What Senior Editor Stefanie Valentic learned while reporting from the 35th annual conference in New Orleans. The 2019 Safety+ Symposium in New Orleans hosted nearly 3,000 attendees for a week of celebration, education, networking and rejuvenation. This year, the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants’ Association (VPPPA) revamped its 35th annual conference, featuring a new logo, enhanced workshops and a 1980s-themed celebration.  From mountain climbers to safety experts to OSHA educators, the well-rounded education offerings drove home the importance of safety management systems, leadership support and risk mitigation. VPPPA utilized technology to spread its mission, including live streaming of workshops and broadcasting the symposium's entire opening session on Facebook Live. The SafetyPro podcast streamed live from the conference Media Center. In addition, this is the first year a professional general session production team has been on hand at the Safety+ Symposium. "I may not be with you for the next 35 years, but let my vision of commitment, collaboration, diversity and inclusion and the uncompromised focus be the guiding light that illuminates the road ahead so that our children and their children's children get to live in a world that is a better place at work and at home," President J.A. Rodriguez told attendees in his opening address. Here are quotes from 10 influential experts who spoke throughout the week in the Big Easy. Let's block ads! (Why?)