The 11^th Annual ASSP WPA Professional Development Conference (PDC) was conducted on March 21, 2024, 2023,  At The Loft Conference Center in Southpointe, Canonsburg PA.

The PDC featured Joel Haight with the Opening Keynote, Jason Malatak providing the lunchtime presentation, and the Student Sections from IUP, SRU, and Thiel College providing the speakers for the closing session of the day. Attendees had a choice of 12 sessions in 3 timeslots throughout the day. The event had a total attendance of 171 people, of which there were 95 Professionals, 76 Students, as well as Vendors/Sponsors. The event offered 0.5 CEUs for those that participated in the entire event.

Thank you to our generous Sponsors: Komatsu, Range Resources, RETTEW, Amerisafe, Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), Premier Safety, Flagger Force, and RJR Safety Inc. The PDC had 6 Vendors exhibiting during the event – RETTEW, Amerisafe, Click Safety, Premier Safety, AM Health & Safety, Voxel, Thompson Safety, and RJR Safety Inc. OSHA had an information table and Indiana University of PA (IUP) had an information table.

Thank you! to the 2024 PDC Planning Committee Members – Wayne Vanderhoof, Kelley Edmier, Cody Bergad, Tracey Cekada, Daniel Finn, Carl Heinlein, Justin Koss, Jillian Tilko, Majed Zreiqat, Melissa Heike, Cindy Medford, Hope Dropp, Sophia Naugle, Chris Sarracino, and student Brianna Layland (SRU).

Congratulations! to Thiel College in Greenville, PA, for winning the ASSP 2024 Spring Student Membership Drive! The section will receive $200 to fund an upcoming meeting and provide an incentive for current members, a selection of ASSP T-shirts and complimentary dues renewal for one year for faculty advisor Anna Reinsel, Ph.D. One lucky student will receive an ASSP Port Authority City backpack, and one lucky faculty advisor will also receive a complimentary year of full membership.
(From ASSP “Your Student Services Update: April 2024”, 04/17/2024)

Congratulations! to the newly elected Chapter Executive Officers for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Chapter Years:

President: Chris Sarracino, CSP

Vice President: Alec Kinslow, CSP

Treasurer: Robert “Mac” McAninch MS, CSP

Secretary: Trudy Hayes, SMS

Advisory Group Members:

– Daniel Wible, MS, CSP

– Fran Sehn, CSP, ARM

– Jocelyn Milby MS, CSP

– Josh Muth, MS

Current President, Wayne Vanderhoof, CSP, CIT will move to the office of Past President.

The new Chapter Officers will take office July 1, 2024, with the start of the new Chapter Year. The elected officers’ term is for two Chapter years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.

Thank you to Melissa Heike for being the Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee!

On behalf of the ASSP Western PA Executive Committee, Congratulations! to the students listed below for being selected and awarded a 2024 ASSP WPA Chapter Scholarship:

Chloe Croft (IUP)
Ashley Collura (SRU)
Casandra Schroeck (IUP)
Emily Szczesny (SRU)
Brooke Endress (IUP)

The Chapter is proud of each of our awardees and is pleased to assist each of them in their educational efforts at our Student Chapter schools.

On April 2, ASSP sent out an email with the link to vote for the Chapter Executive Committee.

As a member of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of ASSP, you are encouraged to vote for your elected leadership. Voting will be open April 2 – 15, 2024.

Please take a minute to exercise your right to vote by filling out the ballot using the link in the email. The link is individual and can only be used once by to vote.