MEET THE SERT-A-PLUG TEAM

Industrial Sector Expert and Tribal Leader

John Matthew Johnson brings over five decades of experience in the industrial sector, with a strong focus on safety, innovation, and leadership. As a former Abatement and Ship Superintendent at one of the world’s largest environmental management firms, John led complex projects with an emphasis on operational efficiency and worker protection.

A co-inventor of Sert-A-Plug, John plays a key role in advancing hearing safety solutions for industrial environments. His entrepreneurial background and extensive field knowledge help drive the company’s mission to improve safety standards and support long-term hearing health.

John also holds a distinguished position as the first appointed Tribal Judge for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, reflecting his leadership and dedication to community well-being.

Retail Management Expert

Joshua Johnson, co-inventor of Sert-A-Plug, brings decades of retail and customer service experience to the development of innovative hearing safety solutions. His background in retail management—particularly in the adult beverage industry—sharpened his skills in team leadership, customer insights, and strategic planning.

Josh’s focus on user experience has been essential in shaping Sert-A-Plug to meet real-world demands. He played a key role in refining the product’s functionality to ensure it was both effective and easy to use in industrial environments. His customer-first approach continues to influence product development and guide the company’s market positioning, helping ensure Sert-A-Plug delivers on its promise of practical, effective workplace safety.

Safety Industry Veteran and Business Development Leader

Bill Pearson brings nearly four decades of deep expertise in occupational safety and business development to the Sert-A-Plug team. Bill spent 39 years at 3M, where he built his career from the ground up within 3M’s Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division (OHESD)—the same division responsible for safety products including hearing protection. Rising through roles spanning government sales, environmental products, field training, and channel management, Bill ultimately served as National Key Account Manager, National Retail Key Accounts Manager, and US Business Development Manager. Among his most notable contributions, he envisioned and created 3M’s first-ever OHESD Key Account Manager program, co-authored the U.S. Retail Market Plan, and managed over $75 million in business across 45 regional and national accounts—earning the distinction of National Channel Manager of the Year.

Bill’s intimate knowledge of the occupational safety market, from product development and packaging to retail channel strategy and regulatory alignment, makes him an invaluable strategic voice for Sert-A-Plug. Since joining as Strategic Advisor in 2022, he has brought firsthand understanding of how hearing protection devices are positioned, sold, and adopted across major industrial and retail channels—insight that directly supports Sert-A-Plug’s mission to raise the standard of earplug fit and Personal Attenuation Ratings (PAR) for workers nationwide. Beyond his advisory role with Sert-A-Plug, Bill is an active investor and advisor to emerging technology and medical device companies, reflecting his commitment to bringing innovative solutions to market across industries.

NIOSH Senior Research Engineer (Ret) and Occupational Noise Expert

CAPT (Ret) Chucri “Chuck” Kardous brings over 30 years of elite-level expertise in occupational noise research and hearing protection to the Sert-A-Plug team. A retired U.S. Public Health Service Captain and licensed Professional Engineer, Chuck spent his career at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he rose to Senior Research Engineer and led landmark research programs aimed at preventing noise-induced hearing loss among America’s workforce. Holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Chuck was the only electrical engineer in the Public Health Service developing methods and guidelines to evaluate and characterize hazardous occupational noise exposures. His work earned him a U.S. Patent for a noise monitoring system, three PHS Engineering Literary Awards, and the distinguished PAN European Scientist of the Year honor.

Chuck’s impact at NIOSH was wide-reaching and mission-critical. He led the agency’s program to protect over 1.2 million law enforcement officers from occupational noise and toxicant exposures, with his published guidelines being adopted by the FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Energy National Laboratories. He served as NIOSH’s representative to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and is a member of both the World Health Organization’s Make Listening Safe Initiative and the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation. The author of more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications and two engineering book chapters, Chuck’s research has shaped national policy and industry practice in hearing conservation for decades. His scientific depth and regulatory expertise make him an invaluable advisor to Sert-A-Plug as the company advances fit-testing standards and drives adoption of its Cert-A-Fit® insertion technology across industrial and government sectors.

Inventor and Industry Expert

Shawn Johnson is the inventor of Sert-A-Plug and a seasoned entrepreneur with decades of hands-on experience in the industrial and construction sectors. His deep understanding of workplace environments—and the safety challenges they present—led to the creation of Sert-A-Plug as a smarter solution for earplug insertion.

The idea was born from Shawn’s time operating an industrial cleaning company, where he saw firsthand the risks and inefficiencies of traditional hearing protection. His practical insight and commitment to innovation have driven the product’s development from concept to reality.

Today, Shawn continues to guide Sert-A-Plug’s growth, drawing on his industry knowledge to ensure the product meets the evolving needs of workers and employers alike.

Commercialization Specialist and Strategic Advisor

Dan Wasserman is a commercialization expert and strategic advisor with decades of experience building partnerships that bring innovation to market. As Founder and CEO of Mammoth Health Innovation Inc., Dan has led collaborations between startups and global companies like Boeing, IBM, and AT&T.

With a background that spans tech, media, and health innovation, Dan played key roles in the launch of Java™ through a Sun-Lucid partnership and helped develop copyright protection technology for major Hollywood studios. Since 2010, his focus has shifted to advancing health innovation, where his leadership helped shape national programs like the CAN Health Network.

Dan’s deep experience in innovation strategy and public-private partnerships brings valuable perspective to Sert-A-Plug’s mission to improve safety and drive meaningful industry change.

Maritime Safety and Engineering Advisor

Gary Anderson brings over four decades of maritime industry experience to the Sert-A-Plug team, with a career rooted in engineering, personnel management, and safety. From his early service in the Merchant Marines to his leadership as President of the Society of Engineers Columbia River, Gary has consistently championed safe, efficient operations in complex environments.

His engineering expertise played a key role during Sert-A-Plug’s research and development phase. With 22 years at States Steamship Company and a final role as District Manager at Fraser Boiler and Diesel Repair, Gary’s insights into maritime personnel and operations remain invaluable to our mission of advancing workplace safety.

Mark Anderson, founding member of J3 Group, brings decades of hands-on experience in shipyard operations and industrial safety to the Sert-A-Plug team. His career began as a boilermaker and progressed through key leadership roles as foreman and safety manager, where he led crews and upheld rigorous safety and quality standards.

Mark’s deep knowledge of shipyard environments shaped his contributions to Sert-A-Plug’s development, ensuring the product meets the real-world demands of industrial work. His experience also includes owning and operating a marine and industrial cleaning company, adding valuable insight into maintenance, compliance, and safety protocols.

A steadfast advocate for worker protection, Mark continues to play a central role in aligning Sert-A-Plug with the evolving needs of industrial and maritime industries.

Tony has served small and mid-sized, owner-operated businesses since 1998, offering expertise in accounting, tax compliance, and business advisory services. As a licensed CPA since 2004, he specializes in individual and business taxation—including S-Corps, LLCs, estates, trusts, and exempt organizations.

Tony also provides prepared and compiled financial statements and represents clients before the IRS and state agencies. His broad industry experience and strategic financial insight support Sert-A-Plug’s growth and long-term planning.

He is a member of the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA).