Inside NC Labor Podcast

November 2024

November 4, 2024

Episode 73

Episode 73 features the Legal Affairs team as they discuss their role within the N.C. Department of Labor.

November 18, 2024

Episode 74

Episode 74 features members of the OSH Advisory Board, Debbie Rogers-Lowery, Compliance Training Associates, President/Consultant; Russell McCue, City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, Safety Supervisor; Brian Polk, N.C. Department of Transportation, Safety Consultant; Jessica Foster, DPR Construction, Safety Consultant; Jennifer Haigwood, N.C. Department of Labor, Deputy Commissioner, Occupational Safety and Health Division; and Paul Sullivan, N.C. Department of Labor, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Occupational Safety and Health Division. They discuss the importance of the OSH Advisory Board and the role the board has in safety and health in North Carolina.

September 2024

September 12, 2024

Episode 71

Episode 71 features the Carolina Star Program staff, which includes: LaMont Smith, Recognition Program Manager; Morgan Brown, Carolina Star Consultant; Carlene Harris, Carolina Star Consultant; Chris Sholar, Carolina Star Consultant and Tyrone Taylor, Carolina Star Consultant, as they discuss the role their program plays at the N.C. Department of Labor and their upcoming Carolina Star Conference.

September 25, 2024

Episode 72

Episode 72 features members of the Carolina Conference Board: Donna Daniel, Clean Harbors - Reidsville; Rich "Gerb" Gerber, Mt. Olive Pickle Co.; Tim Jarman, Pactiv Evergreen; Joseph Lee, American Chrome and Chemicals; and LaMont Smith, N.C. Department of Labor, as they discuss their individual and collective roles in the conference and the purpose behind the Carolina Star Conference.

May 2024

May 24, 2024

Episode 70

Episode 70 features Debbie-Rogers Lowery, Safety Consultant, as she walks us through her journey into the safety world and how she has made her mark on the safety community in North Carolina.

April 2024

April 11, 2024

Episode 69

Episode 69 features Jeff Wilson, Graphic Artist, Designer and Illustrator, Publications Bureau as he discusses his career of over 30 years at the N.C. Department of Labor.

February 2024

February 14, 2024

Episode 68

Episode 68 features Kisha Scotton, Administrator, Wage and Hour Bureau and Adriana Jordan, Executive Assistant to the Bureau Administrator, Wage and Hour Bureau as they break down what the N.C. Wage and Hour Bureau does and the services they provide.

November 2023

November 28, 2023

Episode 66

Episode 66 features Lee Peacock, West Compliance bureau chief, as he breaks down the history of Toys for Tots and provides insight into how the NCDOL has made an impact on the growth in toy collection across the state. He also provides important updates on this year's toy drive.

November 2023

November 22, 2023

Episode 65

Episode 65 features LaMont Smith, recognition program manager and Paul Sullivan, assistant deputy commissioner of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division, as they tell their story of how they started on the same day 30 years ago on Aug. 1, 1993. They discuss how they both got started in health and safety and the different positions the two have had throughout their careers.

November 2023

November 8, 2023

Episode 64

Episode 64 features Nicole Brown, East Compliance bureau chief, as she discusses her time with NCDOL and the significance of compliance and occupational safety and health.

October 2023

October 4, 2023

Episode 63 features special guests Phil Hooper, deputy commissioner of Standards and Inspections; Beau Thomas, bureau chief of the Mine and Quarry Bureau; Bryan Hoilman, Mine and Quarry Bureau; Dan Mattfield, Mine and Quarry Bureau and Marcia Page, administrative assistant of the Mine and Quarry Bureau as they discuss the role and importance of the Mine and Quarry Bureau at NCDOL.

September 2023

September 20, 2023

Episode 62 features Kiley Willard, safety awards coordinator, and LaMont Smith, recognition program manager as they discuss what their roles are in the recognition program.

July 2023

July 31, 2023

Episode 61 features Jennifer Haigwood, deputy commissioner of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division as she discusses her first year in the role.

April 2023

April 5, 2023

Episode 60 features special guests, Greg Maready, Jason Walker and Mike Coates from the National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) of the Carolinas Chapter and Cory Dunphy, NCDOL-ETTA as they discuss trench and excavation operations, the Trench Safety Taskforce (TEST Group) and Trench Safety Stand-Down week.

March 2023

March 23, 2023

Episode 59 features special guests Jennifer Haigwood, deputy commissioner of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division, and Jessica Foster, DPR Construction and OSH Advisory Council Member, as they talk to Rochelle George, EIG; Hillary Rigg, Paragon Safety; Marisa McLellan, DPR Construction; and Leslie Carrillo, DPR Construction about the role of Women in Construction.

January 2023

January 31, 2023

Episode 58 features special guests Jennifer Haigwood, Deputy Commissioner of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division and Jessica Foster, DPR Construction (OSH Advisory Council Member) as they discuss the role of OSHA and working in a safety profession.

September 2022

September 30, 2022

Episode 57 features Kevin Beauregard, Deputy Commissioner of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division, as he discusses his career and time at the N.C. Department of Labor.

