Share Your Expertise at ASSP Region VI PDC 2027

The Call for Speakers for the 2027 Region VI Professional Development Conference is now open, and we want your voice on the program. The PDC brings together safety and health professionals from across Region VI’s 14 chapters and 5+ states for three days of education, connection, and shared problem-solving. Speaking at PDC puts your expertise in front of an engaged, practicing audience, not a passive one. It builds your professional profile, and it gives back to a community that’s shaped your own career.

This year’s conference will be held October 6-8, 2027, at Kalahari Resorts in Woodford, VA.

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking sessions that are practical, evidence-based, and immediately useful to attendees. Strong topics include:

• Hazard recognition and control strategies
• Safety culture and leadership
• Regulatory updates and compliance
• Incident investigation and root cause analysis
• Technology and innovation in EHS
• Case studies: real programs, real results

We especially welcome sessions grounded in real experience. A session built around what actually happened at your facility, what you tried, what failed, and what worked, tends to resonate more than a purely theoretical talk.

Session Formats

• Standard breakout session, 50-60 minutes
• Keynote session

How to Submit

Submitting is simple:

1. Visit the link here
2. Complete the speaker submission form, including your session title, abstract, and learning objectives
3. Submit by December 1st, 2026

Ready to Share Your Story?

Whether you’re a first-time presenter or a seasoned speaker, PDC 2027 is looking for your perspective. Submit your session today and help shape the conference that helps our region’s safety professionals do their jobs better.

Questions? Reach out to us at safety@regionsixpdc.com.

Please join us in welcoming David Wenzel as the new Area Director for Region VI North. With more than 28 years of experience in risk management and environmental, health, and safety, David brings a proven record of strategic leadership, collaboration, and service to the ASSP community. A long-time member, past Chapter President, and former Region VI ARVP Professional Development, David is deeply committed to strengthening chapter connections, elevating member engagement, and fostering shared learning across the region. We are excited to have David in this role and look forward to the positive impact his vision and dedication will bring to Region VI North.

We are proud to announce that Ashton Alban-Hatcher, CSP, CIH, REHS/RS, MS, MPH, has been selected as the 2026 ASSP Region VI Safety Professional of the Year.

Ashton is an exceptional leader whose technical expertise, dedication to advancing the safety and health profession, and commitment to community impact set her apart. As a Project Manager at EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, she has played a pivotal role in strengthening environmental and occupational health and safety programs, including leading the development of an ISO-45001–informed safety management system that transformed her organization’s approach to worker protection.

A highly credentialed and lifelong learner, Ashton brings deep knowledge and a collaborative spirit to every role she serves. Since joining the Chesapeake Chapter in 2022, she has become a driving force within ASSP, chairing both the Chapter and Region VI WISE groups, contributing at the Society level, and fostering meaningful mentorship for emerging and established professionals alike.

Her leadership extends across the broader safety and health community. Ashton currently serves as President of the AIHA Chesapeake Section and has strengthened partnerships between ASSP and AIHA, most notably by expanding the 2023 ASSP/AIHA Professional Development Conference into a regional event that drew more than 175 participants.

Ashton’s dedication, innovation, and service exemplify the highest standards of the safety profession. Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved honor as the 2026 ASSP Region VI Safety Professional of the Year.