After several years working as a laborer for an asbestos abatement firm, then as a field technician for environmental consulting firms, Hermes Parra stepped into his role as an asbestos, lead, and hazardous materials safety instructor for various training providers. However, as he perfected his craft he noticed that the training material that was provided was typically stagnant and unengaging so he temporarily left the training industry and returned to environmental consulting in 2016. Hermes remained passionate about training and knew he could provide a superior learning experience than currently available, so in 2018, he founded Parra Environmental Training.
In January of 2023, Forensic Analytical Consulting Services (FACS) entrusted their training department to Hemes and the Parra Environmental Team to manage, due to Hermes’s consistent top notch reviews and his dedication to providing the most accurate and engaging training.
Hermes Parra is an environmental health and safety instructor specializing in training abatement and consulting industry professionals on correctly identifying, handling, and disposing of asbestos, lead, and other hazardous materials according to the presiding environmental regulatory agencies in California and elsewhere federally.
Hermes was introduced to the hazardous materials industry by his father in 2006 when he began working as a laborer for a large abatement firm in the SF Bay Area. In 2008, Hermes worked as a field technician for environmental consulting firms and performed project oversight, asbestos, and lead surveys. In 2011, Hermes took up an opportunity as an instructor and has been training ever since.
Hermes is recognized for his unique and refreshing teaching style and is regarded by many as the best in the business. His approach to training stems from his natural sense of humor, hours of research on the topics he teaches, and his hands-on experience. Hermes has made it his mission to only offer training that’s done right, not rigid and monotonous like the other training providers.
Hermes Parra is part of the second generation of the Parra Family, all of whom are respected throughout the hazardous materials abatement, consulting, and labor relations industry. He is also one of the very few California training providers offering Spanish and English classes. As an instructor, Hermes is accredited by Cal-OSHA, DOSH, CDPH, and the EPA and maintains a current Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) certification.
In addition to the formal training he provides, Hermes is helping aspiring SSTs and CACs pass their asbestos state exams by providing study sessions that cover pertinent test material. These study sessions have produced an +80% success rate.
Outside of training, Hermes is a family man who enjoys cooking. He helped raise his wife’s now adult children since they were 10 and 14, and he had his firstborn, Aaron, two months before his due date on Christmas Day in 2020. He adores spending time with his toddler, an avid foodie and fellow jokester (like dad). In addition, Hermes is a known hip-hop head with an extensive collection of CDs he’s been collecting for over 25 years. And, did someone say FOOTBALL? You’ll catch Hermes watching just about every game, but he has been rooting for the Packers since the mid-90s.
Parra Environmental Training is an accredited asbestos, lead, and hazardous materials safety training provider, located in the California Bay Area.