73rd Annual Dayton/Miami Valley Safety Conference & Symposium Sessions

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Reducing Serious Injuries and Fatalities 24/7

Date: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Don Wilson - CCO, SafeStart
As an engaging thought-leader, Don regularly challenges and changes the way people view safety. In his position as Chief Client Officer of SafeStart, he has taken his passion for safety and injected it into instructional design, vocational education, e-learning, industrial education, and 24/7 safety training. Don has been a frequent presenter at the national and local NSC, ASSP and VPPPA conferences. He has also presented briefings on 24/7 safety to the leadership of all branches of the U.S. Armed Services at the Pentagon.

Summary

In the last decade, overall injury rates have steadily declined, but serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) have reduced at a much slower rate or, in many cases, not at all. Despite significant advances in workplace safety tools, systems and approaches, SIFs remain a stubborn problem. This session identifies the strengths and limitations of focusing on the three major influence areas for safety— personal, social and structural—to reduce SIFs. It discusses how a 24/7 safety approach is able to better influence safety outcomes than many of the more traditional options. The presentation investigates various ways to boost employees’ personal motivation and ability in order to reduce SIFs. Attendees will leave this session with a better understanding of the major obstacles of reducing SIFs, and several practical solutions to cut down on serious injuries and fatalities. Learning objectives: 1. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of HOC, BBS and Human Factors. 2. Learn the attributes human factors have to solve the SIF problem. 3. Discover how the human brain develops habit strength.

Culture-Driven Hazard Recognition: Building Eyes for Risk

Date: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Jim Mangas - CEO/Founder, Revolutionary Safety Services LLC
Jim Mangas is the CEO and Founder of Revolutionary Safety Services LLC, based in Anna, Ohio. He holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Occupational Health and Safety from Columbia Southern University and is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). With over 25 years of experience across multiple industries, Jim is dedicated to helping organizations reduce risk, strengthen safety culture, and protect their most valuable asset—their people. His hands-on leadership and commitment to practical, effective solutions have made Revolutionary Safety Services a trusted partner for businesses nationwide.

Summary

In this session, we’ll explore how cultivating a strong culture can dramatically improve hazard recognition and elevate the effectiveness of job hazard assessments (JHAs). Rather than relying solely on checklists and compliance, we’ll discuss how empowering workers to be vigilant, speak up, and take ownership of safety drives real change. Attendees will learn how leadership behaviors, peer accountability, and cultural expectations shape hazard awareness—and how building a culture where “everyone sees and everyone speaks” leads to fewer incidents and stronger engagement in daily risk management.

Total Worker Health®- Making a bigger impact at the Intersection of Employee Protection and Health Promotion

Date: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Shanna S. Dunbar - President, Workplace Health Inc
Shanna Dunbar, BSN, RN, COHN-S, FAAOHN leverages 30 years of occupational health experience as the founder and president of Workplace Health Inc. Her focus, using Total Worker Health® (TWH) strategies, aims at improving employee health and productivity. TWH programs protect worker safety while promoting employee wellbeing and productivity; stabilize rising health care costs while reducing work related injuries.

Summary

Did you know that 60% of health & safety professional have heard of Total Worker Health®, but less than 20% are actively pursuing implementing any of the steps? It might be because they are unsure of where to begin. This presentation outlines simple steps to address gaps and integrate programs for maximum benefit, and cost reduction creating a total workplace health culture to drive employee engagement

Safety Matters

Date: 9:00AM - 10:00AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Gary Auman - President, Auman Mahan & Furry
Gary Auman, shareholder at Auman Mahan & Furry, holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Louisville (1969) and a summa cum laude J.D. from The Ohio State University (1976). A former U.S. Air Force captain and Executive Officer of the Air Force Materials Laboratory, he began his legal career in employment law before focusing on Safety and Health Law and OSHA defense. Gary advises companies nationwide on OSHA compliance, defends citations, and serves as General or Safety Counsel for multiple trade associations. A prolific writer and national speaker on safety topics, Gary also dedicates extensive time to community service, including leadership roles with United Rehabilitation Services, the Dayton Miami Valley Safety Council, and the Dayton Engineers Club. His past board work includes the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Greater Dayton, and A Special Wish Foundation. He also volunteers with the Goodwill/Easter Seals Radio Reading Program.

Summary

Does safety matter to you and your company? This topic will discuss the different ways safety matters or should matter to your company. We will discuss the importance of safety and why it is not a one-time issue that you can touch on and then forget about. The speaker will discuss the current regulatory environment – is OSHA going away? Why or why not? If it does what will that mean to employers/employees? What impact would such a decision have on employers in Ohio? Why?

Beyond Response Training: Physical Security Strategies to Prevent Active Threat Incidents Before They Begin

Date: 10:30AM - 11:30AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Vincent "Curt" Brunotte - Co-Owner, Archery Security Consultants

Jerry Tsai - Co-Owner, Archery Security Consultants
Vincent "Curt" Brunotte and Jerry Tsai, co-owners of Archery Security Consultants, deliver 20+ years of law enforcement and military experience, 10+ years of applied physical security & risk assessment expertise, and 10+ years of business acumen in today's presentation focused on Physical Security Preparedness and how this can preemptively thwart an active threat situation.

