Nicol Cadet, CSHO
General Manager and Safety Trainer
Nicol started her career in Viticulture, working for Robert Mondavi Vineyards as a field sampler and later as Assistant to the Vineyard Manager at Domaine Carneros. She finished her AS degree in Viticulture and Winery Operations at the Napa Valley College and pursued her Bachelors in Wine Business at Sonoma State University.
Meanwhile she worked for various wineries in both Sonoma and Napa Valley.
Her mother Robin Nicola trained and mentored her in safety for over 15 years, as Nicol perused her OSHA certifications.
Nicol’s Resume
Key Qualifications:
- Bilingual (Spanish/English)
- Cal/OSHA Regulatory Specialist
- Highly Motivated Public Speaker
- 20 plus years experience in the Wine Industry
- Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer (General Industry)
- Federal OSHA Certified Safety and Health Official (CSHO)
Employment:
2010-Present: Owner, Office Manager and Trainer for Nicola Health and Safety, Inc.
2009-2012: Bilingual Wine Tours
2007-2009: Sales Representative for the Henry Wine Group
2005-2007: Hospitality Manager for Moon Mountain Vineyard and Winery (Diageo Wine Estates)
2003-2005: Special Events for St. Supery Winery and Pine Ridge Winery
2000-2003: Hospitality Gundlach Bundschu Winery (Worked Harvest 2001)
1999: Assistant Vineyard Manger for Domaine Carneros
1997-1999: Field Sampler for Robert Mondavi
1998-1999: Hospitality for Madonna Estates
Education:
- Napa Valley College: Viticulture and Winery AS Degree
- AgSafe: Certificate in Agriculture Safety
- Sonoma State University: Wine Business Strategies
- Tractor and ATV Trainer (AgSafe)
- Pesticide Trainer for field workers and handlers (UC IPM)
- Forklift Trainer (Accurate Forklift)
- Sexual Harassment non-supervisor and supervisor (CA Farm Labor Contractor Association)
- OSHA 10/30 Authorized Trainer
- Red Cross: CPR/AED First Aid Certified Trainer
- Certified Health and Safety Officer – Federal OSHA
- Aerial Lift Trainer (Ives Training Institute)
- Certified Fall Protection Competent Person (Guardian)
Jeff Vargas
Operations Manager and Safety Trainer
Jeff has spent half his career working in Costa Rica’s Tourism Industry and the other half in California’s Wine Industry. He graduated from Costa Rica’s Universidad Técnica Nacional and went on to work as a Travel Agent specializing in customized Adventure Travel Vacations. In 2010, Jeff moved back to California and worked harvest as a cellar worker, then as an FLC Regional Manager, and to working for Treasury Wine Estates as Vineyard Operations Coordinator for Northern California.
Passionate about safety, Jeff enjoys working with California’s diverse Spanish Speaking Community. In his free time, Jeff loves to kayak and go fishing with his wife Margarita and son Samuel plus discovering new California Wines. He currently lives in St. Helena.
Also, trained and mentored in safety by Robin Nicola for over 15 years in California and Costa Rica.
Jeff’s Resume
Key Qualifications:
- Bilingual (Spanish/English)
- Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Agcode
- Cal/OSHA Regulatory Specialist
- Forklift Operator Trainer Certification
- Tractor and ATV Trainer Certification
- Aerial Lift Trainer (boom lift and scissor lift)
- Pesticide Applicator Certified Trainer
- Respiratory Fit Test Certified
- Hazard Evaluator
- Health and Safety Program Developer
- Accident Investigation and Workers Compensation Specialist
- Skid Steer Trainer Certified
- Fall Protecion Competent trainer and inspector
Employment:
2017 -Present – Owner and trainer of Nicola Health and Safety, Inc. – Wine Industry Safety consultant specializing in the development and implementation of Injury Illness Prevention Programs.
2014-2017 Vineyard Operations Coordinator – Treasury Wine Estates – Vineyard Operations and Winery coordinator for implementation of TWE Health & Safety, federal, state and regional policies, Corporate Interpreter, Worker’s Compensation claims, Operator recruitment, safety and equipment trainer, site inspector, and monitor of employee work practices for compliance with health and safety standards.
