Bobby Myers, ELLWOOD Group Inc.
- Session 4: Breaking the STCKY Cycle: A Serious Injury and Fatality Prevention Workshop
Brad McPherson,
- Workshop: VPP Application -
Crystal Main, Virginia Department of Labor & Industry: Crystal.Main@doli.virginia.gov
- Workshop: SGE Training - The Special Government Employee (SGE) Program was established to allow industry employees to work alongside OSHA, particularly during Voluntary Protection Programs' (VPP)On-Site evaluations. Not only does this innovative program benefit OSHA by supplementing its on-site evaluation teams, but it gives industry and government an opportunity to work together and share views and ideas. From time to time, SGEs may also have the opportunity to participate in other OSHA outreach and compliance assistance activities. Qualified volunteers from VPP sites are eligible to participate in the SGE program. These volunteers must be approved by OSHA and funded by their companies to participate. After submitting an application and completing the required trainin g, these volunteers are sworn in as SGEs and are approved to assist OSHA.
- Session 1: Virginia Challenge Program - This session is to learn how the Virginia Challenge Program is a step-by-step three-stage process that will give you a road map to making your company one of the safest and healthiest in the country. This program is designed for private and public sector sites and provides recognition for employers’ incremental improvements on their path to attaining Virginia STAR status.
- Session 4: Energizing Your Safety Committee - Energizing your safety committee is all about fostering engagement, collaboration, and a sense of shared purpose. We will discuss ideas to spark enthusiasm to re-energize your current team, which includes goals, creativity, celebrating success, training opportunities, team spirit, communication, and management involvement.
- Session 5: R3 WISH (Region III Women in Safety & Health) -
- Crystal “Chris” Main is the Challenge Administrator for the Virginia Challenge Program and the VADOC Challenge Program within the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). She has over 13 years of experience with VOSH and over 20 years with a background in administration and operations management across multiple industries. She holds three associate degrees from Virginia Western Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University. Outside of work, she enjoys baseball and volunteers with animal shelters, focusing on the rehabilitation of abused dogs.
Donny Hawkins, Sentinel Security Group: Donny.Hawkins@sentinelsecurityva.com
- Workshop: Security as a Safety Enabler: Integrating Facility Security into High-Reliability Safety Programs - Effective safety programs rely on more than compliance, training, and hazard controls. They are supported by an organization’s ability to prevent, detect, and manage security-related risks that directly impact employee safety, operational continuity, and emergency response. This session examines how organizational and facility security functions strengthen safety outcomes by reducing exposure to preventable incidents, supporting early intervention, and enabling effective emergency management. Participants will explore how security practices align with OSHA and VPP principles and how gaps in security frequently present as safety incidents rather than security failures. The course reframes security as a foundational element of a mature safety management system, not a standalone or enforcement-based function.
- Session 3: Basic Active Shooter (Hands On) - Our Basic (Hybrid) Active Shooter training is a two-hour course consisting of our Basic response training mixed with specific hands-on topics from our Advanced course. This course is an industry favorite as it allows for maximum personal attendance with minimal operational impact. This two-hour course is a fast- paced course with both classroom and hands-on demonstrations. Listed below are the topics covered in our training program. The Problems with Run-Hide-Fight & mitigation factors: Run-Hide-Fight concept in-depth,
  Survivor Mindset (Mental preparation and Mental Practice), Characteristics and signs of an Active Shooter, Compliance without Requirements (how to), Various barricade devices and techniques
  Workplace Weapons available to defend against attack, Breakdown of individual responsibilities, Post Event Actions, Tactical Considerations for warehouse, office, & public areas, Basic Active Shooter Defensive Tactics lab, Redman Team Take Down training, Weapons Disarming Pistol, Knife & rifle, Pressure points training, Weapons Familiarization training, and Control Holds.
- Session 4: Basic Active Shooter (No Hands-On) - Our Basic Active Shooter training course (1 hour) consists of onsite discussion, case study, and response demonstrations (Class participation). Listed below are the topics covered in our Basic training program. The Problems with Run- Hide-Fight & mitigation factors: Run - Hide - Fight in-depth methodology, Run - Hide - Fight interactive scenarios, Survivor Mindset (Mental preparation and Mental Practice), Characteristics and signs of an Active Shooter, Physical Security Mitigating Factors, Various barricade devices and techniques Use of improvised weapons available to defend against attack, Emergency Action plans and how they contribute to survivability, Breakdown of individual responsibilities, Actions of First responders and expected employee responses, Post Event Actions, Tactical Considerations for warehouse, office, & public areas.
