The National Safety Council has announced the 2026 CEOs Who “Get It,” an annual recognition honoring leaders who demonstrate a personal commitment to worker safety and health. The honorees will be profiled in the February 2026 issue of Safety+Health magazine and celebrated at the NSC Leaders in Safety awards celebration on May 6 during the 2026 NSC Safety Summit.
This year’s honorees have made measurable progress in reducing preventable injuries and creating safe environments for their employees. Their approaches go beyond traditional workplace safety to address mental health, substance use prevention and the challenges their people face outside of work.
The 2026 CEOs Who “Get It” are:
- Gary Bernardez, CEO, AMECO
- John C. Mascaro Jr., President and CEO, Mascaro Construction Co. LP
- John L. Nickerson, Principal and CEO, JLN Associates LLC/JLN Safety
- Myrna Redfield, President, CEO and Program Manager, Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership LLC
- Chris Villavarayan, President and CEO, Axalta Coating Systems
- Aarion Williams, CEO, OccuPros
- Mary Beth Woods, Executive Director, Public Employee Risk Management Association Inc.
“These leaders recognize that safety is more than a policy – it’s a commitment to the whole person,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC CEO. “Whether through innovative technology, cultural transformation or bridging the gap between work and life safety, this year’s honorees are redefining what it means to truly care for employees. They prove that when you prioritize safety, you create workplaces where people don’t just survive, but thrive.”
In-depth interviews with each honoree are featured in Safety+Health. To learn more about NSC recognition programs, visit nsc.org/awards.