FirstGroup : First Student safety manager named Rising Star of Safety

20 Dec 2017

CHICAGO - A member of the First Student safety team is recognized for her efforts to make the workplace safer. Azure Hills-Wilson of Carol Stream, Ill., has been named a 2017 Rising Star of Safety by the National Safety Council (NSC).

The NSC Rising Stars of Safety program honors future leaders for promoting a culture of continuous safety improvement within their companies and creating safety initiatives focused on measurable results.

Hills-Wilson is one of 43 safety advocates under the age of 40 to be recognized by the NSC.

'Azure is tireless in her commitment to create a safer workplace so her colleagues and the students we transport go home safely every day,' said Kevin Orzechowski, senior director of safety for FirstGroup America, which includes First Student.

'Our strong safety culture is driven by leaders such as Azure who continually work to improve the way we operate by putting safety first.'

Hills-Wilson began her career in the school bus industry in 2005. She currently serves as a senior location safety manager for First Student and is responsible for overseeing safety operations at five Illinois locations.

In 2015, Hills-Wilson spearheaded the implementation of all safety compliance requirements for a new First Student location in Skokie, Ill. Her leadership efforts led to zero preventable collisions, zero preventable injuries and zero lost-time injuries during the first full year of operations.