2011 Speakers
Keynote Speaker
Michael Melnik, MS, OTR, is an occupational therapist with a masters degree in exercise physiology. He is president and owner of Prevention Plus, Inc. Were for the last 17 years has delivered his fun, high energy and practical approach to thousands of participants in some of the largest companies in the country. If you want to improve the health, safety or productivity of your audience…or you simply want to create an environment that is more receptive to change, Michael has a presentation that fits. Michael Melnik speaks regularly at numerous national conferences and is regularly one of the highest rated speakers. Clients include General Mills, The Home Depot, Alcoa, Wells Fargo, 3M, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, Wal-Mart, UPS, and many others.
Richard Barcum - TolTest
Occupational Exposures - Lead, Silica and Hex Chrome [ bio/handout ]
Rich Barcum is a Certified Industrial Hygienist, Certified Safety Professional and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager with over 20 years of experience in the health and safety field. He is currently the Health and Safety Manager for Johns Manville's Waterville Complex. In addition, he is the Owner of Hawkum, LLC, a Maumee, OH based Industrial Hygiene and Safety consulting and training company.
Jack Bene' - Electro Specialties
NFPA 70E [ bio/handout ]
Jack Bene is President of Electro-Specialties. He has an associate degree in Engineering Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Cleveland State University. Mr. Bene is a 6 time published author for the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers and contributor for IEEE Red Book. He is a registered Professional Engineer in
the State of Ohio and a National Electrical Code certified instructor. Mr. Bene is a member of the International Association of Electrical I~spectors, Western Reserve Division. He also works as an instructor for Electrification Council in its TEC Series.
Pete Buczek - Vice President of Consulting Services, Leadership Safety Systems, Work-Fit, Inc.; GM (Retired)
Creating a Safety Culture [ bio/handout ]
Pete comes from General Motors having spent thirty nine years, most recently as the Senior Manager for Health and Safety for GM Powertrain Division’s 60 global facilities. Pete led his team, including his union partners at GM, to develop a world class safety record. He is recognized as an expert in developing and implementing a leadership culture change process that established accountability for workplace safety at all levels of the Corporation. Through his expertise and leadership, the organization achieved a 96% injury rate reduction which prevented thousands of significant injuries, improved productivity and became an example for other functional systems to follow. He is respected by manufacturing leadership as well as health & safety professionals throughout the worldwide automotive community. At Work-Fit, he oversees a broad array of workplace consulting services so client organizations can develop, implement and monitor systems for the prevention and control of workplace injuries and illnesses. Included are leadership and organization safety assessments, establishment of incident investigation systems with proactive correction actions, workplace safety systems based on leadership culture and accountability, safety communications and corresponding training.
Greg Burkhart - Safety Synergistics, LLC
Emergency Action Plans and Fire Prevention [ bio/handout ]
Greg Burkhart is a 30 year veteran of the Fire Service. He currently is a full time fire fighter/ paramedic in Sylvania Township. Along with his duties responding to EMS and fire emergencies, Greg is responsible for annual fire safety inspections for over 450 businesses in Sylvania Township. For the past 11 years, Greg has worked in the construction safety field. In 2000, he was hired as the Safety Coordinator for a medium sized contractor in Toledo to develop their safety program. After successfully achieving his goals he was asked by another contractor to help resurrect their safety program. Throughout his 7 years with these two companies, he recognized that small to medium sized companies were unable to afford full time safety personnel. In order to meet this need, Greg developed his own company called Safety Synergistics, LLC. Greg graduated from The University of Toledo with an Associate degree in civil engineering in 1981. He earned his paramedic certification in 1988 and an Associate degree in fire science technology in 1992. He is a state certified paramedic, fire fighter and fire inspector. He is COSS certified and is currently studying to be able to sit for the construction health and safety technician (CHST) certification. Along with building his company, Greg teaches OSHA 10 and 30 hour construction safety classes, CPR/First Aid, confined space classes and various other construction safety classes for the AGC of Northwest Ohio and Confined Space Training Services.
