74th Annual Dayton/Miami Valley Safety Conference & Symposium Sessions

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OSHA Updates

Date: Morning General Session

Location: Sinclair Conference Center Great Hall

Speakers

Ken Montgomery - Area Director, OSHA

Room 131: From Theory to the Field: Practical AI in Safety

Date: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Collin Jorgensen, GSP - Health & Safety Risk Engineering Consultant, Zurich Resilience Solutions
Collin Jorgensen is a Health & Safety Risk Engineering consultant with broad industry experience who helps customers reduce losses and hazards by providing risk assessment services to customers and business partners. Collin supports customers in the identification of exposures with significant loss potential, investigation of cause and effect of major losses, as well as identifying risk reduction opportunities. Collin takes a systematic approach to process improvements to drive sustainable risk reduction.

Summary

This session teaches practical, field-ready AI applications for workplace safety, including computer vision, wearables, drones, fleet tools, documentation support, and responsible prompting. Relevant to construction, manufacturing, energy, logistics, transportation, and safety-critical operations. Designed for safety professionals, risk engineers, operations leaders, and managers with basic EHS knowledge; no AI expertise required.

Room 172: Finding Facts Not Fault: Building a Safety Culture

Date: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Nicholas Coia - COO, Coia Safety & Consultative Services, LLC
Nicholas Coia is the Chief Operating Officer of Coia Safety & Consultative Services LLC (CS2 Safety), where he helps organizations improve safety performance through practical, culture-driven solutions. With more than 20 years of experience in occupational safety and health, including over a decade in consulting, Nic specializes in OSHA compliance, risk reduction, and safety leadership. He also serves as adjunct faculty with the University of Akron College of Engineering and Polymer Science and is a frequent speaker at safety conferences and industry events. Known for his engaging, real-world approach, Nic helps organizations move beyond compliance to build safer, stronger workplaces.

Summary

Most organizations unintentionally stop their reviews at the most convenient answer: “Who messed up?” That mindset not only misses critical information, it also reinforces fear, blame, and repeat incidents. This breakout session reframes incident understanding as a strategic, culture-building opportunity. Using Nic’s proven “Finding Facts, Not Fault” methodology, participants learn how to examine all five causal factors; Human, Management, Task, Material, and Environment, to uncover the real drivers behind workplace events. Attendees will leave with practical tools, templates, and a repeatable process for identifying facts that actually improve safety performance. Nic’s engaging teaching style blends storytelling, relatable mistakes, and real case studies that demonstrate how shifting from blame to fact-finding transforms teams, strengthens accountability, and reduces long-term risk. This session is designed for front-line leaders, supervisors, safety professionals, and executives who want a more mature, data-driven approach to incident learning. What Makes This Session Different Instead of focusing on “human error” as the default explanation, Nic shows how task design, training gaps, management decisions, equipment conditions, and environmental influences shape outcomes. This approach builds psychological safety, encourages honest reporting, and leads to smarter corrective actions, without minimizing responsibility. Key Takeaways ✔ Learn to assess all five causal factors for deeper, more accurate insights ✔ Understand why “human error” is rarely the true cause ✔ See how fact-focused reviews reduce repeat failures ✔ Strengthen accountability without blame ✔ Apply practical tools and strategies for meaningful corrective action ✔ Build a culture of trust, transparency, and continuous improvement

Room 116: Conducting a More Thorough Incident and Accident Investigation

Date: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Jameson Warren - Safety Manager of Manufacturing, White Castle Systems
Originally from Harrisburg PA, Jameson has always had a passion for safety. As a teenager, he followed in his Father’s footsteps in joining the local fire department to serve the community. Jameson then began his career in the food distribution sector. Having worked for Sysco for 19 years, he held the position of freezer selector, forklift operator, then progressed into inventory control. Sysco transferred him to a new location on Long Island New York, where Jameson then progressed into warehouse management. After a deployment overseas, where he was the safety officer of the entire base, Jameson moved to Indiana, where he currently resides (and will hopefully retire). Jameson served in the United States Reserve as a firefighter, and is an Indiana certified Firefighter, Fire Investigator, and Fire Instructor. He also currently serves, in the position of safety officer, in the Indiana statewide disaster response team, The Indiana IMAT (Incident Management Assistance Team). He is currently in a role responsible for the safety compliance in multiple manufacturing plants across multiple states. Jameson has over 10 years of direct safety responsibility under his belt.

