TEAM

TEAM

– WE’RE PROUD OF HOW WE DO BUSINESS AT SAFETY ONE TRAINING –
We believe in continuous learning and improvement – answering questions, solving problems, developing custom training courses, and never settling for “it can’t be done.”
With deep roots in fall protection, snowcat operation, safety, rescue and survival, we are often recognized as the safety experts speaking at industry conferences and keynote events.
Chuck Kevwitch (Business Development Manager)
Chuck Kevwitch
Business Development Manager
Chuck brings over 17 years of experience in contracting and sales management to Safety One Training, Inc. Chuck worked extensively with fleet management and safety divisions within many large companies and government agencies and gained valuable knowledge of their protocols for fleet safety and training. His expertise has given Safety One a unique advantage in the government and contract training sector.
With years of experience in the motorsport industry and his extensive mechanical and technical experience on off-road vehicle capabilities Chuck is often in the field leading one of Safety One’s ATV, UTV, Snowcat or trailer courses. In addition, Chuck has spent the last 3 years working in a number of areas related to work at height and fall protection. He has had the opportunity to work with many different clients across the United Sates to develop safety programs for some of the most unique at-height scenarios.
Chuck is a SPRAT Level 1 Rope Access Technician, he is a qualified climber and rescuer for communications and high voltage towers and often is an instructor in Safety One’s Confined Space Safety and Rescue, Snowcat Operations training and ATV/UTV Operator Safety courses.

Joe Ciardullo (Client Advisor)

Joe Ciardullo joined Safety One Training in March 2025 as a Client Advisor, working with safety managers and organizations to identify the training and certification solutions that best meet their needs. He assists clients with training selection, scheduling, and coordination while building lasting relationships and helping ensure a smooth experience from start to finish.

Joe graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Aviation and Aerospace Science, where he studied topics including aviation safety, aerodynamics, and orbital mechanics. He also holds a private pilot certificate, bringing an additional perspective on the importance of safety, preparation, and risk management.
Joe spent three years playing baseball at MSU Denver. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing during the summer, snowboarding in the winter, following sports, attending concerts, traveling, and camping.
Gary McKinley (Warehouse)

Gary was born in El Paso, Texas and lived there until 8th grade before his family moved to Roswell, New Mexico. He played football did some wrestling and even some shotput in track. Gary graduated in 1999 and then moved to Reno, Nevada to start doing construction. Gary again relocated to Colorado in 2001. He was an electrician in Colorado before he began doing lawn services. He then began working for an indoor-outdoor gardening supply company which is where he gained experience in the warehouse.

Gary likes fishing, hunting, camping and pretty much anything outdoors. He also enjoys watching football, baseball, hockey, and attending concerts!

John Stevens (Lead Instructor)

John is a full-time Lead Instructor at Safety One.

Before joining the team, John built his career in the wind industry, where he worked in operations and maintenance. His background includes high-voltage switching, rigging, and equipment inspection, along with leading rescue training for technicians working on wind turbines.
John is a SPRAT Level 3 certified rope access technician and holds a CDL license.
As an instructor, he covers a wide range of safety and rescue topics, including snowcat and winter survival training, focusing on proper climbing techniques and correct equipment use to help prevent rescue scenarios from happening in the first place. When an incident does occur, his goal is to provide students with practical, efficient techniques that leave them fully prepared for anything they may face in the field
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Aaron Wermers (Lead Instructor)

Aaron Wermers is a full-time lead instructor at Safety One. He prides himself in providing safe and educational classes. From working on the side of a mountain in snowcat class, on a tower, in confined space or in the classroom. He is constantly thriving and pushing himself to learn more and provide up to date information and hands on experiences. His background in mechanics lends well into snowcat and other vehicle-based classes. He has also worked at heights with various means such as scaffold, scissor lifts and cranes.

When Aaron is not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife outdoors enjoying the mountains. It is not odd to find them spinning cranks on their tandem bicycle as they explore all the wonderful trails Colorado has to offer. Whether camping, biking, 4-wheeling or other activities. Aaron also has spent time performing rescues both off road and during blizzards to recover both vehicles and people.

Stephen Perez (Lead Instructor)

Stephen Perez is an accomplished Army veteran with over ten years of experience, specializing in infantry operations and intelligence command. Throughout his military career, he has developed leadership skills and adaptability in austere environments. Stephen’s commitment to personal growth and professional development is evident in his achievement of ranger certification.

With a major in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy, Stephen possesses an understanding of human behavior and critical thinking. This knowledge, combined with his passion for teaching, makes him an exceptional educator and mentor. Stephen is dedicated to setting high standards and surpassing goals, constantly seeking opportunities to enhance his tactical skills and broaden his expertise.
In addition to his military accomplishments, Stephen recently obtained certification as a nationally registered EMT, further expanding his skill set and ability to provide life-saving assistance. His expertise extends to specialized areas such as rappelling, rock climbing, and survival techniques, making him a valuable asset in challenging environments.

