2025 Board of Directors
Dave Aucoin - President
Dave Aucoin is a Safety Compliance Coordinator II for the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) in Providence, RI and has worked for the utility for the last 21 years. Dave’s responsibilities include OSHA General Industry compliance within the utility, including employee safety training and emergency preparedness, as well as Recordkeeping and EPA Tier II chemical inventory reporting. Dave began his career in wastewater as a Plant Operator in 2003. After obtaining his RI Wastewater Operator II License in 2004, he began working within NBC’s Pollution Prevention section. In 2011, Dave shifted his career focus to employee health and safety and has functioned in the Safety Compliance Coordinator role ever since. Dave currently works within NBC's Technical Analysis & Compliance section.
Dave hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Affairs from the University of RI, as well as several health and safety certifications, including Certified Safety & Health Official (CSHO) certification in General Industry through the OSHA Training Institute Education Center – Region 1.
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Deidra Tart - Past President
Deidra Tart, CPM has a 20-year history in Real Estate management, including management of private estates, hotels, restaurants and affordable housing. She holds her Certified Property Manager designation from IREM and graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology with a Bachelors in Project Management. Her past management experiences were facilities and maintenance related with a strong emphasis on safety, acting as a past corporate Safety Director. She holds her OSHA Safety and Health Specialist certification from Keene State in General Industry. Other areas in which Deidra is involved with the community include Board Member for Central RI Chamber of Commerce, Board Member for MAE Organization for the Homeless and volunteer work for Friends of Homeless Animals. Deidra currently serves as Director of Facilities & Maintenance for The Community Builders, Inc.
John Bernardo - Vice President
John Bernardo has 29 years in the electrical field he is currently the EHS Manager for First Choice Safety Solutions, LLC. He and his Team work with clients on NFPA 70 E Training and Safety Audits for compliance. Prior to his current role, John was the Environmental Safety & Health Manager in the Northeast for Schneider Electric, where he developed safety strategies and plans for sites in the Northeast and worked closely with site senior leadership to build a strong safety culture. Prior to the purchase of American Power Conversion (APC) by Schneider Electric, John served as APC’s Environmental Safety & Health Manager for North America, with responsibility for all aspects of EH&S Compliance for ten North American facilities as well as North America Field Service & Sales Engineers. Before joining APC, John worked at Leviton Manufacturing for 18 years as EH&S Manager in West Kingston, Rhode Island. John received a Bachelor of Science in Management & Marketing from Rhode Island College. He has completed NY Safety Council Training in Long Island, New York, and is Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri and Rhode Island Hazardous Waste & DOT Trained. John has been a NFPA 70 E Trainer since 2007. He is a member of the National Safety Council.
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Shannon Earle - Secretary
Shannon is the Senior Manager of Workplace Health & Safety - Northeast for Amazon. He has built a career ensuring safe and compliant operations across a vast of diverse industries. With over 35 years of experience in environmental, health, safety and public safety, Shannon is recognized for a hands-on approach to risk management, developing and implementing safety programs that protect employees, preserve the environment, and meet regulatory standards as well as championing employee training programs to foster a culture of safety. His expertise includes regulatory compliance (OSHA, EPA, DOT, NFPA, DEM, FDA), hazard identification and mitigation, SIU insurance and accident investigations, executive security, industrial hygiene, and sustainability practices. Shannon is also a retired Fire Chief and served in the US Coast Guard working in federal law enforcement and search and rescue while obtaining his Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Management. Shannon volunteers his time as a Disaster Action Team Supervisor with the American Red Cross as well as RI CERT teams and RI Emergency Management.
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Fred Malaby - Treasurer
Fred Malaby has been self-employed as a consultant in the safety field since January 2015. In this role, he is involved with several occupational safety and health projects in the region, in particular, working as a trainer for The New England Consortium and for the Rhode Island Committee for Occupational Safety and Health. Previously, Fred worked for OSHA for over 39 years, most recently serving as an Industrial Hygienist in OSHA's Boston Regional Office for 31 years. In that position, he provided technical and enforcement assistance on occupational health matters for various OSHA-related efforts in New England. Fred received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health from Colorado State University and is a Certified Industrial Hygienist by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene and a Certified Safety Professional by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.
