Todd Hudson

President, Maverick Safety Training

Mentorship Chair, ASSP Columbia Willamette Chapter

Meet Todd Hudson

Maverick Safety Training is a professional development firm that caters to people in the EHS sector, specifically helping them become great trainers. A lot of EHS professionals are technically very knowledgeable, but don’t know how to create and deliver engaging content that people remember and changes behaviors.

What initially drew you to get involved with ASSP and what keeps you engaged?

ASSP’s mission of keeping people healthy and safe really resonated with me. The moment of silence at the national conference’s opening ceremony for workers who lost their lives on the job in the past year is incredibly moving. What keeps me engaged is the passion that members have for that mission and their openness to help each other and embrace new ideas. I spent most of my career in the electronics industry, which is a notoriously secretive. You couldn’t discuss your problems or ask for help outside your company; it felt very isolating.

You just launched ASSP’s first Mentorship Program – thank you! What inspired you to take on this initiative and what do you envision for the program?

I’ve been involved in creating mentoring programs for over 20 years and have seen incredible results…better job performance, higher morale, stronger sense of community. In our chapter, there’s easily over a thousand years of experience that could be shared to everyone’s benefit, both mentees and mentors.

How do you think mentorship can impact the future of the safety profession, especially for those just entering the field?

My training edict is “Teach the fewest people the least amount of content as fast as possible.” Traditional training has a lot of waste, for example too much content, delivered at the wrong time. Well-structured mentoring is virtually waste-free. People learn just what they need when they need it. This approach quickly builds skills and confidence, especially in our emerging professionals who are on the steepest part of the learning curve.

If you could describe the new mentorship program in three words, what would they be and why?

I can do it in two words! Nurturing mastery. “Nurturing” because mentoring is relationship-based learning that caters to the mentee’s needs in the moment. The mentor is there to ensure they succeed. “Mastery” because the goal is to transfer a mentor’s knowledge and wisdom to a mentee, so they perform skillfully and confidently.

Outside of your professional role, what’s something fun people might not know about you?

I’m a fanatic about the movie The Big Lebowski. I went to a Lebowski Fest in L.A. and the Hollywood Reporter printed a picture of me from the costume party.

What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your safety career that helped shape your approach to leadership or mentorship?

When I was a manufacturing manager in the semiconductor industry, there was a freak accident and one of my supervisors got sprayed with a caustic chemical all over his cleanroom bunny suit. What should’ve been a minor incident became a major one when he did everything wrong despite receiving extra safety training. This caused me to question the fundamental effectiveness of traditional training and search for better methods. I’m happy to say I found them, but the bar for safety training must be held extremely high. We need to continually be on the hunt for ever more effective ways of engaging our colleagues and ensure that they will act safely and correctly when the time comes.

What’s a safety topic you’re currently passionate about, and how do you stay up to date in such a fast-evolving field?

I’ve been teaching clients how to use AI as a role play partner to practice and prepare for tough, uncomfortable safety conversations. It’s revolutionary! This use of AI ties into my love of mentoring. They’re both about helping people quickly build their skills and confidence on specific challenges they’re facing at the moment.

Keeping up with the changes in the AI space is almost impossible; there’s too much happening too quickly. That said, I read several AI blogs and do a lot of experimenting with the technology on my own.

Celebrating Excellence: Eric Connelly Named 2025 Safety Professional of the Year

Eric Connelly with his wife, Christine, and Barbara Aguon (Awards Chair)

Eric Connelly: 2025 Columbia Willamette Chapter Safety Professional of the Year

We are proud to announce that the 2025 Chapter Safety Professional of the Year (SPY) award has been presented to the outstanding and highly deserving Eric Connelly.

A dedicated member of ASSP since February 2007, Eric has served as a Senior Safety Management Consultant at SAIF Corporation since 2004. He holds the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and is widely recognized as a subject matter expert in construction safety. Eric leads SAIF’s efforts on Owner Controlled Insurance Program (OCIP) projects and is an OSHA 10 Authorized Construction Trainer. He also contributes his expertise through active involvement in the Construction Safety Summit and the Construction Advisory Council.

Eric’s impact extends well beyond construction. He is a valued member of SAIF’s School Safety Networking Group and the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). For over 15 years, he has played a key role in organizing the Western Pulp & Paper Conference. His voice is a familiar and respected one at the Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health (GOSH) Conference and other safety events across Oregon, including those hosted by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

What truly sets Eric apart is his unwavering commitment to mentorship and professional development. He is known for generously sharing his time, knowledge, and experience to support the growth of fellow safety and health professionals. His leadership is not only technical but deeply human—marked by humility, collaboration, and a passion for elevating the profession. As one of his SAIF colleagues put it best, if Eric had a catch-phrase, it would be: “Happy to help.”

The award was presented by Barbara Aguon, Awards Chair, during the 2025 Officer Installation Event. Please join us in congratulating Eric on this well-earned recognition!

Pictured above is Eric Connelly during the recent roof installation at the PDX Terminal Core Redevelopment (TCORE) project. As the lead SAIF consultant, Eric has been instrumental in supporting the safety team overseeing construction and improvements at Portland International Airport.

