SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

Kathy A. Seabrook, CSP, CMIOSH
President
Global Solutions, Inc.
Mendham, NJ

BIOGRAPHY

Kathy is president and founder of Global Solutions, Inc., a global SHE management consultancy for midsize private to global multinational companies.  She is best known for her work in strategic/global SHE management and recognized as an international speaker, leadership educator and seminar presenter, having published in several books including, ASSE’s Safety Professional’s Handbook.  She is a CSP, Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and has a BS in Chemistry. 

 
Kathy’s ASSE leadership experience spans the chapter, region and Board of Directors levels.  She currently chairs the CoPA Sustainability Taskforce, CoMRA Global Committee, CoPS International Practice Specialty (IPS) and WISE membership committees, and is on the advisory committee for the IPS, WISE and the IOSH International Group.  She served two terms on the BOD as VP CoPS, was on the Society Strategic Planning,  Bylaws (chaired), PDC Planning, Business of Safety and Admissions committees.  She has served on chapter executive and region operating committees, was the first Administrator/founding member of the ASSE IPS and UK Section.  She serves/served on the ANSI Z10 and OHSAS 18002 committees (respectively) and chaired the ASSE International Membership Taskforce.  She has represented ASSE at the NIOSH Green Jobs workshop, Singapore Institute of Safety Officers, Society of Human Resource Managers and NAEM national conferences, UN Commission on the Status of Women and on the recent ASSE China Safety Professionals Delegation.  

Kathy received ASSE’s IPS Safety Professional of the Year, President’s and Charles V. Culbertson Outstanding Volunteer Service awards, and IOSH’s Distinguished Service award.

PLATFORM STATEMENT

The future of ASSE is dependent upon how well our Society’s leaders both understand the business, government, political, international and scientific arenas in which we operate  and are able to demonstrate the value, relevance and knowledge of the safety profession to our employers, the business community, legislators, regulators, academics and other stakeholders.

My experience in international corporate business, management and ownership of an independent business as well as ASSE leadership provides me with a deep and broad perspective which I will bring to the leadership role of ASSE Senior Vice President.  I understand that collaboration and consensus building are a vital element to this leadership role.  Throughout my ASSE leadership involvement, spanning the section, chapter, region, practice specialty, common interest group (CIGs), standards development, Society committee, international and Board of Director’s levels, I have demonstrated that I am decisional, committed, collaborative, and passionate about our profession and have worked diligently, with integrity, to achieve ASSE’s goals and objectives and identify and mentor future leaders.  If elected, this is the leadership approach and style I will bring to the role of Senior VP, along with a commitment   to listen to students, members, sections, chapters, regions, practice specialties, common interest groups and fellow Society leaders. 

As an ASSE leader, I offer a vision that will be focused on you, the ASSE member.  We are an organization for safety professionals and all we do must ultimately benefit our members.  To achieve this means actively seeking innovative ways to engage ASSE members as well as our external partners and stakeholders; understanding the issues at hand and making good decisions to further ASSE’s goals and objectives all on behalf of you and the safety profession.    

These are some of the key priorities I believe are important:       

• Member focus – With challenges and changes come opportunities.  ASSE’s challenge will be to expand its network by finding better ways to reach out and actively connect with ASSE members using new and evolving technology.  The key will be to focus on providing virtual information, resources and tools to assist ASSE members - to do their job.  In the current economy, ASSE needs to continue to come along side its members with mentoring opportunities and assistance with resume writing, interviewing skills and other job finding resources.  ASSE is the place where passionate safety professionals continue to build a community that is connected geographically (students, sections, chapters, and regions), technically/by common interests (practice specialties & CIGs) and technologically (ASSE networking sites) to support one another.  From young professionals at the start of their career to seasoned safety professionals at the executive level, ASSE’s greatest asset is its 33,000+ members.   Connecting ASSE members around the world puts a powerful tool in the hands of every ASSE member to get answers to technical and business questions and, benchmark best practices.   For ASSE members in job transition, expanded networking opportunities mean access to job leads, contacts and business networks to help them land their next job.    

• Building Relationships and Creating Partnerships/Alliances – ASSE is a community of safety professionals.  Our external stakeholders include domestic and international governments, business and industry, safety and health organizations, standards development, labor and academic communities.    Identifying synergies, developing partnerships and alliances and influencing ASSE’s internal and external stakeholders creates value and enhances ASSE’s reputation and position locally, nationally and globally.  When stakeholders consistently promote ASSE as a global SHE leader and resource of choice, we will be on our way to achieving our vision of being “a global leader” and “premier resource for those engaged in protecting people, property, and the environment.”  Continuing to positively leverage ASSE’s internal resources also strengthens ties between students, sections, chapters, regions, practice specialties, branches and common interest groups; creating value for ASSE members as well as our stakeholders. 

• Professional Development /Body of Knowledge– We need to reach more ASSE members with “on demand” professional educational opportunities, 24/7, anywhere in the world.  Continuing to support ASSE’s virtual symposia and webinar models and virtual Body of Knowledge project expands our ability to reach ASSE members and speakers in the US and around the world.  The Symposia and webinars are cost effective for attendees and in turn increase ASSE non dues revenues.  In addition, demonstrating competence is essential for ASSE members in their career development and progression.   Creating relevant, innovative and virtual educational and informational opportunities for our members provides access to the “know how” needed to succeed in new, existing or expanding job roles.  

• Fiscal responsibility – Finding ways to conduct Society business more efficiently and cost effectively is essential.  Reducing travel costs by promoting the use of technology for web based teleconferencing uses ASSE volunteer and staff time, talent and resources more efficiently, while promoting fiscal responsibility.  Technology solutions expand professional development products and service delivery options such as webinars, symposia and access to ANSI/ASSE standards, which better serve ASSE members with reduced budgets and travel time for professional development as well as enhances ASSE’s non dues revenues.   

• Communication:  Harnessing technology continues to be a key to effectively communicating ASSE’s message and connecting ASSE members around the globe.  Good leaders listen and then act.  Active listening along with asking the right questions translates into effective and decisional leadership as well as effective communication of ASSE’s direction and relevance.  Therefore, continuing to embrace new technology tools, virtual services and social media, such as LinkdedIn, Twitter and Facebook will enhance our ability to be a member focused Society. 

Conclusion 

I see a future where the safety profession is highly valued by our stakeholders, ASSE members are better able to advance their careers as well as their organization’s safety and health objectives, and ASSE takes a lead role in advancing safety and health education, awareness and standards which benefit workers, ASSE members, employers and the value and relevance of the safety profession and our Society.  If you too see ASSE working towards this future, I ask for your vote.  Together we can create an innovative future beyond that which we imagine today.