Tracy Clingingsmith

J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., the nation’s leader in safety and regulatory compliance, has announced the winner of the 2018 J. J. Keller Safety Professional of the Year (SPOTY) award.

Tracy Clingingsmith, safety manager for Alamo Group, Inc., of Seguin, Texas, accepted the award during a ceremony held at J. J. Keller headquarters on October 19, 2018.

“It’s an honor to celebrate Tracy and other safety professionals like her,” said Rustin Keller, president and chief executive officer of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. “Their remarkable commitment to the well-being of others truly embodies what it means to be a difference-maker.”

A 20-year veteran in safety, Clingingsmith has spent the past twelve years with Alamo Group, Inc. – a global leader in the design and production of industrial roadside equipment. Her comprehensive safety program – built around open-door policies that promote process improvement – has helped her facility operate for over a decade without a single lost time accident.

J. J. Keller Safety Professional of the Year AwardIn a speech to J. J. Keller associates, Clingingsmith commended her organization’s compassionate approach to safety and emphasized the importance of employee engagement. “I believe it’s absolutely essential to promote safety as a culture, not a policy,” said Clingingsmith. “We’ve gone to great lengths to remain approachable and show our employees that we’re behind them 110%, and I think that’s played a big role in our success.”

Also recognized but not in attendance were second-place award winner David Swanson, senior director of safety and mission assurance at Orbital ATK, of Dulles, Va., and third-place award winner H. Demetrius Rumph, director of safety & risk management for the city of Columbia, S.C.

Winners of the award received cash prizes, plaques, certificates and complimentary J. J. Keller® KellerOnline® subscriptions.

Since 2002, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. has recognized safety professionals across the country who have demonstrated unique, engaging and effective approaches to their safety programs.