Shawn retired after serving over 33 years with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Columbus, Ohio an agency responsible for serving a population of over one million citizens. He has been assigned many different areas of responsibility in Law Enforcement including the jail division, patrol division, canine unit, SWAT, and Special Investigations conducting vice and narcotics investigations. He has also served as a supervisor in all of these areas. His expertise in Law Enforcement lies within drug investigations, with 25 years of experience in the drug field. He has served as the lead undercover detective or supervisor on over 3,000 undercover drug buys and participated in over 1,000 drug search warrants both at the local and federal levels. He has assisted in supervising several Federal Title III wire taps and State wire taps involving large scale drug trafficking organizations. He has been assigned as Task Force Commander of the Franklin County-HIDTA Drug Task Force with a focus on disrupting/dismantling large-scale drug trafficking organizations within the United States coming from Mexico. Shawn found his passion the last 20+ years in drug education. With the experience he gained while interviewing or interrogating thousands of drug traffickers and drug abuses, he has come to the realization that enforcement of drug crimes is not the solution to the drug epidemic plaguing our country today. Instead, the answer lies with education to change the culture of drug abuse in our society. This passion for drug education is evident during his instruction. He has lectured throughout the United States at a variety of national conferences, seminars, and drug-free workplace education with an emphasis on front line supervisors and managers. Training: Shawn has completed training on conducting drug investigations in Quantico, Virginia, San Diego, California, El Paso, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio. He has attended several schools and seminars related to narcotics across the country.

Abbie routinely counsels Ohio employers in the cost-effective management of workers’ compensation claims. Abbie represents both state-fund and self-insured employers from a variety of different industries, including construction, manufacturing, retail distribution and healthcare. Abbie has attended hundreds of Industrial Commission hearings throughout the State of Ohio. Abbie routinely defends employers with regard to issues involving claim allowance, additional conditions, extent of disability, requests for treatment, wage loss issues and VSSRs. Abbie has litigated workers’ compensation claims appealed into Ohio’s Common Pleas Courts, Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Ohio. In her OSHA practice, Abbie routinely counsels and consults with employers regarding compliance issues and assists with developing strong safety programs. Abbie has extensive experience guiding employers through all stages of the OSHA inspection process—including onsite inspections. When citations cannot be avoided, Abbie has significant litigation experience representing employers across the United States in proceedings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission and before the various state agencies that administer OSHA-Approved State Plans. Abbie has represented employers in Alabama, California, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin, to name a few.

Andrew is a structural engineer and safety consultant that specializes in fall protection design and consultation. As a fall protection specialist with 11 years of experience, he spends significant time on client sites identifying, evaluating and recommending solutions for fall hazards. In his career, he has performed more than 50 fall hazard risk assessments, along with fall protection system design for organizations, including federal and state agencies, commercial facilities, industrial/manufacturing sites, public works, and health care systems.

Benjamin A. Mazer is an associate in the Labor Department of Coolidge Wall. Ben previously served as Assistant Prosecutor for Montgomery County, Ohio, where he managed his own caseload of high profile political subdivision and class action lawsuits. He also has significant experience with personnel matters, Title VII litigation, FMLA federal employment litigation, and Workers’ Compensation cases, including arguing matters before the Ohio Industrial Commission. Prior to that, Ben worked for a Cleveland law firm where he represented national lenders in the area of Creditor’s Rights and advocated for his clients in court mediations, settlement conferences and hearings throughout northeast Ohio.

Matthew Janas is a senior safety consultant, and has been with Spooner for almost 10 years. He was raised in Elyria and graduated from Baldwin Wallace University. Matthew now lives in North Ridgeville with his wife and two children, and enjoys mountain biking and snowboarding.

Jeremy Smith has been a Health and Safety consultant at Spooner for over 6 years, after graduating with a degree in EHS. He was born and raised in Stow, Ohio and also spent time living in Virginia Beach. He enjoys the outdoors, and some of his favorite activities include fishing and camping.

Derek Hill joined the Spooner team as an EHS consultant in 2020, focusing on clients of their self-insured PEO, SuretyHR. His previous safety experience spans construction, roofing, and general industry. Derek graduated from University of Findlay with a degree in Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Law & Regulation. Derek was born and raised in Cleveland, and in his free time enjoys hanging out with his wife and four dogs, as well as fishing and mountain biking.

