We’re excited about this expo as some of our favorite speakers will be leading breakout sessions such as Amazon best-selling author Tommie Jo Brode, Ruth Bowdish, our very own Nicholas Coia and yours truly. To learn more about this event, see the event flyer or listen to a podcast interview we did with the event coordinators.
Hope to see you there!
Mike
About NEO Safety Expo The NEO Safety Expo, hosted by On Demand Occupational Medicine, continues the long-standing tradition of the BWC Fall Safety Conference. Open to all industries, the Expo provides training, resources, and connections to foster safer, healthier workplaces across Northeast Ohio.
The Hall of Honor recognizes individuals who have dedicated 10 or more years of service to the Portage County Safety Council Steering Committee and/or those whose exceptional contributions have had a lasting impact on the Council’s mission and success.
On Thursday, May 8, 2025,, we were proud to induct six outstanding individuals into the Hall of Honor. Their leadership, commitment, and hard work have helped shape the program into what it is today—and without them, our progress and achievements would not have been possible.
Inductee #1 – Bonnie Wilson: Bonnie served as the manager of the Portage County Safety Council from 2006 to 2012, guiding the program through a pivotal period in its history.
In 2005, when operational challenges threatened the future of the Council, Bonnie stepped in and secured a new home for the program at Family & Community Services—ensuring its survival and continued impact. Before her departure, she also mentored and prepared a successor, laying the foundation for long-term stability and growth.
Quite simply, without Bonnie’s leadership and foresight, the Portage County Safety Council might not exist today.
Inductee #2 – Renee Onesti: Renee has been a dedicated member of the Portage County Safety Council Steering Committee since 2009, playing a vital role in the Council’s growth and success for over a decade.
Her contributions have been key to the success of numerous annual safety programs, helping the Council earn multiple awards and nominations at both the state and county levels. Renee also played an integral role in planning and executing the 2014, 2016, and 2018 Portage County Workplace Safety & Health Expos—award-winning events that set a high standard for excellence.
As Steering Committee Chair for two years, Renee helped elevate the Council to new heights. In 2024, her outstanding efforts—extending beyond both the Safety Council and Kent Elastomer Products—earned her the very first Safety Champion Award.
Renee’s ongoing support, leadership, and commitment have been instrumental in shaping what the Portage County Safety Council is today.
Inductee #3 – Mike Thompson: Mike has served as the manager of the Portage County Safety Council since late 2012, leading the program with vision, energy, and a deep commitment to community well-being.
During his tenure, the Council has hosted nearly 200 training events and received multiple honors, including five Safety Council of the Year awards or nominations and two Celebrate Portage Awards for Best Public Health Initiative.
Mike’s passion for collaboration has driven the creation of five public service awareness campaigns, three county-wide Workplace Safety & Health Expos, a free workplace wellness publication, and a variety of impactful special events.
He is also the producer and co-host of the Portage County Safety Council Podcast, which boasts nearly 300 episodes and over 80 hours of original workplace safety and health content. The podcast has reached listeners in more than 50 countries around the world.
Debbie’s son Che O’Connell received the honor of her behalf.Debbie’s son Che O’Connell received the honor on her behalf.
Inductee #4 – Debbie O’Connell: Debbie dedicated a decade of service to the Portage County Safety Council’s Steering Committee, serving from 2013 to 2023.
A true advocate for workplace safety, Debbie played a key role in shaping much of our annual programming—efforts that contributed to five Safety Council of the Year nominations. She also led the planning and execution of the Exhibit Hall for the 2014, 2016, and 2018 Portage County Workplace Safety & Health Expos.
From July 2018 to June 2023, Debbie served as Steering Committee Chair, guiding the Council through one of its most challenging periods—the COVID-19 pandemic—with steady leadership and unwavering commitment.
Her impact on the Portage County Safety Council is immeasurable. In recognition of her exceptional service, Debbie received the Outstanding Leadership Award in 2023.
Inductee #5 – Shelly Owen: Shelly Owen has been a dedicated member of the Portage County Safety Council Steering Committee since 2013. Throughout her years of service, Shelly has played a vital role in shaping the Council’s annual safety programming and expanding training opportunities for members, including First Aid, CPR, and AED certification courses.
Known for her reliability and commitment, Shelly was a consistent presence at events, ensuring that each monthly meeting ran smoothly and effectively. She also made significant contributions to the 2014, 2016, and 2018 Portage County Workplace Safety & Health Expos, where she helped coordinate the Exhibit Hall and served as the enthusiastic emcee of the fan-favorite Safety Feud challenge.
Since July 2023, Shelly served as Steering Committee Chair, continuing her strong leadership and steadfast dedication to the Council’s mission.
