Join us for a pre-conference networking event!

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

Time: TBD

Location: TBD

Hors d'oeuvres will be provided, cash bar.

Recommended Hotels:

Hilton Garden Inn
4640 N River Blvd. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA
View Midwest Women in Safety Group Rate Room Block Here

The Hotel at Kirkwood

7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA

Arrive at the Kirkwood Linn County Regional Center to check in for the day, and spend time perusing the vendors.

Opening Remarks and Welcome

OneLadder focuses on the 4 gender specific challenges that women face in predominantely male industries. Barb relates these challenges to ladder rungs that are Missing, Broken, Sticky, and Slippery, and helps audiences to better recognize, understand, overcome, and eliminate these challenges in order to build OneLadder that can provide a safe and equitable climb for everyone in our industry.  

Barb Allen is a speaker, author, podcast host, and former construction executive with more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry. Her career journey has taken her from tradeswoman to executive leadership, giving her a unique perspective on leadership, workplace culture, and career advancement in predominantly male industries. Drawing from real-world experience and powerful storytelling, Barb challenges audiences to think differently about the norms they accept, the culture they create, and the impact they have on the people around them.

Break and View Vendors

Track 1: Strategies for Success by Navigating, Negotiating, Learning, and Leading

This session includes simple strategies to help you accomplish more; be more engaged; be the person that you want to be; and be the person that people look for to lead. You will leave with helpful tips that you can apply immediately to your work or life.

About the Speaker: Kathi Dobson is a construction safety leader with 27 years of industry experience, most recently serving as Safety Director for Alberici Constructors before founding KDsafety Solutions, LLC in 2024. A longtime contributor to safety standards development, she has held leadership roles with ASSP, ANSI, A10, and Z359 committees, helping shape national guidance on PPE, fall protection, and construction safety. Kathi also serves on the National Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety & Health (NACOSH), where her work on heat injury and illness prevention helped inform OSHA's proposed heat standard. In addition, she is actively involved with the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and supports apprenticeship programs in Michigan. Her passion for advancing safety and equity in construction continues to drive her work and industry advocacy.

Track 2: Medical Aspects of Respirator Clearance and Use

This session will explore the medical clearance process required for workplace respirator use and the key health factors that determine an employee’s ability to safely wear a respirator. Attendees will gain an understanding of regulatory requirements and common medical considerations. The presentation will also highlight the importance of ongoing medical surveillance and program management to ensure continued worker protection, compliance, and respiratory health.

About the Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Westpheling is a board certified occupational medicine physician with over 25 years experience. He has supervised multiple industrial respirator programs and performed thousands of respirator clearance physicals. Before medical school, Dr. Westpheling was a Des Moines firefighter/paramedic and therefore, has real world experience using all types of respirators including SCBA. 

Track 3: Enhancing Hazard Recognition with HOP: Preventing Serious Injuries and Fatalities

Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) in Hazard Recognition: Building Resilient Safety Systems explores how HOP principles can revolutionize workplace safety by moving beyond traditional compliance-­based approaches. This interactive session will demonstrate how to apply the five fundamental HOP principles to enhance hazard recognition and prevent Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs). Participants will learn practical techniques for identifying gaps between work-as-imagined versus work-as-done, uncovering hidden systemic risks that traditional safety systems often miss. Through real-world case studies and hands-on exercises, attendees will gain actionable strategies for observing work differently, engaging workers in meaningful safety conversations, and building more resilient safety systems. This session is ideal for safety professionals seeking to transform their approach to hazard recognition and create a more proactive, people-centered safety culture. 

About the Speaker: Dr. Ashley Gill, CSP, serves as Director of Safety, National Projects at McGough, bringing over 18 years of expertise in occupational safety and health across data center construction and large-scale projects. She holds a Doctor in Business Administration focused on organizational behavior and informal safety leadership, and is an adjunct professor at Tarleton State University and East Texas A&M, teaching Construction Safety Management, Industrial Safety, and Program Management. Named the 2022 Safety Professional of the Year by the ASSP Fort Worth Chapter, Dr. Gill integrates evidence-based safety solutions with operational excellence through both her field experience and academic research in organizational behavior. 

