Rising Stars of Safety, Class of 2023

I’ve met many leaders in my life, from corporate and business heads to entertainers and politicians. But no kind of leader has more passion or investment in their role than the safety leader. These are the men and women for whom work is more than a bottom line – it’s a mission.

For more than a century, the National Safety Council has worked to save lives through safer workplaces, roadways and communities. We know that for safety leaders, their role doesn’t stop at quitting time. They carry it with them every second of every day, constantly caring for their people and looking for ways to make them safer.

The 2023 NSC Rising Stars of Safety embody this drive better than anyone. Founded in 2010, the program recognizes up-and-coming safety professionals younger than 40 who have a proven track record of safety leadership in their organization and are dedicated to continuous improvement. This program is possible thanks to the generous support of our 2023 Rising Stars award sponsor, The Dow Chemical Co.

These 36 safety leaders, representing eight countries and a wide range of industries, are truly the best and brightest in safety. Through innovation, collaboration and communication, they have helped create safer workplaces and enabled people to live their fullest lives – both on and off the job. Though we know these leaders did not choose their profession for the accolades, they deserve our celebration and recognition.

I’m so in awe of everyone in this group. Tech. Sgt. Jalleshia Miller, for example, with the U.S. Air Force, who oversees the safety and well-being of more than 66,000 of our service members. Jalleshia has put inclusion at the forefront of her safety program, particularly for female personnel. She strives to connect female service members to safety professionals and has brought the percentage of women in the safety career field to 23. She has prioritized off-duty safety as well, overseeing the Air Force’s most extensive motorcycle training program.

Ryan Holsopple lives the value of safety, both on and off the job. As a safety specialist with Nutrien, Ryan has engaged frontline workers in reporting harmful exposures. He restructured the company’s safety program and introduced incentives that have increased exposure identifications by an impressive 50%. Where workers previously had to come in early or stay late for training, Ryan sacrificed his own schedule to ensure employees were trained during their shifts. In his downtime, Ryan is an active volunteer firefighter and responds to more than 300 events each year.

For Denny Yu, researching exoskeletons and other injury-preventing technologies is especially personal. Denny’s parents both served in manufacturing jobs, and both sustained musculoskeletal injuries as a result of their work. Denny’s ergonomics research is helping to find solutions that can stop these injuries before they occur. Read each profile to learn more about the NSC Rising Stars of Safety, Class of 2023.

Finally, I want to thank each of this year’s honorees. Your work is making the world safer for us all.

— Lorraine M. Martin

View Rising Stars profiles as they appear in the print edition of Safety+Health.

Join the Young Professionals Division

Are you a safety professional younger than 45? Would you like to connect with other “rising stars?” Develop your skills and advance your career in safety leadership by joining the NSC Young Professionals Division. All NSC member company employees are welcome to join this group to receive access to networking events, professional development opportunities and invitations to NSC Division meetings. Be on the cutting edge of safety and share your fresh ideas with your peers.

Learn more about how to get involved at nsc.org/ypd.