Phoenix – The Arizona Chapter National Safety Council (ACNSC) announces the featured presenters for its 2026 Southwest Safety Conference, taking place Friday, April 17, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Mesa. The annual conference brings together hundreds of safety and HR professionals, business owners, and industry leaders for a full day of education, exchange, and insight focused on preventing injuries and saving lives.
This year’s lineup reflects the realities of today’s workplaces. Sessions address mental health awareness, leadership through change, personal accountability, and collaboration across generations. The emphasis stays practical and grounded, with speakers who bring research, lived experience, and leadership credibility to the stage.
“We’re thrilled with this year’s lineup,” says Rick Murray, ACNSC President and CEO. “These speakers bring real experience and perspective. They show how trust, awareness, and accountability influence the choices people make at work every day.”
Featured Speakers and Sessions
Megan Hammes, MS, MCHES – Under the Hard Hat: Safety Through Mental Health Awareness
Hammes draws on more than two decades in employee health and well-being to show how mental health awareness strengthens safety outcomes. Her session focuses on early recognition, evidence-based response, and practical training tools leaders use to reduce risk before incidents occur.
Gary and Jeanne Norland – Life After 12,500 Volts
Norland and his wife, Jeanne, share the lasting impact of a preventable workplace accident. Their story moves beyond statistics to show how one unsafe moment affects families, coworkers, and entire communities, reinforcing safety as a personal responsibility.
Tim and Ciro Page-Bottorff – From Boomers to Zoomers
Ending the Generational Cold War in Safety
With more than 30 years in occupational health and safety, Page-Bottorff challenges generational stereotypes and shows how those assumptions create unnecessary friction on the job. Presented alongside his son, Ciro Page-Bottorff, the session focuses on building a shared “third space” where teams move beyond labels to work more effectively.
Eric J. Rodriguez – Leading Safety in the Human Era
Rodriguez, a former engineer and operations leader, explores why effective safety leadership depends on trust, connection, and daily practice. His keynote reframes safety as a shared value that helps organizations adapt, innovate, and protect people at the same time.
Why This Conference Matters
Workplace risks continue to evolve, shaped by human behavior, mental strain, rapid change, and complex team dynamics. The Southwest Safety Conference addresses these realities head-on by pairing credible voices with practical insight. Attendees leave with strategies they can apply immediately, stronger peer connections, and a clearer understanding of how leadership, awareness, and accountability work together to prevent injuries and save lives.
Learn more about the Southwest Safety Conference, including registration and exhibitor and sponsor opportunities, at acnsc.org/southwest-safety-conference.
