Compliance In Motion

In this exciting episode of Compliance In Motion, we kick off our new Customer Spotlight series with Holly Swartz, Vice President of HitchHiker Manufacturing. Holly shares the fascinating journey of HitchHiker, a family-owned business since 1969, renowned for setting industry standards in custom concession trailers across North America. We delve into their unique approach to safety, workforce trai...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis sits down with Randy Milliron, a municipal safety manager with 28 years of experience spanning public sector, surface coal mining, and private industry. Randy shares what safety really looks like inside a municipality—where decentralized departments, long budget cycles, and diverse job roles create unique challenges that most private-se...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis sits down with David Garner, Production Manager at Heritage Roofing and Contracting, to explore what safety really looks like at the intersection of production pressure and real-world jobsite conditions. From managing large crews across Colorado to navigating weather, timelines, and high-risk environments, David shares firsthand insight...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, Tony DeAscentis sits down with Dr. Crystal D. Turner-Moffitt—aka the “Safety Diva”—to unpack a fresh, people-first approach to occupational risk management that goes way beyond checklists and compliance. With nearly 25 years in EHS and experience spanning major projects (including the Freedom Tower), Crystal shares how her “five pillars” framework connects...

Decades in the stone fabrication industry bring lessons you can’t learn from a rulebook. In this episode of Compliance in Motion, Tony DeAscentis sits down with Buddy Ontra, a longtime shop owner and industry leader, to unpack real-world experiences that shaped his approach to safety, craftsmanship, and leadership—from high-rise construction in the ’80s to running his own fabrication shop. Togethe...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis sits down with Brett Powell, Chief Experience Officer at Pixel Leadership Group, to explore why psychological safety is one of the most overlooked — yet powerful — drivers of workplace safety. From the shop floor to the executive suite, this conversation breaks down how leadership behaviors directly shape whether employees speak up, fol...

From granite and quartz to laminate and solid surface, this episode of Compliance in Motion goes inside one of the Midwest’s largest countertop fabricators with Troy Ellsoos, Director of Operations at Countertop Factory Midwest. Troy shares how 40+ years in the industry shaped his approach to lean operations, cutting remakes below 5%, driving efficiency, and building systems that keep quality cons...

Welcome back to Compliance in Motion! In this episode, host Tony DeAscentis sits down with Gabriel Rodriguez, Corporate Safety Director at Sylvester Cockrum, to talk about what it really takes to build a strong safety culture across multiple trades, job sites, and states, especially when you’re the one person keeping the program moving.  From mentorship and leadership buy-in to training that...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis, CEO and co-founder of Ving, sits down with Dennis Adams, Quality Assurance Manager at Carlton Farms in Carlton, Oregon. From daily USDA inspections to humane animal handling and knife safety on the fabrication floor, Dennis walks us through how his team keeps products safe, workers protected, and customers confident— from farm to fork...

Silica, slabs, and stone shop safety aren’t just buzzwords—they’re life-or-death realities. In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis talks with Bob Marich, Environmental Health & Safety Manager at Eastern Surfaces, about what it really takes to build a strong safety culture in the stone fabrication industry. Bob shares how his team tackles the risks of engineered stone and...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis sits down with Keith Hill of Yarborough & Sons Heating, Cooling & Plumbing to talk about building a true family-first safety culture in a high-risk, high-demand industry. Keith shares how his team balances heavy workloads with work–life balance, why ladder safety is non-negotiable, and how integrating technical training with saf...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis, CEO and co-founder of Ving, sits down with Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdale Jr., CSP, Safety Director at Raito (RIDO) — a specialist in geotechnical construction and advanced civil engineering technologies. From stabilizing marshy ground for LNG plants to working around deep excavations, heavy rigs, and unpredictable environments, Tom shares h...

