Laurel Harris, ASP, CSP, ARM, PCQI, a Risk Engineer with Chubb, the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company and 18-year member of the American Society of Safety Professionals, is the Heart of America Chapter’s 2021 Safety Professional of the Year.
Laurel has nearly 32 years of experience as a safety professional, spending the last two decades as a Risk Engineer with Chubb. She has been instrumental in her roles as a Senior Risk Engineer and Products Liability Specialist.
Since graduating from Central Missouri State University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Industrial Safety with a Fire Science minor and Security, Laurel has continually built her professional intellect through external conferences, seminars and engagement with professional organizations and associates. She has obtained several certifications including CSP, ARM and PCQI. Laurel maintains professional memberships with other professional organizations including the American Society of Quality (ASQ), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO). Laurel is an active member of WISE and belongs to the Manufacturing, Risk Management, Ergonomics, and Industrial Hygiene practice specialties within ASSP.
Laurel was elected president of the Heart of America Chapter in 2020-21. She has served the chapter in other capacities over the years. She serves as the WISE champion for the Heart of America Chapter. She has participated in volunteer activity with the Heart of America Chapter and assisted with professional development conferences for the Chapter. She will speak virtually at the 2022 National ASSP conference in June.
“It is an honor to recognize a long-term member of ASSP and the Heart of America Chapter, and somebody I have worked with for 20 years,” said Tom Metzner, HOA President. As the 2021 Chapter SPY recipient, she joins a distinguished list of prior award winners.
The SPY Award is a prestigious award that requires strength of character, life-long commitment to safety and health, sharing of business acumen, promoting action in every level of the workforce and encouraging peers to embrace change and to promote learning and leadership, despite daily challenges. Each year, the ASSP Heart of America Chapter honors an occupational safety and health professional who demonstrates outstanding achievement in the safety field while making significant contributions to advancing the profession. Join me in congratulating Laurel on this outstanding achievement.
Laurel humbly accepted the award by attributing her success to the professionals that has led the way in exemplifying leadership, perseverance and the preservation of our Society, Community and Professional Members.