As Director of Safety at Woodward, Jerry leads the development, implementation, and continuous advancement of the firm’s comprehensive safety program. More than an administrator of policies and procedures, he is the driving force behind Woodward’s deeply rooted safety culture — one built on accountability, proactive planning, field engagement, and constant improvement.

Jerry developed and continues to maintain the standards, protocols, and training initiatives that guide safety performance across every Woodward project. His approach is highly visible and hands-on, centered around thorough preplanning, active observation, detailed reporting, and continuous field presence. He is involved in project kickoffs, participates in preconstruction and preplanning meetings, and works directly with project teams to identify and mitigate risk before work begins. On major projects, Jerry maintains an active field presence through regular site visits and direct engagement with project leadership.

A strong believer that safety leadership begins in the field, Jerry empowers Woodward’s superintendents and project teams to serve as daily champions of jobsite safety. Under his leadership, safety is not treated as a compliance requirement, but as a core operational value integrated into every phase of construction.

Jerry has pursued extensive industry training, education, and certifications to ensure Woodward’s safety program remains aligned with the latest industry standards and best practices. His commitment to excellence has helped Woodward maintain an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) below the industry standard of 1.00 throughout the company’s history — a reflection of the consistency and discipline embedded across the organization.

Most notably, under Jerry’s leadership, Woodward achieved more than 2 million consecutive work hours without a lost-time incident — a milestone representing over five years of sustained safety performance and a reflection of the discipline, consistency, and accountability embedded throughout the organization.

In recognition of his contributions to the industry, Jerry was named Safety Professional of the Year in 2017 by the Associated Builders and Contractors New Orleans/Bayou Chapter.