Summary

Active shooter incidents have increased 52% over the past decade, yet most organizations focus solely on response training rather than prevention strategies. While many organizations train employees for active threat/shooter situations, they fail to implement the physical security measures that could prevent these incidents entirely. This session bridges that critical gap by introducing federal-level physical security methodologies adapted for civilian workplaces. Participants will master the '5 D's Framework' and learn to conduct systematic security assessments using proven 'Out to In' and 'Bottom to Top' evaluation techniques. Unlike traditional training that prepares for the worst-case scenario, this session equips attendees with tools to prevent incidents from occurring in the first place.

The Next Frontier of Safety: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Date: 10:30AM - 11:30AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Paul Lawson - Founder, Paul Lawson Helps LLC
Paul holds a bachelor’s degree from Cincinnati Christian University and has over ten years of experience in ministry. He has combined his passion for wellness with his work in the construction industry in central Ohio. As a two-time cancer survivor who has navigated his own mental health journey, Paul founded Paul Lawson Helps LLC after spending six years developing a robust mental health program for a local contractor. His mission is to foster a culture of care within blue-collar industries by building similar programs at other companies and providing high-quality mental health training, speaking, and advocacy

Summary

For nearly 90 years, the construction industry has made tremendous strides in physical safety, dramatically reducing injuries and saving countless lives on job sites. However, a different crisis now demands our attention—one that claims even more lives than slips, trips, and falls: suicide and overdose. Join Paul Lawson as he shares practical strategies and mental health program ideas that companies can put into action. Learn how to go beyond hard hats and harnesses to build a true culture of care—one that supports workers’ mental well-being and confronts these devastating statistics head on.

Policies and Procedures: Tips From Creation to Maintenance

Date: 10:30AM - 11:30AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Tiffany Nash - Program Director, Safe Passage Consulting
Tiffany is a writer, planner, and Registered Nurse. She currently works as a Program Manager for Safe Passage Consulting, LLC, and as an Emergency Management Director at the local level. She has experience in many industries, including retail, insurance, medical care, public health, and emergency management. She has spent over twenty years writing policies and plans, including emergency action plans, continuity of business plans, and threat and hazard assessments for private businesses, non-profits, and government agencies.

Summary

This course offers a foundational understanding of how to develop, implement, and maintain effective safety policies and procedures in the workplace. Aimed at HR, safety, and management professionals, the session covers key elements of policy development, regulatory compliance, employee communication, and enforcement strategies.

Creating Engaging Health and Safety Training

Date: 10:30AM - 11:30AM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Brian Basbagill, CSP - Senior Consultant, Safex
Brian is a Certified Safety Professional® (CSP) with more than 27 years of construction and manufacturing safety experience. In addition to his 20 years of safety consulting experience, Brian worked in manufacturing as a Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) leader and performed various safety roles supporting construction.

Summary

Compiling over 20 years of training experiences, this presentation is an interactive workshop sharing fun and creative training tools that have created strong attendee engagement. Hands-on demonstrations that attendees can incorporate in their own training sessions.

Culture Is An Inside Job

Date: Luncheon Keynote 12:20PM - 1:05PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Scott McGohan - Founder, One Morning
Scott McGohan, husband for 38 years, married to my best friend Lori. Father to 2 beautiful children, both married to amazing people and a grandparent to 4 grandchildren.

Summary

This year's keynote presentation will be delivered by Scott McGohan, Founder of One Morning. McGohan's presentation, "Culture Is An Inside Job" will show you how to dig deep and look inside your company—and yourself—to improve, step-by-step, your approach to building and maintaining a culture that results in the unprecedented inspiration that drives a profitable company, bolstered by a highly skilled and dedicated workforce.

SESSION CANCELLED: Recognizing and Diffusing Difficult and Aggressive Behavior in the Workplace

Date: 1:40PM - 2:40PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Timothy A. Dimoff, CPP - President, SACS Consulting & Investigative Services, Inc.
Timothy A. Dimoff, CPP, a multi-certified, award-winning and internationally-recognized security and HR management consultant, speaker, author, media commentator and expert witness is president and founder of SACS Consulting & Investigative Services, Inc., a high-risk HR and security consulting and investigation firm located in Akron, OH. Dimoff is an internationally board Certified Protection Professional (CPP); a registered national security and HR expert with the Technical Advisory Service for Attorneys (TASA); a member of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS); a member of InfraGard, a joint professional organization between the FBI and security professionals; a member of The National Council of Investigation & Security Services (NCISS); a member of the Ohio Association of Security & Investigative Services ((OASIS,); and a nationally certified ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training instructor. Dimoff was named Ohio’s Top Police Officer in 1989; was awarded the International Narcotics Special Award of Honor in 1991; and provided security for the 2016 National Republican Convention in Cleveland, OH. Dimoff is the author of Life Rage, and training programs on workplace violence, active shooter, sexual harassment and self-defense. He has provided commentary for newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, Internet and print media worldwide. Dimoff serves as an expert witness throughout the United States. He holds a B.S. in Sociology, with an emphasis in criminology, from Dennison University.

