Safety Summit

8:30 – 9:00 a.m.

9:00 –  9:15 a.m.

Presented by Dr. Jeremy Thomas, President of Black Hawk College

9:15 – 10:30 a.m.

Presented by Brian Bothast, Safety Occupational Health Specialist, U.S. Dept of Labor/OSHA

About the Presenter

Brian Bothast is a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in Peoria, Illinois. He has worked for Caterpillar in the Environmental, Health and Safety Department and as an industrial hygienist with OSHA. He is a 1988 graduate of Illinois State University with a B.S. in environmental health.

10:30 – 10:35 a.m.

10:35 – 11:20 a.m.

Presented by Anna Copeland, Safety Consultant, Construction Safety Specialists, Inc.

About the Presenter

Anna Copeland brings over 14 years of experience in the construction industry. She holds business degrees from Black Hawk College and Western Illinois University and is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). With a practical, people-focused approach to safety, Anna works with organizations to strengthen safety programs and improve performance across all levels. She was named to the National Safety Council’s Rising Stars of Safety and currently serves as president of the Quad Cities Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP).

11:20 – 11:25 a.m.

11:25 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Presented by Carrie Kolodji, Senior Risk Control Analyst, BITCO Insurance Companies

About the Presenter

Carrie Kolodji is a senior risk control analyst at BITCO Insurance Companies with more than 25 years in insurance and over 10 years in safety. She serves on the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council board of directors and as area director for Region V of the American Society of Safety Professionals. Carrie is past president for ASSP’s Quad Cities Chapter, professional development chair for BITCO’s Women in Insurance Network and has chaired community initiatives such as United Way. She specializes in risk management, professional development and building authentic professional connections.

12:10 – 12:15 p.m.

12:15 – 1:15 p.m.

1:15-2 p.m.

Presented by James Baxter, Senior Industrial Hygienist, Terracon

This presentation will explore how Building Environmental Sciences (BES) supports disaster response planning, immediate post-event actions and long-term recovery related to select regulations and guidance. The presentation highlights practical considerations such as hazardous materials assessment as well as moisture and mold impacts and will explore a couple of case studies showing how this information/knowledge can help promote safer (and faster) recovery.

About the Presenter

James Baxter serves as a regional technical consultant in Terracon’s Quad Cities office and has approximately 20 years of experience in the environmental industry. His expertise spans various practice areas including asbestos, lead, mold, industrial hygiene and safety/risk assessment services.

In addition to his core responsibilities, James is actively engaged in delivering awareness training and presentations to both existing and prospective clients. His commitment to educating and informing clients reflects his dedication to clients’ needs as a knowledgeable and approachable resource.

2:00 – 2:05 p.m.

2:05-2:50 p.m.

Presented by Sheri Saskowski, Safety Manager, Wyffels Hybrids

In this presentation, participants will identify why injuries and near misses are often underreported and understand the importance of reporting injuries, hazards and near misses as a key part of injury prevention. We will explain how safety incentive programs can support a strong safety culture when designed correctly and distinguish between effective (“good”) and ineffective (“bad”) safety incentive program practices. Participants will also recognize how incentive programs focused on leading indicators help prevent injuries rather than hide them and understand how employee participation and management support contribute to a successful safety culture.

About the Presenter

Sheridan Saskowski is the safety manager at Wyffels Hybrids Inc., where she leads the development and continuous improvement of the company’s safety management system across multiple sites in the central Corn Belt. She is an accomplished environmental health and safety (EHS) professional with over a decade of hands-on experience in agriculture, food production and public health.

Sheri is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist (COHC) and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSB) among others. Her professional credentials also include certifications as an OSHA-authorized trainer, fall protection inspection, ergonomics and wastewater operations.

Sheri also serves as vice president of the Quad Cities Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and is an active member of the Henry County Farm Bureau Health and Safety Committee. As a coordinator for Progressive Agriculture Foundation Safety Days since 2017, she plays a hands-on role in educating youth and families about safety in rural settings.

2:50 – 3:15 p.m.

Julie Gelaude