Scott Goodwin - AGC / CCC
Fall Protection [ bio/handout ]
Scott Goodwin is the Director of Safety and Training for the Associated General Contractors / Construction Contractors Council of Northwest Ohio. He is also employed by the National Electrical Contractors Association of Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio. These positions allow Scott to work with almost 220 Union construction companies representing over 9000 trade people and another 3000-5000 staff. Scott has a Bachelors Degree in Safety Engineering from Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia where he was born and raised. He has been involved in construction safety
since 1993, starting with the Division of Safety and Hygiene Bureau of Workers Compensation then working for Mosser Construction, Inc. as the Senior Field Safety Officer. Scott is a Lieutenant with the Ballville Township Fire Department and has been an active volunteer fireman since 1984. He is also a member of the Northwest Ohio Urban Search and Rescue Team, Region 1 for Ohio.
Scott is responsible for implementing training, safety audits of projects, program development and review, OSHA compliance assistance, OSHA inspections, company representation at informal hearings, accident investigation assistance and injury reduction reviews. Scott is a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist, OSHA 500 instructor, MSHA Part 46 instructor, Medic first aid / CPR instructor, forklift and aerial lift trainer, respirator trainer and general safety instructor. Some training classes provided are the OSHA 10, 16 and 30 hour classes, MSHA 8 and 24 hour classes, first aid / CPR / AED, forklift training, aerial lifts, confined spaces and rescue, trenching and excavating, respirators and many others.
Scott works one on one with contractor members and other outside companies assisting them in their safety needs. He works closely with the entire construction industry across the country, AGC membership and OSHA on updates and awareness of current safety issues, site audits, accident investigations, fatalities, and informal hearings with OSHA. Scott is an active trainer and presenter in all businesses including general industry and manufacturing. Scott can be reached at 419-241-3601 office or 419-351-9438 cell. Email Scott at sgoodwin@cccouncil.com
Joanna Gorse - OSHA
Haz Com
Michael Grossbauer - OSHA
DART Rates & OSHA Recordkeeping [ bio/handout ]
BS Occupational Safety and Health from Ferris State University, followed by 28 years as an OSHA Health compliance officer. I have worked in several different area offices and have conducted compliance inspections in Louisiana, Alaska, California, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio in a wide variety of general industry and maritime settings. Currently conducting safety and health inspections including audits under the Recordkeeping National Emphasis Program for the Toledo Area Office.
Desiree Hillmon - Toledo GM Powertrain
Heat Stress
Mark Hoffman - Rudolph Libbe, Inc.
Tips for Heavy Equipment Operators [ bio/handout ]
Mark Hoffman is the Health & Safety Director for Rudolph/Libbe Inc. With more than 30 years of construction safety experience, he serves as a consultant to management, supervision, and field associates. Mark provides guidance and technical assistance to help all associates achieve the goal of zero incidents. Mark is a Certified Safety Professional, an OSHA-certified construction safety and health instructor and a professional member of the American Society of Safety Engineers. He serves in a leadership role on the Associated General Contractors’ National Safety and Health Committee, and is a member as the AGC of Ohio and AGC of Northwest Ohio safety committees. Mark is also a member of the Northwest Ohio Region 1 Urban Search & Rescue Team.
Jule Hovi - OSHA
OSHA / VPP Updates
Brenda Humberston - The University of Toledo
Struck By / Caught Between [ bio/handout ]
Brenda has been in the Workers’ Compensation/Loss Control/Risk Management field for 17 years. She started out her career at a Third Party Administrator which represented employers for workers’ compensation. After 7 years in the workers’ compensation arena, she moved onto employment with the City of Toledo in the Loss Control Section as a Safety Trainer for several divisions. Working for the City offered Brenda an opportunity to learn about many important safety aspects of both General Industry and Construction. It is through her employment with the City where she first became acquainted with Safety Day 10 years ago and is the current Chair of the Program Committee of Safety Day. Brenda has been employed at the University of Toledo for 7 years managing workers’ compensation claims for the Main Campus and has recently acquired Fleet, Property, and Casualty insurance as well.
