The PDC featured the Opening Keynote of Charles A. Simpson, CSP, speaking on “Hazard Recognition – Overcoming Cognitive Limitations”. Thank you to Komatsu for being the exclusive Diamond Sponsor and the sponsor of the Keynote speaker. The lunchtime Speaker was Pam Walaski, immediate Past President of ASSP and long-time member of the Western PA Chapter of ASSP. The Student Sections from Thiel College, SRU, and IUP provided the speakers for the student presentation section of the PDC. The PDC once again conducted an auction of gifts generously donated by the vendors. The winners of the gifts had to be present to win. The Western PA Chapter Executive Committee provided the two grand prizes which were one paid registration for a Professional and one paid registration for a student to the ASSP Safety 2026 in Anaheim CA June 15-17, 2026, (the hotel, travel, and meals are the responsibility of the winners). The PDC also had a 90-minute networking event immediately following the closing session that included appetizers and a cash bar.

Attendees had a choice of 9 sessions in 3 timeslots throughout the day. The event had a total attendance of 208 people, of which there were 115 Professionals and 93 Students. The event offered 0.6 CEUs for those that participated in the entire event.

Thank you! to our generous Sponsors: Komatsu, Guidant Power, National Safety Apparel, Click Safety, AM Health and Safety, RJR Safety Inc, and Snyder Brothers Inc. The PDC had 13 Vendors exhibiting during the event – Guidant Power, National Safety Apparel, Click Safety, AM Health and Safety, RJR Safety Inc, MES Life Safety, Voxel, Axelent, BCSP, Laurel Highlands Construction & Supplies, West Virginia University, PSX Inc, and Larson Davis Inc. OSHA’s Pittsburgh Area Office, SRU Student Section, IUP Student Section, and IUP OSHA Consultation had information tables.

Thank you! to the 2026 PDC Planning Committee Members – Wayne Vanderhoof – Chair, Jocelyn Milby, Melissa Heike, Tracey Cekada, Majed Zreiqat, Cindy Medford, Hope Dropp, Daniel Finn, Dan Wible, Carl W. Heinlein, Sophia Naugle, Kelley Edmier, Leif Lindgren, Cody Bergad, Matt Christy – SRU, Micah Nygren – IUP, Shane Scisciani-Brown – SRU, Ben Schurr – IUP, Austin Little – IUP, and Anna Buterbaugh – IUP.

The official slate of candidates for the Executive Committee for the 2026-2028 Chapter year is listed below:

President: Alec Kinslow, CSP (uncontested)

Vice President: (contested)
– Jeremy Dixon
– Trudy Hayes, SMS

Treasurer: NO CANDIDATES

Secretary (contested): Jocelyn Milby MS, CSP (uncontested)

Advisory Group Members (contested):

– Josh Muth
– Daniel Wible
– Leif Lindgren
– David Johnson
– Angelo Miklos
– Jared Meyer
– Fran Sehn
– Cody Bergad

All candidates listed above are members in good standing of ASSP and ASSP Western PA. The Chapter Election will be open from April 09, 2026, through April 24, 2026.

The electronic ballot will be emailed from ASSP (not the Chapter) notifying each Chapter member of the election.

Thank you! to the 2026-2028 Nominations & Elections Committee: Melissa Heike, Chair, and John Alivetto.

The second February Technical Meeting was conducted at SRU at the Strain Safety Building Tuesday, February 24, 2026, with a lunch meeting. The speakers were Ryan Yanosh and Anthony Mastrorocco, both from Kiewit Construction.

The topic of the presentation was “Successful Planning and Execution of Work at Heights Operations”.

There was about 68 people at the meeting with about 8 Professionals and 60 students in attendance.

Thank you, Ryan Yanosh and Anthony Mastrorocco for providing a good plan working at heights!

Thank you, Dr. Cindy Medford, Leif Lindgren, and the officers of the SRU Student Section for organizing the meeting!

The February Technical Meeting was conducted at IUP in Johnson Hall 2nd Floor Auditorium on Tuesday, February 03, 2026 with a lunch meeting. The speaker was Mr. Cole Campbell CSP, Regional Manager, Compliance Management International (CMI). The topic of the presentation was ” Leadership & Safety Culture”.

There was a total of about 84 people that registered with about 12 Professionals and 72 students in attendance with most of the students from the IUP Student Section although there was a group from the SRU Student Section. It looked like most everyone that registered attended the meeting!

Thank you, Cole Campbell, for providing timely information and insight!

Thank you Dr. Majed Zreiqat and the officers of the IUP Student Section for organizing the meeting!