Summary

THIS SESSION HAS BEEN CANCELLED: This presentation teaches skills to recognize and effectively deal with difficult and aggressive behavior in the workplace. Attendees will to learn how to recognize various types of negative behaviors and methods and proactive prevention approaches that can be used when dealing with difficult people. Attendees will learn: • To identify various types of workplace behaviors and aggressions and how they can lead to violence, including bullying, intimidation, etc. • The indicators and various stages of physical and verbal aggression • How to identify aggressive vs. assertive behaviors • The difference between responsive and reactive behaviors • How to understand, detect and deal with difficult people • The importance of tactical empathy • How to set guidelines and how to discourage negative or aggressive behaviors • Proactive techniques to de-escalate and diffuse reactive or aggressive behaviors • Proper responses for specific types of aggressive behaviors

NFPA 70E, Electrical Safety and Lock Out Tag Out

Date: 1:40PM - 2:40PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Travis Baldwin - Safety Manager, Garber Electrical Contractors
Travis Baldwin has been an electrician for 11 years and moved into the safety position 2 years ago. He has been with Garber Electrical Contractors for 7 years and have a good understanding of electrical knowledge and how to perform the work safely.

Summary

We will discuss the standards of electrical safety and who should be allowed to work on energized equipment as well as when something would be allowed to be worked on energized. We will discuss NFPA 70e and what OSHA says about working on energized equipment and how to perform the work safely along with proper use of lock out tag out.

Workplace Safety Investigations: Discover the Cause, Learn from Mistakes, and Limit Liability

Date: 1:40PM - 2:40PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Doug Jenks - Partner, Auman, Mahan & Furry
Doug Jenks is a partner at Auman, Mahan, and Furry in Dayton. He represents employers locally and nationally regarding a variety of legal matters including industrial accidents, employment issues, workers' compensation, and OSHA citations. Doug and his legal partner, Abbie White, co-host a safety law podcast, The Health and Safety Law Report. Afterall, all the cool kids have podcasts.

Summary

Employers should conduct investigations carefully and thoroughly to create processes and procedures that eliminate hazards and prevent injuries. Attorney Doug Jenks will share some best practices for employers when conducting safety-related investigations while limiting liability. This presentation will also cover responses to an employee’s safety-related complaint.

The Future of Safety is Smart: Tech & AI on the Frontline

Date: 1:40PM - 2:40PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Zachary Kiehl - CEO & Principal Co-Founder, VigiLife, Inc.
Zach Kiehl is the CEO and principal engineer of VigiLife, the company behind SafeGuard, a real-time safety platform that protects frontline workers using wearable tech and smart data. His work has supported everything from heat stress prevention to emergency response, with clients ranging from Fortune 500s to the Department of Defense. He earned biomedical engineering degrees from Wright State and an MBA from Indiana University. He’s a patented inventor, certified PMP, and a frequent speaker on topics like workplace safety, wearable tech, and building mission-driven companies.

Summary

The future of safety is no longer about clipboards and compliance checklists—it’s about smart systems that predict and prevent risks before they happen. In this talk, we’ll explore how AI, technology like wearables, and real-time data are transforming frontline safety across industries from construction to aviation. Through real-world case studies and stories from the field, we’ll look at how organizations are using technology to protect workers in extreme environments, reduce costly incidents, and build cultures of trust. We’ll also unpack the trends shaping this space—from predictive analytics to human-AI collaboration—and discuss what it means for leaders tasked with keeping their people safe in an increasingly complex world.

Fall Protection Demonstration Presented By 3M

Date: 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Andy Dollman - Fall Protection Specialist, 3M
Andy Dollman is a Fall Protection Specialist with 3M. He started in this position June 2025 after relocating from West Virginia. Andy is now a Columbus, OH resident and enjoys sports and hiking.

Summary

During this presentation, Fall Protection Specialist, Andy Dollman, will cover the ABC's of fall protection and fall protection for tools.

Confined Space Training

Date: 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Nick Seitz - President, Firefighter Safe

Summary

This hands-on training will give participants the chance to safely practice real-life confined space scenarios with the latest equipment, all inside a state-of-the-art mobile simulator. This session will help you identify confined spaces, recognize and mitigate hazards, and make safe entries.

The Office Ergonomics Advantage: Reducing Pain and Boosting Performance

Date: 3:00PM - 4:00PM

Location: Sinclair Conference Center

Speakers

Holly Emsley - Occupational Therapist and Ergonomic Specialist, Premier Health
Holly Emsley is an Occupational Therapist who has spent the bulk of her careen treating people with Industrial Injuries. Then in 1992, she began an additional focus on studying the application of Ergonomic principles. She has been enthusiastically adjusting people’s work and personal environments ever since. It is her passion, and she is here to share her knowledge with us.

Summary

Discover simple tips and tricks you can use right away to improve your office ergonomics, reduce discomfort, and boost your overall comfort throughout the day.

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

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