Background: Tommy Rebecchi is an Environmental, Health, and Safety Professional with over 10 years of experience in environmental, safety, and emergency response programs, procedures, and regulations. Tommy’s introduction into the environmental and safety fields began in 2008 when he served as the Hazardous Material Site Manager for the 8th Engineer Support Battalion (8th ESB) in the United States Marine Corps. After being honorably discharged from active-duty military service, he attended the University of Missouri, Kansas City (UMKC). He received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a double minor in Geology and Sustainability in 2014.
In 2022, he received a Master of Science in Occupational Safety Management from the University of Central Missouri (UCM). In 2022, Tommy was accepted into Capitol Technology University’s Occupational Health and Safety Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program, which he will tentatively complete in the summer of 2025. Tommy became a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) in 2023. His other awards and commendations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in 2009 and the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award in 2000.
Tommy is dedicated to finding new and practical solutions to preventing the most common causes of accidents and injuries, both in the workplace and in private residences. He firmly believes that one of the best ways to solve these issues is to focus on improving hazard awareness at the individual level. To accomplish this, we must first determine what that person knows about safety, how they behave, what they are exposed to, and what they observe daily. This data can then be used to provide each person with tailored information that they can use to lower the risk of accidents and injuries in their personal and professional lives.
For this purpose, Tommy developed the Rebecchi Individual Safety Consciousness (R.I.S.C.) Assessment, a qualitative and quantitative psychometric evaluation culminating in over a decade of knowledge, 2 years of dedication, and over 2,000 hours of research, consultation, and development. With the Assessment, Tommy hopes to teach each participant how to identify, avoid, and properly manage hazardous situations to prevent unnecessary accidents and injuries that can negatively impact a person’s life. As each person improves their hazard awareness, safety will improve for everyone.
In addition to the R.I.S.C. Assessment, Tommy is also dedicated to accomplishing 3 specific goals. First, he wants to make safety more relatable so that anyone can understand how it impacts them personally. Next, he wants to provide practical solutions for issues facing current and future safety professionals to help them more effectively accomplish their goal of keeping people safe. Finally, he wants to simplify safety as best he can so that people can understand, remember, and recall the information they will need to avoid experiencing an accident or injury. These 3 goals were incorporated into the foundation of the R.I.S.C. Assessment, and Tommy hopes that with it, he can help transform safety into what it should have been all this time: personal, realistic, and memorable.
Contact: Tommy Rebecchi can be contacted through the RISC Assessment Website.
Background: Chuck Coker is one of America’s most sought-after experts in the field of personal formation (i.e. how the person mentally develops), emotional intelligence, and talent management. His unique slant on how to use “human data” in all phases of the employment life cycle have spawned state of the art approaches for maximizing employee engagement and corporate wellness. The validity of the effectiveness of his processes have been documented by university research studies on multiple continents.
Chuck’s publications include:
Chuck is licensed to administer over 250 assessment profiles and has created over 50 instruments for human factor analysis. His latest offerings are to measure coachability, conflict styles and trustworthiness. This background was the reason for forming LifeThrive Performance Systems, Inc. in 1993. He presently has locations administering his materials in Florida, Virginia, Missouri, and the United Kingdom.
He is Past Chairman of the President’s Council for the National Speaker’s Association, Past President of the National Speakers Association (North Florida) and was voted their “Speaker of the Year” in 2000 – 2001. In 2016 he delivered his first TED Talk on how to use People Metrics to mitigate risk in the work environment of manufacturing and industrial based companies.
In addition to speaking and developing America’s top businesses, Dr. Coker has served as Department Head at Westminster (UK) and lectured on human metrics in prestigious educational institutions like Auburn, Harvard, Cambridge, Moscow State University, the University of Chester, and University of Wolverhampton.
Specific Contributions: Dr. Coker volunteered to consult on the development of the R.I.S.C. Assessment in July of 2022. His mastery of psychological survey development has been a key factor in establishing the structure, format, and methodology of the Assessment. His steadfast guidance and mentorship throughout the development process has not only helped build the foundation of the R.I.S.C. Assessment but has also aided the developer in his personal and professional growth. Without his contributions and support, the R.I.S.C. Assessment would be a shadow of its current form.
Contact: Learn more about Dr. Coker’s work at www.lifethrive.com.
