Michelle Barger, OHST

EHS Specialist

GKN Automotive

Michelle Barger is the EHS Specialist at GKN Automotive in Sanford, NC., a precision forging facility and aftermarket service assembly operation for driveline components. She brings seven years of experience to her role at GKN Automotive including on-site contractor safety management for a major nuclear power generating utility in the Carolinas, EHS data management and analytical reporting, office and industrial ergonomics, and the development and delivery of engaging EHS trainings & orientations.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the Pennsylvania State University and pivoted into her EHS career after receiving an Associate Degree in Industrial Technology: Quality Assurance & Occupational Safety from the Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach in 2013.  Her affiliations include the Board of Certified Safety Professionals having achieved the Occupational Hygiene and Safety Technician (OHST) certification in 2021, the American Society of Safety Professionals, Member of the NC Chapter of ASSP, and has recently volunteered to serve the NC Chapter as the Membership Chair. 

While raising her three children she received extensive volunteer experience managing projects for their schools and a large program for her military faith community, the success of which depended on annually recruiting and managing many volunteers.  To her, leading in safety is like recruiting and leading volunteers…they choose to come with you because they trust you and believe in what you are trying to accomplish. Her passion for Safety is rooted in servant leadership and building positive relationships with employees at all levels of the organization.  She is grateful to have found a career that continually challenges her to put others first and is emotionally and intellectually rewarding.

Michelle spends her free time visiting her children in Virginia, as well as hiking, camping, and backpacking in Western North Carolina and nearby Virginia and Tennessee.

Craig Ellis is the owner and principal of Giarc Consulting.  He has over 40 years of professional technical and safety consulting experience in many diverse domestic and international industries.

Craig has a degree in Civil Engineering from Tennessee Tech University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Regis University.    He is also a Professional Engineer in North Carolina, Certified Safety Professional, and an OSHA Authorized Trainer – Construction.

His affiliations include the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP); Member of NC Chapter of ASSP; Former chairperson of industry group, Southeastern Electric Exchange, Accident Prevention Section, Atlanta, GA and Former national industry committee member – Edison Electric Institute Recordkeeping Committee, Washington DC.

Craig has authored numerous publications in professional technical proceedings, technical magazines and with governmental agencies.

His path to becoming a safety professional began when he was performing environmental impact analyses in his first job as a civil engineer doing civil designs for transmission line location projects.  From that role he migrated to industrial safety for industrial operations.  Those experiences led him to other roles and positions that drew upon his technical background.  His roles have ranged from being a technical expert, project and program management and safety management.

Being a safety professional has been a rewarding career and he encourages other professionals to be open to the many opportunities that a technical background affords them.

Jose Colon-Diaz 

EHS & Quality Manager     

McFarland Construction U.S.

Jose is an experienced safety leader, military veteran, and project manager. During his tenure, Jose has focused his attention on understanding the cost of military construction, as well as the latest techniques in practice, as a Construction Manager, Project Manager, and Superintendent. His leadership helped complete over $60M of military business located across the region for projects ranging from large, out-of-the-ground projects to small, interior upfits.

As a veteran, Jose understands the military community concept and how to develop innovative procedures and processes that best fit into project solutions – while ensuring the clients’ requirements were clearly understood – combining all the construction knowledge needed to assemble the nuts and bolts of a project from conception to completion.

Jose has a wide range of education and experience in the areas of special operations and warfare, civil affairs, power generation, and emergency management. He also has training and certifications in hazardous material handling, USACE construction management, welding, OSHA 30-hour, First-aid/CPR/AED instructor, erosion prevention and sediment control, as well as health care safety management.

Jose believes that difference can be made when we put ourselves in a position to help others.

Joshua Adams, CSP

Senior Safety Manager

Smithfield

Joshua is an experienced safety professional that has worked his way from entry-level laborer to a Senior Safety Manager. Originally starting out in the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Joshua has 16 years in the grain industry, 13 in safety. He has held safety responsibilities at Consolidated Grain and Barge, Inc. (based out of Indiana with 13 locations in 4 states), Zen-Noh Grain Corporation (based in Louisiana at one export facility), and now Smithfield (based out of North Carolina with 33 locations in 8 states). After a few years into his responsibilities as a Safety Associate, he realized that safety was his passion and decided to seek accreditation. He earned his Associate Degree in Occupational Safety and Health Technology from Odessa College, his Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupation Safety and Health Technology from Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), and a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

Recently, Joshua has relocated to North Carolina with Cara, his wife of 11 years, their son Greyson who turns 4 this month, and Spirit their puppy. Through their support, encouragement, and belief in him, Joshua was determined to and capable of going to school while having a family.

Although his path to safety was not direct, it was the best way for him to learn the ins and outs of the correct safety mindset. Both good and bad experiences have molded Joshua’s approach to keeping employees safe. He believes that the more empowered employees are to make decisions and think like their Safety Team, the more successful the culture will be. This is achieved through a personal approach through coaching, training, and employee engagement.

Chace Adams, CSP, CHST

Safety Manager

Cardinal Civil Contracting, LLC

Chace is a bold safety professional with seven years of hands-on experience utilizing the OSH degree he received while attending Murray State University.  He is a native of Mayfield, KY, and completed an internship with Balfour Beatty Construction during the summer of 2013.  He was soon offered a full-time position with their organization and relocated after graduating in 2014.

Chace quickly worked his way up the ranks at Balfour learning various facets of the construction industry.  He is passionate about building safety into an organization’s core culture and was excited to accept an opportunity with Cardinal Civil Contracting leading the safety department as the head Safety Manager. 

During his time as a safety professional, Chace has become a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and Construction Health & Safety Technician (CHST).  He has been fortunate to work with a multitude of mentors, who have provided unique insights into what it means to be an effective safety professional in the construction industry.

Chace’s wife, Amy, has relentlessly supported Chace in his pursuit to help others stay safe on the job throughout his career. They now have two beautiful daughters, Addy (4) and Annabell (2), and a spirited Chihuahua named Lux. They enjoy being active, spending time hiking, sightseeing, and sampling the variety of activities offered in the area.  And of course, trying to keep up with all the girls’ extracurricular activities.

Chace believes that staying up to date with current safety philosophies and industry knowledge is key to being successful in this field. He attests that leveraging the skills of others helps to keep his team members safe.  He enjoys helping others and believes that is critical to maintaining a circle of support and creating a network of expertise.