Leadership
The Board of Directors diligently guides BCSP activities and establishes the organization’s course for the future.
Board members represent a wide range of industries, specializations, and geographic regions to most effectively serve BCSP’s diverse body of credential holders. They volunteer their time, without compensation, to provide knowledgeable governance, build collaborative relationships, and generally support BCSP in the mission of advancing safety practice.
BCSP solicits nominations for new Board members beginning in the summer and elects new Directors and Officers at the Board meeting each November. Except for public directors, Board members hold the Certified Safety Professional® (CSP®) credential and are experienced senior leaders in the safety, health, and environmental field. Board members may serve up to two (2) terms of three (3) years each. BCSP’s Chief Executive Officer serves as Board Secretary, per BCSP bylaws.
Officers
President
Bruce D. Hollcroft
CSP, ARM, CHMM
Bruce Hollcroft, CSP, ARM, CHMM is a Senior Risk Solutions Consultant with Alliant Insurance Services in Spokane, Washington. He provides hazard identification, risk assessment, risk control, safety management systems, regulatory compliance, and accident/incident investigation services to clients. Hollcroft has more than 40 years of experience.
Prior to his current role, Hollcroft held positions with several different insurance, risk management and safety, health, and environmental consulting firms. This included more than 16 years with the world’s largest insurance broker, including three years in New Zealand, culminating in a position as head of risk consulting for the northwestern region of the United States.
Hollcroft is a Professional Member of the ASSP and Past President of the Heart of America Chapter (1993) and Columbia-Willamette Chapter (2011). He was ASSP Safety Professional of the Year for the Columbia-Willamette Chapter (2013) and ASSP Region 1 (2015). He was the Chair of the Oregon Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Conference (2011) and has also been a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) and Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS).
Hollcroft holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Safety from the University of Central Missouri. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM).
Vice President
Daniel G. Hopwood
MPH, CSP, SMP, ARM, FASSP
Hopwood has over 42 years of experience providing risk control services to commercial insured’s nationally and worldwide, both from the carrier and insurance broker perspectives. He started his career with a global insurance carrier and then spent time on the broker side of the business. He has been a Corporate Risk and Safety Director as well. Hopwood joined Sompo International in 2018 where he is a Vice President and Director of Risk Control Field Services. He is proud to have joined the BCSP’s Board of Directors effective January 2022.
Active in the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), Hopwood is a Professional Member of the organization and served as Assistant Regional Vice President and Vice President in Region 1 (19 chapters in 5 states). He’s also served on numerous Society Committees, such as the Leadership Conference Committee, and held several Chapter-focused offices, including President.
Hopwood is a published author, frequent conference speaker, and spent 25 years teaching in various colleges. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, Emphasis in Industrial Safety, and a Master of Public Health in Occupational Health from San Diego State University. Hopwood’s credentials include the Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Safety Management Professional (SMP), Associate in Risk Management (ARM), and Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP). He was named a Fellow of the American Society of Safety Professionals in 2024.
Treasurer
Tricia A. Kagerer
CSP, ARM, CPCU, CRIS
Tricia Kagerer serves as the Executive Vice President of Risk Management at Jordan Foster Construction, general contractor performing civil, multifamily, and commercial project across Texas. In this role, she provides exemplary leadership and direction to the risk management, safety, and leadership teams.
Tricia is widely recognized as an authority in the construction risk management industry. She is a sought-after speaker on diverse subjects, including leadership, risk management, education across cultures, servant leadership, and diversity. Her contributions have earned her prestigious accolades, including the IRMI Bill McIntyre Leadership Award and the 2020 BCSP Award of Excellence. Tricia is dedicated to mentoring and teaching the next generation of construction professionals serving as a visiting lecturer at Texas A & M University MS in Construction Program teaching Construction Risk Management. As a safety risk professional and women’s leadership expert, she is committed to expanding the definition of Safety to include the physical and mental well-being of the workforce.
Kagerer is the author of the book, “The B Words: 13 Words Every Woman Must Navigate on the Journey to Self-Defined Success” where she highlights challenges and breakthrough strategies for women entering non-traditional roles in the workplace.