Inductee #6 – Nicholas Coia: Nicholas Coia has been an active and invaluable member of the Portage County Safety Council Steering Committee since 2013. Over the years, Nic has played a key role in shaping the Council’s annual safety programming—recruiting speakers, developing impactful training initiatives, and contributing to several award-winning efforts at both the state and county levels.
He was also a major contributor to the success of the 2014, 2016, and 2018 Portage County Workplace Safety & Health Expos, assisting with event planning and logistics. In addition to presenting at numerous Council meetings, Nic has led multiple OSHA 10 training courses, equipping hundreds of members with essential safety knowledge.
Beyond his work on the committee, Nic serves as co-host of the Portage County Safety Council Podcast, which has published nearly 300 episodes and over 80 hours of original workplace safety and health content—reaching listeners in more than 50 countries around the world.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
We are thankful for the incredible impact made by our six Hall of Honor inductees. Each of them has shown remarkable dedication—whether through years of service on the Steering Committee or through exceptional contributions that have strengthened the mission of the Portage County Safety Council.
Their leadership, passion, and commitment have helped shape this program into what it is today. On behalf of the entire Council and the community we serve—thank you for your service, your vision, and your lasting legacy.
We’re excited to announce our 2025 Portage County Safety Award Winners!
We’ll be celebrating and honoring our winners at our next luncheon on Thursday, May 8, 2025, 11:30am-1:00pm, at the Ravenna Elks. Click here to register to attend.
2025 Safety Champion – Nate Walden, SHES Sr Manager, Synthomer Inc.
Nate has improved safety within Snythomer and has improved communication with Mogadore Fire, PC Hazmat Team and has become a member of the PC LEPC. While on the LEPC, Nate has shared his knowledge on chemicals, preparedness, emergency planning and selecting chemical monitoring and PPE. Nate and Snythomer have hosted an exercise to build preparedness within the community and emergency response groups. Nate understands the hazards and risks involved within Synthomer and how it could impact the community of Mogadore and Portage and Summit counties in general. He works daily to educate his co-workers to be vigilant and mindful in their duties to prevent spills or worse.
2025 Safety Improvement Award – Dawn Collins, Director, Portage County Recycling & Solid Waste Management District.
Over the past year, Director Dawn Collins has spent significant time rebuilding the Public Employee Risk Reduction Program at the PC Solid Waste Management District. Working alongside industrial safety consultant, Nic Coia, Dawn formulated committees with her employees to oversee the written policies and procedures to ensure buy-in with staff and to capture the actual processes related to work in the district and how to more safely conduct activities. In addition to CPR and First Aid, Dawn conducted training for all staff on new policies and precures, updated all PPE, and was awarded a safety grant to purchase a lift truck versus the use of ladders. She audited each section of her office and developed over a dozen written programs. This drastic shift in safety at the PCSWMD has significantly improved operations and the safety of staff district wide.
2025 Safety Innovation Award – Just 10 Minutes Program, Parker Hannifin Ravenna Plant.
The Just Ten Minutes program was developed to enhance Parker Hannifin’s new hire safety training. The “Just Ten Minutes” program is a daily safety conversation that a new team member has with a representative from EHS, Operations, and Engineering team (or anyone else who may volunteer to lead a Just Ten Minutes session with all new team members). Just Ten Minutes includes daily topics in Safety as a Value, Hazard Recognition, Choices and Behaviors, and Empowerment.
After a team member’s new hire orientation their first day, they must attend 20 “Just Ten Minutes” sessions in their Safety Dojo, which equates to 1 per shift for their first 20 days. New team members meet for Just Ten Minutes in the Safety Dojo at 7:45 am, 8:15 am, or 4:15 pm each day, depending on the shift they work.
The program is designed to train new team members on the behavioral side of safety, which has significantly helped them improve our safety culture. It also gives new team members a chance to meet with other new team members and leaders from different functions and areas and gives them a safe space to bring up anything of concern during that first month of employment.
“The Threat Evaluation and Reporting Overview (TERO) is a three-hour introductory training focusing on a behavioral approach to violence prevention. The TERO raises awareness about the risk factors, triggers and stressors, and warning behaviors that could impact a person’s decision to commit an act of targeted violence. Further, it outlines the mitigating factors that could help prevent acts of targeted violence, while emphasizing the importance of community involvement in seeking help for individuals, and respecting their privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.”
39 safety council members successfully completed the 3-hour TERO training yesterday at the Portage County EMA!
Thank you to Homeland Security and the Ohio School Safety Center for facilitating the training and the Portage EMA for hosting the event at their facility!