September 2022

September 19, 2022

Episode 56 features special guests Phil Hooper, Deputy Commissioner of Standards and Inspections; Beau Thomas, Bureau Chief of the Mine and Quarry Bureau; Jay Stem, N.C. Aggregates Association; Bryan Moore, Vulcan and Jason Godwin, Wake Stone Corp. at the 2022 Mine Safety and Health Conference.

August 2022

August 22, 2022

Episode 55 features Scott Mabry, Chief of Staff, as he discusses his career in safety and health and his new role as chief of staff at the N.C. Department of Labor.

July 2022

July 28, 2022

Episode 54 features Art Britt, Chief of Staff, as he discusses his career and time at the N.C. Department of Labor.

July 2022

July 19, 2022

Episode 53 features Beth Rodman, Bureau Chief, Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau; Grant Quiller, Occupational Safety and Health Division; and Roberto Rosales, NCSU Cooperative Extension, as they discuss heat stress hazards and solution in agriculture.

July 2022

July 5, 2022

Episode 52 features Karen Miller, one of the family owners of Denton Farmpark and Greg Davis, one of NCDOL's Boiler Safety Bureau supervisors onsite at the SouthEast Old Threshers Reunion in Denton, NC. Miller discussed the origins of Denton Farmpark and purpose behind the SouthEast Old Threshers Reunion and Davis discussed the role that NCDOL's Boiler Safety Bureau has at the event.

June 2022

June 1, 2022

Episode 51 features Kevin O’Barr, consultative services bureau chief, as he discusses on-site consultation and other services for employers offered by the N.C. Department of Labor’s Consultative Services Bureau.

April 2022

April 18, 2022

Episode 50 features William Gerringer, mine safety and health bureau chief, as he reflects on his time at the N.C. Department of Labor working for the Mine and Quarry Bureau.

March 2022

March 17, 2022

Todd McNoldy, Survey Manager, and John Luckado, Statistical Research Assistant joined the podcast to discuss the Research and Policy Bureau’s important work in collecting data on workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities. Specifically, Todd and John discuss John’s work on the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), which serves to compile and code all work-related fatalities in North Carolina. 

February 2022

February 11, 2022

Episode 48 features Harriet Hopkins, REDB administrator, as she discusses NCDOL's Mediation Settlement Conference Program for REDA complaints.

January 2022

January 6, 2022

Episode 47 features Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson as he discusses his first year in office and his goals for 2022.

October 2021

October 28, 2021

Episode 46 features Julie Ryan, director of Government Affairs, and Edgar Starnes, legislative liaison, as they discuss the recently-passed agency bill along with the state budget.

September 2021

September 30, 2021

Episode 45 features Meredith Watson, safety awards coordinator, as she talks about the Safety Award Banquet season.

August 2021

August 13, 2021

Episode 44 features Joey Hazelrigg, the new deputy bureau chief for the Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau. He talks about the upcoming fair season, elevators and the familial ties to elevator inspecting.

July 2021

July 9, 2021

Episode 43 features Kisha Holmes, administrator for the Wage and Hour Bureau, as she discusses the new Youth Employment Certificate process.

June 2021

Episode 42 features Paul Sullivan, OSH West Compliance bureau chief, as he discusses the details of a workplace fatality that occured in North Carolina.

March 2021

Inside NC Labor Episode 41

March 26, 2021

Episode 41 features secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mandy Cohen, alongside Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson as they discuss the COVID-19 vaccine, and how to #FindYourSpot and #TakeYourShot. The most updated information on COVID-19 vaccine eligibility is available on the NCDHHS website.

February 2021

Inside NC Labor Episode 40

Episode 40 features Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson as he discusses his background, public service and his goals for NCDOL.

January 2021

January 29, 2021

Inside NC Labor Episode 39

Episode 39 features the Communications Division talking about all the changes happening at the department as well as what is on the schedule for the agency in 2021.

November 2020

Inside NC Labor Episode 38

Episode 38 features Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry and Harriet Hopkins, REDB administrator, as they discuss the new REDB Mediated Settlement Conference Program.

September 2020

Inside NC Labor Episode 37

Episode 37 features Chief of Staff Art Britt as he discusses the historical Labor Building, the history of the department and Commissioner Berry’s legacy.

May 2020

Inside NC Labor Episode 36

Episode 36 features Tommy Petty, Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau, talks about a new alpine coaster in Avery County.

April 2020

Inside NC Labor Episode 35

Episode 35 includes Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau Chief Beth Rodman and LaMar Grafft, associate director for the N.C. Agromedicine Institute discussing grain safety and #StandUp4GrainSafety week.

March 2020

Inside NC Labor Episode 33

Episode 33 features Wanda Lagoe, ETTA, as she discusses upcoming Occupational Safety and Health initiatives for 2020.

Inside NC Labor Episode 34

Episode 34 serves as a public service announcement regarding resources available pertaining to COVID-19, also known as the novel coronavirus. This episode features OSH Director Kevin Beauregard and the Communications Division.