Background: Mark Woodward is a Senior Safety & Risk Services Trainer with over 25 years of experience. Throughout his career, Mark has been responsible for developing and conducting customized training for employees, policyholders, associations, safety conferences, and business groups, instructing tens of thousands of people through more than 3,000 safety and risk management classes. He has presented on a national scale, including the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds, National Safety Council’s Congress & Expo, Public Risk Management Association Conference, American Society of Safety Engineers, and National Common Ground Alliance.
Mark is a certified safety consultant through the State of Missouri as well as a National Safety Council CPR, First Aid, and AED trainer; OSHA Outreach Trainer; and a defensive driving instructor. He is also President of the Missouri Chapter of the Common Ground Alliance and is a long-time active volunteer in Missouri fire and ambulance districts as a certified firefighter and emergency medical technician. Mark received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Safety Management from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) in 1998 and a Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from William Woods University in 2008. He is also certified in public speaking through both the University of Missouri and the Association for Talent Development.
Specific Contributions: Mark began consulting on the R.I.S.C. Assessment in October of 2022. Since then, he has used his extensive knowledge and experience of occupational health and safety to help strengthen the quality of the information and perspectives presented in the R.I.S.C. Assessment. In addition, Mark’s collaborative efforts have bolstered both the R.I.S.C. Assessment’s progress and the developer’s dedication in seeing the project through to its completion. He has become both a mentor and a friend throughout the development process, and his contributions are met with deep-felt gratitude.
Contact: Mark Woodward can be contacted through the R.I.S.C. Assessment website.
Background: David Maples is the co-founder and CEO of Catapult Creative Media, Inc. He is a dynamic and accomplished professional with expertise spanning technology, law, and business. Over the course of his 20-year career, he has served in various roles including but not limited to computer-systems architect, brand strategist, business consultant, and intellectual property attorney. David’s specialties include business and brand strategy, marketing, advertising research, statistical analysis, programming management, software development, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. David received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Marketing and Marketing Management with an emphasis on Statistical Analysis and Methods from the University of Georgia in 2002.
In 2010, he received a Juris Doctor and a Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from Louisiana State University (LSU). He is currently the host of The Buck Stops Here, KC Leaders, and AI podcasts.
Specific Contributions: Although David only started working on the R.I.S.C. Assessment in January 2024, he has been one of the most essential parts of the entire team. Where other software developers had (understandable) scheduling conflicts during the December holidays and misgivings about the software development of the R.I.S.C. Assessment, David not only made himself available to discuss the project, but there was no part of the developer’s vision that was unachievable. From the very beginning, David respected the enormous amount of effort and research that went into the development of the Assessment prior to programming and began thinking about how it could evolve over the next few years by integrating it with AI systems. He has been a positive source of both motivation and innovation since joining the team and will continue to play a vital role in the future of the R.I.S.C. Assessment.
Contact: Learn more about David Maples’ work at www.catapultcreativemedia.com.
Background: Virginia is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Catapult Creative Media, Inc. Blending her fine arts background with self-taught coding skills, she has dedicated her efforts to exploring the intersection between art and emerging technologies to develop symbiotic relationships between artists and machines. Virginia received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Animation from the University of Georgia in 2002. Since then, she has become an award-winning photographer, published fine artist, website developer, and has served as an adjunct professor at Louisiana State University (LSU).
Virginia is currently delving into the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI), championing it as a collaborative partner that enhances creativity rather than replacing it. Her influence in the design and technology communities has inspired a new generation of designers and innovators to embrace the transformative potential of AI with confidence and adaptability. She is currently the co-host of The Buck Stops Here and the KC Leaders podcasts.
Specific Contributions: Virginia began working on the R.I.S.C. Assessment in March 2024, but her expertise was extremely important due to the inexperience of the developer when it came to video recording and editing. Her professionalism in all phases of the video development helped streamline the process to meet established deadlines. Virginia’s approach to video recording also helped boost the developer’s comfort with being on camera so he could personally deliver the information presented within the R.I.S.C. Assessment. As the R.I.S.C. Assessment continues to evolve, her skills will prove instrumental in achieving the desired vision of delivering video content which will aid participants in improving their ability to identify hazards.
Contact: Learn more about Virginia Maples’ work at www.catapultcreativemedia.com.
