Board of Directors
Deidra Tart 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 is currently pursuing part time consulting or assistance work in facilities and property management, as well as safety training.
Peter Turner Past President
Peter J. Turner, CSP, ASP has over 20 years of environmental, safety, health and risk management expertise. As the North East Regional Safety Manager for Cox Communications, he has a strong focus on a systems safety approach in a maturing safety culture. Pete served over 30 years in the Army National Guard, retiring as a CW4 in 2018. He received a Bachelor of Science in Technology and Leadership from Roger Williams University and is a current holder of both the ASP and CSP from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Pete is enjoys serving in a professional capacity as an officer of the ASSP Boston Chapter and really enjoys the local feel and networking of SARI.
John Bernardo, Bernardo Safety Consulting Group Vice President
John Bernardo has 29 years in the electrical field he is currently self-employed as a consultant in the safety field since January 2017. He and his Team work with clients on NFPA 70 E Training and Safety Audits for compliance. Prior he was 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.
Shannon Earle
Secretary
Shannon Earle is the Safety Manager for the Town Dock, located in Narragansett, RI., where he is responsible for overall management, direction and oversight of the organization Safety Program that includes Fire and Life Safety, Environmental Health/Safety and OSHA compliance. Shannon has worked for over 30 years in the public safety industry and emergency management, serving in the fire service, specializing in emergency medical services and hazardous materials. He has also served in the US Military conducting federal drug enforcement, firefighting, maritime environmental enforcement and search and rescue operations. Shannon also possess many years of experience in the security spectrum from Executive Protection to SIU Investigations and accident reconstruction. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with further specialized discipline in Fire Administration and Emergency Management from the National Fire Academy and FEMA. Shannon is an active member of the American Red Cross serving in many capacities as well as his involvement with Community Emergency Response Teams in the state.
Johnell Norton
Treasurer
Johnell Norton is a retired chemist with 45 years of experience in the field. Throughout his career, he worked at two companies – Teknor Apex Co. for 30 years and BF Goodrich Tire & Rubber Co. for 15 years – where he held a variety of responsibilities, including serving as EH&S Manager, Environmental Manager, Employment and Safety Coordinator, Quality Control Manager, Production Supt. And Technical Group Manager. He is a member of the Boston Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers.
Fred Malaby, FMalaby, LLC
Assistant 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.
John Lynch, North-Eastern Tree Service, Inc.
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.
Members at Large
Jason Lavoie
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.
Dave Aucoin
Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC)
Dave Aucoin is the Safety Compliance Coordinator for the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) in Providence, RI and has worked for the utility for the last 16 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 served as the utility’s Safety Compliance Coordinator ever since.
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.
Gerry Marzilli
Safety Coach LLC
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 S.A.R.I., and a longtime member of the Board of Directors.
Steven S. Ruscito, MA
Twin River & Tiverton Casinos and Hotels
Steven Ruscito 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 the hospitality industry. 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 safety official overseeing two casinos and two hotels that employ more than 2500 employees and host over 15 million patrons annually. He has direct responsibility and management of OSHA compliance, safety training, crowd management 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.
Sergeant at Arms
Paul Simpson
Safety Saves LLC
Paul Simpson has thirty years of demonstrated proficiency in the field of safety in general industry and construction. Throughout his career, he has directed and proactively participated in the development of safety programming to establish effective policies and procedures to minimize jobsite incidents and injuries. Paul is an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer in Construction and an expert in the practical application of the US Army Corps of Engineers Health & Safety Manual EM 385-1-1 and all US DOL OSHA Standards. He received an Associate of Applied Science in Electrical Technology from Thames Valley State Technical College, a Bachelor of Science in Education from Eastern Connecticut State University, and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Connecticut, and completed post-graduate studies in multiple disciplines at the University of Connecticut, Annhurst College, Three Rivers Community College, and Worcester College. He has also completed extensive federal, state and private training in worker, equipment and machinery safety. Paul is a Professional Member of the American Society of Engineers.