2012-2014 Regional FLC Manager – Jaguar Farm Labor Contracting- Managing Vineyard Labor Crews providing grower with vineyard labor while complying with all State and Federal safety and labor regulations.
2011-2012 HVAC Service Technician – Jeremy Jack Inc
2010 Wine Cellar Technician – Beaulieu Vineyard
2009-2010 Corporate Services Officer – British Embassy Costa Rica
2007-2009 Travel Agent – Costa Rica Expeditions
2000-2003 Technical Viticulture Harvest Intern-Robert Mondavi Vineyards
1998-2000 Vineyard Trellis Installation Technician-SK Fencing
1998-1999: Hospitality for Madonna Estates
Education:
- 2001 Vintage High School, Napa, California
- 2007 Universidad Técnica Nacional, Alajuela Costa Rica, Group Management
- Instituto Costarricense de Turismo Licensed Naturalist Guide
- American Red Cross Instructor CPR/First Aid, AED
- AgSafe Safety Certificate Program
- Tractor and ATV Trainer Certification (AgSafe)
- Pesticide Trainer for fieldworkers and handlers (UC IPM)
- Forklift Instructor (Accurate Forklift)
- Aerial Lift Instructor (Ives Training Institute)
- Skid Steer Instructor (Ives Training Institute)
- Respiratory Fit Test Instructor (Honeywell)
- Certified Fall Protection Competent Person (Guardian)
- OSHA Permit Required Confiend Space Entry
- OSHA Accident Investigation
- OSHA Respirator Trainer
- Non-Supervisor Sexual Harassment Trainer (AgSafe)
Elaine Pearson
Safety Trainer
Elaine was raised on a ranch in the small farming community of Maxwell, in Colusa County. Upon graduating from Fresno State with an Agricultural Science degree and Spanish minor and obtaining her agriculture credential from Chico State University, she returned to her hometown and taught agriculture at Maxwell High School.
She was the FFA Advisor and helped the students with diverse livestock and crop projects. She went on to teach science in Mexico City for a year and then lived and worked in an agricultural related job in Zimbabwe.
Upon returning to the states, she obtained her administrative credential and Masters in Educational Administration. She worked for the federally-funded Migrant Education Program for nearly thirty years and for the last twenty years, as the Migrant Education Area Director for the Northbay Counties and Lake County from 1990 until she retired in June 2020. The Migrant Education Program provides services to migrant farmworkers and families, so Elaine was able to continue her ties to agriculture and her passion in helping the agricultural immigrant community. She was on the Board of Directors for Latino Services Providers in Sonoma County for three years. She was very involved with the Migrant Education Binational Teacher US/Mexico Exchange Program and was able to travel throughout Mexico over the years presenting at forums and interviewing teachers applying for the exchange.
Elaine and her daughters hosted many of the teachers from Mexico during the exchanges in addition to hosting wine interns from around the world working the harvest season in wineries in Healdsburg.
She is passionate about teaching and enjoys riding horses, tennis, biking, running, yoga, travelling, and spending time with family and friends. She understands the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and as her license plate cover states, Ag is her Bag!
