In November of 2023, Evergreen Safety Council received a handwritten letter in the mail. Penned in neat, sloping handwriting on notebook paper, the letter was from Derek Wilson, who was serving time at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, WA, which is in Eastern Washington between Moses Lake and the Tri-Cities.

“I hope this letter reaches you in the very best of heart, mind, body, and spirit,” he wrote. Wilson explained that he was working on earning an Automotive Maintenance degree from Walla Walla Community College, but he was also looking for further chances to learn and develop his skills. “We currently do not have any sort of flagger certification course being offered,” his letter continued, “but I am optimistic. With this in mind I’m trying to inspire many and create opportunities for people to change inside a place like this. If this is something the Evergreen Safety Council would like to offer us men at CRCC, we would love to have you.” Through his efforts, he and many of his fellow inmates were able to become flagger trained by Evergreen instructor Tina Bacon.

Wilson’s thoughtfulness and dedication in pursuing education for himself and his peers led Evergreen Safety Council to select him as the winner of the 2024 award.

Evergreen Safety Council recognizes GE Renewable Energy’s Jamie France for paving the way to new standards in the wind transportation industry through the development of WITPAC (Wind Industry Transportation Professional Advanced Certification).

Jamie France spearheaded a joint effort involving in-depth risk assessment, development of best practices, and a new training curriculum for operators. This new training program is becoming an industry requirement for truck drivers, Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators (P/EVOs) and steerpersons. To date, thousands of operators have been trained, and best practices have been implemented by trucking companies and their operators.

We also would like to recognize GE Renewable Energy, Siemens Gamesa, and Vestas for their contributions to the development of WITPAC.

Collectively these recipients, who represent the major manufacturers in the wind energy industry, have worked together to make the transportation of their components safer for workers and the general public. The fact that these three companies are competitors did not stop them from coming together to make major improvements to industry safety.

With regard to this extraordinary effort, Stan McNaughton, Vice Chairman of Evergreen Safety Council’s Board of Directors, said, “to move mature industries to take a big leap like this is rare, it seldom happens. This award fits you perfectly, and I’m sure if the Governor was here he would say that.”