The New Jersey Work Zone Safety Conference promotes work zone safety awareness on local and state roadways for a multi-disciplinary audience of construction, engineering, public safety, maintenance, and operations personnel.

This year’s in-person event will commence with a presentation by Gregg Johanesson from GMP Contracting on flagging 101 which is a dangerous task performed in work zones every day.    The next presentation is national work zone safety trends and best practices which will be delivered by Senior Vice President Brad Sant from ARTBA.    Karl Simons, Co-Founder of FYLD Artificial Intelligence is the Keynote Speaker and he will be addressing using A.I. for work zones – what is possible and what is not. After lunch, PENNDOT Manager Brian Crossley will explain Pennsylvania’s new driver work zone safety program which is often not mentioned when discussing the safety aspects of work zones.  The conference will conclude with a panel discussion on the significance of a traffic control plan.

As part of the program, the Michael J. Corbett Training & Education Award will recognize an individual who has enhanced safety through education and training. Furthermore, the New Jersey Work Zone Safety Excellence Awards will be presented to recognize inspiring efforts of individuals, companies and roadway agencies that have demonstrated effective temporary traffic control in planned work zones on New Jersey roadways.

Hosted by Rutgers Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) and the New Jersey Work Zone Safety Partnership (NJWZSP). The NJWZSP is an ad hoc committee with the primary goal of promoting work zone safety education and awareness to reduce the number of workers and road users being injured or killed in work zones. The NJWZSP includes representatives from both the public and private sectors involved with work zone activities.

2026 New Jersey
Work Zone Safety Conference

8:30 a.m.             Opening Remarks

David Maruca, Program Development Administrator, Rutgers CAIT
Michael Rizol, Director (Invited), New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety
Robert Asaro-Angelo, Commissioner (Invited), New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development
Richard Mendelson, Regional Administrator (Invited), US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Camille Otto, Acting Division Administrator (Invited), Federal Highway Administration, NJ Division
Fran O’Connor, Commissionner (Invited), New Jersey Department of Transportation

9:00 a.m.             “Flagging 101”

Gregg Johanesson, Corporate Safety Director, GMP Contracting

9:30 a.m.             “National Work Zone Safety Trends and Best Practices”

Brad Sant, Senior Vice President, America Road Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)

10:15 a.m.           Break/Exhibits

10:45 a.m.           Keynote Address: “Using A.I. for Work Zones – What is Possible and What is Not”

Karl Simons, Co-Founder of FYLD Artificial Intelligence

11:45 p.m.          Presentation of 2026 Work Zone Safety Excellence Awards

12:00 p.m.          Lunch

1:00 p.m.             “Pennsylvania’s New Driver Work Zone Safety Program”

Brian Crossley, Manager, Temporary Traffic Control Unit, PENNDOT

1:45 p.m.             Panel Discussion:  “Significance of the Traffic Control Plan”

Moderator:
Brian Crain, Compliance Assistance Specialist, OSHA

Panel:
Chris Beach, Training & Safety Manager, Atlas Flasher & Supply Company
Chad O’Conner, Corporate Safety Director, IEW Construction Group
Larry Lenahan, Assistant Manager, Traffic Operations, NJTA
Craig Jones, Sergeant, Cherry Hill Police Department
Meriam Michael, P.E., Work Zone Traffic Control Unit, NJDOT
George Fallat, P.E., Middlesex County Engineer

2:30 p.m.             Adjourn