Elaine’s Resume
Key Qualifications:
- Raised on farm (rice, alfalfa, cattle, sheep)
- Bilingual (English/Spanish)
- Staff Development Trainer of Trainers/Public Speaker
- Certified Pesticide and Respirator Trainer
- Forklift Trainer
- Tractor Trainer
- Aerial Lift (scissor lift boom lift)
- Red Cross 1st aid, CPR, AED Instructor
- Cal-Fire Interagency Emergency Equipment Operator
- 20 years administrative and educational experience in federally-funded program for migrant workers
Employment:
2020-Present – Trainer at Nicola Health and Safety, Inc. – Independent Contractor Nicola Health and Safety, Inc. – Bilingual Wine Industry Safety
2020-Present – Bilingual teacher at the Santa Rosa Jr. Collage
2020 – Wine Harvest cellar intern at Seghesio Winery
2019 – Feather River College Instructor part-time
1990-2020 -Migrant Education Program Resource Teacher, Staff Development Specialist, Area Director (20 years)
1987-1989 – Zimplan Agricultural Computers, Harare, Zimbabwe
1986-1987 – American Schools Foundation, science teacher in Mexico City
1983-1986 – Maxwell High School Agriculture, English-as-a-Second Language (ESL), Spanish I teacher
1985-1986 – Yuba College English-as-a-Second Language part-time instructor
Education:
- Masters of Arts Education Administration
- Bilingual Administrative Credential
- California Secondary Teaching Credential
- Bachelor Degree Agricultural Science, minor in Spanish
- Bilingual, Cross-cultural, Language and Academic Development (BCLAD) Authorization
- Community College Credential
- Pesticide Safety Train the Trainer (AgSafe/DPR)
- Aerial Lift Trainer (Ives Training Institute)
Contact: Elaine@NicolaHealthandSafety.com
Mali Kigasari
Safety Trainer and Investigator (Sexual Harassment & Discrimination)
Mali is a native Persian/Farsi speaker. She studied English in England and Spanish in Spain. Mali graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Anthropology. She also earned a Paralegal Certificate from San Francisco State University. Mali started her career in workplace discrimination investigations in January 2009. As a Senior Bilingual (Spanish) Investigator for the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), she investigated hundreds of cases involving agricultural workers who complained about sexual harassment, discrimination,and/or retaliation at work. Mali successfully negotiated dozens of mutually agreeable settlements between employers & employees to resolve employment disputes. Mali also taught Employment Discrimination, Negotiation and Mediation at San Francisco State College of Extended Learning, Paralegal Studies Program and Human Resources Program.
Mali is dedicated to ensuring that employees and employers are aware of their legal rights as well as their responsibilities.
Mali’s Resume
Key Qualifications:
- Multilingual: fluent in oral and written English and Spanish, native Persian/Farsi speaker, proficient in Dari (spoken in Afghanistan)
- Highly Motivational Public Speaker
- Former U.S. Equal employment Opportunity Commission Bilingual Senior with thousands of hours of experience investigating cases involving harassment, discrimination, and retaliation
- Former Federal Executive Boards Shared Neutrals Senior Bilingual Mediator
- Former Employment Law Instructor, San Francisco State College of Extended Learning Paralegal Studies Program and Human Resources Program
- Former Title IX Complaint Resolution Office at University of California, Berkeley
- 10 plus years’ experience in workplace investigations
Employment:
01/2022-Present: Nicola Health and Safety, Inc.
Equal Employment Opportunity & Sexual Harassment Prevention Trainer
- Responsible for training employers and employees in sexual harassment prevention, discrimination, and retaliation.
- Work with employees and employers to ensure that they are aware of their rights and responsibilities under state and federal laws.
- Work closely with employers to ensure that their employees work in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on protected categories outlined in state, federal and university non-discrimination statutes, and regulations, including sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, and age.
02/2020-Present: Senior Investigator & Mediator Consultant
Bilingual (Spanish) Senior Investigator and Mediator
- Bilingual (English & Spanish) training on anti-discrimination employment, harassment, and retaliation.
- Witness interviews.
- Independent investigation of alleged violations of employment laws.
- Title VII Investigation.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) investigation.
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) investigation.
- Title IX investigation.
- Review employment policies to ensure their compliance with the laws.
- Assist in drafting and reviewing Employers/Respondents’ EEOC position statements and responses.
- Assist in drafting and reviewing Complainants/Charging Parties’ Charge of Discrimination.
- Mediation services.
- Facilitated Discussion.
08/2019-02/2020: Compliant Resolution Officer, Title IX Investigator, University of California, Berkeley
02/2019-05/2019: Paralegal and Human Resources Lead, San Francisco State College of Extended Learning
1/2009-2/2019: Bilingual Investigator, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EEOC Bilingual (Spanish) Senior Investigator, GS 12-Step 7
- Supervised paralegal interns and coached them through obtaining gainful employment.
- Served as mentor to junior investigators.
- Investigated allegations of workplace discrimination.
