37th Environmental, Health & Safety Conference

Heidel House
October 7 – 9, 2025

Overview

The AFS Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Conference returns for its 37th year as the premier event for foundry industry EHS professionals. Taking place October 7 – 9, 2025, in Green Lake, WI, the conference brings together leading experts and peers to discuss the latest developments, innovations, and best practices in foundry EHS. From foundry case studies to updates from Washington D.C. to networking with other professionals, this event has what you need to enhance your knowledge, EHS programs, and performance.

At the 37th EHS Conference, you’ll get the latest in information-sharing, with insights from EHS experts who lead the way in foundry safety and environmental advancements. This conference features  speakers presenting novel approaches to EHS management, vendors highlighting cutting-edge products, and foundry members-only sessions where you can find answers to your most pressing EHS questions. 

Exhibits

AFS is looking for exhibitors and sponsors to show off their latest EHS innovations, products, and services and to show support for AFS. Exhibitors will be given an eight foot black skirted table and two chairs. Wi-Fi is included and electricity will be made available, as needed. Please note, due to space constraints, exhibitors are limited to smaller pull-up banners, pop-ups, or signage that can be displayed in front of or on top of furnished exhibit table. Larger pull-up banners, pop-up displays or backdrops will not be permitted due to limited space behind exhibit table. Twenty exhibits are available and exhibits are on a first come, first served basis. Exhibits are located near the conference room in the same area where the lunch/breaks and evening reception will take place. Exhibits for AFS Corporate Members cost $1,675 ($2,000 for non-Members) and comes with one attendee registration with meals for the conference. Exhibitors are encouraged to bring door prizes to place on their exhibit table. Exhibitors can collect business cards from attendees that approach their table and there will be a drawing for each participating exhibitor towards the end of the reception on October 8th, 2025. Only attendees that visit participating exhibits throughout the day are eligible to win that exhibitor’s door prizes. Click here to download exhibits form.Click to enlarge map.

Sponsorships

Sponsor logos will be included in pre-event print and digital marketing materials, on the event webpage, in various communications, and onsite on posters and attendee guides. Sponsors will be formally recognized during the event and during presentations. Sponsorships are $900.

For more information on exhibits or sponsorships, please contact Kim Farrugia at kfarrugia@afsinc.org or click here.

For more information on the 37th Environmental, Health and Safety Conference, please contact Kim Perna at kperna@afsinc.org.

Location

Heidel House
  • Heidel House
  • Green Lake, WI
  • October 7 – 9, 2025
Get Directions

Hotel Information

Heidel House
  • Heidel House
  • Green Lake, WI
  • $189.00/night + fees

Conference Agenda

Tuesday, October 7, 2025
7 a.m. - 5:45 p.m.
Conference Registration
7 - 7:45 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
7:45 - 8 a.m.
Welcome/Announcements

Brent Charlton
AFS EHS Division Chair, Metal Technologies, Auburn, IN

7:45 - 8 a.m.
Introduction

Conference Chairs

  • Jenny Pappalardo, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, Inc., Oakboro, NC

  • Daniel Plant, Metal Technologies, Auburn, IN

  • Mickey Hannum, McWane Inc., Birmingham, AL
8 - 8:45 a.m.
Foundry Ventilation Issues and How to Fix Them/Design Considerations for Dynamic Ventilation Systems

Jacob Ubl, IVI, Inc., Greenville, WI

  • Why you might consider a dynamic system
  • Planning & execution of dynamic airflow in your system
  • Common problems in dynamic systems
    • Drop out in the ductwork
    • Improper asset operation
    • Improper control systems
  • How to combat insufficient particulate collection
  • System improvements for a longer lifespan & easier maintenance 
8:45 - 9:30 a.m.
Form Rs

Jessica Wagoner, EJ, East Jordan, MI

Joel Coast, Amsted Rail, Kansas City, KS

9:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Refreshment Break
9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
Regulatory Required O&M Plans

Kayla Gibbons, Keramida Inc., Indianapolis, IN

Dan Plant, Metal Technologies, Auburn, IN

  • How to?
  • What is it?
  • Who owns it?
10:30 - 11:15 a.m.
Wisconsin DNR Green Tier and Other Environmental Performance Recognition

Emilio Machado, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI

11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Lunch
12:00 - 12:45 p.m.
Permitting - Know Your Permit / Snag and Pitfalls / Where Operations Meet Environmental

Dylan McKee, Tyler Union, Anniston, AL

Trey Poppell, Tyler Pipe Co., Tyler, TX

12:45 - 1:30 p.m.
Customer Driven ESG Information Requests

Derek Fogle, Waupaca Foundry, Inc., Tell City, IN

Earl Miller, Hiler Industries, La Porte, IN

1:30 - 1:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
1:45 - 2:30 p.m.
Environmental for "Metalcasters Only" - Topic

Moderator:


George Curry, American Foundry Society, Inc., Schaumburg, IL

Panelists:

Jenny Pappalardo, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co., Oakboro, NC

Steven Blasko, McWane Inc., Anniston, AL

Ryan Burke, Osco Industries, Inc., Portsmouth, OH

2:30 - 6 p.m.
Tour of Badger Mining (PPE Required) - Includes Travel Back and Forth
6 - 8:30 p.m.
Networking Reception

Heidel House, Green Lake, WI

Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Health and Safety Sessions
7 - 8 a.m.
Conference Registration / Continental Breakfast
8 - 8:15 a.m.
Welcome / Announcements

