Safety & Health Conference 2025 Speaker Bios and PowerPoints

Joe Brandel, MIPS

Director of Onsite/Occupational Medicine 

• Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in the Workplace and Why OSHA Now Recommends Helmets
• Fall Protection Competent Inspector Training and Update on New OSHA and ANSI Standards

Joe Brandel has been in the construction and industrial safety business for 24 years. Specializing in fall protection, hand protection, head protection and other personal protective equipment, Joe has provided training for large and small companies throughout the Midwest. He has also provided solutions for a variety of industries, which have not only helped reduce costs, but most importantly, created safer working environments for employees.  

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A Ken Brooks, Jr, Insurance Planning, Inc. 

Safety and Loss Control Representative

• Tragedies that Forever Changed Safety in the Workplace! Part 1
• Tragedies that Forever Changed Safety in the Workplace! Part 2

A. Ken Brooks, Jr. completed a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Safety from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). Brooks currently holds the Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designations. Brooks has over 25 years of safety experience and has been employed with Insurance Planning, Inc. (IPI) for 18 years. Brooks has never attended Clown College but has always wished that he could juggle. His duties with Insurance Planning, Inc. include conducting safety meetings, performing safety inspections, and helping to establish safety programs for the companies that are insured through IPI. These companies are involved in various industries, and range from manufacturing to oilfield to hospital and restaurants, etc. His previous employment includes working with the Insurance Services Office (ISO) helping cities and counties in maintaining and improving ISO fire protection ratings. 

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Jacob Larson, K-State Pollution Prevention Institute

Pollution Prevention Specialist 

• Vape Waste and Li-Ion Batteries – A RCRA Overview

Jacob Larson provides technical assistance on environmental regulations and sustainability initiatives for Kansas industries, communities, and institutions through the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program at K-State. 

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Darryl Lutz, Kansas Association of Counties

Local Road Engineer 

• Moving Your Agency to a “Culture of Safety

Darryl Lutz started his current career as the Local Road Engineer for the Kansas Association of Counties in December 2024. The Local Road Engineer is a resource person to county Road & Bridge and Public Works Departments across Kansas. This position provides guidance to Kansas counties primarily on general operations of County Highway Departments and on project funding programs and regulatory compliance administered through the Kansas Department of Transportation, Bureau of Local Projects. Prior to his current role, Darryl served for 32 years as the Director of Public Works and County Engineer for Butler County, Kansas. He has gained extension knowledge of public works operations management in Kansas through education, training, practice and on-the-job experience. He developed a passion for employee and workplace safety during his career and was instrumental in advocating for and helping to cultivate a new "Culture of Safety" for Butler County.  Darryl has a bachelor’s degree in science and civil engineering from the University of Texas-Arlington and holds a professional engineering license in Kansas. Darryl is married to his wife Anne and lives in Andover, Kansas. 

Eric Hallerud, MS, CSP

Corporate Safety & Risk Manager

• Hear Today, Hear Tomorrow

Eric Hallerud, MS, CSP - Received his M.S. in Industrial Safety Management from UCM in 1996. He served as; Manager for the Workers’ Safety Program for the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation 1996-2003, Senior Safety Consultant for Day Star Safety 2004-08, Corporate Safety and Risk Manager for the City of Kansas City, MO 2009-2019 and Assistant Instructor at UCM Dept. of Safety Sciences 2019-2024. He also served as President for the ASSP Heart of America Chapter 2010-2011 and as Regional Vice President for ASSP Region V 2017-2021. Recipient of the Charles V. Culbertson Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service to ASSP 2015-2016 and the Region V Safety Professional of the Year 2022-2023.  

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Tsvetan Popov, University of Central Missouri

Associate Professor 

• Determination of Methylene Chloride Airborne Concentrations Using TD-GC-FID

Dr. Tsvetan Popov, CSP, CIH is an associate professor in the Department of Occupational Risk and Safety Sciences at the University of Central Missouri. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and a Certified Safety Professional (CSP). In 2005, Tsvetan Popov received a PhD in Chemistry from the Defense Advanced Research Institute in Sofia, Bulgaria. In 2019, Tsvetan Popov graduated with a master’s degree in industrial hygiene from the University of Central Missouri. While serving as a senior CWA inspector with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Nobel Peace Prize 2013 was awarded to the Organization "for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons".