Summary

A strong investigation process is the foundation of meaningful safety improvement. This session provides a clear, structured roadmap for conducting effective incident and accident investigations. While the approach is rooted in a manufacturing mindset, the principles apply across all industries – and even apply to everyday problem-solving at home. Attendees will learn how a documented, standardized process improves efficiency and accuracy, leading to the discovery of true root causes and a clearer understanding of what corrective actions should look like.

Room 120: Emergency Action Planning: Preparing Your Business for the Unexpected

Date: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Ron Hartmann - Owner, Vercom Systems Inc.
Ronald Hartmann is the Director of Technical Services at VerCom Systems, an Ohio-based provider of IT and communications solutions, with a strong emphasis on safety & cybersecurity. VerCom's services include business telephony, managed IT services, structured cabling, overhead paging and emergency alerting, video surveillance, and access control. Ronald has worked in the technology industry since the early 1990s, with hands-on experience spanning TI minicomputers, Unix and IBM AS/400 systems, the early days of Windows 3.1 and Novell networks, the transition to networked PCs and client-server computing, and today's cloud-based and hybrid environments. His telecommunications experience is equally extensive, covering SS7 telecommunications infrastructure, traditional POTS service, T1 circuits, ISDN, PRIs, and modern SIP-based communications. Ronald also brings in-depth knowledge of 911 and E911 requirements, helping businesses move beyond simply checking a compliance box to implementing solutions designed to properly locate and protect their employees during an emergency. Throughout that evolution, Ronald and the VerCom team have specialized in the implementation, integration, security, and ongoing operation of these technologies, with cybersecurity playing an increasingly critical role in how those systems are designed and managed. They take particular pride in bringing together systems that might otherwise operate independently and making them function as one finely tuned, integrated environment.

Nick Seitz - Founder and President, Firefighter Safe
Nick Seitz is the founder and President of Firefighter Safe, a safety company utilizing professional Firefighter/Paramedics to deliver onsite training services to corporations and small businesses. Every member of Firefighter Safe is passionate about their profession and committed to delivering exceptional classes that are engaging, informative, and empowering. Nick is a Licensed Safety Professional, spent 16 years as a career Firefighter/Paramedic and is recognized as a Fire and EMS Instructor and Fire Inspector for the State of Ohio. Using his past experience on Ohio Regional 3 Rescue and Dayton Regional Hazmat Teams, Nick expanded Firefighter Safe to include Confined Space Standby Rescue Teams in 2021. Using the expertise of members from USAR and Ohio Task Force 1, our team ensures safety and technical skills are at the forefront of its delivery.

Summary

Every business has some version of an Emergency Action Plan (EAP), but a plan in a binder cannot push a button when a crisis actually hits. OSHA compliance on paper does not equal operational capability on the ground. In this session, Firefighter Safe and VerCom Systems will walk attendees through building a resilient EAP that bridges the gap between regulatory requirements and real-world execution. We will break down specific multi-hazard protocols—from severe weather and medical emergencies to active threats—and discuss how to integrate vital communication infrastructure so your facility's technology doesn't fail when you need it most. Attendees will leave with a concrete audit checklist to evaluate both their staff readiness and their physical alerting systems.

Room 172: Why We Miss the Hazards That Hurt Us - And Strategies to Find Them

Date: 10:30AM - 11:30AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Doug Pontsler - Chairman and Managing Director, COVE: Center of Visual Expertise
Doug Pontsler is dedicated to the application of visual literacy for industrial and service applications with an emphasis on safety. Prior to his current role, Doug was the former vice president of operations sustainability and EHS for Owens Corning (retired). He joined Owens Corning in 2002 and help leadership positions including director of corporate services and vice president of global sourcing. Doug served as a member of the National Safety Council (NSC) Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Campbell Institute at the National Safety Council. He is a recipient of the NSC's 2019 Distinguished Service to Safety Award. He is also a recipient of the International Visual Literacy Association 2023 Special Contribution Award.