- I am a Military Veteran, Police Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Criminal Investigator, Federal Officer, Firearms Instructor, and Defensive Tactics Instructor.
Drew Libonate, Chesapeake Region Safety Council: Drew@chesapeakesc.org
- Workshop: Fall Protection Awareness - An overview of OSHA fall protection requirements, this course is designed to teach participants how to identify numerous types of fall protection components, understand corrective action for fall hazards, learn to perform a fall hazard analysis, and locate and apply proper OSHA standards to specific conditions.
  Students will be able to identify the correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection to be used, such as guardrail systems and personal fall arrest systems. In addition, participants will understand fall protection as it relates to Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWP).
- Drew Libonate is a Safety & Health Professional with over 23 years of experience in the field. His background began in Volunteer Fire and Rescue services and as an EMT with commercial ambulance providers. This early experience led him into Occupational Safety and Health while working at a power generation station for a local utility company. During that time, Drew supported site, regional, and corporate hazard mitigation efforts across coal, gas, and nuclear power stations, as well as maintenance, construction, and operations within electric transmission and distribution systems. He holds multiple certifications from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, including the Certified Instructional Trainer (CIT), Construction Health & Safety Technician (CHST), Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST), and Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC). For more than 12 years, Drew has served as a Safety and Health Specialist with the Chesapeake Region Safety Council. In this role, he provides safety consultation, training, jobsite inspections, and audits for construction and general industry clients.
Isabel DeOliveira, OSHA
- Session 3: Annual Self-Evaluation/PSM - Continuous Improvement Goal Setting
- Session 4: OSHA’s Safety Champions Program
Jason DeLange, Veolia - Jason.Delange@veolia.com
- Session 2: Managing Explosives - Introduction to what defines an explosive, different categories, how to safely handle, store, and manage explosives, and their disposal. The PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) website will be shown, and how to use it to search for approvals to safely transport and dispose of explosives.
- Session 5: Managing Hazardous Waste - Introduction to the different categories of hazardous waste generators, accumulation limits, training requirements for employees, storage, reporting, disposal options, manifesting, and anything else needed to properly manage your company’s hazardous waste program.
- My name is Jason DeLange, and I manage the reactive chemicals and explosives program at Veolia for our Mid Atlantic Branch. Our office is part of Veolia's Hazardous Waste division, and we manage a variety of wastes from solid waste, universal waste, radioactive, explosives, controlled substances, and recyclable material. I have a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University and a Master's Degree in Environmental Health and Safety from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. Through my time at Veolia, I have obtained my Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification and am a Certified Hazardous Material Manager (CHMM). We work with a variety of industries, from oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, schools and universities, and numerous governmental organizations to aid them in properly managing all their waste needs.
Joe Henricks, Sussex Development: JHenricks@sussexdevelopment.com
- Session 5: Troubleshooting Safety -A systematic troubleshooting framework that transforms safety investigations from surface-level blame to strategic accountability. Designed for Safety Professionals, this presentation reveals how every worker violation points to a specific break in the management chain—and shows you exactly which questions to ask at each organizational level to fix it. Discover why 50% of construction accidents are actually management failures in disguise and gain practical tools to prevent incident repetition through structured root cause analysis. This approach builds a genuine safety culture by making accountability transparent across the entire organization.
