Director of EHS

Profile

I am an experienced safety and environmental professional with strong leadership, partnership and facilitation skills. I believe in setting high standards and I’ve demonstrated my ability to succeed with integrity and work ethic across diverse workplaces and industries. I am a certified training professional with a passion achieving business excellence and world class performance. I have the leadership skills and business acumen to develop individuals and organizations to their fullest potential.

Professional Experience and Key Accomplishments

Director, Corporate EHS, Northwest Pallet Services LLC, Belvidere, IL 2017-Current

Corporate environmental health and safety director responsible for safety initiatives, regulatory compliance, site safety performance, environmental permitting and storm water pollution prevention plan management for multiple sites throughout the United States plus parts of Canada and Mexico. Northwestern Pallet offers a wide range of services including: New Pallets, Recycled/Remanufactured Pallets, Pallet, Cardboard and Plastic Recycling Programs, Drop Trailer Programs, and several other customized pallet solutions. Key accomplishments include:

–Reduced OSHA recordable frequency rate by 85%.

–Reduced Worker’s Compensation claims by 82% and cost by 79%.

–Participated in developing NWPCA Fire Code Compliance Manual, for Pallet Manufacturers.

–Responsible for all communications with Federal and State EPA, OSHA and DOT agencies.

–Responsible for abating and appealing OSHA citations nationwide.

EHS Manager, Midwest Region, Strategic Materials Incorporated, Houston TX 2015 - 2017

Regional environmental health and safety manager responsible for safety compliance, site safety performance, and monitoring KPIs for multiple sites throughout the United States and Canada. Strategic Materials, Inc. provides glass and plastic recycling services in North America, Mexico and Canada. Key accomplishments include:

–Developed organization’s online new hire orientation program and implemented it company-wide.

–Directed all regional responses to Federal and State EPA’s Notice of Violations.

–Responded to OSHA’s citations and was responsible for abating all infractions.

–Developed our organization’s Air Purifying Respirator Program and implemented it company-wide.

Director, Corporate Safety, MacLellan Integrated Services, Lexington, KY 2010 - 2015

Corporate leader for environmental, health and safety initiatives, governing safety processes for multiple sites throughout the United States and Canada. MacLellan provides industrial cleaning and maintenance service to the auto industry. Key accounts include Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes Benz, Subaru, Chrysler, and Kia. Key accomplishments include:

–Developed the Company’s injury prevention program and implemented it company-wide.

–Reduced recordable injuries by 77%.

–Identified and developed necessary components, procedures, training, and performance metrics.

–Strategically rolled out initiatives into day-to-day operations; verified site implementation.

–Achieved over 2 million safe work hours without a lost workday injury.

–Reduced cost of workers comp claims by 88%.

–Reduced the Company’s Experience Modification Rate (EMR) from 1.04 to 0.62.

–Developed EHS audit program and audited sites for compliance; provided guidance for ongoing improvement.

–Assumed responsibility for the quality system within Operations and achieved ISO 9001 recertification.

–Recipient of State Governor’s Awards for Safety Excellence in Alabama (2013-2014) and Indiana (2014).

–Partnered with regulatory agencies as company representative to ensure compliance with OSHA, state-level OSHA agencies, and WorkSafe BC, and Ministry of Labour Canada, (OSHA equivalent).

Project Operations Safety Manager, Zachry Holdings, Inc., San Antonio, TX 2008 – 2010

Responsible for site safety during a major construction project at the Chevron plant in Borger, TX. Zachry is an international construction company specializing in new construction projects and plant maintenance. Maintaining a safety culture was paramount, and company leadership believed that traditional approaches to safety limit the possibilities for achieving superior business performance. Key accomplishments include:

–Accomplished over 1 million hours without an OSHA recordable injury while simultaneously constructing a new RYTON chemical plant and safety joining to existing RYTON plant.

–Completed project with a recordable rate less than 0.4; reduced recordable injuries by 83%.

–Developed Achieving Excellence in Safety training program; trained safety professionals to turn average or below average safety performance into a level of excellence that most companies are unable to achieve.

–Trained and consulted various companies (e.g. Conoco Phillips and Chevron Phillips) relative to their specific safety and environmental needs.

