Oct. 17, 2019
CWU safety and health management grads selected for national conference
Three CWU graduates were among a group of 25 young professionals invited to a prestigious health and safety conference this fall in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Jordyn Tucker, Mike Reno, and Christian Wong attended the 2019 Emerging Leaders Health & Safety Institute, hosted by 3M, from September 29 to October 2 at the 3M Innovation Center.
The three CWU alums were selected from a list of hundreds of candidates nationwide for their leadership ability, health and safety technical expertise, and their potential as a “significant influencer” in the health and safety profession.
The 25 candidates chosen were nominated by their managers, safety committees, or a representative from their local 3M Personal Safety Division.
The goal of the annual conference, according to 3M, is to enhance leadership prowess in the health and safety profession, share best practices amongst peers, offer detailed technical training and education, and expose participants to new and emerging technologies.
“I was honored to attend 3M’s Emerging Leaders Health and Safety Institute, and I learned communication and safety leadership skills that I will utilize throughout my career,” said Tucker, a safety engineer and environmental lead for Mortenson’s Seattle operating group.
“I had the privilege of working with some of the industry’s strongest new safety professionals from around the country, including two other CWU safety and health management (SHM) graduates. With three of us having been accepted into the Institute out of hundreds of applicants/nominees, it is clear that our education from CWU has prepared us well to be safety and health leaders in our industries.”
Tucker is a 2017 CWU graduate who has been with Mortenson for two years. She is pursuing a master’s degree in safety and health management.
Reno is an Ellensburg native and 2013 CWU graduate who has worked for Goodfellow Brothers Inc. in Portland, Oregon, for six years.
“I enjoy being in the environmental health and safety (EHS) profession because it challenges me,” said Reno, now a regional safety manager for Goodfellow Bros. “I am able to put forth my best effort toward continuing to help establish a culture of safety where it is a core value and not just a priority sales pitch or ‘check box.’”
Wong graduated from CWU in 2012 and currently works as a safety and health manager for Recreational Equipment Inc. He previously worked for the city of Kent and Seattle City Light. He said he enjoys the EHS profession because “it’s dynamic and people oriented.”
According to 3M, industry surveys confirm that employers are in search of strong leadership and communication skills in their EHS professionals, in addition to sound technical and scientific attributes.
The recent conference focused on understanding key principles and building leadership skills that have been proven to make a difference in organizational and individual success.
CWU assistant professor Sathy Rajendran is proud to see three CWU engineering department graduates included in such elite company.
“We’re so proud of our graduates being part of a selective group of safety professionals," he said.
Media contact: David Leder, Department of Public Affairs, 509-963-1518 or david.leder@cwu.edu.