Rugged Training Group

08/04/2026

I've been looking forward to the release of this, my first in-person podcast. The conversation with Peter Koch was engaging and time just flew by. I hope you enjoy it, too! https://www.memic.com/workplace-safety/safety-experts-podcast/0126-how-the-practice-of-leadership-creates-safer-workplaces-with-jenn-ruggerio

07/23/2026

What an honor it was to record this episode of the Event Safety Podcast!

Every single person I've met through the Event Safety Alliance has been incredibly dedicated to making our industry safer, smarter, and more resilient.

I've personally learned so much from this community. If you are in the entertainment or live events space, I highly recommend looking into becoming an ESA member, the network and resources are unmatched.

Thank you to the Event Safety Podcast team for having me on!

What separates safety training from safety culture? Danielle and co-host Anna Glover sit down with Jen Ruggerio, founder of Rugged Training Group and author of Uncorporate Leadership, to dig into that question. Safety training without leadership support is box-checking. The conversation examines com...

07/13/2026

Shoutout to the team from Rugged Labor for crushing their leadership training with us last week! 🙌🔥

We spent the day diving deep into what it truly means to lead. Our big goals were to clarify role expectations, tackle their burning questions, and sharpen those crucial communication and delegation skills.

A company is only as strong as its leaders, and these folks are proving they are ready to level up. Thanks for bringing such great energy to the room! 💪🎯

07/10/2026

It was my pleasure to be a guest on Safeonomics! I never realized how much I say “you know.” I’ll work on that! 😂 Regardless, I’m thankful for the opportunity to share what I’ve learned.

Jen Ruggerio spent 25 years as a public educator before an unexpect...

07/09/2026

My first live podcast recording and I got to experience in here in my home state!

Thank you Peter Koch for the great conversation. Check out the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast. I’ll let you know when this episode goes live!

07/05/2026

I'm grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Chris Lose on this article for Projection Lights & Staging News. Check it out!

Chris Lose and Jen Ruggerio look at how the real safety system on sites isn’t the binder sitting on the production desk, it’s trust. They discuss building trust in leadership and empowering crews and teams to speak up.

07/03/2026

I had the privilege of speaking with members of the Event Safety Alliance on Tuesday and I left the conversation genuinely energized.

We talked about shared leadership as a safety strategy in live event production — a topic I cover in Uncorporate Leadership — and the questions and real-world insights people brought made it one of those conversations worth having again.

A few things I want to stay with from our time together:

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞. In a dynamic event environment the person with the most relevant knowledge in the moment needs to be empowered to act on it. Hierarchy has its place but it cannot get in the way of safety.

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲. Transparency with your crew, owning your mistakes, listening actively, recognizing contributions — these are not soft management concepts. They are the things that determine whether someone speaks up before something goes wrong.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞. Over 5,000 people die annually in workplace tragedies in the U.S. and 85% of those deaths are preventable. Every conversation like this one moves us closer to changing that.

We also walked through a real rigging incident that illustrates exactly what happens when safety concerns go unheard. No one was hurt. But it is the kind of near-miss that sticks with you.

To everyone who showed up and engaged — thank you. The work you are doing matters.

If you want to keep the conversation going, reach out at [email protected] or visit rugged-training.com.

07/01/2026

Nearly 100 workers are killed and 20,000 seriously injured in forklift-related incidents every year in the United States.

Most of those incidents are preventable with proper training.

If your certification is not current — or you have never been formally certified — Rugged Training Group's online Forklift Operator Safety Certification is for you.

Less than one hour. Available 24/7 from any device. Instant certificate when you finish. OSHA and ANSI compliant for all 50 states. $59.95.

"Even after years of practical experience, this class taught me so many new safety skills." — Michael B., Las Vegas

https://ruggedtraininggroup.thinkific.com/products/courses/forklift-certification

Safe operation of forklifts (powered industrial trucks) in the workplace.