Safety Hall of Fame

In 2001, the Wisconsin Safety Council established the Wisconsin Safety Hall of Fame to recognize high achievement and encourage progress toward a safer and healthier Wisconsin. It symbolizes the Council’s commitment to safety and health.

An individual is inaugurated into the Wisconsin Safety Hall of Fame annually. The recipient is a chief executive officer (CEO), president, or other high-level operating official of an organization that has distinguished itself over a period of years for outstanding achievements in workplace and off-the-job safety and health, community service, environmental stewardship, and responsible citizenship.

The Wisconsin Safety Hall of Fame is a tribute to professionals whose dedication, leadership and achievements have significantly impacted the safety and well-being of not only their employees, but Wisconsin as a whole, throughout the years.

Purposes of the Wisconsin Safety Hall of Fame:

To honor an individual whose appreciation of and concern for humanity, safety and health serves as an inspiration to others.
To formally acknowledge the Wisconsin Safety Council’s respect for consistent actions and achievements.
To congratulate and thank an outstanding leader whose enlightened efforts on behalf of employees and community maintain society’s commitment to the dignity of all people.
To acknowledge an individual’s achievement.

Nomination and Selection Criteria:

To be considered for the Wisconsin Safety Hall of Fame, an organization and its leader should have a superior record in advancing safety and health practices within their organization and industry that is consistent with the stated purposes, objectives, and mission of the Wisconsin Safety Council.

The Wisconsin Safety Council is the state’s leading provider of workplace safety training and programming. Founded in 1923, WSC is a program of WMC and the proud state chapter of the National Safety Council.

Past Winners

2020

Bassett Mechanical President & CEO

Kim Bassett

As President & CEO, Kim focuses on developing the company’s short and long-term strategy, managing overall operations, lean oversight, establishing the culture and leading the company to safely achieve its vision. She joined the company in 1996 as a maintenance sales representative, became President and Chief Operating Officer in 2007 and CEO in 2009.

Bassett Mechanical believes it is important to not only track incident rates and other lagging indicators, but it is also to look at leading indicators. To do this, the company has implemented a behavior-based safety program that rewards safe actions and continuous improvement.

The safety and health of employees is not only the top priority in the workplace, but everywhere else, too. Bassett Mechanical requires all company-owned cell phones to have a “do not disturb” function turned on when driving and encourages healthy lifestyles by providing wellness challenges, health club reimbursements, self-funded insurance programs, free weekly fruit delivery and discounts on well-balanced food onsite, among other programs.

2017

President, Nuclear Division and Chief Nuclear Officer, Nextera Energy, Inc.

Mano Nazar

Mr. Nazar is responsible for safe operations of the company’s eight nuclear units, including NextEra’s Point beach location in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Michigan. The plant has been recognized by OSHA as a Voluntary Protection Program Star worksite since 2011. Additionally, NextEra’s Point Beach location is rated as a #1 top-performing facility by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operators and is in the top decile in safety performance.

Nazar was named president and chief nuclear officer of the nuclear division in 2014. Previously, he served as executive vice president and chief nuclear officer, and chief operating officer of the company’s nuclear division. Nazar joined NextEra Energy in November 2007. He is a leader in nuclear fleet excellence with more than 30 years of extensive nuclear industry experience. Prior to joining NextEra Energy, he served as senior vice president and chief nuclear officer at American Electric Power. Before that, Nazar was senior vice president of nuclear operations of Nuclear Management Company, where he was responsible for Westinghouse reactor sites.

2016

Chairman & CEO, Ariens Company

Daniel T. Ariens

2015

President, Johnsonville Sausage

Bill Morgan

2014

CEO & Owner, Kwik Trip, Inc.

Don Zietlow

2013

Chairman & CEO, Tweet/Garot Mechanical, Inc.

Timothy J. Howald