President's Message

As my year as the 111th Society president comes to a close, I can clearly see how ASSP has stepped in, stepped out and stepped up for workplace safety. This has been an extraordinary year. I have had the privilege of traveling across the country, connecting with hundreds of dedicated members. ASSP is powered by volunteers, and their passion continues to inspire me.

At its core, networking is about building relationships, and there is no better place to do that than within the ASSP community. Our members freely share expertise, open doors and offer guidance. These are not transactional exchanges, but actions that create genuine, lasting connections.

In an era when we are often encouraged to say no to things that do not directly benefit us, I encourage you to say yes to volunteer opportunities—not just because volunteers are essential to keeping ASSP strong, but because volunteering benefits you as well.

Whether our members are advising senior leaders, partnering with operations, working alongside frontline employees or collaborating with vendors and contractors, our effectiveness depends on trust. ASSP is leaning into our role as trusted adviser with the launch of standards-based user groups, where employers, safety professionals and technology innovators work together to operationalize ASSP standards inside real business systems.

When you vote in an ASSP election, you help shape the future of our Society, including our priorities, our direction and the leadership that will guide decisions for years to come.

It is a new year, and for many of us, that means new resolutions or fresh goals. There is ample research showing that setting goals can change behavior in measurable ways.

In our profession, giving back is not just a seasonal sentiment; it is a core value that shapes who we are as safety professionals and as people.

To be a great leader, it is important to regularly show appreciation for employee input in a way that is meaningful to them.

Organizational culture plays a crucial role in mental well-being. A culture that values health and normalizes conversations about mental health makes it easier for people to seek help.

The best EHS professionals are perpetual students, and ASSP offers a comprehensive, career-long education ecosystem. Whether you are an emerging professional or have many years of experience, there is always more to learn.

While many have expressed concern with what artificial intelligence (AI) would do to the world of safety and health, most have come to realize that it is truly an amazing advancement that needs our attention. It can be an effective copilot in our mission to prevent workplace injuries and save lives.

In this new time of uncertainty, we have the opportunity take a giant step forward by encouraging organizations to go beyond mere regulatory compliance.