Past President
Ashok Garlapati
CSP, QEP, CFIOSH, FASSP
Ashok Garlapati, CSP, QEP, CFIOSH, FASSP is a Lead Auditor of the ISO9001, ISO 14001, and ISO45001 standards and approved as an IOSH and Global OSHA Authorized Trainer. He has over 34 years of experience in HSE consultancy and HSE management in the oil and gas industries.
Garlapati is a Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and played an important role in the establishment of several ASSP chapters around the world. He volunteers as a BCSP Ambassador and has mentored many safety, health, and environmental (SH&E) professionals from many countries in attaining their certifications.
Garlapati has previously been honored by ASSP with the Charles V. Culbertson Award, Region VI Safety Professional of the Year Award, and Edgar Monsanto Queeny Safety Professional of the Year Award. He is a Chartered Fellow of IOSH, UK and he was also conferred with the ASSP Fellow Honor for his contributions to the HSE profession. Garlapati is currently working as a HSE Consultant (E&D) with Kuwait Oil Company, State of Kuwait.
CEO, Secretary
Christy Uden
CAE, IOM
Christy Uden, CAE, IOM is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). Uden graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Master of Science (MS) in Health Communication. Additionally, she holds the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management (IOM) and the American Society of Association Executives’ (ASAE) Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification.
Directors
Josh Becker
PhD, CSP
Dr. Josh Becker, PhD, CSP is a Partner/Safety Consultant with URS Safety in Wheeling, West Virginia. He provides Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) consulting services and operates unmanned aircraft to conduct safety risk assessments to a diverse set of companies across all industries ranging from energy to construction. He brings over 25 years of industry experience spanning multiple disciplines.
Becker is a Combat Veteran who previously served as a Training/Safety Officer in the West Virginia Army National Guard Aviation Branch for over 24 years. He holds adjunct professor roles with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Columbia Southern University. In addition, he has been a policy researcher for the RAND Corporation helping to improve policy and decision making through research and analysis.
Josh is a Professional Member of the ASSP, Past President of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter, and past Deputy Regional Vice President for ASSP Region VIII. He is currently a board member of Ohio Valley Energy Association and Belmont College Safety Programs Advisory Committee.
Becker holds a B.S. from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, an M.S. in Safety Management from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D in Occupational Safety and Health from Capitol Technology University. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and a Quality Control Manager (CQM) for U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
Teresa A. Cole
CSP, CSHM
Teresa Cole, CSP has over 34 years of experience in the transportation safety field. Teresa currently serves as the Vice President of Safety and Security for Keolis Transit America. Teresa has served as past president, vice president, and treasurer of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) and has served on the Pennsylvania School Bus Association Board of Directors.
Teresa is a current member of the Board of Delegates for the National Safety Council (NSC) and served as the Chairman of the Transportation Division and School Bus/Transit Section. Her awards include: NSC “Distinguished Service to Safety Award,” Volunteer of the Year, and National School Transportation Association Golden Merit Award.
Teresa received her undergraduate degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from West Virginia University and her master’s degree in Safety Management from West Virginia University.
Gary W. Clevenger
CSP, CRIS, RRE
Gary Clevenger, MS, CSP, CRIS, RRE is the Vice President Loss Control with EMC Insurance responsible for leading the delivery of Loss Control Services, building a high-performance culture focused on continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement.
Prior to joining EMC, Clevenger worked for CNA Insurance as Vice President Risk Control Segments responsible for the execution of initiatives across the global enterprise, focusing on innovation, risk assessment, thought leadership, digital solutions, talent development and identification of emerging risks across the portfolio.
He is a Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Professionals, Heart of America Chapter. Clevenger has served on national boards for various trade associations focusing worker safety and mental health. Clevenger had the honor of being Awarded Susan Harwood Training Grant from OSHA while serving as the Safety Director of the Sheet Metal Contractors National Association-Kansas City. The grant facilitated industry specific programs on amputation prevention and machine guarding for the sheet metal trades nationwide. Clevenger has authored articles for industry journals and facilitated Pod Casts with IRMI and The Insurance Nomads.
Clevenger holds a Master of Science degree in Occupational Safety Management/Fire Science from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) and a Bachelor of Science, Education from Missouri Western State University.
