OREDIGGER SPOTLIGHT: Jerry Shupe '02 Occupational Health and Safety

Jerry Shupe has always had a passion for helping people. Throughout high school and college, he worked at the Butte YMCA as a lifeguard and swim instructor and taught CPR and first aid classes.

“When trying to decide what I wanted to do for my career, the Occupational Safety and Health program felt like a natural fit. I had the opportunity to work in almost any industry, and I wanted to feel like I was making a difference in people’s lives—I wanted to help people,” Shupe said.

Shupe graduated with a degree in Occupational Safety and Health from Montana Technological University in 2002 and immediately started an internship with Hensel Phelps in Northern California. After successfully completing his internship, he was offered a full-time position as a safety engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. He then moved to Southern California as a safety manager and eventually was promoted to regional safety director.

“My favorite part of working in construction has been the incredible projects that I have been a part of. I have worked on everything from high-end hotels to educational facilities, government projects, airports, and hospitals. Every project is so unique, and there is such a strong sense of pride in our industry knowing that you helped build something that is transforming a community.”

Currently, Shupe is working as the Chief Health and Safety Officer for Hensel Phelps, and is located in Northern Colorado. He has been recognized as the Safety Professional of the Year by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of California, received the prestigious Award of Excellence from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and received the Alumni Recognition Award from Montana Tech.

“My career has been a wild ride, and I feel really fortunate to be where I am at today. I still remember my first day as a safety intern on a parking structure in San Jose and feeling an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I knew I had the educational framework and work ethic I needed to be successful.”

Shupe was one of the first safety interns ever hired by Hensel Phelps and now supports their safety recruiting efforts. Since he was hired, they have had hundreds of interns go through their program—many being Montana Tech students.

“It’s been amazing to watch the level of competence and ability of our young safety professionals change over the years. Partnering with schools like Montana Tech and benchmarking with like-minded companies has really transformed the safety profession. Twenty years ago, we were seen as a luxury to have on a project; now we are integrated into operations and valued for what we do.”

Shupe no longer reports to a project every day and is based out of the corporate office. As part of his role, he regularly visits projects around the country and covers work from Washington, D.C. to Guam. His role includes OSHA compliance, claim management, program development, and implementation.

“I started my career with the goal of helping people and it’s incredible, some of the things that we have been able to do. Initially everything revolved around OSHA compliance, but as our industry has matured and organizations have seen the value we provide, our influence has significantly grown. We are now developing programs to support people and change organizational culture. My proudest accomplishment is an initiative we started to support mental health. It’s something I never thought I’d be doing, but it has had such a profound impact on not only our people but the entire industry.”

In addition to his role at Hensel Phelps, Shupe participates in key industry groups such as the Construction Safety Research Alliance and the National Construction Safety Executives, and is an Ambassador for the AGC of America’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Task Force, the Central Washington University’s Safety and Health Management Program, and the American Society of Safety Professional’s Construction Practice Specialty.

“The construction industry has some amazing people, and being part of industry groups that help shape the future of construction safety professionals has been a priority for me. It’s an opportunity to work with industry-leading experts who can change the way we do business. What I have seen throughout my career is that safety is more than rules and regulations. It’s about helping people, transforming cultures, keeping companies viable, and building meaningful relationships.”