The Home Safety Council® Appoints New Board Officers

The national nonprofit Home Safety Council (HSC) has announced new leadership for its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Newly appointed are Chief Dennis Compton, chair; Marshall A. Croom, vice chair; and Walter W. Becky II, secretary-treasurer. The officers will serve two-year terms.

“This diverse team brings valuable experience, injury-prevention knowledge, business acumen, and leadership skills to HSC’s Board,” says Home Safety Council President Meri-K Appy. “We welcome the opportunity to advance our mission with the benefit of their wise counsel and oversight.” The Home Safety Council is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home-related injuries.

Home Safety Council’s New Board Officers

Chief Dennis Compton, Chair
Chief Dennis Compton, of the International Fire Service Training Association and Fire Protection Publications at Oklahoma State University, has more than 35 years of fire service, training and leadership experience. The former Mesa, AZ, Fire Chief is an author and a respected advisor in the fire service and emergency management fields. He has chaired the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s National Advisory Committee and the International Fire Service Training Association’s Executive Board and remains active with both organizations. Chief Compton also serves as Vice Chair of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Board of Directors and is a member of the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute’s Steering Committee.

Marshall A. Croom, CPA, Vice Chair
Mr. Croom is the Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Store Operations Support at Lowe’s Companies, Inc. With nearly 20 years of business and accounting experience, including more than a decade at Ernst & Young, Mr. Croom focuses on loss prevention and safety in addition to his varied store and merchandising support responsibilities at Lowe’s. In addition, he serves on the Appalachian State University Business Advisory Council and on the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation.

Walter W. Becky II, Secretary-Treasurer
Mr. Becky is President of Morton Salt, the company he has served since 1974. In 1999 when Rohm and Haas purchased Morton Salt, Mr. Becky was elected Vice President and a member of the Leadership Council. Under his direction, Morton Salt has made off-the-job safety education to company employees a top priority nationwide. Mr. Becky is also on the boards of the Morton Arboretum and the Network for Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency.

“My association with the Home Safety Council continues to be one of the most rewarding affiliations of my career,” says Chief Dennis Compton, Chair of the Home Safety Council’s Board of Directors. “It's an honor to have been elected Chair of this exceptional organization and I look forward to working with the outstanding staff and Board members as we continue to advance the Home Safety Council’s critical life safety mission."

About Home Safety Council
The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. Through national programs, partnerships and the support of volunteers, HSC educates people of all ages to be safer in and around their homes. The Home Safety Council is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization located in Washington, DC.