- Thirty-five combined years as a Health and Safety Executive, construction manager, Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering, safety engineer, estimator, quality control inspector, environmental health technician, supervisor, and business owner. Author of Safety, Health, and Environment programs for private and public entities that include Process Safety Management (PSM), environmental programs and permits, insurance and loss control, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) training and compliance, Facilities Maintenance and Operations Training and Compliance programs, and other regulatory compliance programs. Develop annual safety budgets and implement and manage health and safety policies and procedures in the workplace. Evaluate safety audits, develop and implement safety training, and create initiatives to reduce and prevent accidents on site. Evolve and execute workplace safety policies and procedures in accordance with OSHA standards. Author, develop, coordinate, and implement occupational health policies and procedures to promote and ensure effective safety operations.
Kate Cavanauugh, Chesapeake Region Safety Council: Kate@chesapeakesc.org
- Workshop: Respiratory Protection Awareness - This training course will cover the requirements for the establishment, maintenance, and monitoring of a respiratory program. Students will have the ability to identify and describe the elements of the respiratory program, the proper selection, use, and inspection of the respiratory protection. Training Topics will include: Applicable Regulations and Standards, Respirators – Advantages and Disadvantages, Chemical Hazards, Types and Classifications of Respiratory Protection, Selection and Use of Particulate Respirators (NIOSH Guide). Review of the OSHA Standard (29 CFR 1901.134 – (Respiratory Protection) Permissible Practice, Definitions, Respiratory Protections Program, Selection of Respirators, Medical Evaluation, Fit Testing, Use of Respirators, Maintenance and Care of Respirators, Identification of Filters, Cartridges, and Canisters, Training Requirements, Programs, Recordkeeping. Upon completion, students will receive a certificate.
- Session 2: HAZCOM Update: Understanding What Changed and How It Affects You - In 2024, OSHA updated the requirements for HAZCOM. HAZCOM is a required training for all new employees, when a new chemical is introduced or if processes change regarding existing chemicals. This breakout session will review HAZCOM and help you understand what changed, when do those changes go into effect, and how you are affected by those changes.
- Kate Cavanaugh is a Safety & Health Professional with over 20 years of experience specializing in occupational health and respiratory protection. She holds multiple credentials from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, including the Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Construction Health & Safety Technician (CHST), and Safety Trained Supervisor Construction (STSC). During her tenure at the University of Maryland, Kate managed the respiratory protection program for employees across diverse job classifications. She oversaw program compliance, respirator selection, fit testing, and medical evaluation coordination. In addition, she led indoor air quality investigations to identify and control airborne hazards. Kate also initiated updates to exposure monitoring data to better align respiratory protection requirements with workplace tasks and processes. As a Senior Instructor for Chesapeake Region Safety Council, she now brings this real-world experience into the classroom and professional speaking engagements to help organizations strengthen their respiratory protection programs.
Kristy Shinn, RETTEW:kristy.shinn@rettew.com
- Session 1: Difficult Conversations: Tools for Clarity and Confidence - We are problem-solvers by nature, but when it comes to interpersonal challenges, especially difficult conversations, even the most seasoned professionals can feel unprepared. This interactive session, explores the art and science of navigating tough conversations with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
- Kristy Shinn, MS, CIT, is an accomplished entrepreneur, trainer, and presenter in the Human Capital space. As the Training & Development Manager at RETTEW, Kristy is developing and expanding training to impact all areas of our lives - from Leadership to Culture and Communication. Kristy is a captivating speaker, blending a mix of laughter, vulnerability, and challenging reflection. Her thought-provoking presentations leave attendees with action items and supportive tools to move forward.
Mark Harmon, OSHA: harmon.mark@dol.gov
- Workshop: OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Standards - This informative session will provide a comprehensive overview of each standard, offering valuable insights and resources to help ensure compliance and safety in the workplace.
  During the workshop, we will explore the most frequently cited OSHA standards, discussing the key areas of concern and the best practices for addressing these issues. Each topic will be covered in detail, with OSHA publications available for all attendees to reference and utilize in their respective EHS roles.
