August 24, 2025
Published by National Safety Council on August 24, 2025 by Lorraine M. Martin, CEO of National Safety Council
Link to original release: Rising Stars of Safety, Class of 2025
Safety is constantly evolving as new technologies, innovations and best practices reshape how we define, measure and promote it. Embracing these changes and finding ways to harness them is no simple task, yet safety professionals, through their dedication and passion, make it look easy.
For more than a century, the National Safety Council has worked to save lives through safer workplaces, roadways and communities. We rely on safety professionals to partner with us in this mission, living it out each day on jobsites, on the road and at home.
The 2025 NSC Rising Stars of Safety exemplify the value and impact of living and working safely. Founded in 2010, the program recognizes up-and-coming safety professionals younger than 40 who have a proven track record of safety leadership in their organization and are dedicated to continuous improvement.
This program is possible thanks to the generous support of our 2025 Rising Stars Award sponsor, Dow.
These 41 leaders, representing a wide range of industries, are truly among the best and brightest in safety. Through innovation, determination and collaboration, they’ve helped create safer workplaces and enabled people to live their fullest lives – both on the job and off.
I’m blown away by the accomplishments of this group. Take Rudy Garza, health, safety and environmental director with Evers & Sons. Garza recognized the need for more proactive safety engagement, including near-miss and hazard reporting, at his Texas-based contracting company. To encourage participation, he incorporated individual coaching for employees and supervisors and brought safety training sessions to daily meetings. Through his efforts, hazard reporting increased measurably at the company. Garza is a committed safety leader who encourages safe behaviors both on and off the job.
Kristina Metzler demonstrates a passion for innovation at Vantive, where she serves as safety manager for renal services. Metzler continuously looks for new ways to engage employees, including targeted campaigns to address roadway hazards for company drivers. She spearheaded the implementation of cameras in vehicles, which identified over 7,000 coachable behaviors and led to a 29% reduction in risks. Metzler’s hands-on approach and commitment to employee engagement have helped ensure employees make it home after each trip.
As the safety and environment manager for Schneider Electric, Victoria Rae Enriquez’s attention to data, detail and individuals is unmatched. When Enriquez noticed new hires were experiencing a disproportionate number of incidents, she took action to find the cause of the problem and a solution. By making fitness tests standard for new employees, she was able to decrease their incident rates by 85%.
Read each honoree’s profile to learn more about the NSC Rising Stars of Safety, Class of 2025.
Thank you to each of this year’s honorees. You’re making the world a safer and better place for all.
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