Rising Stars of the Profession: Andrew Woodard

Andrew Woodard is a Workforce Strategies Practice consultant based in the Atlanta office. He is responsible for delivering health and safety-related loss control services to national clients across various industries, including retail, food and beverage, distribution, manufacturing, and aviation.

He joined Marsh in 2016 as a health and safety consultant. Prior to this, he was employed in the manufacturing industry as an environmental health and safety manager for a large power-management systems company. His responsibilities in those roles included OSHA and EPA compliance, contractor management, employee training, safety program development, and product design and testing safety at the company's research and development headquarters.

Andrew has led and managed projects aimed at Worker's Compensation and General Liability claims reduction. To achieve these reductions, Andrew frequently designs and delivers customized loss prevention programs for specific cost drivers (slips, trips, falls, struck by, cuts, burns, etc.), lockout/tagout, ergonomics, powered industrial truck use, and creates job safety analyses. Additionally, he assists clients with state and national OSHA compliance and has engaged client leadership in the development of safety management systems.

Beyond supporting clients in a tactical role, Andrew has developed corporate safety policies and written safety manuals for clients in a variety of industries, which exceeded OSHA compliance by incorporating safety best practices. He has a BS in occupational hygiene and safety and a BS in environmental health science, both from Ohio University.

What would you say has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

By far the biggest factor in my success as a safety and risk management consultant at Marsh, has been my ability to find interest in each and every one of my clients' operations. I have the unique opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the largest and most well-known companies in the world operate. It excites me that I am able to affect change in how safely those businesses are run. Whether I am working in aviation, amusement parks, restaurants, utility construction, or any industry in between, I am fascinated by the way work is done, and the impact my clients have on how we live our lives. The thrill associated with learning about each client, their operations, and their decisions generates the creative momentum I need to solve complex problems, design custom safety solutions, and help navigate my clients through the often murky waters of risk associated with growth and expansion. For me, there is nothing better than being able to celebrate success with my clients when solutions I designed for them contribute to both employee and guest injury and claim reductions.

What do you enjoy most about your career in the consulting industry?

Without a doubt, I have loved the variety of work I do. I've worked with clients both large and small, in industries ranging from retail to restaurants, to airlines, and even amusement parks. Every company I have worked with has given me the unique opportunity to see the country while I test my risk management and safety skills. Whether I am in boots and coveralls working a construction site in the rolling hills of Appalachia, or in a suit and tie delivering a presentation to C-Suite leaders in California, I LOVE that every day brings new challenges.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

My greatest professional achievement is something that goes unseen every day. Through my work with multiple companies that many of us use in our personal lives, I know that the work I have done helps keep not only employees but the general public safe. While it is not always quantifiable, the value of knowing that employees are able to go home safer every day, and that guests and customers can enjoy themselves without the worry of being injured makes me proud to be a Safety and Risk Management Consultant.

What advice would you give a professional just beginning a career in consulting?

I would give them the same advice I received when I started: "Learn something about your client that excites you." This has served me well over the years in my career and makes my job much more interesting and engaging because I feel more connected to my client and therefore take more pride in what I do. I've found that this connection and pride results in less stress and frustration, and makes the long hours more worthwhile.

What does being honored as a Rising Star mean to you?

Being named a Rising Star filled me with excitement and validation of all my hard work over the years. From deciding to give up a 4-year scholarship for Cross Country and completely re-evaluate my college and future career choice to the red-eye flights I took to make sure I could squeeze in one more client site visit that week, to the days where I would wake up at 4 am and finally get back home 20 hours later. I've known that my work is valued by my clients, but to be recognized by those who have never met me, and awarded this recognition based on the descriptions of what I have done in my career has made this experience incredibly special.