CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY
For our 11th year we will continue our mission of educating and informing safety employees, teams, and managers about the latest research in behavioral safety approaches to safety culture change.
Attendees will walk away from our conference armed with the tools and strategies to help motivate employees to maintain safe behavior that ensures a more productive and safe workplace.
Please join us and bask in an atmosphere of safety education.
Eleven years of elevating your approach to behavioral safety and health!
Meet our Incredible Speakers!
Wray Carvelas
As an authentic people-oriented leader Wray has transformed organizations and achieved bottom line results though developing people and nurturing their talents. He began his professional journey as a metallurgist with Anglo American (East Rand Gold and Uranium Company) and De Beers (Finsch Diamond Mine), before transitioning into project leadership with Kellogg Brown & Root in his native South Africa. Wray then spent two decades with DRA Minerals, progressing from Senior Project Manager to Project Director, and ultimately to President and CEO of DRA Americas, before being appointed President, CEO, and Executive Director of DRA Global.
Across senior leadership roles in complex, multinational mining and engineering environments, Wray consistently demonstrated that strong commercial outcomes are inseparable from strong leadership and engaged people. As CEO, he championed purpose-driven leadership, helping individuals connect their personal sense of purpose to the organization’s vision and values—creating alignment that positively impacted employees, contractors, shareholders, and the communities in which DRA operated.
Wray’s commitment to people extends beyond the boardroom. Throughout his career, he has actively invested in community development, including work through his church in rural South African settlements, empowering individuals and uplifting communities through practical leadership and service.
Today, as Founder and CEO of The Ascencia Group, Wray partners with leaders and executive teams to drive measurable performance improvement through people and leadership development. He helps organizations create a compelling shared vision, co-develop strategy, communicate with clarity and purpose, and align values—unlocking the powerful results that come from engaged teams moving in the same direction.
The Ascencia Group works with small to large organizations to deliver tangible, triple-bottom-line outcomes through a bespoke, collaborative, people-focused approach. By integrating leadership development, employee engagement, and strategic alignment, Wray enables organizations to execute strategy more effectively and build enduring success.
Through his coaching and advisory work, Wray teaches a simple but proven truth: organizations that excel over the long term are led by empowered, well-equipped leaders who earn trust, inspire others, and consistently put people first.
Juan Carlos Lopez
Juan Carlos Lopez is a civil engineer who started his career designing construction of pipelines and well sites then worked as a field engineer for Chevron eventually migrating to a Quality and HSE Field Coordinator. He then spent 20 years with Schlumberger where he became their Health Safety and Environment (HSE) VP with responsibilities for all of the Middle East and Asia. He then continued with executive positions in Operations Integrity and Integrated Drilling in Latin America.
While at Schlumberger he was awarded the prestigious Presidents Award for the SAFE (driving) program he developed which decreased vehicle-related injuries by 30% in one year. He also was awarded the Golden Compass Award for return on social investment and the IPM President Award for his work in Behavioral Engineering.
During this career he also earned a diploma in Applied Behavior Science in Organizations from the University of Nevada Reno and a Masters in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Harvard University. A lifelong learner, JC now is now the principle of Lopez Performance Solutions whose ongoing mission is to develop and deploy innovative and science-based solutions to improve human performance of industry and society.
Rear Admiral John Meier (Retired)
Rear Adm. John F. Meier, a native of Export, Pennsylvania, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in General Engineering. He completed flight training in Beeville, Texas, and was “winged” as a Naval Aviator in August 1988.
Meier’s operational assignments include Electronic Attack Squadron-141 (VAQ-141), Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2), VAQ-128, and executive officer onboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), during which the command was recognized with the 2008, 2009 & 2010 Battle “E” and the 2009 Safety “S.” Command tours include VAQ-136, earning the Safety “S” and Battle “E” in 2004 as well as the 2005 Retention Excellence award; USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44), earning the 2011 Battle “E”; and Precommissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) earning the 2014 & 2015 Retention Excellence awards. Meier most recently commanded Carrier Strike Group Ten (SCG-10) earning the Humanitarian Service Award.
Meier’s shore assignments include tours at VAQ-129, where he was recognized as Instructor Pilot of the Year in 1995; EA-6B placement officer at Navy Personnel Command; senior operations officer and emergency actions officer on the Chairman on the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the National Military Command Center; requirements officer for EA-18G at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N88; assistant chief of staff force readiness officer at Commander, Naval Air Forces; assistant commander, Navy Personnel Command for Career Management (PERS-4); and commander, Navy Warfare Development Command.
Meier has participated in operations around the world since Desert Storm, led Southern Partnership Station and built the crew and culture of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) as her first commanding officer. He has accumulated over 4,000 flight hours and 675 carrier landings.
Meier assumed command of Naval Air Force Atlantic on May 1, 2020.
His decorations include Legion of Merit and various other personal and unit level awards.
Julie Smith, Ph.D.
Dr. Julie Smith is a pioneering figure in the field of large-scale organizational behavior change, known for helping leaders execute ideas and plans others consider “mission impossible.” Her award-winning methods are backed by decades of case studies with leading organizations around the world.
