For Scott Toevs, safety begins with a simple idea: every person should be able to return home in the same condition they arrive, ready to enjoy life outside of work.

As Corporate EHS Manager, Scott leads environmental, health, and safety initiatives across Forte Opening Solutions. His role centers on creating an environment where team members feel supported, informed, and confident in how they approach their work each day. While compliance is a critical part of the job, his focus goes further, helping build a culture where safety is understood, valued, and consistently reflected in daily decisions.

A Career Built on Protecting Others

Scott’s path into safety has been shaped by a mindset that has followed him throughout his life.

“Looking back, I’ve always been a protector,” he shares.

From serving as a crossing guard to lifeguarding and coaching youth sports, that instinct to look out for others started early and carried into his professional career.

He began his journey with Mohawk Flush Doors in 2008 as a site EHS Manager. Over time, he took on increasing responsibility, moving into a regional role with Masonite and later into a corporate safety leadership position. When Forte was established, he stepped into his current role, continuing to strengthen safety programs across the organization.

More Than Policies and Procedures

Over time, those experiences have shaped how Scott defines safety and how it shows up across Forte.

“It’s about trust, respect, and caring enough to protect someone’s ability to go home healthy to their family and life outside of work,” he explains.

For Scott, safety is not just about procedures. It is about creating peace of mind—an environment where people feel supported, listened to, and never forced to choose between getting the job done and doing it safely.

That belief directly informs his approach. Safety is most effective when it is practical, clearly understood, and built into the work itself. Rather than treating it as a separate initiative, Scott focuses on helping teams understand real risks, communicate expectations clearly, and apply controls that make sense in the context of the job. When people understand the “why” behind safety, they are better equipped to protect themselves and those around them.

What a Strong Safety Culture Looks Like

At Forte, that approach shows up in everyday behaviors.

A strong safety culture is not defined by checklists or policies alone. It is visible in how people take ownership of their work, speak up early, and look out for one another. Leaders stay present and engaged, and conversations are grounded in the realities of the job.

Over time, those behaviors build trust and accountability, creating an environment where safety becomes part of how work gets done, not something separate from it.

Driven by People, Purpose, and Growth

What keeps Scott motivated is the direct impact of the work and the people behind it.

He points to the shared commitment across Forte to doing things the right way. Safety, quality, and care for one another are not just stated values; they are reflected in daily decisions and real conversations across teams.

As Forte continues to grow, Scott’s approach to safety evolves alongside it while staying grounded in purpose. That means staying connected to the people doing the work, adapting where needed, and reinforcing the behaviors that matter most. Growth brings new challenges, but it also creates opportunities to strengthen alignment and build a more consistent approach to safety across the organization.

That focus is making a meaningful impact. Through Scott’s leadership and the collective efforts of teams across Forte, the company has seen a significant improvement in safety metrics—an outcome that reflects a stronger, more engaged approach to safety across the organization.

Looking Ahead

Scott sees a continued opportunity to deepen engagement and shared accountability across Forte.

“What we do at work affects how we go home,” he says. “And how we take care of ourselves outside of work affects how we show up each day. It all adds up to protecting what matters most, our quality of life.”

Outside of Work

Beyond the job, Scott finds his reset in the kitchen or around the smoker. Cooking and baking offer a way to unwind, create, and share with others. Whether it’s a weekend breakfast, a slow-cooked meal, or something new he’s experimenting with, it gives him a chance to step away from the day and focus on something hands-on.

He also manages a small honeybee apiary, maintaining several hives for personal use and holiday sharing. It’s his way of contributing to environmental sustainability while staying connected to a process that requires patience, consistency, and care—values that carry over into his work as well.