Nick Seitz served as a Full Time Firefighter/Paramedic for 15 years in the Dayton, OH area. Nick is certified as a Fire and EMS Instructor as well as a certified Fire Inspector for the State of Ohio. He is a former member of the Ohio Regional 3 Rescue Team and the Dayton Regional Hazmat Team. In 2010, Nick started his own company called Firefighter Safe. What originally started out as a local CPR company that offered on-site trainings has grown to a company with an array of OSHA class offerings, a team of licensed instructors that teach tens of thousands of people each year. Firefighter Safe also provides AED Sales and Service and onsite Confined Space Standby Rescue Teams to keep our clients safe in any situation. There is safe, and then there is firefighter safe.

o Jeff started his career at Shook Construction after graduating college. Over the past (25) years, he has helped the organization build a best-in-class technology infrastructure. He was introduced into the current cyber security landscape the hard way, survived the ordeal & now hopes to help others avoid the catastrophic impact of cybercrime.

Laurence Jones co-founded RiskVersity in 2015 and CyberSure in 2021. He brings 22 years’ experience in accounting, risk management, finance, and business operations. He is responsible for client management, risk audits, insurance program management, strategic relationships for client resources and talent resources. He has experience working with K-12 schools, nonprofit organizations, public entity organizations, higher education, healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, professional services, and restaurant clients. Laurence is active in Cincinnati’s business community. Laurence served as partner at the accounting firm Brixey & Meyer and a senior accountant at Ernst & Young before starting RiskVersity. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Cincinnati.

Brian is a senior cybersecurity consultant with the Greentree Group. He has nearly 30 years of IT and Cybersecurity experience with over 20 of those years supporting the Air Force Research Lab. Currently he works with companies to assist them in understanding their environment, assessing their current security posture, and identifying the best ways to improve their environments or reach their required levels of compliance.

Jennifer Harrison is the partner-in-charge of the Taft Dayton office. She represents employers in a broad range of employment and workers’ compensation matters, and she leads the Employment and Labor Relations practice in Dayton. She is recognized as an Honoree of Best Lawyers in America and was awarded as 2023 Lawyer of the Year under Labor and Employment.

Andrew Seaman, Field Safety Director for the Davis H. Elliot Company’s Northern Division. Andrew works with over 100 men and women spread across the state of Ohio in electrical utility construction. Andrew has been in the electric utility industry for over 10 years as a journeyman lineman and safety director. Andrew has multiple certifications and is an authorized OSHA Construction Industry 10/30 hour instructor. Andrew believes in the principles of Human Performance and how applying and learning from them can drastically change your companies safety culture.

Jennifer represents employers throughout Ohio in both federal and state courts in various employment litigation matters including wrongful discharge, discrimination claims, Americans with Disabilities Act and Family and Medical Leave Act claims, wage and hour claims, employment agreements, and workers’ compensation. She also represents public and private employers in labor matters including comprehensive labor relations guidance regarding grievances, arbitrations, collective bargaining, and unfair labor practice charges. With previous experience working in-house as a human resources manager and attorney in the public sector, Jennifer has worked in-depth on labor and employment issues such as recruitment, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, benefits programs, collective bargaining matters, and ensuring employee procedures and policies are in compliance with state and federal laws. She also has experience drafting and analyzing employment agreements for healthcare professionals. Jennifer has expertise in website compliance and internet-related litigation and has significant experience assisting clients who were subject to legal demands or lawsuits alleging noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Prior to joining Taft, Jennifer gained legal experience both as a public-sector attorney and as an employment attorney at a private firm in Dayton, Ohio. Jennifer has successfully litigated contested matters involving employment and business disputes and assisted law enforcement officials in government investigations. Additionally, her practice includes more than 15 years of experience working with municipal governments. She previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Montgomery County and as a special prosecutor for the Office of the Ohio Attorney General.

Mr. Sawan has been in the environmental health and safety field for over 14 years. After obtaining a degree in Environmental Policy and Analysis from Bowling Green State University he worked at an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) testing and consulting firm for three years. During that time, he was promoted to lead the Industrial Hygiene/Safety Division for the organization. Mr. Sawan then moved on to a head up the EHS department for a plumbing supply manufacturer and global label manufacturer. During his time at these organizations, he oversaw the EHS Programs at the manufacturing plants throughout the United States with the responsibility of managing and training on safety programs, leading the hazardous waste disposal and minimization process, leading monthly safety meetings, performing injury investigations and Title V air permitting to name a few. He was also responsible for the successful launch of ISO 14001 Environmental Management System and launched a Waste Reduction Team. After 6 years, Mr. Sawan spent the next 13 years as a Healthcare Compliance Specialist and Account Manager for a medical waste disposal company. He oversaw an annual book of business of 9.5 million dollars where he managed over 10 health systems. Mr. Sawan was responsible for contract renewal, new business, assuring proper customer support, problem solving, and assisting with compliance in safety, health, DOT regulations and waste disposal. In his current role with Sedgwick, Andy specializes in customer safety training, development of written safety policies and procedures, conducting educational presentations and recordkeeping compliance. He currently resides with his family in Akron, Ohio.

