On this episode of On the Front Line: The Safety, Learning & Operations Podcast, Dr. Gina Anderson, speaks with Blake Grolmus, SVP of Government Relations at Iowa Motor Truck Association.

Blake challenges the "tenure trap" that keeps fresh voices on the sidelines. He shares why his best safety innovations came from people outside the safety team. Drivers who asked "why do we do it that way?" changed everything. He reveals his leadership approach: never ask someone to do what you wouldn't do yourself.

Tune in to discover why the best innovations come from unexpected voices, and how quiet leadership opens doors.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why breakthrough ideas come from non-experts in the room
• How to create space for newcomers in a longevity-driven industry
• The leadership lesson of being remembered for people, not accomplishments
• How small frontline changes move entire industries forward

Connect with Blake on LinkedIn HERE.

Want to learn more about Blake’s work? Check out the Iowa Motor Truck Association website HERE.

Check out the Luma Brighter Learning website HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Subscribe to On the Frontline for more insights on safety, compliance, learning, and operations in the world of mobile, distributed, and high-risk workforces.

On this episode of On the Front Line: The Safety, Learning & Operations Podcast, Dr. Gina Anderson speaks with Tom Johnston, Safety Manager at Keizer Management, LLC, who's spent nearly 30 years proving that the best safety culture isn't built on enforcement—it's built on empathy.

Tom shares why safety leaders must reject the "safety cop" mentality, how his role as a caregiver for his wife shaped his leadership philosophy, and what the transportation industry gets dangerously wrong about driver home time and mental health. His open-door approach and habit of daily kindness have earned his team multiple National Safety Council awards—not through rules, but through genuine connection.

If you're a safety manager, operations leader, or anyone responsible for people in high-risk work, this episode will challenge how you think about compliance, culture, and what it really means to bring everyone home safely.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why the "safety cop" approach fails and what works instead
• How caregiving experience translates to better safety leadership
• The #1 thing Tom would redesign in the transportation industry to reduce accidents
• Why letting drivers talk isn't a waste of time—it's a safety strategy
• How to identify team strengths and position people where they'll thrive
• Tom's advice for making kindness a daily leadership habit

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn HERE.

Want to learn more about Tom’s work? Check out the Keizer Management, LLC website HERE.

Check out the Luma Brighter Learning website HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Subscribe to On the Frontline for more insights on safety, compliance, learning, and operations in the world of mobile, distributed, and high-risk workforces.

On this episode of On the Front Line: The Safety, Learning & Operations Podcast, Dr. Gina Anderson speaks with Elizabeth Nicholson, Director of Education and Training for the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). With experience spanning medical societies, airport associations, and now trucking, Elizabeth brings a member-first mindset to workforce development.

Elizabeth challenges the passive learning epidemic plaguing busy carriers—where employees complete training but nothing changes on the ground. She shares her vision for practical, application-based education where learners implement best practices, report results, and earn certification through real-world impact, not just screen time.

Tune in to discover why Elizabeth believes the greatest gift leaders can give is confidence—and why she's building TCA's reputation as the go-to destination for transportation education.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why "watch the video, check the box" training fails small carriers juggling seven roles
• How to shift from passive learning to application-based education with measurable results
• The power of listening to subject matter experts when you're not the content expert yourself
• How one committee meeting sparked an unbudgeted recruitment and retention training series
• Why investing in employee education is actually investing in their confidence—and your bottom line
• Leadership lessons from someone who wants to be forgotten but remembered for impact

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn HERE.

Want to learn more about Elizabeth’s work? Check out the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) website HERE.

Check out the Luma Brighter Learning website HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Subscribe to On the Frontline for more insights on safety, compliance, learning, and operations in the world of mobile, distributed, and high-risk workforces.