Northwest Chapter March Meeting – From Near Misses to Meaningful Change

Registration & Meal 11:30a to 11:50a

Chapter Announcements 11:50a to 12:00p

Speaker 12:00p to 1:00p

Topic: From Near Misses to Meaningful Change: Harnessing HOP to Learn and Improve

Speaker: Nikki Knapp, CSP, ALLETE, Duluth, MN

Nikki is a Senior Safety Business Process Analyst at ALLETE, Inc., an energy company headquartered in Duluth, MN, with operations spanning clean energy development and regulated utilities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. With over 20 years of experience in workplace safety, industrial hygiene, and emergency preparedness across industries such as nuclear, construction, manufacturing, and utilities, Nikki brings a wealth of knowledge and practical expertise to her role.

In her current position, Nikki is a subject matter expert for ALLETE’s Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) program, in addition to providing field safety support. Drawing on her HOP experience and training, Nikki focuses on refining tools and practices to address human factors and foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement. She is passionate about building trust through open communication and meaningful relationships, which she sees as the foundation for creating safer and more effective workplaces.

Nikki holds an MS in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Iowa, where she was a NIOSH Education and Research Center trainee with the Heartland Center. She is an ambassador for The Safety Rack, a non-profit organization advocating for PPE and Workwear equity. Outside of work, Nikki enjoys her family, her pets, gardening, and exploring the beauty of nature. She is dedicated to creating resilient workplaces and inspiring others to adopt innovative approaches to safety.