Director of Safety and Health, Ranger American of Texas, San Antonio, TX 2006 – 2008

Led corporate environmental and safety initiatives to improve performance, and engaged with state agencies as company representative to lead improvement efforts. Ranger American was a domestic supplier of security systems with over 4,000 employees across 14 states; they served the commercial and residential building industries. Key accomplishments include:

–Developed and implemented customized accident prevention programs and management practices based on site needs; improved quality of life at work and overall business results.

–Reduced accidents by > 70% in San Antonio -based distribution center.

–Reduced accidents by > 60% in a fleet of more than 1,000 vehicles.

–Improved profitability through accident avoidance by > 1.5 million USD per year (2007 – 2008).

–Developed and implemented a model identifying the key elements required for a successful safety program; reduced escalating workers compensation claims and reduced accidents by 40% in less than six months.

–Implemented a comprehensive Risk Management process to limit corporate liability, to protect people and assets and to meet or exceed internal and external requirements / expectations.

–Developed numerous safety improvement/training programs, including emergency response plans, driver safety, ergonomics, lock-out/tag-out, warehouse safety, and accident investigation.

–Developed systems to comply with regulatory agencies, including OSHA, EPA, DOT and NRC.

–Led quality, safety, health and environmental audit teams to determine effectiveness of established management systems; provided practical approaches for improvement.

–Trained and certified internal auditors (process, supplier, safety, environmental).

–Led ISO 14001 environmental certification.

Safety Supervisor, Sun Constructor, St. Croix, USVI 2004 - 2006

Provided safety and training expertise with primary responsibilities for safety performance, risk management, development of the training curriculum, and implementing annual regulatory compliance training. Sun Constructor provided craft maintenance services to the HOVENSA refinery in St. Croix, USVI. Key accomplishments include:

–Designed and implemented onboarding safety orientation strategies to increase knowledge retention and improve the professional image of the organization, resulting in revenue growth.

–Achieved revenue growth of more than 200% during the first year.

–Increased the number of training classes from 13 to 100+, conference attendance from 5 to 100+ and conference exhibitors from 0 to 25+.

–Maintained a 0.00 OSHA recordable rate.

Director of Training, Triangle Construction and Maintenance, Inc., St. Croix, USVI 2001-2004

Primarily responsible for the development and implementation of training to positively impact refinery craft safety and safe transportation of hazardous chemicals, in addition to their safe storage and use. Triangle provided craft maintenance services to the HOVENSA refinery in St. Croix, USVI. Key accomplishments include:

–Implemented a chemical safety program, chaired the contractor’s safety committee team for the refinery and served on the refinery’s Emergency Response Team - Hazardous Materials Team.

–Established an OSHA Voluntary Partnership Program proposal and definitive agreement.

–Recognized for implementing an effective safety and health management system by workers in the private industry and federal agencies.

–Co-developed a customer survey program to proactively identify issues impacting customer satisfaction and retention; number of completely satisfied customers improved from 83% to 96%.

Environmental Health and Safety Engineer, Bechtel International, and Bechtel De Mexico Services 1999- 2001

Acted as site environmental health and safety expert, primarily responsible for environmental and safety performance, and related training. Bechtel is an international construction company; projects included new construction at the HOVENSA refinery in St. Croix, USVI and development and oversight of an offshore rig owned by Pemex. Key accomplishments include:

–Implemented a comprehensive Risk Management process to limit project liability, to protect people and assets and to meet or exceed international requirements / expectations, during offshore operations.

–Successfully implemented an OSHA Voluntary Partnership Program proposal and definitive agreement.

–Accomplished over 1 million hours without an OSHA recordable injury.

–Developed and delivered OSHA regulatory compliance training in English and Spanish; delivered in both languages simultaneously as needed offshore.

–Implemented chemical safety program; included dynamic lift protocols and hot-tap safety procedures.

–Acted as Member of the Emergency Response Team, Maritime Law Auditor, Ship Safety Inspector and Member of Open Water Search and Rescue Team.

Education and Certifications

Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, University of Phoenix

Certified Training Professional

Fluent in Spanish

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