- Interviewed witnesses in Spanish, English and Persian.
- Reviewed evidence presented by Charging Parties and Respondents.
- Conducted on-site inspections at Respondents’ places of business.
- Prepared written memoranda of recommendations to the District Director.
- Conducted outreach in the Latino and Middle Eastern Communities, including media appearance in English and Spanish.
- Provided training to employers and employees (in English and Spanish) regarding workplace discrimination and related issues in California and in Nevada..
09/2006-09/2007: Immigration Paralegal, Elliot and Mayock
08/2005-09/2006: Assistant to Director, San Francisco State CEL Paralegal Studies Program
03/1987- 01/2005: Owner of flower shops; Lavender Rose, Cosmos, and Floresco@Rockridge
Education:
- University of California, BA in Anthropology
- American Bar Association Paralegal Certificate, SFSU CEL Paralegal Studies Program
- Certified Federal Executive Board Shared Neutrals Mediator
Contact: Mali@NicolaHealthandSafety.com
Susana (Susi) Fuentes Ortiz
Safety Trainer
Susana grew up living both in the US and Mexico, at a young age she loved to travel and meet new people. Her journey into the wine industry began when she took a job in the field, moving wires, leaf removal, and picking grapes. Fell in love with the culture behind the wine and decided to pursue a career to learn more.
She went to Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards in 2018, took job roles such as; Sugar Sampler, Lab, Cellar Technician, Forklift operator, Scale house operator, Grape receiver, and Wine Production Assistant. The learning experience there was vast and it was a great chance to meet people from all over. She got to work with every department, translating, helping, coordinating safety training and involving herself more in depth behind the scenes, implementing and recording safety data. She had realized her next step in her career was Safety. She loves to help people understand the dangers in the workplace, while having fun. She felt this is something she can always feel happy about at the end of the day. She enjoys much of her time on outdoor activities with her dog, traveling, puzzles, reading and spending time with her family and friends, exploring new foods and finding the next best coffee.
Susi’s Resume
Key Qualifications:
- Bilingual (Spanish/English)
- Excel, Power Point, Google Docs
- Safety Coordinator/Training
- Communication/People Skills
“Just a quick note to let you both know how much our team appreciated Susana’s training on Friday last week at the warehouse! She’s a dynamic teacher with a clear passion for safety. She held our attention from the start and kept our group engaged, including my 16 year old son who happened to be working with us that day. Great find and addition to your all-star team at NHS!”
Sarah Richmond (she/her)Director of Operations
Clif Family Winery: Wine ∙ Food ∙ Farming
Employment:
- 2022-Present: Trainer for Nicola Health and Safety, Inc.
- 2020- 2022 – Wine Production Assistant at Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
- 2018 – 2020 – Cellar Technician at Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
- 2018 – 2018 – Sugar Sampler/Lab at Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
- 2010 – 2017 – Lead/Lab Technician at North America, Labcon
- 2009 – Vineyard worker
Education:
- American Red Cross CPR-AED-1st Aid – Adult Trainer
- Pesticide Applicator Certified Trainer
- OSHA-10 Certified
- Forklift, Aerial Lift (scissor lift – boom lift) Certified
- Fall Protection Competent trainer and inspector (Werner)
- High School – Petaluma High School, Petaluma, CA
Contact: Susana@NicolaHealthandSafety.com
Margarita Murillo
Bilingual Office Administrator
Upon arrival to California Margarita dedicated herself to learning about California and its many wonders. She learned about the wine industry and safety with her mother-in-law Robin Nicola.
She used her bilingual skills to help coordinate the housekeepers at Meritage Hotel in Napa Valley. She later moved to St.Helena where she worked at Wells Fargo in Customer Service and then worked as a teacher assistant at the local Montessori School in St. Helena. There she taught Spanish to students.
She loves spending her free time with family and friends visiting and exploring California. She especially loves visiting her beautiful country – Costa Rica.
Margarita’s Resume
Key Qualifications:
- Bilingual (Spanish/English)
- Real time translation
- Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Adobe
Employment:
2018 -Present – Office Administrator and Trainer at Nicola Health and Safety, Inc. – Wine Industry Safety consultant specializing in the development and implementation of Injury Illness Prevention Programs.
