Sam Goodman
HOP Consultant / Author / Creator
Sam Goodman, founder of The HOP Nerd LLC, has dedicated nearly two decades to advancing safety and Human and Organizational Performance (HOP). He’s a recognized leader and a prominent voice in promoting operational curiosity, effective operational learning, and sustained improvement within organizations. Sam's career is marked by significant leadership roles in safety and human performance across challenging sectors, including power generation—with a specialized focus on commercial nuclear operations—as well as broader power generation, maintenance, construction, and other high-risk industries.
Beyond his consulting work through The HOP Nerd LLC, Sam expands his reach as the host and producer of "The HOP Nerd Podcast," sharing valuable insights on progressive safety concepts. He also brings a unique and effective dimension to his work as a comedian, creating insightful and genuinely funny video content. With a smart, tongue-in-cheek approach, these videos explore the absurdities of workplace dynamics, especially within safety, making critical topics more accessible and engaging.
As a global consultant, sought-after keynote speaker, and an established authority on HOP, Sam is also the author of multiple best-selling books on HOP and Safety that are considered key resources in the field. Through The HOP Nerd LLC, he has partnered with a wide range of organizations, both in the United States and internationally. Their focus is on operationalizing HOP principles, implementing effective Learning Teams, and cultivating a strong culture of operational curiosity and continuous improvement. The HOP Nerd LLC has a proven track record across diverse industries, including healthcare, biomedical, oil and gas, chemicals, mining, power generation, and various manufacturing sectors such as steel mills, pet products, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and numerous product and equipment manufacturers.
At his core, Sam is passionate about empowering teams to genuinely learn from their operations, drive meaningful change, and achieve lasting operational success.
