Biography

Patrick Wolocko, CHST, GSP is the Safety Manager for mechanical contractor W. Soule and Company out of Portage, MI. He has been with W. Soule since 2015 performing various tasks for the Safety Department. These tasks include visiting work sites and performing audits, trainings, and performing incident investigations. Other tasks have included developing procedures and policies for the Corporate Safety Manual, developing and implementing job safety analysis and site-specific safety plans, and leading Shop Safety Committees. Patrick earned a B.A. degree in Construction Management in 2012 from Central Michigan University and a B.S degree in Occupational Safety and Health in 2015 from Oakland University, earning a Graduated Safety Practitioner (GSP) at the same time. In 2018 Patrick earned the CHST certification from BCSP. He has been a member of ASSP since 2013 and has held numerous positions during that time. While at Oakland University he held the Vice President and President positions, the Professional Development Chair for the Great Detroit Chapter, Communications Chair and Advisory Council member for the Emerging Professional CIG. He has been a part of the Future Safety Leaders Conference for 6 years. Two years as an attendee, one year as a presenter, and four years on the planning committee with two of those years as Co-Chair for the conference. In 2019 he received the ASSP Emerging Professionals CIG’s SPY award and was a National Safety Council Rising Star of Safety recipient. Patrick currently resides in Kalamazoo, MI with his wife Kayla and two dogs Lucy and Molli.

Platform Statement

The Emerging Professionals Common Interest Group connects a wide range of individuals throughout the safety industry. We have students, freshly graduated individuals, entry level safety professionals, those that have been in the field for about five to ten years, and individuals that have changed their careers. That is the great thing about this group, we are all still learning. Even though I am still learning, I have the opportunity be in a position that guides those that are in the position I was in when I started out. Engagement and networking are the key aspects to a community which is what the Emerging Professional CIG is, a community. We are a community to help each other strive in this industry. The more engagement we have with each other the stronger the community will be. Improving engagement within the common interest group will draw more members, increasing the wide range or perspectives and experiences of the members of the Emerging Professional CIG. The more experiences we have within our members, the more we have to offer the members. It is not just the Advisory Council putting teachings together for the members, it is all members learning from each other. Having an open community with vast experiences will help improve the mentorship program, the quality of speakers at the PDC sponsored by our CIG and increase the day to day interactions between our members on social media groups and the ASSP Community Platform. There are multiple ways we learn throughout our lives, and I believe sharing thoughts and experiences is the best way to help the professional community as a whole grow in expertise as well as professional leaders.