Paul M. Villane, CSP, OHST, a veteran safety and health professional, has been named executive director of the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA). Villane, who says he will stress codification of VPPs, succeeds Lee Anne Jillings, who as the VPPPA's executive director for the past 7-1/2 years helped grow the organization four-fold.

"One of my primary goals at this time is to secure the future of VPP through codification," says Villane, who has been involved in the OSHA VPP program since 1989 and has more than 25 years of experience in the field of occupational safety and health.

Villane appears well qualified to lead the VPPPA. He has been in leadership roles with the organization since 1991, and has served for eight years on its National Board of Directors. He recently retired from his position as corporate safety professional with Solutia after 37 years with the company.

As for Jillings, who initially joined the VPPPA in 1993 as director of government affairs, she is leaving to assume the position of chief, Division of Consultation Programs, Office of Cooperative Programs, Directorate of Federal-State Operations at OSHA. Under her direction, VPPPA membership has grown from 183 worksites in 1994 to 808 worksites at the end of 2001. In her new position with OSHA, Jillings will promote cooperative and voluntary VPP relationships with private sector employees.