Garrison Wynn

Author, Consultant and Motivational Speaker

With talents that established him as both a Fortune 500 leader and a professional stand-up comedian, Garrison Wynn, a Certified Speaking Professional, fuses humor, research, and real-world experience to show how anyone can help create a culture of safety. Authentic and relatable, he’s a guy who’s been there—literally: a chemical plant explosion survivor and bestselling author featured in Forbes and Inc. magazines.

For over 25 years, Garrison has delivered keynote presentations to organizations such as Amazon, the National Safety Council, the Governor’s Occupational Safety & Health Conference (GOSH), Chevron, the NFL, and NASA. In his teens, he helped launch the world’s first home video game system (the Magnavox Odyssey). As a young man, he spent six years touring comedy clubs with some of the top names in the business before going on to design industrial safety products still sold in 30 countries today.

A Perspective on Mutual Aid

Jody Tvrdy, Quality Leadership and Safety, Ayars & Ayars

Jodi Tvrdy was in her new job as safety coordinator for Garner Industries in April 2024 just 15 days before a tornado destroyed the warehouse, collapsing the walls as 70 people took shelter inside. Jody will share her experiences from that harrowing event as it pertains to mutual aid efforts.

Jody currently serves at Ayars & Ayars in Lincoln where she works in Quality Leadership and Safety. She has served in Emergency Medical Services for 25 years, a 911 dispatcher and prison guard. She was born and raised in Raymond, Neb., where she currently lives with her fiancé.

Believe in Safety: Know the Risk in Short Cuts

Brandon Schroeder, Motivational Safety Speaker

Brandon Schroeder survived a catastrophic workplace accident in 2011—an event that forever changed his life and purpose. As a journeyman electrician turned national safety speaker, Brandon delivers a raw, emotional message about the real cost of shortcuts and the power of personal responsibility.

Through his presentation Believe in Safety, he challenges audiences to reflect, reset, and commit to a culture where safety isn’t optional—it’s personal. His goal? To reach the one person who needs to hear his story before it's too late.

Energy Markets Overview

Siobhan O'Connor, Portfolio Manager, The Energy Authority

Siobhan O’Connor is a strategic leader in energy trading and risk management with nearly two decades of experience in the energy sector. Siobhan has held many positions at The Energy Authority (TEA) where she has worked for more than 17 years. She currently serves as a portfolio manager for TEA. She will provide an overview of the current energy markets and the related impacts.

State Panel Legislative Updates

Joe Kohout, Kissel, Kohout, ES Associates (Nebraska)
Julie Smith, BrownWinick Law Firm (Iowa)
Nicole Means, Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (Colorado)

Legislative lobbyists from Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska will highlight current happenings of each of their respective state legislatures for 2026.