Steve Andreas (Instructor)
Steve Andreas
Steve Andreas’ background originates in the entertainment (concert) industry as a rigger and audio engineer. He provided rigging support for a wide variety of musicians, celebrities, and political candidates over more than 10 years and has been personally responsible for the safety of numerous stadium builds as well as an extensive background in the rigging of portable structures.  Recently, he was the Head Rigger for the Presidential Debates in Boulder, Colorado.
With a SPRAT III certification, he functions as a full time instructor in every category Safety One has to offer, as well as providing an active role in curriculum development.
In addition to a climbing and rigging background, he also has extensive experience in automotive mechanics, metal fabrication, and unique vehicle operation, which leads directly into his role as a snowcat instructor for Safety One.  Steve has spent years working with the off-road community performing mechanical services and fabrication services both professionally and as a hobby.  As a Class A CDL driver with a background in machinery operation, he has a wide range of experiences to pull from for his classes.
Certifications:
SPRAT Level 3

Joe Anderson II (Instructor)
Joe Anderson II
Lead Instructor
Since Joe Anderson joined Safety One Training, he has specialized in creating, designing, implementing and instructing custom courses for the Tower Industry. Some of these courses include: Tower Safety Training and Rescue for Bill Boards, Competent Equipment Inspector, and the Advanced ATTC.
Joe has also implemented and designed the Rescue Rigging Lifeline Kits and Transfer Line 4:1’s, specifically designed for Tower Rescue Procedures. Besides his lead instructor role at Safety One, Joe is also a Career Firefighter and has taken a proactive and progressive approach in the Fire Service.

Monte Brewer (Instructor)
Monte Brewer
Instructor
Monte Brewer is a training instructor at Safety One Training. Monte has been teaching Snowcat Operation Certification since January 2010. He is an experienced snowmobile rider, and has been pushing sleds to their limits since 1994. As an employee of a government agency that maintains hydro power plants and dams in the high Sierra he spends most of the winter operating snow cats to access facilities. Due to the nature of Monte’s job that requires inspections of usually inaccessible features, he is also an experienced rope access technician, requiring him to perform inspections and work while free hanging only supported by a rope system.
Monte also comes from a competitive racing background. He grew up racing downhill mountain bikes professionally. Monte resides with his family in the Reno, NV area where he enjoys spending time outdoors, going camping, fishing, hunting, rock climbing, downhill mountain biking, and riding ATV’s.
Certifications
Degree in Mechanical Engineering
OSHA 511 General Industry Safety
SPRAT Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians, Level 2 Certified Rope Access Technician
NFPA 70E/Arc Flash Electrical Safety/Electrical Safety for Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution
Permit-Required Confined Space
Derek Sardinta (Instructor)
Derek Sardinta
Instructor
Derek Sardinta is a Fall Protection Instructor with Safety One Training International.  Derek has a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science Management and a master’s degree in Leadership with an emphasis in Disaster Preparedness.  He served two tours of duty in war zones while on active duty and continues to serve as a firefighter with the United States Air Force Reserves. Currently he is a firefighter at the United States Air Force Academy. He is a certified Rescue Technician I/II specializing in high/low angle rescue, including confined space.
Derek also volunteers as an instructor for the Colorado Mountain Club teaching rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, and outdoor survival skills. He is also a certified Emergency Medical Technician/First Aid/CPR instructor. As a Colorado native, Derek enjoys everything Colorado has to offer.  In his free time you will find Derek mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, camping, or in the back country conquering a mountain peak.  Derek is passionate about instructing and passing his knowledge onto others in order to keep them safe.

Robin Commons (Instructor)
Robin Commons
Instructor
Robin Commons joined Safety One in 2007 as an instructor in the Snow Operations Training Center. His primary focus has been winter survival. Training operators on hypothermia, frostbite, winter conditions skills and emergency shelter construction. Before joining Safety One he was part of a team-teaching similar topics for 13 years for the Backpacking and Winter Camping schools of the Colorado Mountain Club. He still works for the CMC as sales representative for the CMC Press. He is the author of “Snow Way Out” an article about building a snow trench shelter published by Recoil Magazine in 2014. On field days for Safety One snow classes, he assists other instructors with basic snowcat operations training and coaching new operators.