Break and View Vendors

Track 1: TBD

Description Coming Soon

About the Speaker: TBD

Track 2: The Myth of The Invincible Worker: Lessons from a Modern-Day Paul Bunyan

In our workplaces, we often strive to embody the legend of Paul Bunyan, the invincible "helper" who can fix any problem and carry any load without ever showing strain. We wear our professional gear like armor, masking internal struggles with mental health and substance use behind a veneer of "toughness." This session uses the Bunyan metaphor to explore what happens when the person everyone relies on, the "superhero" of the team is secretly drowning, proving that even the strongest foundations can develop cracks that are invisible to the naked eye. 

Through the deeply personal story of my deceased partner, Josh, and a moving video of a child's simple question, "Are you okay?," challenges the "tough it out" culture that keeps workers silent. Participants will learn to look beyond the superhero mask to identify "leading indicators" of a mental health crisis, such as withdrawal and irritability. The presentation concludes with a practical "toolbox" for directing peers to life-saving services like EAP and the 988 Crisis Lifeline, ensuring that no one is left to carry an ox-sized burden alone. 

About the Speaker: Carrie Kolodji, bio coming soon

Track 3: Light Duty, Heavy Lifting: Supporting Our Safety Sisters in Pregnancy and Parenthood

What do parents-to-be and new parents need from their colleagues, regardless of their workplace? Support, that’s what. But it is a little different being pregnant when you work in safety, need leave to otherwise deal with a pregnancy- or childbirth-related condition, as well as returning from childbirth. We will discuss the Pregnant Workers' Fairness Act and what should be happening at your workplace. This session is a unique opportunity to not only understands the rights and obligations of the individual and the employer, but to have a frank and open discussion as to how we can support our team members. So, beyond the law, how do we make someone feel comfortable who needs to pump at work? How do we accommodate a need for light duty while doing our best to ensure our colleague remains connected to their team? What are the myths regarding pregnant and new parents that permeate the safety sector and how to we extinguish them? With this program, the speaker, and the collective participation of audience, we will get you these answers, and more. 

About the Speaker: Alisa Beth Arnoff is a founding member of the Chicago law firm of Scalambrino & Arnoff, LLC. Alisa concentrates her practice in the areas of employment and labor law, representing privately and publicly held companies throughout the country. She also provides preventative counseling in avoiding and handling employee disputes. A big part of her practice is consulting with clients concerning everyday workplace problems, such as recruitment and selection, employee morale, absenteeism, productivity and separation from employment. Alisa has a special interest in the Fire Service and consults regularly on Fire/EMS personnel matters throughout the country.

Lunch Presentation: The Invisible Load - Mental Health Challenges Women Carry at Work and at Home

Women in today’s workforce often carry a complex and invisible load—balancing professional responsibilities with caregiving for children and aging parents, while navigating life transitions. These overlapping demands can significantly impact mental health, contributing to stress, burnout, and reduced well-being. In safety-focused environments, these challenges can also influence decision-making, focus, and overall performance. 

This session explores the unique mental health needs of women in the workplace, highlighting the cumulative effect of competing priorities and expectations. Participants will gain insight into how burnout manifests, why traditional definitions of work-life balance often fall short, and what sustainable alternatives can look like. The discussion will also emphasize practical, realistic approaches to self-care, boundary setting, and energy management—framed not as optional, but as essential to both personal well-being and workplace safety. 

