WASHINGTON, DC -- The National Safety Council announced its 15th class of Rising Stars of Safety, a group of leaders aged 40 and younger dedicated to making workplaces safer. The 38 honorees for 2024 have promoted continuous safety improvement within their organizations and created initiatives focused on measurable outcomes to provide workforces safe environments.

“These 38 leaders, representing a wide range of industries, are truly the best and brightest in safety,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO. “Through their dedication and enthusiasm, they have shown that improvement, innovation and change are not only possible, but that they also help save lives. We thank each of this year’s honorees for making the world a safer and better place for all.”

The Rising Stars of Safety Award is sponsored by Dow. The class of 2024 honorees is listed below and featured in the September issue of Safety+Health magazine:

Isabella Anderson, Industrial Hygiene Generalist, Argonne National Laboratory

Salman Arshad, Deputy Executive HSEQ, Fauji Fertilizer Co. Ltd.

Amanda Ashworth, Explosives Safety Specialist, Naval Surface Warfare Center – Crane Division

Lora Cavuoto, Professor, University at Buffalo

Thomas C. Crews, SHE Advisor, Nutrien

Ryan Cunningham, Certified Industrial Hygienist, United Cleanup Oak Ridge

Sean De Hart, Senior Safety Specialist, Amentum

Sophie Donnison, HSE Leader, Cummins

Kurt Fellrath, Occupational Health & Safety Specialist, Boeing

Kayla Lynn Fiveash, Occupational Health & Safety Specialist, Naval Surface Warfare Center – Crane Division

Nicholas Fonte, Occupational Safety Technician, U.S. Air Force

Killian Fuh Forbeteh, Safety Supervisor, Surface Operations, Nutrien

Shruti Gangakhedkar, SHE Senior Manager, Hillsboro Site Safety Officer, Genentech

Gustina Marie Gonzales, Biosafety Officer, Houston Health Department, Bureau of Laboratory Services

Ashley Hahn, WHS Lead Kokomo Powertrain Transmission and Casting Plants, Stellantis

Tommy Hanberg, District Safety Manager – Colorado, Flatiron Construction

John J. Handrigan, Principal for Safety, U.S. Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport

Sudeep Hegde, Assistant Professor, Clemson University

Mitchell Holland, Onsite Injury Prevention Specialist/Athletic Trainer, Concentra

Katharine Karch, Senior Industrial Hygienist, Washington River Protection Solutions

Michael Kennerson, Director of Safety, PosiGen

Lyndsey Kenney, Senior WHS-RME Program Manager, Amazon Transportation Services

William Langford, Safety Manager, ARCO/Murray Construction Co.

Jamie Mallinder, Director of Health and Safety/Principal Consultant, Collar Group

Kenneth “KC” Murray, EHS Manager, Hallen Construction

Taylor Murray, Director of Safety and Development, Danella Cos.

Kyle L. Naylor, Senior Director of Safety, Health and Environment, Savage Cos.

Ciara Norman, Senior Manager, Safety Training, Amazon

Virginia Pajarito, Director, Client Solutions, Risk Control, Lockton Insurance Brokers

Nicole E. Palermo, Air Combat Command, Occupational Safety Manager, U.S. Air Force

Jason Reaves, Senior Safety Manager, Rosendin

Gilbert Lujan Rivera Jr., Senior Industrial Hygienist, Amazon

Melissa Sawa, Well-Being, Health & Safety Lead, Stellantis

Michael Snow, Safety Manager, ARCO Design/Build

Jake Steelhammer, Safety and Health Specialist, Central Plateau Cleanup Co.

Jose Torres, EHS Compliance Leader, Jones Lang LaSalle

Christian Virgil, Senior Lecturer, College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago

Derek Wilson, Area Safety Manager, Clark Construction Group

The class of 2024 honorees will be recognized at the National Awards Celebration on Tuesday, Sept. 17, in Orlando. The event takes place in conjunction with the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo, the nation’s largest gathering of safety and health professionals. For more information, please visit congress.nsc.org.