2021 ASSP’s Regional Safety Professional of the Year (SPY) Award recipient: James D. McGlothlin.

This award recognizes a safety professional who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in the safety field. While also making significant contributions to advancing the profession.

According to the award committee, under the leadership of Cindy Brown, CSP, Louisville Chapter President, the field of candidates were especially outstanding in their achievements. However, Dr. Jim McGlothlin clearly stood out without exception.

Noted recent achievements: In collaboration with the Workplace Health Without Borders and its U.S. branch, Jim/s VEMS (Video Exposure Monitoring System®), of which he hold several patents, has been used in developing countries throughout the world to prevent accidents, prevent deaths, and improve factories in Viet Nam and mud brick factories in Egypt. Jim also continues to work with NASA as it relates to ergonomics to zero gravity! Congrats to Jim for his high achievements towards those in the workplace.

This is the first Region VII SPY award ever won by a West Michigan ASSP Chapter member.

Grainger Team wins First-place prize of 4 rounds of golf at the Meadows. Winners of the “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” received $25 for the Meadows Clubhouse.

Last night we had our ‘first meet and greet’ Mentor/Mentee kick-off event held at the Knickerbocker in downtown Grand Rapids. At this table are Mentor Todd Wiggelsworth – Mentee Ryan Harrower; Mentor Nick Miedema – Mentee Isaac Vander Molen, along with Education Chair Kasey Wesley and her committee member Rich DeLeau.

The Mentors/Mentees were each given a Mentorship Action Plan. In this action plan they had to come up with an agreed upon Goals and what Plans would need to be developed to ensure their goals are met by the end of the program. The Program is a formal 10-week commitment. Afterwards, it’s up to each pair if they would like to continue on an informal basis.”

Program Chair, Kasey Wesley had this to say, “I am eager to roll out this mentorship program and continue building closer bonds with our student chapter, GVSU ASSP. While meeting with the mentor volunteers and the student mentees for our programs first meet and greet, I could feel the excitement in the air and know that this is the start of something spectacular! This program will prove to be valuable and beneficial to not only the mentees, but the mentors as well. Thankful for all of those who have committed their time to helping our students and young safety professionals, and have offered to share their wisdom and experience within the safety world. Looking forward to the continued growth of this mentorship program in upcoming semesters!”