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Ken Jenkins - Assistant Treasurer
Ken Jenkins is a Safety Specialist and Injury Prevention Specialist has been working in Safety for 5 years now and has been in Occupational Therapy for nearly 30 years. He changed his focus approx. 10+ years ago, transitioning into Industrial Rehab working with multiple companies in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Now Ken maintains his Therapy credentials, but now his main focus is in Safety as one of two Safety leaders for a Rhode Island based Global Hydronics manufacturer. He holds certifications in Safety Management, his 10 and 30-hour General Industry certifications, safety apprenticeship and his Hazardous Waste Management Specialist Certification through NASP, as well. Ken is also a Veteran and served in the Army and the Army National Guard for a total of 8 years. He spent time oversees, including South Korea in the early 90’s during Desert Storm.
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John Lynch - Program Chairman
John J. Lynch is the Safety Manager for North-Eastern Tree Service, Inc. in Cranston, Rhode Island, where he is responsible for overall management, direction and oversight of the company’s Health & Safety Program. Previously, John worked with the State of Rhode Island, Department of Transportation, as the Chief of Standards & Inspection with the Administration Division Group, where he assisted the Administrator of Contract Administration, served as a major technical research person in directing the section’s activities/operations, and provided leadership to the staff for the Disk-Based Bidding Process. John also served in the US Army Reserve (Training) as a Sergeant.
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Gerry Marzilli - Sergeant at Arms
Recently retired after 28 years as The Safety and Training Coordinator at Toray Plastics America, Inc. in North Kingstown, R.I., currently, the principal at Safety Coach, LLC, a workplace Safety and Training Consulting firm. Gerry serves as the Vice President of Safety at We Make RI, a manufacturing apprenticeship training program, and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Leadership Partnership of RI, a REAL JOBS RI, Leadership Training Program. Gerry is a 1972 graduate of Providence College, with a degree in Education. A former High School History and English teacher, Gerry was a long time Football and Basketball coach in the Cranston and Warwick School Systems.
In 2017 Gerry was honored with induction to The R.I. High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. An OSHA Authorized General Industry Outreach Trainer, Gerry is a First Aid, CPR/AED Instructor through the National Safety Council. A former Vice President of the SARI, and a longtime member of the Board of Directors.
Members at Large
Jason Lavoie - Safety & Security Coordinator
Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
Jason Lavoie has over 16 years of safety experience. He joined Toray Plastics (America), Inc. in 1992 as a Technician and has held positions of increasing responsibility in manufacturing, production, maintenance, safety and security with the company since. He is currently Safety and Security Coordinator and an authorized OSHA General Industry Outreach Trainer who completed the OSHA Safety and Health Specialist certificate program. His responsibilities include OSHA compliance, safety training, emergency response, contractor safety compliance, hearing conservation and respiratory protection as well as plant and site security matters. Prior to joining Toray Plastics, Jason held positions with Electro-Films and Arkwright.
Steven S. Ruscito, MA - Environmental, Health & Safety Manager
Edesia Nutrition
Steven has spent over thirty years dedicated to safety, learning, leadership, and risk management. His nearly four decades of professional experience spans three distinct sectors that include public education, the United States Armed Forces, and environmental, health and safety. As a teacher and administrator, Steven worked in five school districts throughout Rhode Island, dedicating more than half of his public education career to building and district level administration. In this capacity, Steven oversaw the health and safety of the students and properties under his authority.
Having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Steven retired from the Army Reserves in 2009 after 33 years in military service. After more than five years in the Marine Corps, Steven made a branch transfer to the Army and commissioned a military intelligence officer. He went on to graduate from the Army’s Command and General Staff College and served in a variety of assignments to include company commander, battalion commander, and the brigade’s operation officer for the 98th Training Division in Providence, RI. Steven’s last assignment was with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where he studied and responded to emergency events.
In his current position, Steven is the chief environmental, health, and safety official for a non-profit therapeutic food manufacture with a mission to end malnutrition worldwide. He has direct responsibility and management of OSHA compliance, safety training, accident investigation, risk mitigation, and emergency planning and response. Steven has earned two master’s degrees and is currently working on two industry certifications.
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Jay Crowe, CSP, OHST -Director of Safety and Human Resources
Trac Builders, Inc.