February 2020

Inside NC Labor Episode 31

Episode 31 features special guest Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau Chief Beth Rodman discussing the 2020 Gold Star Growers workshop.

Inside NC Labor Episode 32

Episode 32 features Jennifer Haigwood, director of governmental affairs, discussing how NCDOL is involved in the N.C. Human Trafficking Commission and her new role in the organization. 

January 2020

Inside NC Labor Episode 28

Episode 28 features special guest Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry talking about her time as commissioner and a year in review for 2019.

Inside NC Labor Episode 29

Episode 29 features special guest Harriet Hopkins discussing the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Bureau.

Inside NC Labor Episode 30

Episode 30 serves as a brief public service announcement, brought to you by the Communications Division of the N.C. Department of Labor.

December 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 27

Episode 27 features special guest Felicia Gore Hoover, general counsel for the N.C. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

November 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 25

Episode 25 features special guest Jeremy Smith, Boiler Safety assistant bureau chief, discussing historical boilers.

Inside NC Labor Episode 26

Episode 26 features special guest Shannon Council, Wage and Hour, discussing the Youth Employment Certificate.

October 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 23

Episode 23 features special guests Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry; Amanda Scott, president of the Carolina Star Board; Carey West, member of the Carolina Star Board; LaMont Smith, NCDOL recognition program manager. This episode was recorded the during the Carolina Star Safety Conference in Greensboro.

Inside NC Labor Episode 24

Episode 24 features special guests Clifford Lowe, manager of the State Fair SkyGazer; Steve Hardin, Tommy Petty, Eric White; Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau; Jeremy Smith, Boiler Safety Bureau. This episode was recorded at the N.C. State Fair in Raleigh.

September 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 21

Episode 21 features special guest Lee Peacock, OSH district supervisor, discussing NCDOL's drone program.

Inside NC Labor Episode 22

Episode 22 features special guest Heather Overton, assistant director of Public Affairs for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, discussing the upcoming N.C. State Fair in Raleigh.

August 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 19

Episode 19 features special guest Kevin Beauregard, director of the NCDOL Occupational Safety and Health Division, discussing the Safe + Sound campaign.

Inside NC Labor Episode 20

Episode 20 features special guest LaMont Smith, Recognition Program Manager, discussing the upcoming Carolina Star Conference in Greensboro.

July 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 17

Episode 17 features special guest Hollis Yelverton, ETTA, discussing symptoms and ways to prevent heat related illnesses.

Inside NC Labor Episode 18

Episode 18 features special guest Jeff Wilson, Publications, discussing the Labor Ledger and other graphic designs he has been apart of during his time at NCDOL.

June 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 15

Episode 15 features special guest Wes Sells, safety coordinator for B.R.S. Inc. and member of the National Utility Contractors Association.

Inside NC Labor Episode 16

Episode 16 features special guests Sharon Owens, Flowserve; Jeff Palombo and Jared Selkirk, Robins & Morton; Eursula Joyner, NCDOL; and Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry. This episode was recorded the morning of the Raleigh Safety Awards Banquet.

May 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 12

Episode 12 features special guest Bill Stricker, Carolinas AGC.

Inside NC Labor Episode 13

Episode 13 features special guests Marcy Collyer, NCDOL's Education, Training and Technical Assistance Bureau; Wendy Shepherd, Southeastern OTI Education Center; Roger Richards, Sanders Utility Construction Co.; Brett Sondergard, United Rentals; Ron Adams, Baker Roofing.

Inside NC Labor Episode 14

Episode 14 features special guest Joe Long, NCDOL's Education, Training and Technical Assistance Bureau.

April 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 10

Episode 10 features special guest, Nick Vincelli, NCDOL librarian.

Inside NC Labor Episode 11

Episode 11 features special guests Marcy Collyer, NCDOL's Education, Training and Technical Assistance Bureau; Wendy Laing, NC State Industry Expansion Solutions; Matt Thompson, Safety and Health Council of NC.

March 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 8

Episode 8 features special guest, Beth Rodman, Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau.

Inside NC Labor Episode 9

Episode 9 features several special guests at the 42nd Annual N.C. Mine Safety and Health Conference.

February 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 6

Episode 6 features special guest, Eursula Joyner, Safety Awards Coordinator.

Inside NC Labor Episode 7

Episode 7 features special guest, Don Kinney, Boiler Safety Bureau.

January 2019

Inside NC Labor Episode 4

Episode 4 features special guest, Tommy Petty, Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau.

Inside NC Labor Episode 5

Episode 5 features special guest, Todd McNoldy, Survey Manager of NCDOL.

December 2018

Inside NC Labor Episode 2

Episode 2 features special guest, Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry.

Inside NC Labor Episode 3

Episode 3 features special guest, Kevin O'Barr, Consultative Services Bureau.

November 2018

Inside NC Labor Episode 1

The Communications Division at the N.C. Department of Labor introduces the podcast and the department.

Hosts: Dolores Quesenberry, Mary Katherine Revels, Natalie Bouchard.