GHSC’s diverse Board of Directors strenghtens the mission of GHSC and positively contributes to its continued growth and success by carrying out the consensus driven priorities of its vounteer members by providing decision-making, guidance, and oversight of operations, program activities, and finances.

Learn more about our current Board of Directors below.

Jeff Adkisson, CAEPresident
Jeff has over 25 years’ Executive Management experience with the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois as the Executive Vice President responsible for meeting the needs of the Association’s membership. His expertise in consensus and team building greatly influenced the formation of the Coalition and his excellent communication skills have helped break down the barriers between the diverse interests. Jeff provides strong leadership to the Coalition and works to ensure GHSC balances the needs of the production and commercial industries. He is unfailing in his support of the Coalition’s efforts, providing staff resources, accounting assistance, an extensive information distribution network and media contacts. Jeff is a member of the state and national Society for Association Executives as well as several grain industry groups.
Catherine A. Rylatt, MPAVice President
Catherine co-founded the GHSC after the engulfment death of her 19 year old nephew. She put to use 25+ years of management, policy, budgeting, training, mediation, and client advocacy experience working in non-profits, state government, and volunteer positions to help form and grow the Coalition. Catherine volunteers her time to run the day to day operations of GHSC, is the lead grant writer, and represents GHSC with the OSHA national Alliance including serving on the Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week planning committee. She is the program coordinator for grants ensuring program objectives are met, as well as develops training curriculum and educational resources.
Brian Grimm, MBA, SPHRTreasurer
Brian holds a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Engineering and Feed Science & Management; a MBA degree; SPHR certification; and is a certified auditor for Responsible Agriculture. He is currently the corporate Safety Director of Bartlett Grain Company. Brian has been in the industry for 30+ years including agricultural equipment, commercial feed, vitamin/mineral/premix, fertilizer/chemical, flour milling, cattle feedlot, and grain elevator sectors. In various roles he has had responsibility for profit; operation, accounting, and computer activity; re-engineering consulting; human resources; and health, safety and environmental activities. Brian has had responsibility in over half of the United States, managed union and non-union facilities, and had oversight for 100+ facilities in various sectors. His professional experience and farming background provides GHSC with a broad industry perspective to reduce risk and increase awareness among commercial grain handlers and farmers.
Douglas Clark, CSP, NREMT-BSecretary
Douglas Clark is currently the corporate Safety Director for Jack Links. Previously he was the North American Regional leader for EHS in Cargill’s Animal Nutrition business responsible for EHS activities at over 70 plants in North America and Canada. Past positions include corporate EHS Director for H.B. Fuller with global responsibility for a wide variety of chemical plants, EHS Director of global operations at ECOLAB, Global EHS Director for Varian Semiconductor, and EHS manager positions with San Francisco Drydock and Union Carbide Corp. Douglas served in the US Air Force as a Loadmaster on a C-141A cargo plane, was a fire department Lieutenant in New England, worked on a 911 ambulance crew and is a member of ASSE.
Robert Aherin, PhDDirector
Dr. Aherin is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Contacted by Catherine, he helped co-found GHSC using his reputation for forming collaborative partnerships to bring together a diverse group of industry professionals. Dr. Aherin has spent his career working with stakeholders in academia, industry and legislation to reduce the number of agricultural work-related injuries and illnesses. He is internationally recognized as an expert in grain handling safety and has published several research papers. Dr. Aherin is a member of several agricultural safety and health organizations holding various leadership positions and helping them grow.
Stanley BlunierDirector
Stanley has farmed for 45+ years. He owns and manages Blunier Farms, a family farm producing corn, soybeans, and swine. He serves as a Board member of Evergreen FS Cooperative; helped found and serves as Treasurer of the Livingston County Farm Bureau Foundation; and is active with the Livingston County FFA chapter. Previously, he held Board positions with the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Growers Association, the Illinois Corn Marketing Board, and Country Financial and was an active member of the Illinois Pork Producers Association. Stanley founded and directed the Illinois River Energy, LLC, a 110-million-gallon ethanol plant. He was instrumental in forming and held executive positions with the Producers Alliance and 21st Century Producer Inc. which assist members with agricultural business opportunities in production, marketing, and value-added investments. Stanley was a major contributor to GHSC’s youth position statement, is an advocate of LOTO on the farm, and helps GHSC understand the cultural barriers to farm safety.
Jeff Decker Director
Jeff is the owner and President of Decker Consulting & Investigations, Inc. with over 30 years’ experience in the agriculture industry. Familiar with the construction and operation of both farm storage and commercial storage, Jeff has brought his years of experience to the Coalition’s curriculum team helping to formulate curriculum which services the needs of the target audience. Formally the Product Safety & Litigation Manager for the GSI Group, Inc. Jeff is experienced in all aspects of hazard ID analysis and accident investigations and often serves as an expert trial witness. He is a lead safety trainer, past Director of Safety Outreach Programs and has developed numerous safety programs. Jeff lends expertise and knowledge of bin structure and operations to curriculum development and as a GHSC trainer.
Aaron Yoder, PhDDirector
Aaron Yoder grew up in central Pennsylvania where he spent time working on his grandfather’s beef farm. He has a BS and MS from the Pennsylvania State University in Agricultural Systems Management and a PhD from Purdue University in Agricultural and Biological Engineering. He previously worked for Penn State Extension as an Extension Safety Associate. He currently is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Extension and works with projects through the NIOSH funded Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health CS-CASH). Aaron has served in several leadership positions among various agricultural safety and health organizations including ASABE, ASHCA, AgriSafe, and ISASH.