Barbara Sams Promoted to BLS Director

Barbara Sams has been promoted to executive director of the Board of Laser Safety (BLS), based in Orlando, Fla. BLS, which is affiliated with the Laser Institute of America (LIA), provides opportunities for education, assessment and recognition of laser safety professionals. “Currently, as LIA's standards director, Barbara has done an outstanding job helping ASC Z136 committee members to revise current ANSI Z136 laser safety standards and develop new ones,” said Peter Baker, BLS chairman. “We are looking forward to her taking the BLS and its certification process to a whole new level.” Sams joined LIA in 1995, initially as assistant to the executive director. She later assumed the responsibilities of administrative secretary to Accredited Standards Committee Z136 and became staff liaison to the American National Standards Institute. She also participates in the ASC Z136 Administrative Committee, with full voting privileges. "Coming up to speed with respect to the day-to-day activities of the BLS is an exciting challenge for me, as well as developing new innovations to further enhance BLS and the certification process,” she said.