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ORLANDO -- "Inspiring" and "memorable" were among the adjectives used by attendees to describe March 24's "2023 Florida Safety Council Awards Breakfast" honoring safety professionals and the safety industry. Keynote speaker Olja Correa had the audience alternately laughing, then crying, as she recounted her journey from war-torn Yugoslavia to her proud citizenship in the United States and her service in the U.S. Army before joining OSHA a decade ago. She stressed the importance of hard work, "embracing who you are," and never giving up on your dreams. Following Olja's presentation, Melissa Walsh received the 2023 Sara Griffin-Hughes Award for exemplary safety service to the community. Thiry-three-year-old Melissa, who became a quadriplegic at age 18 after making the decision to drink and drive, now lectures at venues throughout central Florida, warning teens that they do not want to end up in her position. She is an integral part of the Safety Council's Victim Awareness Program. Melissa's powerful story was recounted in the March edition of The Safety Newsletter. For the 70th year in a row, the Council also recognized superior safety performance by companies and safety professionals in the State of Florida. Dozens of applicants vied for recognition in nine categories. “We had a great response to this year’s awards’ competition and it’s clear that our members are more focused than ever on building a safe and secure workplace, as well as expanding their own knowledge and impact,” said Chris Earl, Florida Safety Council Executive Director. Chris and the Awards Committee met on Feb. 28 to select the winners, who were honored for their 2022 safety achievements at the March 24 Gala. The Florida Safety Council Awards Committee takes great pleasure in announcing the following winners for the 2022-23 safety year:
Outstanding Lost Time Prevention: Gold--Shimmick CFX Toll Operations Silver--RUSH Construction Bronze--Commercial Millworks, Inc. Honorable mentions: Dassault Aircraft Services-Stuart Woodard & Curran Inc. Lost Time Prevention: Commercial Millworks, Inc. Dassault Aircraft Services-Stuart RUSH Construction Shimmick CFX Toll Operations Vecenergy Vermeer MV Solutions Woodard & Curran Inc. Vehicle Fleet Safety: Gold--Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Silver--Woodard & Curran Inc. Bronze-- Vecenergy Honorable mentions: Ivey's Construction, Inc. RUSH Construction Corporate Safety Achievement Level 1: Gold--Ivey's Construction, Inc. Silver--Woodard & Curran Inc. Bronze--Vecenergy Honorable mentions: RUSH Construction Shades of Green Resort Corporate Safety Achievement Level 2: Gold--Collins Aerospace Silver--Delaware North Companies Bronze--Nautique Boat Company Corporate Safety Achievement Level 3: Gold--Pasco County Public Infrastructure Safety Silver-Westgate Resorts Bronze--Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Westside Foods COSS Excellence in Safety Award: Vermeer MV Solutions---recipient—David Adams COSS Course Scholarship Award: Shades of Green Resort--recipient—Cory Scott Safety Leadership Award: The Walt Disney Company--recipient—Joseph Klein
Honorable mentions: Magic Kingdom Park--Tomorrowland Merchandise--Chris Wolf The Walt Disney Company--Elizabeth Maclaughlin Magic Kingdom Park--Fantasyland Merchandise--Brad Koronka RUSH Construction--Shawn Lucas Shades of Green Resort--Brad Adams Vecenergy--Marquis Anderson Nautique Boat Company--Anna Fullen The Walt Disney Company--Tim Derolf Woodard & Curran Inc.--John Sowka Pasco County Public Infrastructure Safety--Jeffrey Brockman |
