Benita Ludemann

I attribute my success to being adaptable and flexible, especially when working with very challenging teams and projects that have been impactful in the millions of dollars. The discipline and structure I gained from my military service gave me a strong foundation, even though transitioning back to civilian life was really, really hard and I had to relearn a lot of social skills. What's been most meaningful to me is the culture piece - interacting with everyday people on the front line, because they're the powerhouse of the business. Meeting different people from across different industries and collaborating with them has been an absolute pleasure. I've learned to handle incredibly demanding situations, like when I was on the clock for almost 41 hours straight dealing with a workplace accident, caring for the employee, and managing investigations. Through it all, I've stayed committed to continuous improvement and bringing fresh ideas, because you can't just sit there and check a box and do your inspection - you have to keep improving and keep doing something new.

I've been fortunate to have two people who really, truly took me under their wing and believed in me - Carlos Pizano and Marshall Prude. They helped me through my transition from military to civilian life and have always had the best intentions for me. The guidance I've received has taught me to trust my gut and be patient, even though I still have a hard time with patience even till today. I've also learned that it's important to smile and make yourself approachable. As safety professionals, people will tend to see you and walk the other way, but being approachable makes all the difference. And of course, my husband Joshua Ludeman has been a really, really important person in my life throughout this journey.

Trust your gut and be patient. I have a hard time with that, even till today, is being patient, but it's so important. Also, just smile. A lot of people kind of overlook that. As safety professionals, people will tend to see you and walk the other way, but make yourself approachable. Being patient and approachable can make all the difference in building the relationships you need to be successful in this field.

It is a very small industry, even though it touches every career field and we have regulations and laws in place for protecting our employees and the health and wellness of people doing the job. The challenge is that when you have an individual in a good-paying job, and because the options are very slim, I tend to see people in those jobs for like 10, 15, 20 years. There's not a lot of movement, there's not a lot of new ideas, and once you're in that space for so many years, it starts to feel monotone. You gotta bring in fresh blood, you gotta bring in new programs. You can't just sit there and check a box and do your inspection - you have to keep improving, you have to keep doing something new. The opportunity is in bringing that innovation and continuous improvement mindset to an industry that desperately needs it.

The values most important to me are being adaptable, flexible, and approachable in my work. I believe strongly in the culture piece and treating frontline workers with respect, because they're the powerhouse of the business. Collaboration and meeting different people from across different industries has been an absolute pleasure for me. I'm also deeply committed to service, which is why I do so much volunteer work with Veteran Transition Support, helping members coming out of the military by doing OSHA trainings, and getting involved with PGA HOPE for veterans with disabilities and PTSD. In my personal life, I value pushing myself beyond my comfort zone through activities like golf, snowboarding, and outdoor adventures. I'm working toward my scuba license and my private pilot's license because I love taking on new challenges. After being so career-driven and career-focused over the last few years, I'm also realizing how much I value the idea of slowing down and starting a family. My husband Joshua has been a really important person in my life, and we've been together since 2013.