Ken Linger - ODOT
Work Zone Safety [ bio/handout ]
Ken graduated from Tri State College, Angola, Indiana, in 1973 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He has been with the Ohio Department of Transportation for 36 years.
During his career at ODOT he has worked in the Bureau of Planning, Bureau of Maintenance and for the last 12 years in the Office of Traffic Engineering.
Currently Ken is one of ODOT’s Maintenance of Traffic Engineers. In this capacity, he provides technical leadership, engineering expertise in establishing policy, standards, design, construction, safety, training and research in area of temporary traffic control; For the past nine years Ken has been responsible for performing all the maintenance of traffic field reviews for projects on the interstate and interstate lookalike systems along with assisting in the development of maintenance of traffic training courses and teaching those courses to ODOT personnel.
Ken is married with 3 children, a senior at the University of Toledo, a sophmore at Mount Vernon Nazerene University and a sophomore in high school….
Lisa Morrison - Compliance Resources + LLC
DOT / FMCSA CSA 2010
Pete Ogonek - First Solar
EPA Reporting
Chad Positano - OSHA
Hazard Recognition [ bio/handout ]
Chad Positano started his OSHA career in 2002, as an Industrial Hygienist in Region V’s Toledo, Ohio Area Office. In 2010, Chad was appointed to his current position of Compliance Assistance Specialist, where he works with employers, employees, trade organizations, labor unions and other stakeholders, to promote the agency’s cooperative programs, outreach, training and education. Chad holds a BS in Applied Health Science from Bowling Green State University, an MPH degree from the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health, and an MSOH degree in Industrial Hygiene from the Medical College of Ohio. Chad is also a Certified Safety Professional, through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, and is a member of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists and the American Society of Safety Engineers.
Julie Reynolds - Ohio BWC
Office Ergonomics [ bio/handout ]
Julie Reynolds has been an Ergonomics Consultant for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation-Division of Safety & Hygiene since January 1999. She has been able to assist companies with reducing their number of musculoskeletal disorders through job evaluations, training and awareness and the development of an ergonomic process for the workforce. Her experience ranges from assembly and manufacturing to office and health care environments. She is also actively involved in the BWC Safety Grant program that provides employers with money to purchase interventions that will reduce/eliminate injuries they have experienced in the past.
Previous to working for the Division of Safety & Hygiene she was the Safety Coordinator at Brush Wellman in Elmore, Ohio for 7 years. Julie graduated in 1990 from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Chemistry.
Laura Ritzler - Promedica
Wellness Programs [ bio/handout ]
Bachelor’s in nursing, Bluffton College; Master’s in Health Care Administration, Bellevue University. Has worked for ProMedica for over 35 years with 25 years in management roles. Responsible for the ProMedica Total Wellness departments which provides employee, worksite and community wellness services.
Sharon Roman - Regulatory Compliance Consultants
Small Business Safety Plans [ bio/handout ]
Sharon Roman graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1986 and has been president of Regulatory Compliance Consultants, Inc. since 1991, a national business that assists employers with their health and safety issues. In this capacity RCC develops written safety programs, investigates accidents working with clients, attorneys and insurance companies, conducts a wide range of safety training including CPR and First Aid, conducts monthly safety committee meetings for multiple clients, conducts monthly safety inspections for multiple clients, among other tasks.
