Fortune 500 CEOs to Share Safety Leadership Strategies at VPPPA Safety+

An executive panel featuring leaders from MITER Brands, AECOM and The Kwest Group will explore how voluntary protection programs help strengthen safety culture and organizational performance.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• Jul 01, 2026

Executive leadership will take center stage at the 2026 VPPPA Safety+ Symposium when three corporate leaders discuss how safety excellence drives organizational success during the conference's CEO Panel on Sept. 1.

Hosted by the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA), the panel will feature Matt DeSoto, CEO of MITER Brands; Robert Hart, President and CEO of AECOM Construction Management Services; and Ryan Odendahl, President and CEO of The Kwest Group. According to VPPPA, the discussion will examine how Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) support stronger safety performance while contributing to operational excellence and business results.

The session is designed to provide attendees with an executive-level perspective on building safety cultures that extend beyond regulatory compliance. Panelists are expected to discuss leadership accountability, workforce engagement and the role safety plays in achieving long-term organizational success.

Unlike many conference presentations geared toward safety practitioners, the CEO Panel highlights how organizational leaders integrate safety into broader business strategies. The discussion is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 as part of the conference's educational program.

VPPPA's 2026 Safety+ Symposium will be held Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., bringing together safety professionals, frontline workers and executives for four days of education, networking and professional development.

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