Industry Leading Best Practices, Networking and Professional Development
The Ohio West Safety Council is sponsored by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation and Eastman & Smith, Ltd. Attorneys at Law and is open to all area businesses, is an initiative of the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce designed to increase safety awareness, and to give businesses a potential cost savings benefit on their Workers’ Compensation rates. Held in collaboration with the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, the program aims to provide a forum for safety and health information, education and networking in local communities. Program topics must be classified under occupational safety & health, risk management, workers’ compensation, BWC services, rehabilitation or environmental issues.
The Ohio West Safety Council currently meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 8:00am-9:30am at Vantage Career Center with breakfast included. Each meeting will feature a update from the Ohio BWC, our sponsor Eastman & Smith, Ltd. Attorney's At Law, followed by our featured speaker. A steering committee made up of safety professionals from various local employers and a representative from the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation will guide the program development.
Upcoming Meetings:
Wednesday December 11, 2024: "Fire Safety Planning", presented by Lt. Zach Merkle with the Van Wert City Fire Department.
Wednesday January 8, 2025: Molly Shephard-Spieles and Mark Spieles with Westwood Behavioral Health Center.
Wednesday February 12, 2025: "Courageous Leadership, Facing the Hard Things", presented by Kari Taylor, Executive Director with Cornerstone of Lima.
In 2014, Kari founded Cornerstone of Hope Lima and now serves as the Executive Director/Clinical Director. She is a licensed professional clinical counselor/supervisor. She has a master’s in Community Counseling from Wright State University and has severed in the field over 15 years. Kari served as the Post Abortion Recovery Director in Miami Valley, served in private practice settings as well as counselor/group coordinator at Cornerstone of Hope in Cleveland, has provided clinical supervision for undergrad and graduate students in the mental health field. She has spoken at numerous retreats and conferences, has taught various CEU's in the counseling field, and has written group and Bible study curriculum.
Wednesday March 12, 2025: "Bridging Generational Gaps", presented by Mandy McIntyre with Level Up Consultants.
Mandy McIntyre is the Owner and President of Level Up Consultants in Cleveland, Ohio. Before starting her own business, she was Vice President of 1st Choice Roofing Company in Cleveland where she worked for nearly 10 years in the roofing industry.
She has completed Cornell University's Diversity & Inclusion program and Harvard University's Leadership Principles program in 2021, respectively. In 2022, she became a registered Mental Health First Aid Instructor through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Mandy is a certified yoga and meditation instructor and practices reiki therapy. In 2022 she started a non-profit organization, The Yoga Hawk Foundation, with a mission to provide equitable access to yoga, meditation, and holistic therapy in Northeast Ohio to marginalized communities.
She is a dedicated member of National Women in Roofing with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and serves as Chair for the Cleveland Council.
She is on the Board of Trustees for the Hitchcock Center for Women in Cleveland where she volunteers as a yoga instructor and serves on the Building Committee.
Mandy McIntyre
Membership includes:
- A scheduled monthly safety meeting
- Breakfast for up to two attendees
- Take-Away Safety Information from each meeting
- Updates on the latest BWC programs
- Opportunity to speak with a BWC regional representative at each meeting
- Opportunity to network with other local companies
- Earn a 3% discount on your workers compensation insurance by attending 10 safety council meetings
For additional information about the Ohio West Safety Council or to register for the upcoming Safety Council program, please see the links located above, email the chamber at chamber@vanwertchamber.com or call us at (419) 238-4390.