Hawkeyed Safety Services LLC

I will never forget the day I witnessed a preventable swimming pool drowning that changed my perspective on safety forever.  Let me share that story with you.

I grew up in rural Iowa and every winter my family would travel 90 minutes and stay at a Holiday Inn over the weekend.  My brothers and I always looked forward to the annual trek because it meant hanging out at the gigantic indoor swimming pool.  I was 7 years old, but I remember what transpired on that day like it was yesterday.

I was hanging out at the shallow end of the pool because I was not a good swimmer.  I observed a bunch of adults jumping into the deep end of the pool and others frantically screaming and crying to call 9-1-1.  I made my way to the deep end but did not realize it dropped off so quickly.  I started to go under but luckily a woman grabbed me with force and placed me back at the shallow end.  Moments later, I saw a middle-aged male pull what looked like a lifeless 4–5-year-old boy with brown hair up out of the water and placed him on the edge of the concrete pool deck.  His skin looked wrinkled and pale.  A hotel employee immediately rushed onto the scene and started performing CPR.  Paramedics soon arrived and rushed to the scene and performed CPR for several minutes.  I was saddened to see the paramedics push the boy out of the hotel on a gurney with a blanket placed over his body.  I don’t think he survived.  Little did I know that I would see many more fatalities in the future as a safety professional.

I became a safety professional by chance.  I was an operating manager for a retail business working crazy shifts.  I had just proposed to my future wife, and she said, “If we are going to get married, I need you to find you a new career.”  My future wife’s good friend’s father was the owner of a machine shop that manufactured auto parts.  The owner agreed to bring me in for an interview – on a Saturday.  Speaking in a heavy Swiss accent, he eventually asked me if I wanted to specialize in safety or quality.  I emphatically responded with safety.  This beginning led me on a safety journey that has spanned 25 years handling complex projects across multiple states compassing vertical and horizontal construction, general industry, mining, and government installation projects ranging in value of $1M-400M.  For the past 10 years I have been an environmental health and safety director for various companies.  

I have really enjoyed this experience as it has allowed me to be a conduit between senior and middle management and those on the front line performing the work.  I have learned that people are the solution and not a problem to control.  Engaging front line workers to understand their pain points and making them part of the solution is the key to improving systems.  One cannot improve a system without understanding the context or how work is done.

My gift is to help people.  I was attending a leadership bootcamp nine years ago and the speaker challenged us to formulate a personal mission statement.  I was a little confused at first but soon realized this statement defines who I am, an aha moment.  My new personal mission statement became “To be there for my family, my work family group, and those who are less fortunate.”  This statement has guided me through life ever since.  Interesting, when my children were young, I would lay with them to read to them most nights and before they fell asleep, I would say to them, “No matter what happens, I will always be there for you.”  Fast forward to my daughter’s high school graduation.  My brother put her on the spot without me knowing and asked her, “What do you like most about your dad?”  She said, “My dad genuinely cares about people and is always willing to help.” 

Albert Einstein once said, “The only source of knowledge is experience.”  My 25 years of safety experience, a master’s degree, exemplary certifications, awards, connections, and relationships have all allowed me to demonstrate my passion to help people get home safely to their families.  These experiences have prepared me for the next chapter in my safety journey.  

I am starting my safety & consulting business (Hawkeyed Safety Services LLC) because I realize that all companies have pain points.  Most companies struggle with OSHA compliance.  We have a proven process that helps foster a culture of safety so you can protect your assets from unwanted outcomes.  I have a proven track record of success and am confident in my ability to replicate that achievement for you.  Let’s do safety differently together!  I will close by stating, “If you need help, call Welp.”