History
Safety & Leadership Solutions (SLS) is a consulting firm that specializes in the science and art of improving the safety and success of businesses and community enterprises. Gretchen Watson, a psychologist who has received international scholarly and media attention for successfully leveraging behavioral and leadership principles to manage culture change initiatives, leads SLS.
After holding positions as a professor and corporate healthcare leader, Dr. Watson formed SLS in 2009 (under a similar name) to focus her attention on serving clients that want to improve workplace culture and related safety and employee wellness initiatives.
After holding positions as a professor and corporate healthcare leader, Dr. Watson formed SLS in 2009 (under a similar name) to focus her attention on serving clients that want to improve workplace culture and related safety and employee wellness initiatives.
Why Us?
SLS is a SWaM-certified business and our team includes professionals with credentials in psychology, communication, human resources, research, healthcare, marketing, and the military. Drawing on the deep and diverse expertise of our team members, SLS works effectively with a wide range of companies and community organizations—involving large and small projects, short- and long-term engagements.
SLS Team
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Gretchen Watson, PhD
President
Gretchen LeFever Watson, PhD is a psychologist, whose research and intervention projects have received international scholarly and media attention, including appearances on programs such as Headline News (CNN), The News Hour (PBS), and The Diane Rehm Show (NPR). She was among the first to document drug overtreatment for ADHD in the U.S. and to demonstrate that disruptive conduct could be successfully reduced through school-wide behavioral interventions. Following positions as a clinical psychologist, medical school faculty member, and university professor, Gretchen served as director of patient safety and performance excellence for a large healthcare system. She is currently President of Safety & Leadership Solutions, a consulting firm for organizational safety and change management. She enjoys visiting her grown daughter and windsurfing with her husband and friends from around the world.
President
Gretchen LeFever Watson, PhD is a psychologist, whose research and intervention projects have received international scholarly and media attention, including appearances on programs such as Headline News (CNN), The News Hour (PBS), and The Diane Rehm Show (NPR). She was among the first to document drug overtreatment for ADHD in the U.S. and to demonstrate that disruptive conduct could be successfully reduced through school-wide behavioral interventions. Following positions as a clinical psychologist, medical school faculty member, and university professor, Gretchen served as director of patient safety and performance excellence for a large healthcare system. She is currently President of Safety & Leadership Solutions, a consulting firm for organizational safety and change management. She enjoys visiting her grown daughter and windsurfing with her husband and friends from around the world.
Sara R. Aridas, BA
Consultant
Sara received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Longwood University. She has held marketing and public relations positions with semi-professional and professional athletic leagues. Sara maintained a university marketing position before becoming a consultant in the healthcare industry. She worked with hospitals and healthcare systems across the country as they adopted, implemented, and upgraded their electronic record systems. This work involved training that enabled Sara to identify workflow redesign and team-building opportunities, as well as critical gaps between workplace policy and practice. Protecting and advancing the safety of people and the security of data was central to every client engagement. She is an avid sports fan and enjoys spending time on the water and traveling.
Consultant
Sara received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Longwood University. She has held marketing and public relations positions with semi-professional and professional athletic leagues. Sara maintained a university marketing position before becoming a consultant in the healthcare industry. She worked with hospitals and healthcare systems across the country as they adopted, implemented, and upgraded their electronic record systems. This work involved training that enabled Sara to identify workflow redesign and team-building opportunities, as well as critical gaps between workplace policy and practice. Protecting and advancing the safety of people and the security of data was central to every client engagement. She is an avid sports fan and enjoys spending time on the water and traveling.
Wayne Lefebvre, MA, PMP
Consultant
Wayne graduated from Old Dominion University (summa cum laude, Phi Alpha Theta) with a BA in History and earned a MA in National Security Studies from the Naval War College. He served as an enlisted sailor and officer in the US Navy for over twenty-three years in primarily engineering roles on five ships including two tours as a chief engineer. During his tours he worked as member of various diverse engineering teams and saw firsthand the benefits of a clear, dedicated, and thoughtful focus on safety in all ship evolutions. He is an efficient and expert project manager.
Consultant
Wayne graduated from Old Dominion University (summa cum laude, Phi Alpha Theta) with a BA in History and earned a MA in National Security Studies from the Naval War College. He served as an enlisted sailor and officer in the US Navy for over twenty-three years in primarily engineering roles on five ships including two tours as a chief engineer. During his tours he worked as member of various diverse engineering teams and saw firsthand the benefits of a clear, dedicated, and thoughtful focus on safety in all ship evolutions. He is an efficient and expert project manager.
Janis Sanchez, PhD
Consultant
Dr. Sanchez received a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, a MS. Ed. from Purdue University, and a B.A. from Swarthmore College and completed an internship at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She was employed for over 30 years by Old Dominion University where she was a Professor of Psychology and Psychologist for the Counseling Center. Janis has taught a wide array of courses, held numerous administrative positions, and consulted locally, regionally, and nationally on topics related to Diversity Training and Normalizing for over 35 years. She has published extensively on diversity, training, and Industrial Organizational Psychology. She and her partner enjoy sports, travel, and vacationing with their son and daughter and their families.
Consultant
Dr. Sanchez received a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, a MS. Ed. from Purdue University, and a B.A. from Swarthmore College and completed an internship at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She was employed for over 30 years by Old Dominion University where she was a Professor of Psychology and Psychologist for the Counseling Center. Janis has taught a wide array of courses, held numerous administrative positions, and consulted locally, regionally, and nationally on topics related to Diversity Training and Normalizing for over 35 years. She has published extensively on diversity, training, and Industrial Organizational Psychology. She and her partner enjoy sports, travel, and vacationing with their son and daughter and their families.