Summary

A recent study identified that approximately 25% of incidents had the failure to “see” as a contributing factor. Experienced employees can operate on auto-pilot, often repeating the same tasks day in and day out. As a result, they can miss hazards – both minor and major. For many organizations hazard identification efforts suffer from unintentional “blindness” that can lead to a failure to see hazards. Recognizing a hazard is only part of the challenge. Employees must also be able to describe what they observe clearly and objectively so that risks are properly understood, prioritized, and addressed in a timely manner. This session explores how Visual Literacy can strengthen hazard identification and risk management. Participants will learn practical strategies for observing workplace conditions more intentionally, recognizing information that might otherwise be missed, and communicating hazards through a shared visual language that supports effective corrective action. Learning Objectives: • Apply Visual Literacy principles to prioritize risks and support effective mitigation. • Identify strategies for uncovering overlooked information and potential hazards. • Use a common visual language to describe and communicate field-level hazards and risks accurately.

Room 116: Compliant or Committed? Why Your Safety Program Works When You're Watching and Fails When You're Not

Date: 10:30AM - 11:30AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Kathy Moore - Founder, Total Potential Coaching LLC
Kathy Moore spent nearly 20 years in manufacturing HR and talent development — on the plant floor, through production pressure, and through plant closures, before founding Total Potential Coaching LLC, where she helps manufacturing, operations, and logistics leaders make the shift from boss to confident guide. A Certified Professional Coach (CPC), Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP), and ICF-credentialed coach (ACC), she is the author of Conscious Connection: A Guide to Leading With Awareness and Impact (2025). Kathy speaks to safety, HR, and operations audiences on the leadership behaviors that turn compliance into commitment.

Summary

Every safety program looks great during the audit. The real test is off shift, under a production deadline, when no one is watching, the moment a worker either speaks up about the near-miss or stays quiet. The difference isn't the policy. It's the leader. This interactive session reframes safety culture as a leadership behavior problem, not a compliance problem. Drawing on nearly two decades on the manufacturing floor, Kathy Moore shows why supervisors under pressure default to predictable patterns that quietly shut down the reporting and speak-up behavior every strong safety culture depends on. Attendees leave with the shift from "boss" (compliance, fear, checkbox) to "confident guide" (ownership, trust, commitment) and a practical tool to interrupt their own reactive patterns in the moment that matters.

Room 131: Beyond the Fence Line: Strengthening Safety in Parking Lots, Construction Sites, and Other High-Risk Open Spaces

Date: 10:30AM - 11:30AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Jabari Peoples - CEO & Founder, Overwatch Secure LLC
Jabari Peoples, call sign “Overwatch,” is the CEO and Founder of Overwatch Secure LLC and a U.S. Marine Corps and Army veteran with deep expertise in leadership, executive protection, and physical security. A specialist in threat assessment, workplace violence prevention, and de-escalation, he helps organizations build safety cultures rooted in trust and accountability. Jabari presented “Situational Awareness for Leaders” at the 2026 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo and has appeared on international security panels alongside leading professionals. His Four Pillars framework equips leaders to turn awareness into decisive action.

Summary

Safety risk does not begin only at workstation, production line, or job task. It can emerge in the spaces between them: parking lots, construction areas, loading docks, warehouse yards, entry points, and other open environments where people, vehicles, equipment, and visitors converge. These areas can create opportunities for unsafe behavior, theft, trespass, conflict, and workplace-violence concerns—often before they appear in a routine safety inspection. This practical session brings a physical-security and threat-assessment perspective to the Dayton/Miami Valley Safety Conference audience. Participants will learn to view outdoor and transitional workspaces through two lenses: the safety professional asking, “What could cause harm?” and the threat actor asking, “Where is the opportunity?” Through realistic scenarios and field-tested observation methods, the session will show how small environmental conditions, behavioral indicators, and gaps in routine practices can combine into larger safety and security exposures. Attendees will leave with a usable framework for recognizing vulnerabilities, improving reporting and awareness, and implementing layered, low-disruption safeguards that fit real operations. The emphasis is not on adding unnecessary barriers or slowing production; it is on helping organizations use better information to move from reacting to incidents toward preventing them. By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify safety and security vulnerabilities in parking lots, construction zones, warehouse yards, loading areas, and other open or transitional workspaces. 2. Recognize environmental and behavioral indicators that may signal elevated risk, including conditions that enable trespass, theft, conflict, unsafe conduct, or potential workplace violence. 3. Apply a practical, layered approach to improve awareness, reporting, access practices, and physical safeguards without unnecessarily interrupting workflow or productivity.

