The National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) unveiled the organization’s Board of Governors leadership team today in an industry-wide announcement. Art Pregler, Director of National Cell Site Programs at AT&T, will serve as the Chairman of the NWSA’s Board of Governors. Phil Larsen, President of Telecommunications Services at HAZON Solutions, will serve as the Vice Chairman of the organization’s Board of Governors.
Art Pregler, left, will lead NWSA as its Chairman along with Vice Chairman Phil Larsen. Pregler is Director of National Cell Site Programs at AT&T. Larsen is with HAZON Solutions. He was formerly PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association’s Director of Education and Training.
Pregler and Larsen were formally nominated and elected for the leadership positions by their fellow Board of Governor colleagues during the inaugural NWSA meeting on August 12, 2015 in Denver, Colo.
The NWSA Board of Governors consists of 28 representatives from a broad cross-section of the industry and are tasked with developing policy and overseeing the activities of the various NWSA Committees that will serve under the Board of Governors.
The NWSA is a national non-profit assessment and certification organization that is under development to provide thorough, independent assessments of knowledge and skills and provide verifiable worker certification in order to enhance safety, reduce workplace risk, improve quality, encourage training, and recognize the skilled professionals who work on towers and other non-standard structures.
“I am humbled and honored to serve such an important cause and such a talented group of dedicated professionals,” said Pregler. “We have reached an important point in our industry’s evolution where our wireless technologies and networks have advanced to a high level of sophistication and capability. Our elevated workers deserve the right to likewise expect and experience the benefits of a more capable and considered workforce paradigm.”
“Through the NWSA, we can formally acknowledge the demonstrated professional competence of our workforce by means of assessment, certification, and credentialing of the comprehensive skills required by the many diverse technical positions in our industry. For these reasons I am excited and impassioned to serve the NWSA Board of Governors, its committees, and the extended workforce that builds and maintains our industry’s elevated network structures,” stated Pregler.
NWSA Board of Governors attending the meeting in Colorado. Front Row Seated (Left to Right): David Sams, Dr. Gemma Frock, Monica Gambino, Art Pregler, Phil Larsen, Heather Gastelum, Sonya Roshek, Mike Powers Back Row Standing (Left to Right) : Beau Aero, Chris Mallon, Ed Owens, Danny Bishop, Eric Munsell, Brian Wiedower, Eric Bicknese, Dean Hane, Duane MacEntee, Don Doty, Patrick Shea, Jim Williamson, Jocko Vermillion, Ron Lewis, Kevin Denis and Brandon Chapman. NWSA Board of Governors Not Pictured: AJ Manion, Kevin Schmidt, Dietter Schifferdecker and Yana Patton
Pregler, one of the industry’s leading safety advocates, also serves on the Telecommunications Industry Registered Apprenticeship Program’s (TIRAP) Board of Directors. Whereas TIRAP is a U.S. Department of Labor led training initiative, NWSA is involved strictly in worker certification efforts.
“We have a moral obligation with profound responsibility to do everything within our power to enhance safety of our elevated workers; namely to develop certification programs that instill confidence and security with positive reinforcement,” said Larsen.
“Today the wireless industry took the first real step into saving lives and started building that program; this day will be known as a historical milestone. I am truly honored and excited to serve on the National Wireless Safety Alliance (NWSA) Board of Governors and take a very active role as the Vice Chairman,” added Larsen.
Prior to joining HAZON Solutions, Larsen was Director of Education and Training for PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association and developed a number of training and safety initiatives for the trade group.
The NWSA organization is the result of collaborative efforts between a broad coalition of the industry’s leading subject matter experts, companies and stakeholders representing wireless carriers, tower owners, OEM’s, turnkey management firms, engineering firms, small contractors, tower technicians and industry associations.
“Both Art and Phil possess a passion for worker safety and will provide strong leadership and guidance to the organization in their respective leadership roles on the NWSA Board of Governors,” stated NWSA consultant Chuck Slagle, a former Sprint Environmental Health and Safety Executive.
Wireless industry workers, companies and organizations are encouraged to view the NWSA website today by visiting www.nws-a.org to learn more about the organization.
