Biography

Steve Willis, CSP, is the compliance services coordinator for Alabama Power Company, Birmingham, AL. He is responsible for providing assistance to the compliance specialists within the company in the areas of safety and health compliance and compliance training. He is also a resource to the corporate safety and health staff on the interpretation of OSHA, NFPA and ANSI standards. Collateral duties include administration of the safety and health website, OSHA recordkeeping and safety recognition.

He has 36 years experience in the safety and health field. His career began with Liberty Mutual Insurance in 1971 as a loss prevention representative and includes service with three insurance brokers as a loss control engineer. In 1983, he joined Alabama Power Company as a fire protection specialist. In 1985 he transferred to the company’s safety and health department as a safety engineer and assumed his current position in 2002. He is a 1971 Industrial Engineering graduate of Auburn University.

A professional member since 1978, he has served the Alabama Chapter of ASSE as president (1982-84), secretary (1981-82) and delegate (1985-93). He was twice recognized as the Alabama Chapter’s safety professional of the year (1985 and 1991). He has served as a member of ASTM’s F18 committee for electrical protective equipment for the past eleven years.

Platform Statement

The local chapter provides the most direct link for most of the members to get involved with ASSE. Strong local chapters are a key element not only for the growth of the Society but for the professional development of the members. When I first assumed a leadership role in our local chapter, I knew very little about the Society or what was expected of the local chapter. Shortly after taking office, the Region Vice President visited our chapter and met with the leadership team. He shared with us insights on not only our responsibilities but also tips on how to make our chapter successful. He was a valuable resource to the chapter and continued to encourage us and share information from other chapters and the Society.

As your Area Director, I would be a resource to the local chapters in Alabama and Mississippi; share information and best practices with the chapter officers; provide a link between the local chapters, the region and the Society to keep the membership informed to ensure your concerns are known; and, ensure each chapter has the tools they need to serve their membership for the continued growth of the chapters and the Society.

Working together we can help ASSE continue to build on its successes in providing leadership in the safety profession and professional development opportunities for its members.