As a director with Auman, Mahan & Furry, Gary Auman concentrates his practice on occupational safety and health law and workers’ compensation defense. With 46 years of experience, Gary is a noted authority and staunch management advocate in workers’ compensation and occupational safety and health law. He regularly writes on occupational safety and health law for a number of trade publications. Gary served in the United States Air Force from 1969 – 1973. In addition to his law degree he has a B.E.E. Degree. Gary donates time as a volunteer with Goodwill/Easter Seals of the Miami Valley and he serves on the Board of Untied Rehabilitation Services.

Hayley Fahrnbach received her undergraduate degree from Xavier University and her Master of Social Work from Northern Kentucky University. Hayley began her work in the field in 2013 with Talbert House Pathways where she worked with women who were reintegrating into society from the prison system. In 2016, Hayley became a case manager for Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health where she worked on an engagement team to connect those who suffer from severe mental illness to services. Hayley is now an inpatient therapist at Beckett Springs Behavioral Hospital where she works on a dual-diagnoses unit.

Barbara Thompson, Bachelor’s of Science Human Resource Development Barbara Thompson has been working in the healthcare field for 20 years. Upon completing her Bachelors of Science from the University of Cincinnati she worked at AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati (AVOC). At AVOC she developed the first Employee Volunteer Handbook and helped define and create policies for effectively managing day to day operations of unpaid staff working with paid staff. After leaving AVOC she went to work in the field of Geriatrics at Carespring, helping people make the transition from home to higher levels of care. Working in the transitional living field she worked with many families making difficult decisions for their loved ones. She educated and counseled many people and their families as they stepped into the next stages of life. Barbara now works in the field of addiction and mental health at Beckett Springs Behavioral Hospital. While at Beckett Springs she has been instrumental in building the community education program and the Continuing Education program. She has designed many education programs around mental health and substance use. The speakers are experts in the fields with various degrees and licenses. Beckett works very hard to provide education to all people in the community.

Dave Castel is an HR consultant supporting different areas of HR. He started his HR career at a small manufacturing company with less than 50 employees here in Dayton. Most recently he has held full-time HR roles with a global AEG firm. He previously worked for a global manufacturing company and held the roles of HR Operations Manager and HR Shared Services Project Manager. Dave holds a BA in Psychology from Wright State University. He is currently pursuing his MBA from Wright State. Dave is a certified professional through SHRM. He is passionate about connecting and networking with others. In his free time Dave enjoys watching and playing sports, traveling, and cooking.

Cecilia is a Senior HR Business Advisor with Strategic HR a division of Clark Schaffer Hackett. She is a strong leader with 30+ years of experience in Human Resources leadership roles. Combining her depth of experience and a customer-focused approach, her clients rely on her as a trusted business partner and problem solver. Cecilia brings a diverse range of industry experience including inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings, global food products, as well as domestic and international manufacturing (automotive, additive, and materials). She specializes in manager coaching, performance management, succession planning, employee relations, supervisor/leadership training, and workplace investigations. Cecilia has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and a Master of Science in Business and Industrial Counseling, both from Wright State University. She is SHRM-SCP and SPHR certified. She is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and was selected to serve as the Ohio SHRM State Council Director-Elect for the term of January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2023. She is also a Past-President of the Miami Valley Human Resources Association (MVHRA). In addition, Cecilia has further strengthened her leadership skills by completing Leadership Dayton and University of Dayton Emerging Leaders programs. Cecilia is an active volunteer in the community currently serving on the Breast Wishes Foundation Board of Trustees. She also held past board positions with the March of Dimes and Muse Machine. Cecilia and her husband Norm reside in Dayton, OH. They have two adult children and six grandkids. She enjoys travel, camping, and game nights!

Doug Jenks is an attorney at Auman, Mahan & Furry. He counsels employers regarding industrial accidents, focusing mostly on workers' compensation and OSHA defense. Doug represents clients before the Ohio Industrial Commission, Common Pleas Courts, Ohio Courts of Appeals, the Ohio Supreme Court, and Federal Court. He frequently speaks to industry groups regarding regulatory compliance, workplace safety, workers’ compensation, and OSHA matters. He is also the co-host of an OSHA-related podcast, The Health and Safety Law Report. Doug is proud to be a native of Dayton and is honored to speak to the Annual Safety Conference.