Wilbur-Ellis CEO to Share Safety Suggestions at Safety School
July 3, 2019 
John Buckley, President and CEO of Wilbur-Ellis, will headline a list of nearly one dozen speakers at the 41st annual meeting of the National Agronomic Environmental Health and Safety School (NAEHSS).
The event — Safety School, for short — will occur Aug. 20-21 at the Asmark Institute Agricenter in Bloomington, IL. As has been the case the last two decades, it will be held in conjunction with the Midwest AG Industries Exposition, better known as MAGIE.
“The Safety School is the premier meeting for EH&S professionals to network. We attract about 150 people from coast to coast, from national companies to independent retailers,” NAEHSS Executive Director Amber Duke says. “It has grown steadily in attendance year after year since 2007.”
Registration via NAEHSS.org is $150 until Aug. 15 and $195 afterward. The Aug. 20 schedule runs from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. while the Aug. 21 slate goes from 7:30-11:30 a.m.
“We strategically end at lunch time on Wednesday so that participants can head over to the MAGIE show,” Duke says. “Two great events to attend in Bloomington at one time.”
Buckley has served as President and CEO of Wilbur-Ellis since Jan. 1, 2018. Founded in 1921, the Wilbur-Ellis companies are international marketers and distributors of agricultural products, animal feed, and specialty chemicals and ingredients. “John will be sharing his insight on leading with safety and changing their (company’s) culture,” Duke says. “He has a unique vision for Wilbur-Ellis.”
Fellow presenters include Rick Zimmer of Ameren, who will discuss gas storage and underground utility issues and safety, and Scott Birchfield, Senior Health, Safety, and Environmental Manager with Syngenta Crop Protection, who will present on managing pesticide containers at repacking facilities.
The list of speakers — not yet complete at presstime — includes several Safety School mainstays, including:
- Brian Bothast, Peoria Area Office, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
- Thomas Bray, Lead Editor, J.J. Keller & Associates, who will speak to the new entry-level driver training requirements and the 2020 debut of the national commercial driver’s license (CDL) drug and alcohol clearinghouse.
- Dr. Fred Whitford, Purdue Pesticide Programs (PPP), Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service (CES), who will discuss “riding on a hitch pin — the science behind this bolt.”
- Steve Hancock, Vice President of Electric Distribution, Corn Belt Energy, who will speak on electrical safety.
- Representatives of the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), CropLife America (CLA), and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) will also provide “updates from the Hill.”
“We try very hard to offer the most up-to-date, timely topics that are important to our audience and their line of work within EH&S,” Duke says.
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