Organization
President
Mary Ann Pritchard
Mary Ann recently retired from the Oklahoma Department of Mines after 44 years of service, the last 25 as agency director. The agency’s programs include health and safety, land reclamation, mining and non-mining blasting, and the Oklahoma Miner Training Institute. As director, she also represented Oklahoma on the Interstate Mining Compact Commission, an organization of mining states. In 2021, she joined the SCJMHSC board of directors, and has continued serving as the vice president since 2022.
Originally from Arkansas, Mary Ann first moved to Oklahoma to attend the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
She has two children and two grandchildren, all in Oklahoma City.
Vice President
Brittanie Phillips
Brittanie Phillips is the Senior Field Trainer at the University of Texas Health and Safety Training Center.
She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Occupational Health and Safety, as well as her associates in Applied Science Oil and Gas Production. Brittanie has over 10 years of experience in the safety sector and is a certified MSHA, OSHA, and First Aid Instructor. She serves as the current Vice President of the Hill Country Holmes Chapter. Recently, she was the Executive Producer of a documentary about the mining industry titled “We Are Miners”. Brittanie is married with 4 children and in her free time enjoys coaching them in their various youth sports and traveling the world with her family. Her husband is an Athletic Director and Coach at the small Texas school her children attend.
TREASURER
SUZY PATE
Suzy Pate, is the Safety Training, Compliance and HR Director for Premier Industrial Services, LLC., a heavy industrial maintenance servicing contractor. She has over 10 + years’ experience in the industry. With an extensive background in compliance. From the start-up of a new company’s safety program, assisting with the over-all operations, conducting safety training and orientation for new hires, annual refresher safety training for all Premier Industrial Services employees and it’s subcontractors, while maintaining compliance in all aspects of the company business. Suzy has previously served on the conference committee and as Secretary. When Suzy’s not busy maintaining Premier’s safety and compliance, you can find her enjoying life at one of her son’s baseball tournaments or on the lake with her husband, 4 kids and 3 grandchildren.
SECRETARY
Damir Hasanovic
Damir Hasanovic is a Program Coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin Health and Safety Training Center. Damir has over eight years of experience in mine safety and health. He has served as President and Vice president on Texas Holmes chapters, He is also on the committee for the National Holmes. Has been involved with SCJMHSC since 2016.
DIRECTOR
Walter Simpson
Walter has focused his career the development and training of safety initiatives. He is skilled in design and implementation of: 1) Human Resources policy and procedures; 2) behavioral safety initiatives; 3) site specific and company-wide leadership development; and 4) effective communications. He received his undergraduate degree from Troy University in Alabama and his Master’s in Psychology from Walden University in Minnesota. He holds certifications from the Society for Human Resources Management and the International Society of Mine Safety Professionals.
DIRECTOR
MONTY TOLBERT
Currently Co-Owner of MT Mine EHS Consulting, LLC. I Have been a member of the SCJMSHC Planning committee since 2012. 46 years mining experience in Industrial Sand and Crushed Stone. 37 years experience in Mine Safety & Health. Married and has 6 Children and 12 Grandchildren. Enjoy family & outdoor activities.
DIRECTOR
Lance Walker
Lance Walker has been working in the EHS field as a leader full time for the last 25 years. Half of those years have been spent in industry with increasing roles of responsibility. The other half of those years have been spent with the government as an Emergency Response Coordinator for the TNRCC and as a Mine Health and Safety Inspector for MSHA. Currently Lance has the privilege of helping to manage and implement Martin Marietta’s Guardian Angel Safety Program and to live our Wingman culture in North Texas and Oklahoma.
Lance has a passion for safety and cares deeply about people’s ability to work hard and return home safe to their families everyday. Lance looks forward to this opportunity to help grow the organization’s positive influence on our mining community, in an effort to promote and achieve our goal of Zero occupational injuries and illnesses.
When not working Lance can be found spending time outdoors with his wife Jodee and three children Cole, Waylon, and Kaylee.
DIRECTOR
Travis Shore
Travis Shore is the Chief of Minerals Operations at the Oklahoma Department of Mines overseeing inspection and enforcement, as well as all mining/non-mining blasting in the state. Travis is a 4th generation miner and has 33 years of experience in various aspects of the mining industry. This includes 7 years working in gypsum quarries, 2 years as the Safety Director for a mine operator in NE Oklahoma, 2 years as an instructor for the Oklahoma Miner Training Institute, 12 years with MSHA as an inspector and special investigator, and 10 years with the Oklahoma Department of Mines.