As co-creator of Vital Behavior Excellence, a behavior-powered execution system used across industries, Dr. Smith helps leaders turn expectations into consistent, frontline habits. Her practical, repeatable approach bridges the gap between strategy and daily execution—driving safer, more reliable performance at scale.
Dr. Smith is the co-author of Vital Behavior Blueprint: 5 Steps to Embed Mission-Critical Habits Into Your Organization’s DNA, where she reveals the fastest way to build critical habits and sustain results without relying on costly consulting interventions.
J. Fritz Kin
Fritz Kin spent 27 years at Marathon Petroleum responsible for safety and health, emergency preparedness, environmental and security at both refineries and at the corporate level. He ended his career with Marathon spending 7 years as Senior Director of Safety, Security and Process Safety Management. During this time he initiated Marathon refineries’ Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) programs that have been accredited as best-in practice by the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies (CCBS) and transformed the safety operations with Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) principles and practice. Fritz is now the principle of J. F. Kin Consulting, specializing in next level safety through a modern, people-centered approach. Using the principles of Human & Organizational Performance he helps clients understand how culture and systems influence behavior and to build organizational resilience and improve performance.
Dr. Sharlet Rafacz
Dr. Sharlet Rafacz is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University and a member of the industrial organizational behavior management faculty.
Prior to joining WMU, Dr. Rafacz was an associate professor in the Psychology Department at California State University, Fresno and an assistant professor at Savannah State University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in learning, applied behavior analysis, behavioral research methods, ethics, health behavior, and organizational behavior management. Her research in OBM focuses on rule-governed behavior, financial incentive systems, and changing aversive work conditions to improve cooperation, productivity, and job satisfaction. She also conducts research on improving health and wellbeing in the workplace and increasing healthy food choices by children and adults at home, schools, restaurants, and grocery stores. Dr. Rafacz has published her research in Perspectives on Behavior Science, The Psychological Record, and the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management. She also serves as a guest reviewer for several behavior analytic journals and on the editorial board for the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management. She is the Past-President for the Organizational Behavior Management Network and has served on the California Association for Behavior Analysis Board, the Health, Sport and Fitness Special Interest Group Research Committee, and the Association for Behavior Analysis International Program Board.
Timothy Ludwig, Ph.D.
Timothy Ludwig earned his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech researching the benefits of employee-driven behavioral safety programs under E. Scott Geller continuing his post-doctoral work in industrial engineering studying applications of W. Edwards Deming to quality and safety improvement. His popular website Safety-Doc.com is a content-rich resource of safety culture stories, blogs, research, videos, and services. Dr. Ludwig was cited in Industrial Safety and Hygiene News (ISHN) “50 Leaders for Today and Tomorrow”. Dr. Ludwig serves on the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies’ Behavioral Safety Accreditation Commission that reviews best-in-industry safety practices and offers objective feedback on safety programs.
Dr. Ludwig is the author of dozens of scholarly articles that empirically document the successes of methods to improve safety and quality in industry through behavior-based solutions. His books include Intervening to Improve the Safety of Occupational Driving (2001), Behavioral Systems: Understanding Complexity in Organizations (2010), Behavioral Science Approaches to Process Safety: A Response to Industry’s Call (2018), Dysfunctional Practices that Kill your Safety Culture (2018) and, The Science and Best-Practices of Behavioral Safety: The Source for Reducing Injuries on the Front Line (2023).
Dr. Ludwig has over 30 years experience in research and practice in behavioral safety where he integrates empirical findings into his safety consulting. Within his consulting practice Dr. Ludwig has helped assess, design, and implement safety and quality improvement programs in over 50 companies. Dr. Ludwig has delivered over 50 of his popular keynote presentations in 15 countries worldwide.
Shawn Berman, Ph.D.
Dr. Shawn Bergman’s distinctive approach blends science, psychology, data, and technology to address complex problems amid ambiguity. He is a Professor of Psychology in the nationally ranked Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management (IOHRM) graduate program at Appalachian State University and serves as the co-founder and Research Director at the Vela Institute, a nonprofit focused on using data to improve individual and organizational outcomes.
With a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Dr. Bergman has spent his career to bridging the gap between academic rigor and practical, real-world solutions. He has worked with more than 60 clients across the public and private sectors, published 45 academic articles, and co-authored more than 135 professional and technical reports. His expertise in individual and organizational performance, data analytics, and the ethical application of AI helps organizations move beyond simple data collection, transforming raw information into a strategic tool that enables people to make positive changes.
Widely recognized for his energetic and engaging style, Dr. Bergman has delivered over 135 keynote addresses and presentations. His dedication to education and mentorship has earned him numerous accolades, including the Appalachian State Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching and Distinguished Graduate Faculty honors. He is an honored member of both the Academy of Outstanding Teachers and the Academy of Outstanding Graduate Mentors and has received multiple Psi Chi Excellence in Teaching Awards.
Whether in the classroom or on the keynote stage, Dr. Bergman leverages his unique expertise in science, psychology, data, and technology to clarify data science and identify blind spots, helping individuals make positive changes and unlock their potential.
