He started his career with Evergy (formerly KCPL) in 2001. As a successful graduate of a three-year, Department of Labor-certified apprenticeship program, he continued his electrical career as a journeyman lineman. After a life changing accident, he focused on training. Since 2009, he has been teaching apprentices and journeymen electrical fundamentals and theory. This time has been invaluable at providing insight into the needs of training and safety procedures on the job.

AJ is a graduate of Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Safety Management. He has worked in a variety of Safety/Loss Control positions for regional, super-regional and national insurance companies. Currently AJ is a Senior Loss Control Representative for ACUITY, A Mutual Insurance Company.

AJ has earned a certificate in Human Performance Improvement (HPI) through the Association for Talent Development. He has also earned the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation conferred by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation with Public Entity (-P) certification from the Insurance Institute of America. In addition, AJ is an FAA licensed commercial drone pilot.

In 2005, AJ joined the adjunct faculty of the Great Plains OSHA Education Center teaching a variety of OSHA Training Institute (OTI) courses including the OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer courses. He is an OSHA Authorized Construction and General Industry Outreach Trainer.

AJ is an active member of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals having served as president of the St. Louis Chapter twice and been awarded Safety Professional of the Year.

Colby Townsend, currently serving as a Supervisor of Public Awareness and Damage Prevention at ONE Gas, brings over seven years of dedicated service to pipeline safety and damage prevention. Prior to ONE Gas, she held positions with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, contributing passion and expertise to areas such as the Pipeline Safety Department and the Oil and Gas Conservation Division. Colby is an alumna of the University of Oklahoma, holding both a master’s and undergraduate degree, but she is an avid Oklahoma State fan. Go Pokes!

As the Director of Safety at The Miller Group, Aaron Paris brings a wealth of knowledge to the guidance he provides clients. In addition to seven years of experience in workplace safety, he holds 12 years of experience in law enforcement. During that time, he honed his skills in tactical operations, including eight years as a sniper and six years training others in the discipline. His investigative expertise spans accident scenes and narcotics.

Aaron’s commitment to ensuring safety doesn’t just stem from his extensive law enforcement background. Over the past seven years, he has focused on workplace safety, combining his knowledge of high-risk environments with a passion for people’s well-being. His proactive approach had a direct impact on safety services provided by The Miller Group, an independent broker for property and casualty insurance, employee benefits and surety bonds.

Aaron consults with clients on a wide variety of safety issues such as worker safety, auto, property risk and other safety procedures. He is also authorized to teach OSHA 10- and 30-hour courses.

When he steps away from his professional duties, Aaron is equally passionate about safety, channeling his drive into helping others find ways to live and work securely.

Charlie’s duties include excavator and utility training and development of training material for excavators and utilities. He is a very strong advocate of damage prevention and has been in the field since 2013. Charlie retired from the Army after 26 years where he completed 5 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to his full-time job, he was appointed by Missouri Governor Mike Parsons to serve as Randolph County, Missouri Coroner. He also serves as the President- Board of Directors for Southeastern Randolph Fire Protection District, Deputy Chief – Southeastern Fire Protection District Fire Department, 1st Vice President – Firefighters Association of Missouri, Board Director – Randolph County Ambulance District, and serves as Region B Training Coordinator/ Adjunct Instructor for University of Missouri Fire Rescue Training Institute, and Captain for the Missouri State Fair Fire Department.

More than two decades of practical experience in safety training.
He brings his wealth of knowledge back to the association after a four-year hiatus; Smith spent more than 16 years with Builders’ from 2000-2017. In the interim, Smith provided Mine Safety and Health Administration and Occupational Health and Safety Administration training services as President of his Blue Springs, Missouri-based company, S3 Safety Solutions, LLC.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Safety Management from the University of Central Missouri in 1995. He worked as a safety specialist for JE Dunn from 1996-2000, then joined The Builders, a chapter of the AGC as Safety, Health, and Environmental Services Regional Safety Trainer.

Smith and his wife, Pamela, have five children: Kirstin, 22; Zachary, 20; Rio, 16; Jack, 19; and Avery,14. Outside work hours, they live their best life on Lake Tapawingo in Missouri—Smith can usually be found performing boat maintenance and listening to classic rock.

Mark Woodward is the Sr. Safety and Risk Trainer for Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance and is the president of the Missouri Common Ground Alliance. Mark has presented on a national scale at events such as the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds, National Safety Council’s Congress & Expo, Public Risk Management Association Conference, American Society of Safety Engineers and National Common Ground Alliance. His experience includes managing workers’ compensation claims, training, compliance and safety in the insurance, warehousing, trucking and emergency services industries.

Jeff Trowbridge is a damage prevention expert with Subsurface Solutions. He has been employed by Subsurface Solutions for the past 3 years.

Jeff brings an additional 16 years of experience in the underground utility locating industry, during which he held a variety of positions running teams of 15 to 50 locate technicians. He has completed more than 6,500 damage investigations in that time.

Jeff has participated in several underground industry organizations throughout his career as well. He is currently a member of the Missouri Common Ground Alliance Committee and the International Locate Rodeo Committee. Jeff holds a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas.

Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in safety engineering, is a Certified Utility Safety Administrator, and Certified Paramedic. Currently, Tim is the Public Safety Manager for Evergy’s, Public Safety Programs, and has worked in the Electric Utility Industry for the past 43 years. Spending most of his career in the Safety Profession, he joined the Safety and Training Dept in 1993 and has worked the last 30 years in both Generation and Field operations Safety. Tim joined Evergy’s Public Safety Outreach Program in 2010. Since that time, he has been engaged in educating customers by presenting the hazards associated with electricity to the public, contractors, first responders, agri-communities, and technical/vocational audiences.