Room 120: Successful Return to Work Strategies

Date: 10:30AM - 11:30AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Christopher Sullivan - DPT Multi-Site Center Manager, NovaCare Rehabilitation
Chris is the center manager and a treating physical therapist at the NovaCare's Huber Heights center. He graduated from The University of Findlay in 2011 and started working at NovaCare in September 2011. Chris treats a myriad of orthopedic conditions and post-surgical interventions, acute and chronic soft tissue/musculoskeletal injuries and work/functional rehabilitation. He has furthered his skillset by attending courses for TMJ/TMD rehabilitation, vertigo/vestibular rehabilitation and is certified to offer dry needling.

Mike Quinn - WorkStrategies Coordinator, NovaCare Rehabilitation
Mike is a Certified Athletic Trainer through the National Athletic Trainers Association as well as holds State Athletic Training Certifications in KY and OH. After working in professional baseball for 17 years in the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, Montreal Expos, and Washington National organizations, Mike retired in 2009 and has worked full time for Select Medical/NovaCare Rehabilitation as the WorkStrategies Coordinator. Mike's primary responsibility is working with companies to help mitigate work related injuries through Post Offer Employment Testing, Early Symptom Intervention, developing Stretch and Flex Programs, and other injury prevention programs.

Summary

After this presentation, attendees will be able to: 1. Review the impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders on employers 2. Explore the importance for having and communicating a functionally based job description 3. Identify the multiple factors that affect recovery velocity and outcomes including return to work 4. Assist stakeholders in developing a customized return to work program to minimize the impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and their impact on employee disability and employer business goals

Learning From History for a Successful Future – How NASA Applies Hard Lessons for Continuous Improvement

Date: Luncheon Keynote

Location: Sinclair Conference Center Great Hall

Summary

Myers’ keynote will address NASA’s most significant human spaceflight accidents—Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia—and the ways they have shaped the way the Agency thinks about safety, leadership, and organizational culture. She’ll walk through the warning signs that preceded each accident, what the investigations uncovered and the recurring themes that emerged across all three events. These tragedies were defining moments for NASA. They pushed the Agency to take a hard look at communication, decision making and risk management. More importantly, they led to lasting changes in how we build a strong safety culture and strive for organizational excellence. Today, the Safety and Mission Assurance community plays a key role in making sure those lessons stay front and center, working to create an environment where concerns are heard, accountability is clear, and continuous improvement is part of NASA’s DNA. Myers will share how NASA’s past has helped build a safer, smarter future as well as what other organizations can learn from the journey.

Room 172: From Awareness to Action - Mental Health Tools for the Safety-Minded Professional

Date: 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Becky Ketron - Senior Program Coordinator, Division of Community Training and Staff Development Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services
Becky Ketron is a Senior Program Coordinator in the Community Training & Staff Development Division of the Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board of Montgomery County. After earning her Bachelors Degree from Otterbein University, she went on to work in a variety of youth development programs from Assistant Director of the Troy Rec, to Out-of-School-Time Coordinator for Child Care Works. For 12 years she was the Training Specialist at Developmental Disabilities where she discovered a love of all things training and professional development. She earned her certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and also holds both a Training and Instructional Design certification from the Association for Talent Development. Becky has over 20 years of experience designing and facilitating adult learning in several human-serving fields, including early childhood, developmental disabilities, child welfare, and behavioral health. In addition to being a skilled facilitator and instructional designer, she is also certified as an instructor in • Mental Health First Aid (Modules: Youth, Adult, Older Adult, Higher Education, Public Safety, Corrections, Veterans) • Trauma-Informed Approach • Trauma Informed Criminal Justice System Responses • enCompass; Navigating Addiction & Recovery • Responding to Addiction • Social Resilience Model • QPR Gatekeeper • Stewards of Children • PAX Tools

Summary

This session will provide an accurate overview of mental illness, including the signs and symptoms of the most common disorders. With this base knowledge, we will then review the Five Essentials for Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing, focusing on some of the actionable steps workplaces can take to address and support mental wellbeing. These include; how to prioritize workplace physical and psychological safety, normalize and support mental health, creating cultures of inclusion and belonging, and supporting work-life harmony.

Room 120: Administering Workers’ Compensation as an Employee Benefit

Date: 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Bruce Preston - Senior Account Consultant, Sedgwick
Bruce has almost 30 years of experience consulting with employers on their Workers’ Compensation programs. He has worked with public and private employers of various sizes and has experience with State Fund and Self Insured programs.

Sol Otero Carbajal - Human Resources Business Partner I, City of Hamilton
Sol Otero Carbajal, SHRM-CP, serves as a Human Resources professional with the City of Hamilton, specializing in employee benefits, leave administration, and workers' compensation. She is committed to creating clear, effective HR processes that support both employees and the organization.

