A lot of people ask how I got into the safety field. Well, I guess everything I have done in my life has led me down this road. 

At one point I went to school to become a nurse. While in school I worked as a nurse's aid at a small hospital in my hometown of Burlington, Kansas. It was there that I realized that I became to attached to my patients, and that I took all their pain home with me. Once I graduated, I left nursing.

But, I still needed a job. There was a nuclear power plant under construction near my home, so I went there looking for a job. I had two choices...secretary or laborer. Laborer paid more, so I took that road.

It was hard work, but I rose to become a Foreman, and soon was asked if I wanted to join the apprentice program. I said "sure!" and started learning the carpenter trade. When the job came to an end, and 300 carpenters were laid off, I moved to Colorado and then to Texas, working on housing and commercial projects. I loved the work, learned a lot, and met some very interesting people.

Eventually the bottom fell out of the housing market. I was living in San Antonio, Tx at the time, and I found a job as Chief Carpenter in the Maintenance Department of a major hospital. I remodeled patient care areas, fixed furniture, and worked with the physical therapy department in creating devices that helped the physically challenged. My proudest moment came when I was asked to build a Hastings Back Frame for the Surgical Department. 

But, as now, back then the hospitals were tightening their belts, and my facility was no different. I found myself laid off, again. I took the position as Assistant Director of Maintenance at a brand new physical rehabilitation hospital. Within a month of my joining the team, my boss, the Director left. The CEO promoted me to Director, and almost as an after thought told me I would also be responsible for all aspects of Occupational Safety and Security. It was 1988, and I didn't have a clue what I had gotten myself into. I found myself in charge of a 108 bed hospital, with myself, a licensed electrician and a licensed plumber to hold it all together. We did a great job, and passed not only our initial JCAHO inspection with no deficiencies, but with complements from the surveyors. We also met several major challenges that first year, including an outbreak of tornadoes that hit the Medical Center area of San Antonio.

From that auspicious start I obtained my first certification in Occupational Safety through the World Safety Organization, and progressively moved my professional focus from carpentry and construction to Safety and Security, always specializing in healthcare. I am now the Director of Protective Services for the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia, PA.

I love what I do, and feel that it is important. Protecting those who care for the sick and injured is my calling. Everything I have done in my life has prepared me for this work. And I cannot imagine doing anything else.