2014-2018 – Teacher assistance and Spanish teacher. Provided integral support to ensure that students had an authentic Montessori experience and also helping the student communicate and understand the Spanish language.
2014-2018 – Wells Fargo – Saint Helena CA – Provide customer service, cashing checks, account transactions, bank product sales and resolving bank service issues.
2012-2014 – Housekeeping Dispatcher – The Meritage and Vino Bello Resort – Napa CA Coordinating over 100 Housekeeping staff members including Supervisors, Housekeepers and public area attendants, ensuring cleanliness, guest requests, lost and found, inventory, safety and esthetic appeal to the hotel.
2010 – 2012 – Office Coordinator – Nicola Health and Safety – Sonoma CA – Specializing in Health and Safety by providing document translations, PowerPoint presentations, translating CPR and First Aid classes for companies, invoicing and document filing throughout the Sonoma and Napa Valley wine country.
2007 – 2010 – International Air Freight Data Quality Specialist – Kuehne Nagel – Heredia Costa Rica – Team Leader specializing in air freight data quality for a leading global provider of integrated supply chain solutions.
2002 – 2007 – Assistant Manager – Costa Rica Real Estate – Alajuela Costa Rica – Answering phones, talking to customers and clients, creating fliers, ordering supplies, developing a copy, create transactions folders, making floor schedule, setting up meetings for agents.
Education:
- High School – Centro Educativo San Diego, Costa Rica
- Universidad Técnica Nacional, Alajuela Costa Rica – English
- Universidad Técnica Nacional, Alajuela Costa Rica – Occupacional Safety
- Universidad Hispanoamericana, Heredia Costa Rica – English
- Red Cross CPR-AED-1st Aid Adult and Infant
Contact: Margarita@NicolaHealthandSafety.com
Robin Nicola
March 3, 1952 – June 9, 2018
The founder and legacy of Nicola Health and Safety.
On June 9th, 2018 Robin (our beloved Mom) passed away after a long 5 years of battling cancer. A true fighter! RIP
Both her children Jeff and Nicol continue her legacy, training and consulting employees on how to work safely in the wine industry.
Robin began her career in occupational health and safety in agriculture while working for Robert Mondavi Winery in their vineyard department located in Oakville, California in 1997. She was invited to join the AgSafe Board of Directors in 2000. Shortly after joining the AgSafe board, she created a regional safety group called Agriculture Resource Safety Alliance (ASRA).
Robin worked two years with the Beringer Vineyard Dept for Foster’s Wine Estates in St. Helena. There she worked with the field workers in Napa, Sonoma and Lake County, developing and promoting their safety program through training and awareness.
In 2005, then the President of AgSafe, was invited by the Chilean government and the Chilean Safety Association, to teach the AgSafe Safety Certificate Program to a group of Chilean agronomists and safety professionals. There she applied an emphasis on consistency and sustainable safety programs.
Robin later went to work for Diageo Chateau and Estates in Calistoga, California. She participated in the implementation of the Diageo Zero Harm Program which included:
- Leadership in Safety
- Safety Improvement Report Card
- Charity Awards
- Hazard Assessments
- Accident Investigations
- Safety Committee Meetings
- Safety training in the field and winery
In 2009 she started her own business Nicola Health and Safety. She continues to teach the bilingual AgSafe Safety Certificate Program and is active on the Board of Directors. She is currently studying for her APMA (Agriculture Personnel Management Association) certificate.
In 2015 Robin was awarded the Professional Lifetime Achievement Award from the AgSafe and Dupont “Always Safe” Agricultural Safety Award Program.
Robin, her daughter, Nicol Cadet, and son Jeff Vargas own and manage Nicola Health and Safety Inc. They both continue to work and grow their safety caress as safety consultants for vineyards and wineries in the Northern California.
Robin lived in Sonoma and had a home in Costa Rica. There she was a safety consultant for several coffee and sugar cane plantations.
Get in touch…
We look forward to hearing from you!