Stephen's dedication to public welfare and safety began early in his life with Boy Scouts and shortly thereafter when he became a Red Cross Certified swimming instructor and lifeguard at the age of 15. His commitment to safeguarding others led him to volunteer as a National Ski Patroller in the alps of Colorado, where he participated in advanced avalanche and resort management risk training for several years. Stephen has also been an educator for the Austin Independent School District and has held several roles in retail store leadership earning Retail Store of the Year for REI.Over the past decade, Stephen has channeled his passions into a career as a results-driven Health, Safety, and Risk Analyst with Expedia Group. With a proven track record, he has consistently ensured the well-being of colleagues, partners, and travelers while effectively mitigating risks across diverse inventory portfolios.Stephen brings extensive expertise in data scrubbing, cleaning, and analysis, complemented by a strong background in incident crisis response and risk compliance management. At Expedia Group, he utilizes advanced analytical tools to develop and refine ever-evolving SOPs for internal teams and third-party contractors.With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to excellence, Stephen excels in developing and implementing incident response plans to manage crises and emergencies, ranging from natural disasters to health outbreaks and security incidents. He collaborates closely with cross-functional divisions, including Legal, Human Resources, Social Media, Market Management and 24/7 Operational teams to ensure comprehensive risk management strategies and communications.Stephen's proficiency extends to conducting thorough risk assessments across global portfolios, spanning conventional lodging, short-term rentals, and activities booked through Expedia. Recently, he has been at the forefront of innovation, beginning a new partnership within Expedia and across divisions to integrate predictive analytics using AI/machine learning, further enhancing risk management capabilities.