Speaker Biographies
Learn more about our Speakers for the 2025 Safety and Loss Control Conference below:
Nicole Blissenbach, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Labor
Nicole Blissenbach has served as the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry since January 2023, after serving as DLI's temporary commissioner since August 2022.
Prior to assuming the role of commissioner, Blissenbach served as DLI's deputy commissioner and directed the work of the Labor Standards, Minnesota OSHA Compliance, Minnesota OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation, the Office of General Counsel, Research and Statistics, and Projects and Planning work units. She began work at DLI in June 2019 as DLI’s assistant commissioner for Enforcement and Compliance Strategies and Partnerships.
Blissenbach previously worked at Education Minnesota, where she served for nearly 10 years as an attorney in the legal department. Prior to working for Education Minnesota, she worked in a private law firm, where she practiced labor and employment law.
Blissenbach is a Minnesota State Bar Association Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Morris, and earned her law degree from the University of Minnesota.
James Krueger, Director, Occupational Safety and Health Administration
James Krueger, Director of Minnesota OSHA, has worked in the safety and health field for 3 decades.James started as a field investigator and was promoted to management in 1997. While in management, he has been responsible for field staff in construction and general industry, whistleblower, training and outreach, and compliance assistance, which included the I-35W bridge removal and reconstruction partnerships. Since 2009, he has been the Director for MNOSHA compliance. During James’s career, he has reviewed over 600 fatality inspection files. He has been involved in various aspects of the inspection from dealing with employee(s), employer(s), next of kin, attorney(s), and media.
Steve Fredlund, The Safari Way, LLC
Steve Fredlund is a breakthrough expert with 30 years of leadership experience as an award-winning actuary, nonprofit leader, and entrepreneur. Ever since his first ever trip overseas at age 39, where he led a humanitarian effort in Rwanda, he has been studying how The Unright Thing is the catalyst for the extraordinary. Now, as a professional speaker, he helps individuals, teams, organizations, and communities break through their “good” to reach their extraordinary. He is the bestselling author of Do the Unright Thing: Memoir of a People Pleaser and a two-time TEDx speaker. Offstage, Steve enjoys disc golf, Texas Hold ‘em, and enduring season after season as a disappointed Minnesota sports fan.
John Kriesel, Still Standing, LLC.
In 2006, Kriesel was nearly blown to shreds by a 200-pound roadside bomb in the parched sands of Iraq, but battlefield angels in army uniforms kept him breathing long enough to reach a field hospital. He died three times and was shocked back to life. Somehow, he survived through four hospitals, 35 surgeries, and months of recovery. He lost both legs and suffered numerous other major injuries, but it was the loss of two close friends that hurt the most.
The guy who wasn’t supposed to survive and was told he probably would be in a wheelchair the rest of his life walked out of Walter Reed Army Medical Center after nine months. Working with author Jim Kosmo, Kriesel reveals his motivational story in “STILL STANDING: The Story of SSG John Kriesel,” winner of eight national book awards.
Four years after his near-death experience in Iraq, Kriesel became a civilian marketing employee with the Minnesota Army National Guard and in 2012 was named Director of Veterans Services for a county in Suburban Minneapolis, MN. He is also a part-time host on KFAN Sports Radio and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He was elected to the House in 2010 after a vigorous campaign where he was told he could not win in his district. He personally visited several thousand homes in all weather conditions and literally wore out the socket in one of his prosthetic legs. He won. After tours of duty in Kosovo and Iraq and a lengthy medical recovery, Kriesel’s family wanted to spend more time with him, and he chose not to run for re-election.
As a legislator, he was anything but a quiet freshman, challenging even his own party and frequently speaking his mind. “Kriesel’s honesty is a breath of fresh air at the Capitol,” declared the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. In addition to serving veterans in the Twin Cities and being a frequent voice on KFAN’s Power Trip Morning Show, he continues to share his upbeat, motivational message with businesses and organizations throughout the United States.
Carolyn J. Sampson, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor at Minnesota State College Southeast
Carolyn is currently an adjunct instructor at Minnesota State College Southeast and the owner and CEO of a solo‐practice consulting firm providing customized safety and environmental training and consultation to a variety of industrial, educational, and governmental clients. She has earned a Ph.D. and M.S.C.E. in environmental engineering from the University of Minnesota; her undergraduate degrees include a B.A. in English and a B.S. in soil science, also from the University of Minnesota.
