About Us
United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities (USMWF) established in 2007 is the only grassroots, family based, national, not-for-profit organization that offers support, guidance and resources to families that have been affected by work-related incidents, diseases and illnesses. We know and understand first-hand the devastation that takes place in the mind, body and soul after such a tragic, unexpected death. Recognizing the overpowering emotions one has during the stages of grief. It is important that no one should feel alone during these times.
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USMWF Founder
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Tammy (Miser) Spivey
USMWF Founder and USMWF Family Member (Retired 2021)
Ms. Spivey resides in Lexington, KY and is the Assistant Executive Director of USMWF. Ms. Spivey started USMWF in 2003 after her 33-year-old brother, Shawn Boone, was killed at Hayes-Lemmerz in Huntington, Indiana. Tammy has appeared on 60 Minutes, been interviewed and quoted in local and national newspapers and magazines, given numerous congressional testimonies, given feedback to OSHA on several occasions, spoke in many forums, given training and received multiple awards for her grassroots efforts. |
Our Board
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Rena Harrington
President and USMWF Family Member Ms. Rena Harrington became a strong workplace safety advocate after the loss of her son, Justin Harrington in January 2018, due to a construction incident. Rena started volunteering for USMWF in 2020. She has become a strong voice for change and prevention of occupational incidents, illnesses and diseases. Through sharing her story of the workplace incident that took her son’s life she reiterates the importance of safety leadership in the workplace and how growing female leadership matters. Rena has been interviewed by NBC News twice, has done in person and virtual presentations at several area OSHA offices including all of Massachusetts OSHA offices, Orlando FL, Tampa FL, Ft. Lauderdale, FL and St Paul Minn. She has presented at NASA Headquarters at Cape Canaveral, Fl. Rena attended the Department of Labor’s Workers' Memorial Ceremony in Washington, DC this past April, where she resigned the USMWF Alliance with OSHA. She has presented at the National Labor Council's annual conference as well at the United Utility Workers' Association (UUWA) annual conference. She has been in Human Resources since 2006 in healthcare. Rena currently works for the largest hospice agency in Massachusetts as their Talent Acquisition Business Partner. |
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Wanda Engracia, ESQ
Vice President and USMWF Family Member
Ms. Wanda Engracia resides in Edison, NJ and is the Vice President of USMWF. Ms. Engracia became an active volunteer for USMWF after her 30-year-old husband Juan Pablo Morillo was killed in January 2005 while working for Acetylene Service Company in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He was killed in an acetylene explosion. Two other men were also killed. Wanda testified at the first OSHA Listens. She is a Senior Recruiter at HilleBrand and her job responsibilities include: Onboard and train new employees, New Hire Processing Personnel status changes, Interview potential employees, Accurately maintain employee files, Implement company culture, values, and policies, Provide management with requested reports and documents. |
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Kerrie Baures
Treasurer and USMWF Family Member
Ms. Kerrie Baures resides in Chetek, Wisconsin.
She has been officer manager/operation manager as DCS NetLink since 2005. Ms. Baures is the Board Treasurer of USMWF and a Family Member. She became a strong workplace advocate after the loss of her daughter, Brooke Baures. Brooke was fatally injured on the job in December 2014 while working in Fountain City, Wisconsin after getting her head caught in a descending second-floor dumbwaiter while working a banquet at the restaurant. Ms. Baures has worked hard to turn the tragic loss of her daughter, Brooke Baures into change and prevention striving to gain awareness to younger workers and small businesses that are often overlooked and not informed of the potential issues that could cause injury or death. |
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Faith Ford
Board Member Ms. Faith Ford, Board Member, resides in Lincoln, NE. She currently works for Bath and Body Works, and as a caregiver, and is studying Elementary Education. Ms. Ford became active with USMWF when her mom, Tonya Ford became the Executive Director after the loss of their Uncle Bobby. Robert Fitch "Uncle Bobby" was fatally injured in January of 2009 while working in Lincoln, Nebraska after falling 80ft from a belt-operated manlift, at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). |
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John Newquist
Board Member
Mr. John Newquist, Board Member, resides in Chicago, IL and has had 29 years in Health and safety. Mr. Newquist became an active volunteer for USMWF in 2012 but had worked beside family-member victims for years previously. Among a few accomplishments John is was a Assistant Regional Administrator OSHA, founding Member of ANSI Z359 Fall Arrest Standards, Certified Safety Professional and Fire Inspector, created the OSHA Fall Arrest Course 3110 and OSHA PSM Classes 3300 and 3400. John was also as a proud member of the US Navy Atlantic Intelligence Command with an Honorable Discharge. |
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Micki Siegel de Hernández, M.P.H.