Thank you to all who attended, exhibited, sponsored, and volunteered at GOSH 2025!

That’s a wrap on the successful 38th biennial 2025 Oregon GOSH Conference with 1,322 attendees! GOSH offered 168 sessions with over 270 hours of training delivered by more than 195 speakers, networking opportunities, and 150 exhibit booths with the latest products and services.

Tuesday kicked off with a Keynote by Dr. Sally Spencer Thomas, with a powerful presentation on mental health and suicide prevention.

Also on Tuesday, the Oregon Young Employee Safety Coalition (O[yes]), hosted students and early professionals at no cost as an opportunity to attend the largest OSH conference in the PNW and network.

Women In Safety Excellence (WISE) held a networking event Tuesday evening and recognized five women across the state with Healthy, Well and Wise awards from ASSP. The WISE event was planned collaboratively by all the Oregon ASSP chapter WISE chairs.

The 7th Columbia Forklift Challenge competition winners were celebrated on Wednesday.

Seven leaders in on-the-job safety and health were honored with awards during the ceremony on Wednesday, March 5. The categories include rising safety star, business leader, safety committee/team, safety and health professional, and workplace safety program. For more information read the award recipient profiles.

The Oregon State Association of Occupational Health Nurses awarded their 2025 Shelley Jones Occupational Health Nurse of the Year, Linda Meuleveld, Wednesday evening at their networking event. Congrats Linda!

Thank you to conference planning committee chairs: Brittany Johnston (Conference Chair), Angie Wisher and Jimmy Gibbons (Program), Deb Bridges (Sponsorships), Jason Luty (Exhibits), Soren Bjerregaard (CEUs), Aaron Corvin and Lyn Zielinski Mills (Marketing), Kim Gamble (Awards), Craig Hamelund (Forklift Challenge), and Dave McNiel (Room Volunteers). Thank you to the 59 room volunteers and many others that help make this conference a success. And a special thank you to the Oregon OSHA planning team – Sharell Lein, Jill McConnell, and Diane Kronemann!

Mark your calendar for the next GOSH, March 1-4, 2027!

Women In Safety Excellence (WISE) held a networking event Tuesday night and recognized five women across the state with Healthy, Well and Wise awards from ASSP. The WISE event was planned collaboratively by all the Oregon ASSP chapter WISE chairs. Learn more here.

Thank you to the planning committee:

Paula Jones – Chair

Leigh Manning

Delta Blurton

Kathryn Ewing

Peche Barteaux

Jeffrey Mook

Shyra Vaughn

Niki Holm

Deb Bridges

Brittany Johnston

THANK YOU to Natalie McKinley for taking the time from her studies and 2 jobs to share her experiences as an ASSP Student Member with us!

If you are interested in ways to get involved with our ASSP Student Section at Oregon State University, or to mentor or be a mentee with our developing mentorship program next chapter year, please reach out to us at updates@cwc.assp.org!

Natalie McKinley

OSU Student, ASSP Student Member, Kinesiology Major | EOH Minor

What initially drew you to the field of occupational safety and health, and how has your perspective on the field evolved since you started your studies?

When I first started studying here at Oregon State, I had dreams of becoming a Physician Assistant, until I began working in a concrete manufacturing company. Seeing all of the injuries being viewed as “casual,” made me rethink my future career choice. I’ve always had a passion for helping others, which has only been made stronger through my studies of Environmental and Occupational Health.

Do you have a career path in mind?

Currently I have two jobs: a student worker at OSU’s EHS and the Project Manager’s assistant at OSU’s Memorial Union, which have both been incredibly beneficial in furthering my understanding of what it means to help others maintain high levels of safety in varying industries. For example, one project I worked on was creating safety ladders for OSU’s Student Experience Center’s roof, which allowed for HVAC technicians to safely work on a multitude of equipment. My main interest within this field is construction safety and ergonomics, which I plan to pursue post-graduation. Ever since I received my OSHA30, my next goal is to receive an ASP, leading to eventually getting the CSP.

Tell us about your involvement in the OSU Student Section.

As of December 2024, I took on the role of the OSU Student Section’s President. Within this role, I help plan events, campus tours, and meetings.

What do you hope to gain from your membership with ASSP and how do you think it will help you in your future career?

I hope to gain more leadership experience working with people of different backgrounds and interests. I want to be able to understand all walks of life while working as a safety professional, as it will curate more trust within my workplace. Being a member of ASSP allows the opportunity to connect with others who have/are working in similar fields, such as safety. By learning from others, we can advance our members’ understanding and confidence of becoming a safety professional. Guest speakers relay unique information that our club may not hear from somewhere else. It truly is priceless having these wonderful people share what they know to us.

You were able to attend GOSH 2025, what stood out to you and what did you gain from the courses you attended?

The most memorable part of GOSH was the community. Everyone was incredibly kind and willing to help answer any questions. With regards to the courses, I learned more about electrical safety and what to do during moments of downed power lines. I also went to a silica course, which included information on worker’s health when working with fine dust particles.

What are some of your hobbies outside of your studies?

Outside of studying, I’ve begun getting into woodworking. So far, I’ve found the most enjoyment through making kitchen utensils such as spoons and spatulas. I also love to work on cars with my friends.