Christine Echols SMP
Christine Echols, SMP is a highly organized and self‑motivated professional with extensive experience in compliance, risk management, and administrative support. Currently a Compliance & Risk Strategist at Airswift, she oversees safety and compliance systems, ensuring accurate documentation and supporting initiatives that earned her team the Avetta Safety Star Award. Christine’s career has spanned payroll coordination, project support, and HR responsibilities across multiple companies, including Burns & McDonnell, Gilbane-Harvey and KBR, Inc., demonstrating her versatility and dedication to operational excellence.
A defining early milestone in Christine’s safety and compliance career was her work in 2014 as a Safety Coordinator on the ExxonMobil Corporate Campus project in Spring, Texas. Built by the Gilbane–Harvey joint venture, the development was one of the largest commercial construction projects in the United States at the time. The 385‑acre campus included 14 low‑rise office buildings, a 200,000‑SF research laboratory, a 100,000‑SF wellness center, multiple parking garages, roadways, bridges, and a central utility plant. Christine supported safety oversight for building activities and crews during a period when the project peaked at approximately 3,000 workers on site daily and achieved an industry‑leading record of more than 7 million work hours without lost‑time injuries. This experience reinforced her commitment to high‑risk safety practices, site compliance, and collaborative leadership on complex, fast‑paced projects.
Raised in Baytown, a community shaped by its strong oil and gas heritage, Christine maintains deep ties to her hometown and its leadership. After meeting the Mayor of Baytown, she has continued seeking opportunities to collaborate with local leaders and explore ways her expertise in safety, compliance, and risk management can support community initiatives. Her commitment to bridging professional knowledge with civic engagement reflects her belief in strengthening the places she cares about most.
Adept at managing multiple priorities under pressure, Christine combines strong attention to detail with exceptional interpersonal skills, making her a dynamic team player and leader. She emphasizes kindness, emotional intelligence, and empowering others as central to her professional philosophy, recognizing that fostering genuine connections and supporting colleagues contributes to both individual and organizational success.
Her commitment to professional growth is reflected in her SMP certification from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and her continuous engagement in safety and compliance best practices. Christine’s educational background includes an associate degree in Visual and Performing Arts from Houston Community College, and she holds a high school diploma from Robert E. Lee High School.
Beyond her technical skills, she is passionate about community engagement, attending leadership and networking events, and advocating for collaboration between business and public leadership. Christine’s career trajectory reflects a balance of technical expertise, leadership, and a dedication to cultivating positive workplace culture.
• Reasonable Suspicion Training for Supervisors
• Houston Community College- Associate's
• Greater Houston Womens Conference
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my drive and my desire to make a meaningful difference in the work I do.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to never stop learning and to always ask questions.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
People may not believe in you but believe in yourself and rest will follow
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in the safety profession right now is the rapid pace of change—whether that’s new regulations, emerging technologies, or shifting workforce expectations. Many organizations are dealing with labor shortages, aging infrastructure, and increasing project complexity, which raises the importance of proactive risk management rather than reactive compliance. At the same time, there is a powerful opportunity: safety is becoming more integrated with business strategy, ESG goals, and organizational culture.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are integrity, trust, and open communication, and I enjoy fishing, boating, and watching rom-coms in my free time.