Health, Ergonomics and Loss Prevention Consultant
June 1999 to present
Managed and operated all facets of this professional ergonomics and loss prevention business. Helped companies to decrease overuse injuries, turnover, worker's compensation and medical costs, while increasing employee health, safety, comfort, morale and productivity. Developed a variety of creative engineering and administrative controls in a variety of industries.
ConAgra, Inc./Monfort, Inc., Greeley, CO
Corporate Ergonomics Director Aug. 1989 - Jun l999
Ergonomics Consultant Apr. 1983 - Jul 1984; Mar. 1988 - Aug. 1989
Responsible for development and management of an aggressive ergonomics program covering 24 plants throughout the nation for this $6.5-billion company. Turned around corporate and worker practices to create one of the most successful and comprehensive ergonomics program in any high-risk industry. Design and develop new tools, workstations and work processes. Develop extensive ergonomics training programs including seven custom videos, and a new-hire work-hardening program. Management and technical support for ergonomic cases and OSHA settlements. Perform plant safety audits. Highlights include:
Reduced cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) rates by 50 percent in 7 years.
Cut CTD worker compensation costs by 60 percent saving $6.0 million annually. Reduced initial turnover of new employees by half with a work-hardening training program and concurrently lowered CTDs.
Maintain an outstanding OSHA ergonomic inspection record with only two low fines out of seven wall-to-wall inspections in an industry with the highest CTD incident rate.
Other cost saving and cultural changing initiatives include:
Member of the corporate Research and Development team to design and improve ergonomic equipment throughout the plants.
Worked with commercial manufacturers to design and produce improved ergonomic tools.
Publicized the results and methods in more than 60 articles/presentations including frequent media and professional coverage.
Missouri Western State College, St. Joseph, MO
Aug. 1988 - May 1989
Assistant Professor
Taught classes in health and exercise science. Directed the Human Performance Laboratory. Chaired the MWSC Health Line Wellness Committee. Developed a new exercise science curriculum in collaboration with another professor. Updated the core health/fitness program.
City of Faith Medical and Research Center, Tulsa, OK Jun. 1985 - Feb. 1988
Director Fitness Center and Wellness Institute
Developed, marketed and managed the fitness center facility and comprehensive wellness program throughout this large organization and the community. Performed EKG stress testing, exercise prescription and supervised exercise therapy. Coordinated all hospital departments in providing an in-patient and out-patient exercise therapy program. Ergonomics consulting.
Implemented a comprehensive wellness program for hospital staff and the community.
Began a graduate internship program.
Taught medical students and residents during their preventative medicine rotation.
Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, OK
Assistant Professor
Aug. 1987 - Dec. 1988
Instructor
Aug. 1978 - Dec. l982; Aug. 1984 - Aug. 1989
Taught the full range of classes in health, exercise science and sports medicine. Developed and directed the health and exercise major including academic and research advising. Managed the University's community adult fitness program. Highlights include:
Tripled the number of exercise science majors.
Substantially improved the acceptance rate at professional and graduate schools.
Consistently received high evaluations for teaching skills.
Developed the largest community adult running program in Tulsa.
Education and Certifications
DOCTORATE, PHYSIOLOGICAL KINESIOLOGY
Aug l987
University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
Graduated: Dean's Citation for Excellence
MASTERS, HEALTH and EXERCISE SCIENCE
Dec l980
Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK
BATCHELOR'S, HEALTH and EXERCISE SCIENCE
May l978
BATCHELOR'S, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK
Certified Professional Ergonomist (Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics)
Certified Maynard Operations Sequence Technique (MOST) Systems Applicator
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (National Strength Conditioning Assoc.)
Certified Exercise Test Technologist (American College of Sports Medicine)
Certified Fitness Program Manager (Cooper Clinic - Dallas, TX)
Certified Frontline Leadership Facilitator (Zenger-Miller)