She is a member of various organizations, including the National Association of Women Business Owners, the American Society of Safety Engineers, and the National Environmental Trainers Association. She serves on Penta Career Center's Advisory Board, is currently Vice-Chair of the Safety and Health Day in Toledo Committee, and serves on the Toledo Chamber of Commerce Workplace Regulations Committee. Ms. Roman is also currently serving on the Safety Professionals and the Latino Workforce (SPALW), a subcommittee of OSHA which is an alliance between OSHA and The American Society of Safety Engineers. In this capacity she assists in translating training materials from English to Spanish for Latino workers. She also conducts on-site certifying audits for the National Women Business Owners' Corporation for other women-owned businesses.
Presentations have been made to many local and national organizations in addition to continuous on-site training for clients. She is a certified instructor-trainer in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, First Aid and is an authorized OSHA instructor.
Ms. Roman partners with Mid-America OSHA Education Center as an instructor and instructor trainer for various safety topics, including the 10- and 30-hour classes for general industry and construction courses.
Regulatory Compliance Consultants, Inc. is a certified Woman-Owned Business. Ms. Roman is also one of four OSHA instructors in the state of Ohio approved by OSHA to conduct safety courses in Spanish.
Deb Schultz - Ohio BWC
Workers Comp 101 and Workers' Comp Update
Sue Tignor - Mercy Health Partners
Workplace Violence [ bio/handout ]
Sue has over 28 years of experience in the delivery of clinical and healthcare services to individuals and families. Since 1991, she has been part of the Human Resources Division as Regional Director of the Mercy Employee Assistance Program, which services over 10,000 employees and families. The Mercy EAP is the area’s first and only internal/external program and in addition to Mercy services individuals and families for 26 other companies.
As a partner in Executive Human Resources at Mercy, Sue has gained a unique perspective regarding the human capital challenges that face HR professionals and can assist in implementation of company policies and procedures and can consult with management in addressing retention and training needs. She is trained and experienced in the area of management coaching.
Sue has worked in a private practice setting and has served in the past as Director of Behavioral Services and the Tennyson Center for Mercy St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. She has taught at 2 major universities and developed the first EAP graduate course in northwest Ohio at Bowling Green State University.
Mark Whims - Sperian Protection
PPE
Tom Wray - Waste Away Services
Chemical Hygiene "Fires, Explosions and Mayhem" [ bio/handout ]
Tom has been involved in the Safety, Health and Environmental field for over 25 years having started his career with the Ohio EPA in 1980.
Tom Wray is the presently the owner and president of Waste Away Services and Professional Environmental Trainers Association. Waste Away Services is a hazardous waste management firm founded in 1986 and located in Toledo, Ohio. Waste Away handles virtually all types of industrial wastes including acids, bases, solvents, oils, reactive and radioactive wastes as well as outdated/unused virgin chemicals and lab packs.
Mr. Wray also provides safety, health and environmental training and consulting. Since 1984 he has taught courses in hazardous materials chemistry, OSHA, DOT and EPA regulations. He has presented courses for the University of Toledo, the University of Florida, Intel Corporation, the Ohio EPA, Hewlett Packard, the U.S. Navy, General Motors, and numerous other industrial firms. He recently completed three 10-Hour OSHA General Industry training classes for Whirlpool Corporation. Tom has also written several Site Safety and Health Plans, Chemical Hygiene Plans, Confined Space Entry Programs and other OSHA mandated written programs.
Tom is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) Master Level and also a Certified Environmental Trainer (C.E.T.). He is also a member of ASSE and the National Safety Council.
Linda Yarick - Human Performance Consulting
Safety Management [ bio/handout ]
Linda Yarick is a doctorial candidate for Industrial Organizational Psychology from Capella University. She has a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. One of her passions is working with individuals to help enhance and balance their way of life and work with a focus on emotional intelligence.
She has 10 years of experience working with individuals with co-occurring disorders such as depression, low self-esteem, conflicts, motivation, emotional intelligence, and communication skills, which are common problems in many organizations today. Linda is president of Human Performance Consulting, an EAP consulting business that specializes in training individuals on emotional intelligence, executive coaching, organizational development, DOT/SAP assessments, workplace assessments and substance abuse counseling.