Michael Barnes is currently the Chief Operating Officer at the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP), where he oversees a globally respected portfolio of certifications held by over 70,000 professionals across critical industries. He brings with him two decades of experience in workforce strategy and development, having previously served as Chief Workforce Officer for the State of Indiana and as Director of Workforce Solutions at CompTIA. Throughout his career, Barnes has championed the role of high-quality credentials in connecting talent to opportunity. Prior to joining BCSP, he led a $250M national workforce fund supporting initiatives under the CHIPS Act, aimed at restoring U.S. leadership in microchip design and manufacturing.