Lester has worked for the Oklahoma Department of Labor for 27 years as the state's only full-time child labor officer. He enforces child labor laws and educates young workers across all 77 counties. He created the award-winning Paying Attention Pays game and the Speak Out for Workplace Safety video contest. His collaboration with NIOSH and Latta Public Schools led Oklahoma to become the first state to mandate workplace safety training for students in grades 7-12. Additionally, he served two terms as national president of the Interstate Labor Standards Association, working with USDOL and state labor officials to promote youth worker rights and safety.