Mark Dornstauder (Instructor)
Mark Dornstauder
Instructor
Mark Dornstauder is the Lead Instructor for Safety One Training International, bringing decades of experience in equipment operation, fleet management, and off-road vehicle safety. A 1986 graduate of Universal Technical Institute’s Automotive and Diesel Repair program, Mark retired in 2025 after 29 years with a local utility company, where he served as an Equipment Specialist responsible for fleet operations across all crews. Since 1997, he has operated and instructed on tracked and wheeled equipment, including ATV/UTVs and multiple Snowcat models, and delivers training based on industry best practices and OSHA and ANSI safety requirements.
Mark holds a Class A CDL and certifications in CPR/AED, Wilderness First Responder, Level 1 Avalanche, Search and Rescue, FEMA ICS, and other emergency response and safety disciplines. He has been a member of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Motor Division since 2006 and previously served on its Snowcat Board. Outside of work, Mark enjoys off-road UTV racing, camping, mountain biking, hiking, traveling, and spending time riding with family and friends.

Nick Castille (Instructor)
Nick Castille
Instructor
Nick is an experienced Firefighter/EMT and industrial response specialist with a career built around service, safety, and leadership in high-risk environments. He has responded to structural fires, medical emergencies, industrial incidents, and complex rescue operations requiring rapid assessment, teamwork, and decisive action. His service has also earned him one of the fire service’s highest levels of recognition.
A major part of Nick’s experience includes serving as Technical Rescue Team Lead for Eddy County in Carlsbad, New Mexico. In that role, he led specialized rescue operations involving confined spaces, high-angle environments, swiftwater and flood rescue, and vehicle extrications. His background across both municipal and industrial settings has given him a broad understanding of emergency response and responder safety.
Nick is passionate about training, mentorship, and developing strong teams through preparation, communication, and accountability. He continues to focus on helping others improve their skills, strengthen situational awareness, and maintain high standards of safety and rescue performance.

Mike Langhenry (Instructor)

Mike has been an instructor with Safety One since 2022.

With a background in Electrical/RF engineering, he works building and maintaining two-way & microwave radio systems across the Rockies and accessing those difficult sites by snowmobile, motorcycle, ATV, and snowcat.
In 2012 after a friend’s passing in an avalanche, Mike started down a path in avalanche education.  He was on the leading edge of motorized training in the US, developing curriculum for snowmobile-based risk management, terrain evaluation, and trip planning in avalanche areas.  Mike was one of the first snowmobilers in the country to earn Pro2 and Course Lead certificates, demonstrating a passion for safety and continuing education.
Mike is a skilled backcountry rider and has raced snocross and cross-country across the Rockies.  When he’s not working, you’ll find him on a dirt bike, snowmobile in the mountains or involved in the amateur radio community.
Certificates:
– Electrical Engineer
– AIARE Course Lead
– American Avalanche Association Professional Member

Nina Clifton (Instructor)

Nina Clifton is a training instructor with Safety One Training, where she has been teaching Snowcat Operation and Backcountry Survival courses since 2024. She brings extensive real-world experience in winter backcountry travel, avalanche education, snowmobile instruction, guiding, and search and rescue.

Nina is an AIARE Certified Course Leader and avalanche instructor, teaching avalanche education and rescue skills for the Sierra Avalanche Center, Bridgeport Avalanche Center, and Ride Rasmussen Style. She also serves as a snowmobile skills instructor and backcountry guide with Ride Rasmussen Style, combining technical riding instruction with terrain assessment, avalanche awareness, rescue preparedness, and backcountry decision-making.
As a member of Search and Rescue, Nina serves on the snowmobile team and participates in winter rescue training and operations. Her SAR experience includes avalanche rescue training, transceiver searches, probing, shoveling, patient access, and working in challenging winter environments where sound judgment, teamwork, and self-sufficiency are critical.
Nina is a founding board member and officer of Lake Tahoe Snowmobilers, a nonprofit organization focused on responsible snowmobiling, education, access, and the backcountry riding community. She is actively involved in rider education and avalanche-safety outreach throughout the Lake Tahoe region.
Spending more than 100 days each year on snow, Nina brings significant hands-on experience operating and traveling in demanding mountain environments. Her background as a snowcat instructor, snowmobile instructor, avalanche educator, guide, and search-and-rescue team member allows her to bring practical, field-tested experience into every Safety One course.
Edward Tillgren (Instructor)

Ed Tillgren is an experienced utility professional, instructor, and safety specialist with a strong background in overhead and underground electrical distribution work. He holds a Class A Commercial Driver’s License and certifications in First Aid, CPR, and instruction through the Northeast Training Association. His field experience includes leading construction and maintenance operations, troubleshooting circuit faults, and performing switching and tagging procedures in field and substation environments up to 345KV.

Ed has also spent much of his career training and mentoring line workers in overhead line work, URD operations, switching procedures, climbing, fall protection, and safe work practices. As a certified instructor, he has developed and delivered structured training programs and helped improve safety procedures and equipment use across utility operations. He also has experience representing Buckingham Manufacturing and supporting customers with technical safety equipment and fall protection solutions.