About Us

CARRYING OUT OUR MISSION:

USMWF offers support, guidance and resources to those affected by preventable work-related deaths or serious injuries.

USMWF MISSION STATEMENT

providing information and contact resources;
promoting family involvement;
bringing attention to the lasting effects of workplace injuries;
and personalizing workplace fatalities with our FACES campaign. ensuring transparency and fairness in the investigative systems of both government and business;
transforming workplace safety;
raising public awareness and dismissing negative attitudes;
improving the worker compensation system;
bringing attention to the lasting effects of workplace injuries;
and personalizing workplace fatalities with our FACES campaign.

USMWF VISION STATEMENT

USMWF will be a highly visible, organized community of dedicated people, and nationally recognized non-profit leader driving the transformation of the work environment to safe and healthy conditions for all workers – both today and tomorrow.

USMWF Awards

2009 J William Lloyd Award; William Lloyd Award from the United Steelworkers in 2009
2008 PHILAPOSH Crystal Eastman Award2007 Tony Mazzocchi1927-2003) Award Winner; Tony was the most influential labor leader in the Occupational Health and Safety field in the U.S. Tony played a key role in the legislative struggles of the 1960s and 1970s,including passage of the 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). A founder of the Labor Party, he continued organizing support for the party's national health care program up until his death. This award gives recognition to grassroots Health and Safety activists in Local Unions or other local organizations fighting for the Health and Safety rights of workers.
2006 Crystal Award 3rd; For showing that they have something to contribute to the community and that they share principles of honesty, tolerance, and consideration for others. In this way I hope to play some small part in "improving" the Internet for the greater good of us all. 2005 (NASP) National Association Of Safety Professionals Award of Excellence; For honoring loved ones lost and striving for a safer workplaces for all.
(NASP) National Association Of Safety Professionals NASP/IASP is a nonprofit, support, training, membership, and certifying agency for those responsible for workplace safety.
2005 The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health; Committees/Coalitions on Occupational Safety and Health--a federation of non-profit organizations around the United States that advocate for worker safety and health.
2005 World Wide Web Awards-Humanitarian Award; The recipient of this award, must achieve a score between 60-100 points of our General Criteria. Design, content, navigation and scripting, still applies to receive this award. The Humanitarian web site consist of the following content: Devotion and promotion of human welfare, "respect and humanistic regard for all members of our species."
LexisNexis Top 25 Blogs for Workers' Compensation and Workplace Issues - 2009/2010/2011 Honorees; Created in January 2007, this compendium of news on death in the workplace is a somber reminder of the tragedy that occurs with workplace safety gone wrong. Weekly Toll puts a human face on workplace fatality statistics, and gives the worker’s family and friends a chance to honor and grieve for their loved one as well as to seek answers to prevent further deaths in the workplace. Two years running on the LexisNexis Top 25 Blogs for Workers' Compensation and Workplace Issues.
Workers' Compensation Notable People 2009; Tammy Miser Workers' Compensation Notable People for 2009. For exceptional people have worked tirelessly on behalf of their clients and have made significant contributions this past year to the workers' compensation system and/or the workplace.

Our Board

Tammy Miser, Board President

Ms. Miser resides in Lexington, KY and is the Executive Director of USMWF. Ms. Miser started USMWF in 2003 after her 32-year-old brother, Shawn Boone, was killed at Hayes-Lemmerz in Huntington, Indiana. Tammy has appeared on 60 Minutes, been interviewed and quoted in local and national newspapers and magazines, given numerous congressional testimonies, given feedback to OSHA on several occasions, spoke in many forums, given training and received multiple awards for her grassroots efforts, and is on the USW Tony Mazzocchi Center Advisory Board.

Contact Tammy >> About Tammy >>

Debi Fergen, Board
Vice-President

Ms. Fergen resides in Las Vegas, NV and is the Outreach Coordinator for USMWF. Ms. Fergen became involved with USMWF in 2007after her 26-year-old son, Travis Koehler, was killed at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Debi has testified before the Nevada Senate, participated the Nevada Legislative process, given congressional testimony, spoken in many forums.

Contact Debi >> About Debi >>

Tonya Ford, Board Secretary

Ms. Ford resides in Lincoln, NE and is a Legal Assistant for Vince Powers at Vince Powers and Associates. Ms. Ford became an active volunteer for USMWF in 2009 after her 51-year-old Uncle Robert (Bobby) Fitch was killed at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company in Lincoln, Nebraska. Tonya has testified at Congressional Hearings, OSHA Listens, hosted the first Worker Safety Awareness Expo in NE and hosts a longstanding Workers Memorial Day Vigil.

Contact Tonya >> About Tonya >>

Mark Miser, Board Treasure

Mr. Miser resides in Lexington, KY and is a Paint and Production Engineer at Topy America. Miser became involved with USMWF since its conception and worked at a site that had an explosion early on in his career, so he knows the importance of safety on many levels. Mr. Miser has co-owned and operated two successful businesses and has extensive experience making financial decisions and a great ability to lead. He is a certified ISO-14001 Auditor and ISO-TS16949. Mark has vast experience and knowledge of environmental procedures and industrial operating processes including safety.

Contact Mark >>

Katherine Rodriguez,
Board Member

Ms. Rodriguez, CPA resides in Texas City, Texas and is a Moody National Bank Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Rodriguez got involved with USMWF in 2006 after her 54-year-old father, Raymundo C. Gonzalez, was killed at BP in Texas City, Texas. Katherine and her family have worked with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Chemical Safety Board, the National COSH Network and the United Steel Workers, with various workplace safety and family issues. Katherine and her family have been active in bringing attention to current workplace safety laws and regulations and continue to fight for a safe work environment for all workers. Katherine is a Certified Public Accountant by profession in industry.

Contact Katherine >> About Katherine >>

John Newquist, Board Member

John Newquist, Board Member, resides in Chicago, IL and has had 29 years in Health and safety. Mr. Newquist became an active volunteer for USMWF in 2012 but had worked beside family-member victims for years previously. Among a few accomplishments John is was a Assistant Regional Administrator OSHA, founding Member of ANSI Z359 Fall Arrest Standards, Certified Safety Professional and Fire Inspector, created the OSHA Fall Arrest Course 3110 and OSHA PSM Classes 3300 and 3400. John was also as a proud member of the US Navy Atlantic Intelligence Command with an Honorable Discharge.

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Elizabeth Govaerts, Board Member

Ms. Govaerts resides in Lincoln, NE and has 21 years of experience as a Personal Injury; Workers' Compensation; and Professional Negligence in health and safety attorney at Vincent M. Powers & Associates and Washington Appellate (Defender Association, Seattle, WA, 1991 - 1993). Ms. Govaerts became an active volunteer for USMWF in 2012 but had worked hard for 21 years to insure justice is served. Among a few accomplishments Elizabeth President is a Board of Directors for the The Haymarket Theatre, Lincoln Contemporary Dance Project Choreographer/Performing Artist for: Flatwater Shakespeare Company.

Contact Elizabeth >>

Call Us 1.859.338.9144