Summary

Do you view your employees as assets or liabilities? This session explores approaching the administration of your Workers’ Compensation program similarly to the way you approach the administration of other employee benefits. Proper use results in lower costs and less confusion. Sol and Bruce will share real world experiences as they explore best practices for injury reporting, claims management and safety interventions.

Room 131: Cybersecurity & AI: The New Front Line of Workplace Safety

Date: 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Steven Stratton - Chief Executive Officer, Net X IT Solutions
Steven Stratton is the CEO of Net X IT Solutions, an IT services and cybersecurity company based in Dayton, Ohio. He works with organizations to strengthen their technology, cybersecurity, compliance, and business continuity strategies. Steven is passionate about making technology and cybersecurity practical and understandable for business leaders and helping organizations prepare for the evolving risks created by cybersecurity threats and artificial intelligence.

Matthew Worthen - Chief Business Officer, Net X IT Solutions
Matthew Worthen is the Chief Business Officer at Net X IT Solutions, where he works with organizations to understand their technology needs, identify business risks, and develop solutions that support their operational and strategic goals. Matt focuses on helping business leaders connect technology and cybersecurity decisions with the real-world needs of their employees and organizations.

Summary

Technology is now woven into nearly every part of the modern workplace, which means workplace safety extends beyond traditional physical risks. This presentation explores how cybersecurity incidents and artificial intelligence can affect employees, operations, communications, financial security, and business continuity. We’ll look at how businesses are actually being attacked today, the role employees play in cybersecurity, what organizations should have in place before an incident occurs, and how to continue operating when technology becomes unavailable. We’ll also discuss the rapid adoption of AI in the workplace, including data privacy, Shadow AI, accuracy concerns, AI-powered phishing, voice cloning, deepfakes, and executive impersonation. Most importantly, attendees will leave with practical steps they can take back to their organizations to improve cybersecurity readiness, safely govern AI use, and better protect their people, information, operations, and trust.

Room 116: The Vehicle Is Part of the Workplace: Building a Stronger Driver Safety Culture

Date: 1:30PM - 2:30PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Hannah Eberlein - Ohio Program Manager for Our Driving Concern, National Safety Council
Hannah Eberlein is the Ohio Program Manager for Our Driving Concern with the National Safety Council, where she works with employers across Ohio to advance workplace traffic safety and help prevent motor vehicle crashes. Her work focuses on bringing practical, evidence-informed traffic-safety strategies into the workplace and helping organizations identify opportunities to reduce crash risk and protect employees on the road. Before joining the National Safety Council, Hannah spent nearly five years at ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children’s Hospital in Toledo as a Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor (CPST-I) and Safe Travel for All Children Instructor (STAC-I). In that role, she helped oversee and grow the Kids In Safe Seats car seat program, expanding its impact within the hospital and throughout the community. She also contributed to improving program processes, updating system-wide policies and procedures, and educating healthcare professionals, families, and community partners about child passenger safety. A frequent presenter at professional conferences, Hannah brings a practical, systems-focused perspective to traffic safety, with experience spanning child passenger safety, community education, healthcare, and workplace safety. Her work is driven by a simple goal: helping organizations and individuals identify opportunities to prevent crashes and protect people on every trip, whether they are on the job or simply on the road.

Summary

Driving is an important part of many employees’ workdays, yet traffic safety is not always incorporated into an organization’s overall safety program. This session will explore practical ways employers can address driver and fleet safety as part of a broader workplace safety culture. Participants will examine common driving risks, including distracted driving, speeding, aggressive driving, impaired driving, drowsy driving, and seat belt use, and explore strategies for moving beyond awareness to reinforce safer driving behaviors through training, communication, coaching, and accountability. The session will also introduce Our Driving Concern (ODC), a National Safety Council employer traffic safety program, and highlight the free training, educational resources, tools, and employer support available to help organizations strengthen their driver safety efforts. Attendees will leave with practical strategies they can take back to their organization to identify driver safety gaps, engage employees, and make traffic safety a more intentional part of their workplace safety program.

Dayton Police K9 Unit Demonstration

Date: Afternoon Demonstration

Location: Sinclair Conference Center Great Hall

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

8 N. Main Street | Suite 100 | Dayton, Ohio 45402-1904 | (937) 226-1444