  Stay informed and up-to-date with the latest OSHA standards, and to enhance your understanding of the critical safety measures needed to maintain a safe and healthy work environment. We encourage you to participate and take advantage of this valuable learning experience.
- Session 2: OSHA’s Top 10 Most Cited Standards - During this engaging and informative session, we will delve into each of the top 10 cited standards, discussing the common violations and the reasons behind them. We will also explore practical strategies and best practices to help organizations improve their compliance and reduce the risk of citations. By understanding these standards and the typical pitfalls, attendees will be better equipped to enhance their workplace safety programs and ensure a safer environment for their employees.
  Our goal is to provide attendees with actionable insights and tools that they can implement in their own organizations to achieve and maintain compliance.
- Session 3: Annual Self-Evaluation/PSM - Continuous Improvement Goal Setting
- My name is Mark Harmon, and I am the Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) at the Federal OSHA Area office in Erie, Pennsylvania. I have worked for OSHA for 29 years. In the first 14 years, I worked as a Compliance Safety & Health Officer (CSHO); aka Field Inspector. I completed over six hundred inspections in manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and oil & gas. Over the last 15 years, I have helped companies with OSHA compliance assistance by providing outreach and managing the cooperative programs such as the VPP, Alliances, and Partnerships. I have a master’s degree from Marshall University in Occupational Safety and Health. Prior to working for OSHA, I worked as a FAA licensed aircraft technician (A&P Mechanic) in Santa Barbara, California, after serving in the US Air Force at Edwards AFB.
Matthew Miller, DuPont Person Protection
- Session 5: PPE Garment Selection Criteria -
Mickey Hannum, Optimized Safety Solutions
- Session 3: People First. Safety Always. Rebuilding Culture from the Inside Out
Mike Bartsch, Soter: mike.bartsch@soteranalytics.com
- Session 1: AI Designed for Health & Safety - How SoterAI was designed specifically for Health & Safety. How the security and accuracy of SoterAI compares to all other AIs or Large Language Models.
- Mike Bartsch is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Soter, where he works at the intersection of AI, safety, risk, and insurance. He leads partnerships with insurance carriers, brokers, captives, and enterprise organizations to help modernize risk control, loss prevention, and compliance programs using applied AI. Mike brings deep experience in translating complex safety, operational, and regulatory data into actionable insights that improve loss performance and strengthen safety culture. His work focuses on helping organizations move from reactive safety programs to proactive, data-driven risk intelligence. Prior to Soter, Mike built a career spanning insurance, technology, and strategic growth initiatives across multiple industries such as sports, healthcare and language services. He is known for bridging the gap between innovation and real-world operational impact, particularly in safety-critical environments. Mike is a frequent speaker on the practical application of AI in risk management, workplace safety, and the future of loss control.
Mike Rivera, OSHA
- Session 1: OSHA National Initiatives
Nathanial Griffin, Virginia Department of Labor & Industry: Nathanial.Griffin@doli.virginia.gov
- Workshop: SGE Training: The Special Government Employee (SGE) Program was established to allow industry employees to work alongside OSHA, particularly during Voluntary Protection Programs' (VPP)On-Site evaluations. Not only does this innovative program benefit OSHA by supplementing its on-site evaluation teams, but it gives industry and government an opportunity to work together and share views and ideas. From time to time, SGEs may also have the opportunity to participate in other OSHA outreach and compliance assistance activities. Qualified volunteers from VPP sites are eligible to participate in the SGE program. These volunteers must be approved by OSHA and funded by their companies to participate. After submitting an application and completing the required trainin g, these volunteers are sworn in as SGEs and are approved to assist OSHA.
- Session 2: Are you Ready for your VPP Evaluation - How to Prepare - What to expect and how to prepare for an evaluation, once you have submitted your VPP STAR Application, or you are up for a recertification evaluation.
- Session 3: What IF - Injury Free (IF) Career - What if you could go your entire career injury-free? Creating a new mindset It's a way of thinking and the belief that incidents are avoidable.
- Nathanial Griffin is the Southwest Virginia Regional VPP Coordinator with the Virginia Department of Labor. He has over 17 years of experience in safety and health across General Industry and Construction. Nathanial brings a practical, detail-driven approach to evaluating jobsite conditions, identifying risks, and implementing/recommending effective safety and health solutions. He is committed to helping organizations build safer, healthier workplaces.