Following graduate school, Carolyn worked for General Mills’ research and development division as a research analytical chemist, laboratory manager, and environmental & safety manager—providing technical leadership in the areas of food chemistry, hazardous materials safety, environmental compliance, and water sustainability. After leaving General Mills, she was employed by Hennepin Technical College as an adjunct instructor and customized training representative. In those roles, she provided training and project coordination in the areas of workplace safety, environmental compliance, and safety leadership.
Corey Weston, Minnesota State South Central College
Mr. Weston has been a Safety and Health professional with the Customized Workforce Education group (CWE), a division of South Central College in North Mankato, MN, for the last seven years. Cory is a subject matter expert for CWE in the areas of First Aid/CPR, HazCom, and Hearing Conservation, among other topics. He is credentialed by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals as an Associate Safety Professional (ASP) and as a Certified Instructional Trainer (CIT). He is also an Authorized OSHA Outreach Instructor for Construction and General Industry.
Gabe Johnson, Attorney, Minnesota Department of Administration, Risk Management Division
Gabe Johnson is an attorney with the State of Minnesota Department of Administration. He represents many agencies within the State, including the Department of Corrections, Department of Transportation, and Department of Natural Resources. Prior to joining the State in June of 2025, Gabe spent half of his 20-year career representing employees, and the other half representing employers and insurers.
Erik J. Egeland, CPCU Managing Director | Aerospace Practice St. Charles, IL
Erik Egeland is a Managing Director in Gallagher’s Aerospace Practice, overseeing the insurance consulting and risk management services provided to Gallagher’s aviation and aerospace clients. In addition, Erik is responsible for servicing his own book of aerospace clients, developing new business for the Practice, and mentoring the Practice’s aerospace insurance professionals. Erik earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds The American Institute for Property and Liability Underwriters, Inc.’s Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. Erik is also a licensed Commercial Pilot, Single-engine Land, Instrument Rating.
Diane E. Jelinek, CAIP Client Service Director | Aerospace Practice St. Charles, IL
Diane joined Gallagher in 2015 as part of the merger partner NationAir Aviation Insurance. Diane has 30+ years of aviation insurance experience. She is responsible for leading Gallagher Aerospace’s client service team in addition to providing service to aerospace clients. Diane has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Nebraska. She also holds the Certified Aviation Insurance Professional (CAIP) designation. Diane obtained her private pilot’s license while in college.
Mark R. Udolph, Area Assistant Vice President in the aviation practice, Arthur J Gallagher.
With over 7 years of experience in the aviation insurance industry, Mark’s responsibilities include the production of new business and in-depth servicing of Gallagher’s current aviation clientele. Areas of expertise include aviation product manufacturers, airlines, airports, corporate flight departments, flight schools, and commercial aircraft operators. Mr. Udolph is uniquely qualified in the aviation brokerage world in that he has both a Private and Remote pilot license. A true aviation enthusiast, Mark is active in the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagle introductory flight program for young people.
Mark holds a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management and an Associate's degree in Organization Leadership and Supervision from Purdue University. While at Purdue, Mark was on a research team initiating ideas on how to increase revenue at major airlines.
Adam Taha, Director of the Department of Administration, Enterprise Translation Office
Adam Taha is the Director of Minnesota’s Enterprise Translations Office (ETO). Before this role, he worked at the US Department of State and is a US Army veteran who worked in linguistic intelligence and analysis. He holds an MBA and a master's in Cyber Forensics from Penn State University. In 2024, he was named “Innovation Champion” and received the One Minnesota Budget Implementation Award for leading AI integration at ETO. In FY25, ETO’s approach delivered $1.7M in cost avoidance for state agencies. His work was also recognized by OpenAI as a national model for AI integration in government.
Whitney Teal, Attorney AAFEDT FORDE
Whitney focuses her career on workers’ compensation law, particularly defending employers and insurers. She represents employers and insurers in matters involving initial compensability questions, compliance issues, and all aspects of trial and appellate litigation. Whitney authors the rehabilitation chapter in the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Deskbook. She was selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers® from 2012 to 2020, a Super Lawyer® in 2024 & 2025, and has been listed as a Top Woman attorney from 2013 to 2025. Whitney graduated with honors from law school and served as the Managing Editor for the Hamline Law Review.
Mike Kocer, Minnesota Department of Administration, Risk Management
Rochester, MN native.
Minnesota State University- Mankato 1980 graduate
31 years with the Risk Management Workers Compensation Program
Kristina Hays, Minnesota Department of Administration, Risk Management
Kristina Hays has been with Risk Management since June of 2024. Tina brings her medical knowledge as a licensed Occupational Therapist and outcomes-driven mindset to workers’ compensation. She is Work Comp College certified.