Collaboration will always be the key to making Portage County a safer place to work!
Every year the Portage County Safety Council recognizes a few individuals, teams, programs, projects and/or organizations that go above & beyond to improve safety!
Our Safety Awards program will be held annually at our May luncheon. Nominees must be either employed by a Portage County Safety Council member organization or work in Portage County.
Awards will be considered in the following categories:
SAFETY CHAMPION: An individual who goes above and beyond their typical work duties to improve and to promote workplace safety beyond their organization.
SAFETY IMPROVEMENT: An individual, team, program, project, or organization that has made a significant improvement to their organization’s safety performance or has significantly contributed to the improved safety performance of others.
SAFETY INNOVATION: An individual, team, program, project, or organization that has created new practical safety measures (tools, PPE, equipment, processes, procedures, etc.) that has improved or enhanced workplace safety.
NOMINATIONS: To nominate an individual, team, program, project, or organization for one of the safety awards mentioned above, please complete this online Safety Awards Nomination Form prior to Friday, March 21st, 2025.
DEADLINE: Friday, March 21, 2025.
CEREMONY DATE/LOCATION: May 8, 2025, 11:30am-1:00pm, at the Ravenna Elks.
As 2024 comes to an end, I wanted to celebrate with you all everything that we’ve accomplished together. Every year when we take a moment like this to reflect, I’m blown away every single time!
It seems in both work and life, often we’re too busy and pressured to move onto the next thing without pausing a moment and simply being thankful for what we already have or what has already happened. I hope you’ll take a moment with me today to simply celebrate everything we’ve accomplished together.
2024 HIGHLIGHTS
SAFETY TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
We hosted 16 in-person training events in 2024!
46 completed NARCAN training and received free kits from Project DAWN through our partnership with the Portage County Combined Health District.
We partnered with 4 other safety councils to co-host an OSHA Recordkeeping Seminar in January.
We collaborated with the Portage County Fire Chief’s Association, Portage County Health Department, and Portage County Local Emergency Planning Committee to co-host The 2024 Portage County Annual Emergency Preparedness Symposium where 100+ received lithium-ion battery safety, active shooter and cybersecurity training.
We partnered with the Portage County Human Resources Association to offer members with SHRM credentials Professional Development Credits for attending our monthly meetings.
PODCASTS:
We published 464 minutes (nearly 8 hours) of original workplace safety content.
We broke 17k downloads this year!
We partnered with the Ohio Safety Congress again in 2024 to provide podcast previews of some of their top education session speakers.
All time stats: 293 episodes published, totaling 83.72 hours (5,023m) of original workplace safety & health content, downloaded in over 55 nations!
EXTRACURRICULAR:
We launched our all-new Annual Safety Awards & CEO Day, honoring local professionals who go above and beyond to improve safety in the Portage County area!
We hosted our annual holiday food drive at our November & December luncheons to help those in need through the Center of Hope and Kent Social Services food pantries.
2025 CHALLENGE:
A handful of years ago one of our longstanding Steering Committee members, Renee Onesti of Kent Elastomer Products, challenged me (in a good way) to come up with a word of the year to help set the tone for the new year. I extend this same challenge to you! Come up with a simple word or phrase that will help establish a mindset that you want to project into the new year so that you may be everything you want to be and accomplish everything you want to accomplish.
My personal word for the new year is “ALIVE!” I want to be fully alive in 2025! I want everything I am and everything I say and do to be full of life this year. What’s your word?
I hope you all have a good, safe & healthy Christmas and New Year!
The Portage County Annual Emergency Preparedness Symposium was a great event!
In conjunction with the Portage County Fire Chief’s Association, Portage County Health Department, Portage County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and the Portage County Safety Council, the event took place on Friday, November 15th, 2024, at Northeast Ohio Medical University, and had 3 great presentations!
We’ll be collecting non-perishable food donations at our November and December meetings to support the Center of Hope and Kent Social Services food pantries. Both programs serve hundreds of families in need on a daily basis so we’re honored to be able to help support their work in our county!
Bring in canned or non-perishable food donations to either luncheon and receive a chance to win a gift card! Attendees will receive 1 drawing ticket per item donated.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Center of Hope has served over 108,000 hot meals and distributed over 22,000 bags of groceries! They serve the communities of Ravenna, Ravenna Township, Charlestown, Wayland, Edinburgh, North Benton, Palmyra, Eastern Palmyra, Diamond, Paris Township, Deerfield, Newton Falls, and Rootstown.
Kent Social Services “serves over 20,000 hot meals a year and provides over 100,000 pounds of groceries to households in need.”
Portage County Safety Council 
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