Paul Thurber, Everguard.ai
- Session 3: New Technology = New Results
Rachel Jones, Cintas First Aid and Safety
- Session 5: AEDs/CPR in the Workplace -
Rebekah Smith, Unshakable Direction: Rebekah@therebekahsmith.com
- Workshop: Decision Quality Under Pressure: Maintaining Judgement, Coordination, Stability - High-performing VPP sites do not struggle because they lack procedures or commitment. They struggle when pressure changes the environment and leaders must make decisions outside routine conditions, across multiple generations, and with limited time to stabilize thinking. This four-hour interactive workshop is designed specifically for VPP leaders, safety professionals, and managers responsible for sustaining strong safety culture as conditions evolve. Drawing on challenges commonly raised by Region III members, including generational leadership dynamics, safe work planning under time pressure, and decision-making during non-routine events, the session focuses on how judgment and coordination degrade when people rush or move outside established norms. Participants will explore why training alone cannot cover every scenario and how leaders can recognize early indicators of escalation before breakdown occurs. Through facilitated discussion and practical scenarios, attendees will learn how to stabilize decision-making, maintain alignment across teams, and reinforce management commitment during incidents, audits, and high-pressure operations. The workshop emphasizes practical leadership behaviors that support employee involvement, shared accountability, and sound decision-making when conditions are unfamiliar or rapidly changing. Participants will leave with tools they can apply immediately to strengthen leadership effectiveness, communication, and decision quality while sustaining VPP culture over time.
- Rebekah Smith works with safety and operations leaders to strengthen decision quality, judgment, and coordination when conditions escalate beyond routine plans and procedures. Her work focuses on the moments where strong safety systems are in place, but pressure, uncertainty, and time constraints begin to strain leadership effectiveness. She brings experience supporting organizations with mature safety cultures as they navigate generational leadership dynamics, non-routine events, and evolving workforce expectations. Rebekah’s approach emphasizes practical, scenario-based learning that reinforces employee involvement, shared accountability, and management commitment. She is known for helping leaders recognize early indicators of escalation and stabilize thinking before breakdown occurs. Her sessions are grounded in real operational challenges and designed for immediate application in the field. Rebekah works across safety-led industries where sustaining culture requires constant attention, adaptation, and leadership clarity.
Richard Alexander, ErgoSafe Solutions: Ergosafesolutions@gmail.com
- Session 3: A Proactive Approach to Workplace Injury Prevention Through Building a Healthier Workforce - Creating a safer workplace culture requires more than compliance with regulations—it demands a proactive, integrated approach that prioritizes employee well-being and sustained behavioral change. This presentation explores the pivotal role of ergonomics in building and establishing a robust safety culture by addressing physical, psychosocial, and organizational risk factors that contribute to musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs), fatigue, and preventable injuries.
- Session 4: A Proactive Approach to Workplace Injury Prevention Through Building a Healthier Workforce
Ryan Bouda, LEAP Training & Coaching
- Workshop: Leadership in Safety (the Conscious Leadership topic) -
- Session 1: Courageous Communicators: How to Have the Hard Conversation that Changes Everything
- Session 2: The Chaos of Change: Proven Strategies to Navigate Change with Ease
- Session 3: Navigating a Multi-Generational Safety Workforce
- Session 4: Overcoming Ourselves: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential
- Session 5: Unlock Safety Success Through Emotional Intelligence
Terry Gray, Terry Gray Enterprises LLC
- Safety Man Movement
Tim Halloran, First Aid Only/My Medic: T.Halloran@acmeunited.com
- Workshop: Emergency Response: Bleeding Control - Emphasis on bleeding control, how to prepare, build a program and tools available.
- Session 1: Emergency Response First Aid Preparedness - Preparing for basic and advanced first aid/emergency response in the workplace. Emphasis on bleeding control and heat stress.
- Session 2: Preparing for Heat Stress - Workplace heat stress preparedness, risk mitigation and response.
- Tim Halloran is a 25-plus year sales professional in the safety industry, helping businesses assess and create safety programs. For the past 9 years he has lead a division for a first aid manufacturer supporting multiple industries including law enforcement, fire, EMS, industrial, construction, utility, and commercial workplaces.