Compliance isn’t just about checking a box—especially when you’re working with cranes and heavy equipment that can change a job site in an instant. In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis sits down with Ed Shapiro, founder and lead inspector of HESCO (Heavy Equipment Services) and past president of the Crane Certification Association of America (CCAA). With over five decades...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis talks with Alex Hertzer, Executive Director of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition (MVMC) — a force connecting people to modern manufacturing careers across Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana counties. Alex shares how MVMC helps job seekers train and land manufacturing jobs through its free 4-week WorkAdvance program, complete w...

Director of Health & Safety Robert Clark joins host Tony DeAscentis on Compliance in Motion to share how The Universal Group—Canada’s largest traffic management company—keeps road crews safe in one of the highest-risk work environments out there. If you’re a safety manager, training coordinator, HR leader, or operations supervisor looking to modernize your safety program without drowning in ad...

What does “common-sense safety” look like on a real job site? In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis sits down with Steve “Safety Steve” Huson, Safety Coordinator at Mill Plain Electric and retired medevac helicopter pilot, to talk about building a safety culture that goes way beyond “check the box” compliance. Steve shares how he moved from electrician to safety leader, why...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion , host Tony DeAscentis welcomes Oliviah Zimba from Harare, Zimbabwe — a global expert in ISO certification, auditing, and compliance training. With over 20 years of experience, Oliviah breaks down the real challenges organizations face when pursuing ISO certification, from leadership disconnects to misunderstanding standards. She also discusses how AI and ro...

Mike Thompson—speaker and manager of the Portage County Safety Council—joins Compliance in Motion to unpack trauma in the workplace, burnout at a 10-year high, and why psychological safety fuels fewer injuries and higher retention. Hear practical playbooks like the GRIP framework (Growth, Relationships, Identity, Purpose), “Find It, Fix It” participation boosts, a hands-on “Safety Dojo” for new-hi...

Safety pros Dianne Grote-Addams (President) and Ryan Moon (Ops Director) from SafeX join Tony to unpack what a modern safety culture really looks like—from mentoring new safety leaders to practical steps for indoor air quality, silica controls, noise monitoring, and data you can actually act on. Learn the telltale warning signs (high turnover, frequent headaches, skin issues), how to choose cost-e...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, CEO Tony DeAscentis talks with Blocktops CEO Nate Kolenski about building a proactive safety culture in stone fabrication. Hear how his teams partner with Cal/OSHA and CDPH on silicosis prevention, run routine air monitoring (industrial hygienists, pumps, chain of custody), and use practical controls—from wet methods and respirators to smarter material hand...

Stone fabrication leader Omar Chahin (GMD Surfaces) joins Tony DeAscentis to break down how modern shops are scaling quality and safety — without slowing production. From early adoption of laser templating and CNC to building long-term builder relationships, Omar shares the systems behind consistent accuracy, on-time installs, and a proactive safety culture. You’ll hear real-world tactics on silic...

In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis, CEO and co-founder of Ving, sits down with Gary Auman, OSHA and safety defense attorney and named partner at Auman, Mahan & Furry. With nearly 50 years of experience representing contractors across the U.S., Gary shares his deep insights on building a strong safety culture, proactive compliance, and how documentation can make or br...

Unlock real-world food safety wisdom from the floor to the boardroom. Chef-turned-compliance leader Russell Benjamin (Sardilli Produce & Dairy) breaks down building a safety culture across production and warehousing: environmental swabbing and GFSI/SQF prep, OSHA 30-driven training, incident trending, traceability/recall readiness, and why “no shortcuts” saves time and money. Perfect for food...

Level up manufacturing safety. In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis talks with Mark Egley, Safety Coordinator at Niles Expanded Metals, about real-world machine guarding, lockout/tagout, near-miss reporting, and building a culture where veteran operators mentor new hires. Mark shares the incident that reshaped his career, how daily walk-arounds and toolbox talks prevent in...

Level up your safety culture beyond check-the-box training. In this episode of Compliance in Motion, host Tony DeAscentis sits down with coach and construction veteran Scott Couchenour to unpack how interpersonal communication, real ownership on the jobsite, and celebrating “what right looks like” turn compliance into an everyday habit. You’ll hear practical ways to bridge leadership and field cre...