Chad Schimpf is a 20-year lineman turned safety professional whose career and mission were shaped by a life-altering workplace incident that nearly claimed his life. After surviving an electrical contact involving 7,200 volts, Chad transformed that experience into a commitment to improving safety culture across the industry.

Today, Chad serves as an Operations Safety Supervisor with Ameren and holds his CUSP certification. He is also Chairman and MC of the International Lineman Rodeo Safety Days, where he helps lead critical conversations around risk, accountability, and the future of safety in the trade.

In his presentation, Chad shares his personal story and explores the unnecessary risks linemen often accept under the mindset of “that’s how we’ve always done it.” Through powerful lessons drawn from his own experience—including the impact on his family, coworkers, and career—he challenges the industry to rethink long-standing habits and recognize the power of individual influence to drive cultural change.

Chad’s mission is simple: to leave the trade better than he found it.