Board Member
Ms. Micki Siegel de Hernández, M.P.H. resides in New York, NY. Ms. Hernández is the National Deputy Director of Health and Safety for the Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO since July 2019. The CWA represents 700,000 members in the public and private sectors including telecommunications, manufacturing, healthcare, printing and publishing, broadcasting/media, education, state and local government, and airlines. Prior to her current position she was the health and safety director for District 1 of the CWA in the northeast region since 1999 and has worked in the field of occupational health and safety for over 30 years. Micki started her professional life as an elementary school teacher in the town of Erving, Massachusetts. During her tenure at CWA, Micki has worked with all CWA sectors providing health and safety related technical assistance, program and strategic planning, and training to eliminate hazards, improve workplace conditions, and prevent member injuries and deaths. Micki has worked with CWA’s union leadership, staff, organizers, and health and safety activists across the country, on a multitude of projects including ergonomics, prevention of workplace violence, lead exposures in telecommunications, prevention of infectious diseases, and airline safety. She has led the Union’s health and safety response to major disasters including the 9/11 attacks, Superstorm Sandy, and now the COVId-19 pandemic. |
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Stacy Sebald
Board Member and USMWF Family Member Ms. Sebald resides in Port Washington, Wisconsin. She has worked in the healthcare field for approximately 15 years, primarily in the home-health care sector doing everything from medication administration to providing the best quality of life to hospice clients. She currently works doing home healthcare throughout Ozaukee & Washington Counties. Stacy became a USMWF Family member after the tragic loss of her son Mitchell McDaniel, 19 in November 2019 while working in Cleveland, Wisconsin. Mitchell was fatally injured while working all by himself inside an old concrete silo, while an exposed and completely unprotected & unguarded auger was running the entire time he was inside the silo. Mitchell's incident was not under OSHA's jurisdiction therefore was not inspected. In February of 2022 she became an active volunteer with USMWF and has been working hard sharing her loss to show the importance of having all agriculture incidents inspected by OSHA to ultimately prevent similar incidents from occurring. |
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Steve Sallman
Board Member Mr. Steve Sallman Director, United Steelworkers (USW) Health, Safety and Environment Department. Mr. Sallman has worked in the USW Health, Safety and Environment Department for over 17 years and has 29 years of safety and health experience. He has investigated many fatalities and life-altering incidents, provides assistance to local unions and works closely with other unions and employers’ safety and health staff. Mr. Sallman serves as a labor representative on the NFPA’s 652 Technical Committee on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust and served on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health as a labor rep from 2019-2021. June 2020 Mr. Sallman was honored to be appointed as a Board Member with United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities, the only grassroots, family based, national, not-for-profit organization that offers support, guidance and resources to families that have been affected by work-related incidents, diseases and illnesses. He was a former Safety and Health Consultant from the Iowa Division of Labor-OSHA for almost five years. Steve also worked for the USW represented Bridgestone/Firestone Plant in Des Moines, Iowa, for 13 years; where he served as the full time Safety and Health Committee Chairman for Local #310 for eight years. |
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Rebecca L. Reindel, MS, MPH
Board Member Ms. Rebecca Reindel resides in Washington, DC. and since 2014 has worked diligently as Senior Safety and Health Specialist and is currently the Director, Safety and Health for the National AFL-CIO in Washington, DC. Her knowledge of occupational safety and health did not start with the National AFL-CIO as she has collectively over 14 years of experience. Ms. Reindel represented the Department of Labor-OSHA as an Industrial Hygienist, Directorate of Standards and Guidance from 2010-2014 and with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Indoor Environments Division from 2009-1010 coordinated and managed state grant and legislative initiatives increasing awareness of and reduced radon exposure risk through the Radon Leadership Initiative and social media in her position as Environment Health Fellow. Over the years she has continued to play an active roll as an occupational health and safety advocate on committees and boards such as National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH), USW Tony Mazzocchi Center NIEHS Grand Advisory Board, Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics Advisory Board, NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda, Traumatic Injury Prevention and many more. |
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Tamara Bengs-Anderson
Board Member and USMWF Family Member Ms. Anderson resides in Aneta, North Dakota. She began her career as a vocational home economics teacher. Later, she became a school guidance and career development counselor. Ms. Anderson retired two years ago after 39 years working in the same school district. In July of 2019, Tammy’s husband, Kevin became entrapped and lost his life in a 500,000 bushel grain bin while at work. The company was cited by OSHA for 8 violations. Ms. Anderson became involved with the USMWF Organization in December of 2022 not only to help in her healing, but also to be part of helping others facing similar situations. Tammy continues to educate herself on the importance of safety in the agriculture industry, in hopes of one day using the knowledge to educate others. During this past year, Tammy has created a high school scholarship based on work ethic in memory of Kevin and is currently working with the North Dakota State University to create a second scholarship for a student working towards an animal science degree, which was a passion of Kevin's. |
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John "Scotty" MacNeill
Board Member John "Scotty" MacNeill is a highly experienced and dedicated professional who has spent over 35 years advocating for workers' rights and safety within the utility industry. As the UWUA (Utility Workers Union of America) National Safety Director, he plays a pivotal role in ensuring the well-being of utility workers across the nation. With a wealth of experience as a union activist, Scotty has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by workers in the utility sector. He has served as a UWUA local 1-2 officer in New York City, demonstrating his commitment to representing the interests of his fellow members at the grassroots level. One of Scotty's notable accomplishments is his role as a member of the ANSI Z-10 Safety Management System Standard, where he actively contributes to the development and implementation of industry-leading safety practices. This involvement underscores his dedication to raising safety standards within the utility sector to protect workers and communities. In his capacity as UWUA National Safety Director for the past 8 years, Scotty MacNeill has been instrumental in aiding UWUA locals in workplace fatality investigations. His expertise and leadership have been invaluable in ensuring that incidents are thoroughly examined, and lessons are learned to prevent future tragedies. Scotty MacNeill's unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of utility workers in the Gas, Electric, Water and Renewable Energy sectors has made him a respected figure within the industry. His tireless advocacy, coupled with his extensive experience, continues to have a profound impact on promoting a culture of safety and security for utility workers nationwide.
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