Chris Williams

Executive Director
VPPPA

Speaker Abstract

The Future of VPP: Pathways to Safety Excellence

Participants in OSHA’s and the Department of Energy’s Voluntary Protection Programs represent the highest level of safety and health management systems and performance. Achieving VPP Star status can be a lengthy, difficult—yet worthwhile—journey for those companies fully committed to a fully interdependent safety culture. But what about those who don’t have the resources of Fortune 500 companies? Or who simply wish to engage in a journey of continuous improvement in pursuit of zero incidents?

Join VPPPA Executive Director Chris Williams with special guest, VPPPA Chairperson Terry Schulte (MI Windows & Doors), as they explore the future of safety and health management systems—one that includes a structured pathway where any company can pursue their own journey toward best-in-class. Engage in an open, honest discussion about why and how each company’s journey—and the end result—may be different and how VPP may not be the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel for some, but rather achieving (and sustaining) VPP-level performance.

Speaker Bio

Chris Williams, CAE serves as the Executive Director of the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association, a position which he has held since July 2022. In his role, Chris serves as the chief staff executive of the 1200-member association, overseeing a staff of 9 and providing strategic direction for the day-to-day operations of the association.

Prior to joining VPPPA, Chris was previously the Director of Membership for the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, where he redesigned the membership experience and developed AWCI’s Emerging Leaders Program to develop the next generation of industry talent. Williams has also served as the Director of Member Safety & Regulatory Initiatives for the national office of Associated Builders and Contractors, where he was instrumental in developing the association’s Safety Training Evaluation Process, modeled after VPP, and represented the association on various regulatory and standards-writing bodies.

Williams has more than 20 years’ experience in both association management and safety and health. He received his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in 2010.

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