Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
john@whatworksinstitute.com

John is the Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of the What Works Institute. Before launching What Works in November of 2024, John served as Director at the Phylmar Group, a US west coast-focused EHS network organization that covers critical and emerging safety, health, environmental, and regulatory issues. John and the What Works team continue to manage and direct Phylmar membership in their new capacities.

Prior to this, John had a 16-year career at the National Safety Council, and last served as the organization’s Vice President of Workplace Strategy. In that capacity, he led vision and strategic direction for the NSC Workplace Practice, including for thought leadership programs and offerings including the Campbell Institute, Work to Zero, SAFER, the MSD Solutions Lab, NSC Networks, and the Council’s deep array of training, survey, and consultative services. John also led a variety of research and impact initiatives around emerging topics and issues of interest to safety & health leaders.

John has previously held quality management, project management, and coalition-building positions in the communication and educational fields. He graduated from Northwestern University with a dual bachelor's degree in Sociology and Creative Writing.

Chief Experience Officer & Co-Founder
michelle@whatworksinstitute.com

Michelle Garner-Janna is the Chief Experience Officer & Co-Founder of the What Works Institute. Prior to launching What Works in November of 2024, Michelle had a 30 year career as an accomplished business executive leading Health, Safety, Environmental, Manufacturing & Maintenance functions.

In her most recent role, she led Global Health, Safety & Environment Cummins Inc., a 62,500+ employee global power leader in over 190 countries and territories. She is a Certified Safety Professional, Certified Professional Ergonomist, and Certified 6-sigma Greenbelt. Michelle holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University as well as an Executive MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.  She is a past Board member of the National Safety Council and past Chairperson of the Campbell Institute.

Michelle is also a professional member and past President of the West TN American Society of Safety Professionals, a member of the Memphis Wastewater Hearing Authority and is active in community affairs by frequently volunteering her time.

Senior Director, Expertise
sarah@whatworksinstitute.com

Sarah Ischer is the Senior Director of Expertise at the What Works Institute. She is an enthusiastic health and safety leader with over a decade of experience across various industries.

Prior to joining the What Works team, she led the MSD Solutions Lab at the National Safety Council and functioned as the workplace safety subject matter expert for many of the programs. In addition to these roles, she was the EHS Manager for the Council. 

Most of her career has been spent as a practicing Industrial Hygienist in complex manufacturing facilities, overseeing ergonomics, hearing conservation, chemical management, ventilation controls, TSCA and others. She led employee engagement teams and was a Radiation Safety Officer and is LSS Green Belt Certified.

Sarah graduated from the University of Iowa with a MS in Occupational and Environmental Health, with her research focus in bioaerosols and agricultural health. She is a Certified Industrial Hygienist, Certified Safety Professional and member of AIHA. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering in the community.

Director, Customer Success
paulgibson@whatworksinstitute.com

Paul Gibson is the Director of Customer Success at the What Works Institute, where he collaborates with companies to enhance their health and safety programs. With experience spanning public, private, and non-profit sectors, Paul is dedicated to helping organizations improve safety standards, ensuring employees can celebrate holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries with their loved ones.

Paul spent over 14 years at the National Safety Council (NSC), where he established himself as an industry leader by forging partnerships with Fortune 500 companies to advance their corporate safety initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Paul resides in Chicago, IL, with his wife and son.

Advisor
ron@whatworksinstitute.com

Ron is a California-based advisor, providing in-person participation at meetings throughout California on behalf of What Works and Phylmar. Ron has held roles at prominent Washington D.C.-based law firms, representing both foreign and domestic clients in matters before the U.S. Department of Commerce. Prior to this, Ron worked as an engineer of manufacturing systems and facilities in the automotive industry. This hands-on engineering experience provides Ron with a deep understanding of technologies and workplace applications. His legal, business, and engineering background, and dedication to understanding emerging workplace safety and health issues, ensure members are well-represented. 

Ron is also actively engaged in the innovation community, participating in GenAI Learning Labs and AI Service Providers (AISP), and having served as a volunteer advisor at Columbus Propeller MakerSpace.  Ron holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and an MBA from the University of Memphis, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Christian Brothers University.

Advisor
si@whatworksinstitute.com

Si Janna, Ph.D., is an experienced engineer advisor with over 20 years of expertise in product development, regulatory compliance, and technology assessment across a variety of industries, including medical devices, automotive, and biomedical sectors. He specializes in advising companies on risk management, regulatory strategies, and sustainable product development, ensuring compliance with global standards such as FDA and ISO. With a strong background in pre-clinical studies, Si designs testing protocols to evaluate product safety and efficacy in early-stage development, particularly for biomedical devices and orthopedic implants. Dr. Janna’s work has been instrumental in the successful development and commercialization of innovative products, helping organizations minimize health and safety risks while meeting long-term regulatory requirements across the supply chain. Si’s track record of developing creative solutions and fostering cross-functional collaboration makes him a trusted partner for companies looking to integrate best practices and advanced testing methodologies into their product lifecycle.