About the Speaker: Carol Meade, MSW, LISW, serves as President of Behavioral Health Services and AbbeHealth, bringing more than 30 years of leadership and clinical experience in behavioral health, child and adolescent services, and community mental health systems. Prior to this role, she served as Director of Behavioral Health Services for UnityPoint Health–St. Luke’s Hospital, where she provided strategic and operational leadership for a large behavioral health continuum of care, overseeing inpatient, outpatient, and substance use disorder services while advancing quality, growth, and patient-centered outcomes. Throughout her career, Carol has successfully developed innovative programs, strengthened partnerships across healthcare, education, and community organizations, and championed integrated behavioral health services throughout Eastern Iowa.

Join this guided ergonomic stretch break.

Break and View Vendors

Track 1: CIVCO's Safety Journey

Attendees will get to hear and experience Michael Denard's firsthand experience working with OSHA, and taking a proactive approach to safety and the tools used to engage CIVCO's workforce to make safety a positive experience.  

About the Speaker: Michael Denard is an Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) professional with more than 40 years of experience in manufacturing and leadership, dedicated to helping his organization create safer, stronger, and more engaged workplaces. As the Safety Leader at CIVCO Medical Solutions, Michael leads initiatives focused on risk reduction, regulatory compliance, employee engagement, and continuous improvement. A passionate advocate for safety culture, Michael combines practical experience, engaging storytelling, and real-world examples to inspire leaders and employees alike.

Track 2: Back to the Basics of Fall Protection

This presentation revisits the fundamentals of fall protection and highlights key areas of focus for OSHA in today's safety environment. Topics include current OSHA enforcement priorities, the importance of properly fitting fall protection equipment, and how improper fit can impact worker safety. Attendees will also learn how to select the right fall protection tools and equipment for the task at hand, helping ensure compliance, reduce risk, and protect workers at height. 

About the Speaker: Becky Danielson is a safety professional with a strong focus on fall protection and rescue planning. She is passionate about helping organizations better understand and implement effective safety systems that protect workers at height. With experience supporting training, rescue demonstrations, and cross-functional collaboration, Becky brings a practical, hands-on approach to safety education. She is known for her ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and for her dedication to building stronger, more inclusive safety cultures across a wide range of industries.

Track 3: Are you SAFE or Just Compliant? Arc Rated Daily Wear + Task-Based Kits

This session explores the requirements for flame-resistant (FR) and arc-rated (AR) clothing programs, including OSHA 1910.132 training obligations and best practices for protecting employees from arc flash hazards. Attendees will learn the key differences between daily-wear and task-based AR clothing approaches, how to select the right level of protection based on incident energy and arc ratings, and the role of layering in improving safety. The presentation will also address common myths and misconceptions surrounding AR clothing programs and provide practical guidance for implementing a program that goes beyond compliance to build a stronger culture of safety. Participants will leave with actionable strategies for selecting, training on, and managing AR clothing programs to better protect electrical workers.

About the Speaker: Derek Sang has over 25 years of experience in the Flame-Resistant (FR) clothing industry and has conducted well over 500 presentations. As Senior Technical Training Manager at Bulwark Protection and Workrite Fire Service, Derek spearheads Bulwark and Workrite’s training initiatives, developing comprehensive programs that address the selection, use, and maintenance of Flame Resistant/Arc Rated (AR) clothing and Stationwear. His work ensures that workers across industries are equipped to stay safe in hazardous environments. 

Break and View Vendors

Panel Discussion - Leading as an Ally
Women continue to make significant contributions across safety, construction, manufacturing, and industry, yet barriers to advancement still exist. Advocacy goes beyond support—it means actively creating opportunities, amplifying voices, challenging biases, and helping women succeed. This panel will explore how leaders, peers, and organizations can become effective advocates for women and create workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to grow, lead, and thrive. 
Speakers:
Dave Hinz is the Manager of Safety for the City of Cedar Rapids. Dave has been with the City since October 2024 and comes with over 20 years of experience in Construction and General Industry companies. Dave is a 2014 graduate from Columbia Southern University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health. Dave is a current member of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and holds his CHST, ASP, and CSP professional designations. 
Kevin Hildebrandt, bio coming soon
Joe Korpi, bio coming soon