Washoe County. She oversaw the larviciding of high mosquito activity areas and catch basins with the assistance of hired interns from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She worked closely with the Department of Agriculture and Washoe County Animal Control Services for the testing of vector-borne diseases such as Yellow Fever, Zika, Hanta- Virus, Rabies, and other diseases transmitted by insects and animals to humans.
She has served as a regulatory chair for the Nevada Food Safety Task Force (NFSTF) for over 15 years and currently is the treasurer. She has organized and facilitated several joint conferences with Nevada Environmental Health Association and the Nevada Food Safety Task Force. Her efforts on alternating a joint conference for both Reno/Sparks and Las Vegas Health Inspectors, Cannabis Inspectors, Industry, Manufacturers, and Hospitality is a testimony of her dedication on bringing community together for both Northern and Southern Nevada.
She is the former chairwomen of the Washoe County Childcare Advisory Board for over 10 years. Her focus as the chairwomen was to ensure that all childcare facilities in Washoe County has trained and informed staff with regards to “Signs of Illness and Disease Prevention.” She co-taught the “Signs of Illness and Disease Prevention” class for over 5 years as a regulatory requirement for all childcare staff personnel. She also worked with Social Services to ensure that the Child Foster-care System had placement for children in the Foster- care system.
Kim was born in Nha- Trang, Vietnam. Her family escaped from Vietnam in April of 1975. Her Father flew the family out of Saigon Airforce base in a helicopter. She grew up in Vermillion, South Dakota and moved to Reno, Nevada in 1987.
She attended Robert McQueen High School and graduated from the University of Nevada Reno and the University of South Dakota with a dual major in Health Sciences and Health Education. She is nearly finished completing her Master’s Degree with a First Time Teaching Licensure in Health Education.
After obtaining her Bachelor of Sciences, she became a Manager for FedEx. After 13 years in the Logistics Industry, she came back to her educational background and started employment with the WCHD in 2006.
She became a board member of a Montessori Charter School in Washoe County from 2013 – 2015 and teaches art classes for the High Desert Montessori School, UNR Extended Studies, and TMCC Epic Program. She is also a CCD, bible study instructor for the Immaculate Conception Church in Sparks. She is a Girl Scout Troop Leader and wholeheartedly believes in community involvement. She is a distinguished Toastmaster who took second place in the District 39 Toastmaster Spring Conference beating out over 150 Toastmasters’ clubs in a Table Topics Speech.
She currently works in her own Environmental Compliance Solutions business and is in her 5th year with the Grand Sierra Resort. The Note-Ables, music therapy services and the local Food Network has been her past clients. Her emphasis is on risk mitigation and trained staff through education and hands-on and practical applications to safety and sanitation.
She holds a Department of Education/Washoe County School District Substitute Teaching License and is a Certified Fitnes Instructor and provides functional and “Well- Balanced “classes at the “Fitness Connection” in both Reno and Sparks. She is currently working on her black belt in Judo and is a member of the Reno Judo Club.
Kim lives in Sparks with her two teenage daughters Aja age 18 and Mia age 16. Her daughters are both conceived via IVF (Invitro-fertilization) and are her loves of her life. She loves spending time with her family adventuring and enjoying the great outdoors.
Ellen Kunz, REHS
Secretary
Ellen Kunz is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) who has worked for the State for 15 years. She began with Nevada’s Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Environmental Health Section and recently transferred to the Nevada Department of Agriculture, Food Safety office. She lives and works in Winnemucca allowing her to practice a wide variety of environmental health work, while enjoying the perks of rural, northern Nevadan small towns.
She has experience regulating and inspecting restaurants, food manufacturers, and special temporary events like Burning Man, as well as experience reviewing HACCP plans and water tests, inspecting swimming pools and spas, bottled water plants, septic pumpers, potable water haulers, motels, jails, schools, and completing construction plan reviews for each of these programs.
She was elected to the NFSTF Board in February 2020. Ellen served as the Regulatory Chair for 5 years and now serves as Secretary.
Before her work as an REHS, Ellen was an AmeriCorps site director and prior to that an AmeriCorps member at Nevada Outdoor School, following her graduation from Oberlin College. She is originally from Maryland and enjoys visiting family there as well as hiking with her family and dog, attending concerts, and gardening.
Academic Chair
Adam Cotkin
Industry Chair
Environmental Health and Safety Compliance Manager, Sodexo Live
Adam Cotkin serves as the Environmental Health and Safety Compliance Manager for Sodexo Live in Las Vegas, supporting operations at the Las Vegas Convention Center and the World Market Center, as well as across Sodexo Live properties nationwide.
With more than 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, Adam has held leadership roles with some of the most prestigious hospitality brands in Las Vegas, including Wynn Las Vegas, The Cosmopolitan, and The Ritz-Carlton. Throughout his distinguished career, he has played an integral role in the successful openings of numerous hotels and casinos across the city.
Adam is widely recognized for his unwavering commitment to operational excellence, guest safety, and exceptional service delivery. His expertise includes large-scale venue operations, food safety compliance, regulatory oversight, and leading teams in high-pressure environments.
He holds multiple professional certifications, including Certified AllerTrain Trainer, ServSafe Trainer and Proctor, OSHA 30 General Industry and Construction Safety certifications, and Event Safety Alliance certification.
Outside of work, Adam enjoys spending time with his dogs and relaxing on the beaches of Puerto Peñasco, Mexico.
Retail Chair
Amber Durfee
Manufacturing Chair
Olivia Alexander-Leeder
Educational Outreach Chair
Joe Galasso
Agricultural Chair
Joseph Galasso Jr. is an experienced food industry and operations executive with a strong background in protein, food safety, and biosecurity systems. He has led national and international business development, sales, and operations for companies serving foodservice, retail, warehousing, and production environments, with a focus on cleaner, safer, and more sustainable solutions. His roles have included Chief Operating Officer of WT Associates and Chief Commerce Officer of Western Trio, where he oversaw integrated protein and biosecurity initiatives from product development through commercialization. Earlier, he led domestic sales and marketing for green sanitation technologies supporting foodservice and retail facilities, and held senior positions with major protein and value-added foods companies, managing large-scale programs and national accounts. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Iowa State University and brings decades of leadership experience that align with the Nevada Food Safety Task Force’s mission to promote safe food systems and effective industry–regulatory collaboration.