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Keith Reissig, iSi Environmental

Project Manager /Industrial Hygienist

• It’s a Hard Rock Life: Navigating OSHA’s Silica Standards and NEP

A project manager and industrial hygienist at iSi, Keith brings over 20 years of industrial hygiene experience to iSi and its clients. Keith is experienced in creating compliance programs, development and implementation of Health and Safety Plans, industrial hygiene testing, and conducts much of iSi's safety and HAZWOPER training courses.  As an Industrial Hygienist, Keith works with clients to monitor workplaces for chemicals and other contaminates they may be affected by. He makes sure clients are providing employees with the proper PPE and that they are working under the correct exposure limits. Keith also monitors for hearing conservation, combustible dust and emergency response, as well as provide written programs and training. Prior to joining iSi, Keith served as safety manager for the Coleman Company, EHS manager for Triumph and a Senior IH at Textron Aviation.  His knowledge of real-life application of safety and IH in manufacturing has been useful for assisting clients with the compliance clients face in the aircraft industry.  Keith has a bachelors in both Chemistry and Mathematics from Friends University.

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Deb Scheibler, Kansas WorkforceONE  

Executive Director

• Workforce Resources

As Executive Director of Kansas WorkforceONE, Deb Scheibler leads and directs workforce services in a 79-county area in North Centra, Central and Western Kansas. Throughout her 24-year career in Workforce Development, Scheibler has held such roles as Case Manager, One-Stop Operator, Rapid Response Coordinator, Chief Fiscal Officer, Human Resources Director, Program Director, and currently serves as Executive Director of Kansas WorkforceONE since 2012. Prior to this, she spent time working in the private sector in communications systems management. She has a BA in Finance and Business from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, KS. She holds the Certified Workforce Development Professional certification through the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals. Deb Scheibler’s passion for serving customers with significant barriers has directed the Kansas WorkforceONE organization and its staff to work specifically to train and prepare job seekers with disabilities, justice involved individuals, and other significant barriers to employment.  As a result, our programs have consistently been recognized for exceptional performance and as examples of best practices at both the state and national level. 

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Joseph Whitlock, Kansas State University

Executive Director, Environmental Health & Safety 

• Employees Are the Secret Weapon – Near Miss Reporting

Joseph currently serves as the Executive Director, Environment, Health, and Safety for Kansas State University, helping lead EHS efforts at the Manhattan, Salina, Olathe campuses and extension locations across Kansas.  As Assistant Professor, Joseph has also taught EHS undergraduate and graduate courses for 15 years and has mentored countless environmental, safety, and industrial hygiene professionals as faculty advisor.   In addition to serving in higher education, Joseph has extensive plant, regional, and corporate EHS experience at Fortune-100 Corporations and has helped international organizations solve their complex EHS problems.   Joseph earned his BS in Environmental Science from Indiana-Bloomington, his MBA from Indiana Wesleyan-Marion, and his PhD in Safety Sciences from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

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Cass Willard, PROtect LLC

Industrial Hygienist  

• Heat Stress Regulations

Cass Willard has over 30 years in the environmental, safety and health profession.  He has a Master of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Industrial Hygienist.  He served as Past President for the Tulsa Chapter of ASSE.  He was awarded “Safety Professional of the Year” by the Tulsa Chapter of the ASSE in 2001.  He is the Industrial Hygiene Manager for PROtect, LLC. 

Peter Batrowny, SafeStart

Senior Consultant

• Culture Catalysts: 6 Safety Success Factors for Supervisors

With a lifelong passion for the environment and safety, it's no surprise that Peter has built a career as an industry-leading global environmental health, safety and physical security executive. Leveraging on the lessons from his extensive career, Peter has seamlessly transitioned to being the voice of EHS&S and is a highly regarded speaker. His Six Sigma Green Belt improves his ability to discuss complex subjects like quality improvements such as preventing errors, reducing waste and analyzing data. A major hallmark of Peter's career is his ability to transform cultures and build networks of communication and teamwork. He's a bilingual speaker who can culturally connect with employees on a deeper level, understand their needs, and initiate strategic improvements based on those needs. Peter has been featured as a speaker at NSC conferences, Campbell Symposiums and the SafeStart Human Factors Conference. He has also lent his voice to podcasts for SafeStart, SafeConnection Expert Panels and has been a guest on Larry Wilson Live: Conversations with Real Safety Experts. Peter serves on the Advisory Board for the Center of Visual Expertise (COVE) and is actively involved in the National Safety Council (NSC). Peter began his career by proudly serving in the U.S. Army. 