Speakers & Presentation Information

Bobby Myers, ELLWOOD Group Inc.

Session 4: Breaking the STCKY Cycle: A Serious Injury and Fatality Prevention Workshop

Brad McPherson,

Workshop: VPP Application -

Crystal Main, Virginia Department of Labor & Industry: Crystal.Main@doli.virginia.gov

Session 5: R3 WISH (Region III Women in Safety & Health) -

Donny Hawkins, Sentinel Security Group: Donny.Hawkins@sentinelsecurityva.com

I am a Military Veteran, Police Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Criminal Investigator, Federal Officer, Firearms Instructor, and Defensive Tactics Instructor.

Drew Libonate, Chesapeake Region Safety Council: Drew@chesapeakesc.org

Isabel DeOliveira, OSHA

Session 3: Annual Self-Evaluation/PSM - Continuous Improvement Goal Setting

Session 4: OSHA’s Safety Champions Program

Jason DeLange, Veolia - Jason.Delange@veolia.com

Joe Henricks, Sussex Development: JHenricks@sussexdevelopment.com

Kate Cavanauugh, Chesapeake Region Safety Council: Kate@chesapeakesc.org

Kristy Shinn, RETTEW:kristy.shinn@rettew.com

Mark Harmon, OSHA: harmon.mark@dol.gov

Session 3: Annual Self-Evaluation/PSM - Continuous Improvement Goal Setting

Matthew Miller, DuPont Person Protection

Session 5: PPE Garment Selection Criteria -

Mickey Hannum, Optimized Safety Solutions

Session 3: People First. Safety Always. Rebuilding Culture from the Inside Out

Mike Bartsch, Soter: mike.bartsch@soteranalytics.com

Session 1: AI Designed for Health & Safety - How SoterAI was designed specifically for Health & Safety. How the security and accuracy of SoterAI compares to all other AIs or Large Language Models.

Mike Rivera, OSHA

Session 1: OSHA National Initiatives

Nathanial Griffin, Virginia Department of Labor & Industry: Nathanial.Griffin@doli.virginia.gov

Session 2: Are you Ready for your VPP Evaluation - How to Prepare - What to expect and how to prepare for an evaluation, once you have submitted your VPP STAR Application, or you are up for a recertification evaluation.

Session 3: What IF - Injury Free (IF) Career - What if you could go your entire career injury-free? Creating a new mindset It's a way of thinking and the belief that incidents are avoidable.

Paul Thurber, Everguard.ai

Session 3: New Technology = New Results

Rachel Jones, Cintas First Aid and Safety

Session 5: AEDs/CPR in the Workplace -

Rebekah Smith, Unshakable Direction: Rebekah@therebekahsmith.com

Richard Alexander, ErgoSafe Solutions: Ergosafesolutions@gmail.com

Session 4: A Proactive Approach to Workplace Injury Prevention Through Building a Healthier Workforce

Ryan Bouda, LEAP Training & Coaching

Workshop: Leadership in Safety (the Conscious Leadership topic) -

Session 1: Courageous Communicators: How to Have the Hard Conversation that Changes Everything

Session 2: The Chaos of Change: Proven Strategies to Navigate Change with Ease

Session 3: Navigating a Multi-Generational Safety Workforce

Session 4: Overcoming Ourselves: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential

Session 5: Unlock Safety Success Through Emotional Intelligence

Terry Gray, Terry Gray Enterprises LLC

Safety Man Movement

Tim Halloran, First Aid Only/My Medic: T.Halloran@acmeunited.com

Workshop: Emergency Response: Bleeding Control - Emphasis on bleeding control, how to prepare, build a program and tools available.

Session 1: Emergency Response First Aid Preparedness - Preparing for basic and advanced first aid/emergency response in the workplace. Emphasis on bleeding control and heat stress.

Session 2: Preparing for Heat Stress - Workplace heat stress preparedness, risk mitigation and response.