Leo J. DeBobes, received the Edgar Monsanto Queeny SafetyProfessional of the Year Award for his strong leadership within the Society and
profession. In his acceptance speech, DeBobes focused on the importance of
educating and training future safety leaders. “Make sure we continue to have
strong SH&E academic programs to train the next generation of people who
will take our place,” he said.
Two safety professionals were presented with the William E.Tarrants Outstanding Safety Educator of the Year Award: Hamid Fonooni and
Richard F. Sesek. Fonooni is program coordinator at East Carolina University.
He shared his dreams of accreditation for all SH&E programs in colleges and
universities, saying that ABET accreditation is the gold standard. Sesek is assistant
professor in the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department at Auburn
University. He thanked ASSE for always supporting academics and gave credit to
Dr. Tarrants (of whom the award is named after) for helping define what it
means to be a safety professional.
After these awards were presented, 2012-13 ASSE President
Rick Pollock, CSP, reminisced about his year of presidency, saying that his
best experiences were meeting members and seeing them in action. “Last year I
asked you to imagine the energy and creativity we could all create, he said. “I’ve
witnessed this in action. It’s awesome.” He said the future for SH&E
professionals is bright, and summed up by saying, “Always be proud of the work
we do.”
Pollock went on the hand over the President’s Medallion to the 99th
ASSE President Kathy A. Seabrook, CSP, CMIOSH, EuOSHM. She graciously addressed the crowd
and focused on key ASSE initiatives, including the Center for Health and Sustainability
and the new Risk Assessment Institute (which will launch tonight at Safety
2013). Seabrook assured attendees that ASSE is working hard to help connect the
dots to the business world and to improve the value that safety professionals
bring to the table. “We must work together to enhance our value,” Seabrook said.
She closed by challenging attendees to prove their value and to keep their
mission in mind. “I challenge each of you to focus on our ultimate goal—safe
and healthy workplaces around the world,” Seabrook said.