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Jorge De La Torre, Hutton

Safety Director

• Building and Living a Culture of Safety

Jorge De La Torre is the Director of Safety for Hutton, where he leads the development and execution of comprehensive safety strategies across the company’s construction operations. With over a decade of experience in environmental health and safety, Jorge is known for his ability to connect field realities with leadership vision. He is an OSHA-authorized trainer, a respected safety professional, and a frequent speaker on the topics of culture, risk, and accountability. His mission is to create environments where safety is not just a requirement, but a way of working, thinking, and leading. 

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Curtis J. Leiker, iSi Environmental

Senior Project Manager 

• Oops They Did It Again: Tales from the OHSA Log & Staying Compliant with Recordkeeping and Reporting

Curtis J. Leiker, CSP is a senior project manager at iSi Environmental, an environmental, health and safety consulting and industrial services firm.  Besides assisting companies with ISO 45001 and 14001 audits as well as other OSHA and EPA compliance audits, Curtis manages environmental and safety programs, environmental reporting, safety and other compliance issues for aviation, general industry, and agricultural facilities. He is able to see the big picture but focus on the details and enjoys working to solve EHS issues.  Curtis is an ISO 45001 and 14001 Lead Auditor.  He also is an instructor for iSi's RCRA hazardous waste training courses and is one of their main go-to experts for OSHA and EPA regulation interpretations.  Prior to joining iSi, Curtis directed corporate safety, environmental and ISO programs for manufacturing facilities and he led internal committees on program and procedure development. Curtis holds a Master and bachelor’s degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with an emphasis on Air Quality Engineering, with secondary majors in natural resources and environmental sciences, all from Kansas State University. 

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Chris Meyers, Interstates Inc. 

Project Engineer/Design Services

• Practical Maintenance NFPA 70B and 70E

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduate with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (May 2011) with interests in industrial and commercial design, power systems, mechanical failure analysis, and design. Licensed Engineer in Training. I have acted as the lead engineer on projects ranging from biodiesel additions, greenfield mills, steel mill upgrade projects, and arc flash safety analysis primarily for industrial facilities. My responsibilities included project management and scheduling, design, interdisciplinary coordination, client reporting, and construction support.    

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Samantha J. Monsees, Fisher & Phillips, LLP

Attorney

• When OSHA Knocks: Employer Rights and Responsibilities

Samantha Monsees is a partner in the Kansas City office of national labor and employment firm Fisher Phillips. Her practice focuses on all aspects of employment litigation and counseling, often defending employers in discrimination, retaliation, harassment and wage and hour lawsuits.  A member of the Firm’s Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management Practice Group, Samantha regularly assists clients with related issues, including OSHA inspections, contesting OSHA citations and OSHRC litigation. She represents employers during OSHA inspections and investigations, defends OSH Act 11(c) whistleblower and retaliation claims, and provides OSHA compliance advice to clients. Samantha is licensed in Kansas, Missouri and Iowa. 

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Bill Turner, Turner Safety Consulting, LLC

Owner

• The 7 UPs of Leadership

I began my career as a maintenance employee at a refinery in Arkansas City and, over the course of 11 years, worked my way up to the position of Lead Operator. From 2000 to 2008, I served as the PSM (Process Safety Management) Manager for two refineries in Corpus Christi, TX. Following that, I developed and managed a comprehensive PSM program for nine pipeline terminals across the Midwest and successfully led 29 pipeline terminals to achieve the prestigious OSHA Voluntary Protection Plan (VPP) Star Award. I also oversaw these 29 terminals through one or more VPP recertification audits. My commitment to safety and operational excellence extends beyond my own sites. I served on the Region VII VPP Participants Association Board of Directors for 12 years, including six as Chairperson. Additionally, I have personally mentored over 25 sites in the past 18 years to achieve the VPP Star Award. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside OSHA as a VPP Special Government Employee (SGE), participating in 30 audits to support their efforts in VPP evaluations. 

Over my career, I’ve been honored to receive numerous accolades, including being named Region VII’s SGE of the Year three times, Region VIII’s SGE of the Year once and being the first SGE to ever win the National SGE of the Year Award twice. My education has come from decades of hands-on experience, beginning in 1984 when I entered the workforce at the age of 19. While I don’t hold a formal degree in safety, I believe my practical, on-the-job training allows me to connect with and relate to employees in the field on a deeper level. My unique journey and insights make me an engaging and effective speaker, capable of inspiring audiences and sharing actionable knowledge. 