Specific Contributions: Jeff was enlisted to work on the R.I.S.C. Assessment in late February 2024. Since then, he has gone above and beyond managing the development of the R.I.S.C. Assessment website. With Jeff’s expertise, the website has progressed past what the developer envisioned, and his marketing strategies and additions have strengthened the overall presentation of the R.I.S.C. Assessment. His forethought into the preparation of the website have also allowed the next phases of the R.I.S.C. Assessment to be easily integrated into its established design. Jeff has been and will continue to be a vital addition to the R.I.S.C. Assessment team, and his contributions are greatly appreciated.
Contact: Learn more about Jeff Ryder’s work at spotlightmedia360.com.
Background: Kris Mattern’s journey in graphic art began in 1998, and since then, she has expanded her skillset to become one of the most well-rounded freelance artists in Kansas City. Over the course of her 20+ year successful career, she has branched into website development, editorial review, digital marketing, and brand management. Her expertise has allowed her to work with a wide variety of clients, from first-time entrepreneurs and small business owners to non-profit organizations and national corporations. Kris received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design from Park University in 2007.
In addition to all her professional and academic achievements, Kris also received the Missouri Master Naturalist™ Certification from the University of Missouri in 2021.
Specific Contributions: Kris has been a source of inspiration since the early stages of the R.I.S.C. Assessment development process. Her extensive expertise in art, marketing, journalism, and digital design helped with the creation of the R.I.S.C. Assessment logo, the editorial review of the individualized feedback narratives, and the post-launch marketing strategy. Kris was able to add her skills to this project instead of overriding those of the developer, preserving the established work and strengthening the overall product.
Contact: Kris Mattern has tentatively retired and is not taking on new clients at this time.
Background: Thomas Holt is a Health and Safety (HS) Specialist with a rarely matched devotion to improving safety programs and finding practical solutions to real world problems. Through his unique ability to analyze safety programs using statistical metrics and data, he has developed multiple solutions for a variety of discrepancies to help organizations and safety professionals alike remain in compliance with federal, state, and local HS laws and regulations.
Specific Contributions: Thomas Holt has provided survey guidance, feedback strategies, quality testing, and motivational support during the development of the R.I.S.C. Assessment.
Contact: Thomas Holt can be contacted via LinkedIn® (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommy-holt-2104b884/).
Background: As a physical therapist and former adjunct professor, Jacqueline Dwyer has extensive knowledge and training in human movement, injury prevention, and safe patient handling. She has provided education and training at multiple hospitals and physical therapy programs in the Midwest and continues to advocate for safe practices, patient handling equipment, training, and accountability in acute care environments.
Specific Contributions: Jacqueline Dwyer contributed her expertise to the development of the First Aid, Biohazards, Facilities, & Sanitation category of the R.I.S.C. Assessment.
Contact: Jacqueline Dwyer can be contacted via LinkedIn® (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-dwyer-40781b27/).
Background: Dr. Karen Bradley is a professor of Sociology at the University of Central Missouri. Her area of expertise is the Sociology of Knowledge with a focus on research methodology and applied Sociology. Dr. Bradley received her Ph.D. in Rural Sociology from the University of Missouri in 1996.
Specific Contributions: Dr. Karen Bradley contributed her expertise to the early strategic development and methodology of the R.I.S.C. Assessment.
Contact: Dr. Karen Bradley can be contacted via email at [email protected].
Background: Lawrence Prettyman is the co-founder and CEO of Dragonfly MSP. Through relationship development and providing excellent customer service to his clients, he is dedicated to revolutionizing the Information Technology (IT) field. Lawrence received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 2008 and the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award in 2004.
Specific Contributions: Lawrence Prettyman contributed his expertise to the development of the Cybersecurity category of the R.I.S.C. Assessment.
Contact: Lawrence Prettyman can be contacted via LinkedIn® (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-prettyman-931a1460/).
Background: Robert Reinert is the co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Dragonfly MSP. Through relationship development and providing excellent customer service to his clients, he is dedicated to revolutionizing the Information Technology (IT) field. Robert received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science with a concentration in software engineering in 2020 and an Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps in 2013.
Specific Contributions: Robert Reinert contributed his expertise to the development of the Cybersecurity category of the R.I.S.C. Assessment.
Contact: Robert Reinert can be contacted via LinkedIn® (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-reinert/).
Background: Eric Deselich is a retired Policy Analyst and fire fighter.
Specific Contributions: Eric Deselich contributed his expertise to the development of the Fire Prevention & Planning category of the R.I.S.C. Assessment.
Contact: Eric Deselich can be contacted via LinkedIn® (https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-deselich-4aab9758/)