Brent Charlton, AFS EHS Division Chair, Metal Technologies, Auburn, IN

Mickey Hannum, McWane, Inc., Birmingham, AL

Introduction

  • AFS EHS Committee Overview
  • Benefits of Joining and EHS Committee
  • Recognition of AFS EHS Division Members in Attendance
8:15 - 9 a.m.
Workers Compensation

Katie Hensley
Cottingham & Butler, Dubuque, IA

9 - 10 a.m.
Panel: What Executives Expect from Their EHS Staff

Moderator:

Brett Charlton, Metal Technologies, Auburn, IN

Panelists:

Jean-Marc Athanassiadis, COO Metal Technologies, Inc., Auburn, IN
Todd Pagel, VP Operations, Waupaca Foundry, Inc., Waupaca, WI
Ryan Burke, President/CEO Osco Industries, Inc., Portsmouth, OH
Brandon Hess, Badger Mining Corp., Berlin, WI

10 - 10:15 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:15 - 11:15 a.m.
EHS Topics - Latest Breaking News on Regulatory Developments

Air Quality - Jeet Radia, McWane Inc., Birmingham, AL

Water & Waste - Dan Plant, Metal Technologies, Auburn, IN

Health & Safety - Mickey Hannum, McWane, Inc., Birmingham, AL

11:15 - 11:45 a.m.
EHS Awards
  • Divisional Awards
  • AFS Metalcasting Safe Year Awards
  • Green Foundry Awards
  • Innovation and Insight Awards

 

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Lunch with Exhibitors
12:45 - 1:30 p.m.
Washington OSHA Update

Stephanie Salmon, AFS Washington Office, Washington D.C.

As we wrap-up fiscal year 2025, it’s time to look back and take stock of what we learned from and about OSHA during this eventful year particularly related to current enforcement tactics and trends, and special initiatives.  We will also examine what to expect going into 2025.

1:30 - 2:15 p.m.
Washington EPA Update

Jeff Hannapel, The Policy Group, Rockville, MD

Environmental issues continue to make headlines and pose challenges that can impact metalcasting facilities.  Hear from the AFS Washington office how the latest developments on environmental issues could shape the political and regulatory landscape and impact your operations.

 

2:15 - 2:45 p.m.
E2349 Standard for Safety in Foundry / Hot Metal Hoist Requirements

Earl Miller, Hiler Industries, La Porte, In

Daniel Moravej, Hiler Industries, La Porte, IN

2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
Refreshment Break with Exhibitors
3:15 - 4:00 p.m.
Panel: Beyond Compliance - How to Develop a Desired Culture

Moderator:

Mickey Hannum, McWane Inc., Birmingham, AL

Panelists:

Kristi Yates, Lodge Manufacturing Company, South Pittsburg, TN

Nic Dufek, Neenah Foundry Co., Neenah, WI

Pete Buczek, WGS Global Services LLC, Flint, MI

4 - 5 p.m.
Safety Session for "Metalcasters Only" - Topic

Moderator: 

Kristi Yates, Lodge Manufacturing Company, South Pittsburg, TN

Panelists:

Joy Jacobsen, Amsted Rail Company, Inc.m Keokuk, IA

Glennn Huneycutt, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry Co, Charlotte, NC

Brayden Wright, M&H Valve, Jacksonville, AL

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Annual Reception with Exhibitors

Networking, time with exhibitors, hors d'oeuvres and refreshments for all.

Thursday, October 9, 2025
Health and Safety Sessions
7 - 8 a.m.
Conference Registration / Continental Breakfast
8 - 9 a.m.
Serious Incident and Fatality (SIF) Prevention

Barry Logan, National Safety Council

  • Overview of SIF
  • Things that hurt people are not what kill people
  • New approaches to SIF prevention
9 - 9:45 a.m.
Risk Based Process Safety - General - Beyond PSM

Dana Cooper, Cooper Hayes LLC, Stevensville, MI

9:45 - 10 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10 - 10:45 a.m.
VR Training / Digital Twinning / AI in EHS

Joy Jacobsen, Amsted Rail Company, Inc., Keokuk, IA

10:45 - 11:30 a.m.
Active Threat Beyond Training

Nic Dufek, Neenah Foundry Co., Neenah, Wi

11:30 - 12:30 p.m.
Lunch
12:30 - 1:15 p.m.
Promoting Helpful Safety Metrics

Dan Engling, KERAMIDA, Inc., Indianapolis, IN

Mickey Hannum, McWane, Inc., Birmingham, AL

1:15 - 2 p.m.
Ergonomic Assessment at a Foundry

Carlos Robinson, McWane Inc., Birmingham, AL

Jared Smith, McWane Inc., Birmingham, AL

  • McWane's Internal Ergo Competition / National Ergo Competition
  • Team Member Engagement and Identification of Ergo Projects\
  • Use of AI Software
  • Case Studies from Clow Valve
2 - 2:15 p.m.
Refreshment Break
2:15 - 3 p.m.
Active Release Technique

Todd Prather, Active Release Technologies, Manhattan, KS

Nic Dufek, Neenah Foundry Co., Neenah, WI

 

3 - 3:45 p.m.
Heat Illness Prevention Practices Open Floor

Moderator:

Brett Charlton, Metal Technologies, Auburn, IN

3:45 p.m.
Adjourn

Registration

Cancellations & Substitutions

AFS presents a variety of technical and management conferences (in both in-person and virtual formats). The refund policy for AFS conferences is as follows: 1) Substitutions are accepted at no charge at any time up until the start of the conference; 2) Full refunds are offered if AFS is notified in writing of cancellation at least 30 days in advance of the conference. No refunds or credits are available for less than 30 days written notice.

Sponsors