Dual Presentations 

• John Ster_Charles Colbert_#1 Development of a Balanced Scorecard
• John Ster_Charles Colbert_#2 Power Tools B Teams for Purchasing
• John Ster_Charles Colbert_#3 HVM_and_Sound
• John Ster_Charles Colbert_#4 Who's in You Toolbox
• John Ster_Charles Colbert_#5 Final Buying for Safety PRO LOG PURC
• John Ster_Charles Colbert_#6 Silica Exposure Part 1 & 2

Charles Colbert, Retired Corp of Engineers

MS, PE, CIH, CPS 

Chas Colbert, PE, MS, CIH, MEng has approximately 30 years of experience in managing the E,H, and S programs in diverse engineering, explosives manufacturing, and environmental engineering arenas both in the private and federal government sectors. He is certified in industrial hygiene (CIH) with a MS in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg) and a MEng in Advanced Safety Engineering and Management degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. As a staff industrial hygienist and geological engineer at a Kansas City Engineering Company, he participated in a geotechnical evaluation of a force main route in Springfield, MO and provided health and safety support (SSHO) for a self-led 2-year long RCRA investigation of a major refinery which included drilling around gasoline and toluene leaking storage tanks and storm water drains. At a subsequent post, Mr. Colbert served as the plant industrial hygienist for a GOCO army ammunition plant which used HMX and TNT mixtures. Developed IH laboratory method evaluation for conducting TNT air monitoring (dust and vapor).  Provided air monitoring of baghouses of explosive residue incinerators. Later, he accepted a position with the Kansas City District, USACE in the Environmental Branch, which was charged with cleanup of DoD and EPA sites; Chas was responsible for the review of government and contractor health and safety plans according to 29 CFR 1910.120 and EM 385-1-1 to include field oversite and construction safety. Also, Chas accepted a year-long detail at the Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville District, Alabama as a safety engineer. Colbert has served on the SAE EG1B1 committee since 2014. He retired from federal service in 2017.  He is currently working on a research proposal concerning hand-transmitted vibration to prevent hand arm vibration syndrome.

John M. Ster, JMS Engineering and Consulting, LLC

BSMET, MBA

 In July 2013, John accepted an incentivized retirement from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) after 23 years of service having oversight of multiple positions and functions within the GSA.  John’s primary position was serving as Director of Engineering and Commodity Management within the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS).  Primary responsibilities included product description and specification development, supply chain management policy, logistics and customer service.  John maintained technical responsibility for numerous federal supply classes assigned to GSA. 

 John earned a Master’s in Business Science Management (Leadership) from Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey, and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Sacramento State University in California. 

John has also participated in and completed the USDA Graduate Schools Executive Potential Program (EPP) in addition to numerous senior management development courses.  

Mr. Ster is a member of the SAE, Society of Automotive Engineers hand tools committee, EG-1B, and served as chairman for over 8 years; and member of the American society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B17 Standardization 

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Laura Keniston, Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest , M.H.A.

Outreach Coordinator 

• See Beyond Safety: Uncover Hidden Risks with Hazard Mapping

Laura Keniston, M.H.A., has served as the outreach coordinator for the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest, a NIOSH Center of Excellence for Total Worker Health® since 2016. Her work is focused on developing and disseminating evidence-based resources and best practices for supporting the safety, health and well-being of the workforce. 

Laura received her M.H.A. degree from Des Moines University and B.S. degree in psychology from the University of Iowa. She has experience working with local employers, case managers, injured workers and occupational health providers to facilitate return to work for individuals recovering from work-related injuries. This experience fueled her passion for protecting the well-being of workers. 

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Eric Litwiller, Mental Health America of South-Central Kansas

Director of Communications and Donor Advising

• Mental Health and Suicide Awareness

Eric has been serving MHA of South-central Kansas since fall of 2017. He is featured on all three television networks in the Wichita area, being interviewed around 120 times each year on topics related to mental health. In addition, he represents MHA on multiple radio stations throughout the year and does several dozen speaking engagements including corporate lunch-and-learn events and church sermons on mental health. When not at work, Eric owns a small, custom furniture shop, and farms his acreage west of Newton. 

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Kim Robinson, On-Site Solutions Physical Therapy

Program Director

• The Power of Prevention: How Small Changes Can Make a Big Impact Reducing Sprain/Strain Injuries

Kim Robinson, PT, DPT, earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2006. She currently serves as a physical therapist and Construction Program Director at On-Site Solutions Physical Therapy, a company dedicated to transforming workplace healthcare and helping organizations eliminate barriers to injury prevention and physical therapy services.   Kim has 20 years of experience in physical therapy, with a deep focus on treating orthopedic conditions, managing pain, and delivering injury prevention solutions directly to employees. She specializes in designing customized injury prevention and musculoskeletal (MSK) injury management programs, specifically aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced in industrial settings.