Sammy Davis
PhD, CSP, GradIOSH, NREMT-P
Dr. Sammy Davis brings over 36 years of expertise in public and occupational health and safety, with a strong background spanning tactical EMS, transportation, construction, oil & gas, and, more recently, the food service industry. Currently, Dr. Davis serves as Vice President of Global Safety & Security at Papa John’s International, where he leads teams specializing in occupational health, safety, DOT compliance, security, law enforcement, and loss prevention. In this role, he oversees safety and security operations globally, encompassing 13 Quality Control Centers, over 500 corporate restaurants, and three Global Restaurant Support Centers.
Dr. Davis has actively contributed to numerous professional boards, including Kentucky Harvest, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Jeffersontown Chamber of Commerce, National Safe Place, and most recently, the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. He holds respected certifications as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Graduate Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (GradIOSH), and Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (NREMT-P).
Dr. Davis completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Indiana University and earned a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University. His doctoral research focused on the effects transformational leadership characteristics have on workplace engagement within the health and safety profession.
Mary Hjorth
SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Mary Hjorth is an experienced executive who excels at designing and executing HR strategies by aligning “all things People” within a company’s vision. Her expertise is in leading companywide strategies, processes, and teams. Mary earned her Senior HR designations through the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).
As an active volunteer, Mary is a mentor to young women at Texas A&M University and, through the Seedling Foundation mentors children who have an incarcerated parent. Her volunteer work also includes Board memberships. Currently she is on the board for Texas A&M University’s Aggie Women’s Network, Secretary for the Texas Diversity Council, Central Texas Chapter, and is the Public Director for the Board for Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP).
Mary lives in San Marcos, TX with her husband, Tyler ’91, their 12 chickens and other assorted animals. As avid Texas A&M sports fans, they spend time in College Station, especially during football season.
Sarah Long Sparks
CSP, SMP
Sarah Long Sparks, CSP, SMP is the Vice President of Integration at Duininck, a third-generation, family-owned construction company offering construction solutions to private and public markets. She has extensive experience as a safety professional and member of the US Navy.
Donald A. Robinson
PhD, CSP, P.E., ARM-E
Dr. Donald Robinson, PhD, CSP, P.E., ARM-E earned a doctorate in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMA), a MS in Engineering Management from Northeastern University, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UMA. Robinson is also a graduate of the GE Corporate Manufacturing Program and the GE Pittsfield Engineering Apprentice Program.
Robinson serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Sciences Department at UMA and as a Consultant in Safety Management and Products Liability. Robinson served as Executive Director of EH&S at UMA with a 40-person organization responsible for emergency management, fire safety, biological safety, radiation safety, lab safety and hazardous materials management.
Prior to his career at UMA, Robinson was Manager of Occupational Safety for the GE River Works plant in Lynn, MA. Robinson served on the NSC Board of Directors as VP for Campus Safety and was President of the Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Health Association (CSHEMA). He received the Distinguished Safety Service Award (DSSA) from NSC and the Lifetime Achievement Award from CSHEMA. Robinson is a member of Tau Beta Phi National Engineering Society and has published extensively in the field of occupational safety and health.
Jonathan A. Zimmerman
CSP, CHMM, CCPSP
Jonathan Zimmerman, CSP, CHMM, CCPSP is a Senior Director of EHS with Pepsi Beverages North America, residing in Cincinnati, Ohio. He leads the manufacturing and warehousing EHS team throughout North America.
As a servant leader, Jonathan guides and drives continuous improvement toward a world class EHS culture that drives hazard identification, risk assessment and control, EHS regulatory compliance, prevention through design, process safety, and management systems with an intense focus on leading indicators and engagement across the organization. Zimmerman (or JZ) has over 27 years of experience in the EHS function in several manufacturing organizations. He has led and developed EHS culture, strategy, programs, and initiatives from local plant locations to the Senior Leadership level.
Zimmerman is a Professional Member of ASSP and fulfilled various leadership roles in the Southwestern Ohio Chapter for the past decade, including serving as ASSP Region 7 Vice President and Manufacturing Practice Specialty Administrator. He was ASSP Safety Professional of the Year for the Manufacturing Practice Specialty (2024). He has a passion for teaching others, especially EHS professionals (young and old), about servant leadership and its importance as we strive to make a difference in the world.
Zimmerman holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Safety and Environmental Management from the University of Findlay (OH). He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), and CCPS Certified Process Safety Professional (CCPSP).