Lord Greenhalgh resigns as Building Safety and Fire Minister

by Featured NewsPeople

Lord Stephen Greenhalgh has resigned as Building Safety and Fire Minister amid the flurry of Government resignations last week. Greenhalgh published his letter of resignation to soon to be former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It read:

“As Building Safety Minister I have worked hard to ensure that a tragedy like Grenfell never happens again. The Building Safety Act is the landmark legislation that delivers on that mission. This act has brought about the biggest changes to building safety legislation in our history. The act not only addresses the total building safety regulatory system failure head on but also protects leaseholders who are the victims in the building safety crisis.

“As Fire Minister I set out the most comprehensive plans for reform in decades in the government’s Fire and Rescue Service Reform White Paper with the Home Secretary on 18 Ma.y

“It has been a privilege to serve you alongside you in both City Hall and in your government. I am saddened at the turn of events that has resulted in your decision to stand down as Prime Minister. Now that the die has been cast, I have decided that this is the right time for me to resign. Of course, I will continue to serve the Government from the back benches.”

Magirus appoints new Head of Customer Service

by Featured NewsPeople

Firefighting vehicles manufacturer Magirus has announced that Marc Kuntz has taken over as the company’s Head of Customer Service, bringing his many years of experience in the commercial vehicle sector to continue the company’s success in this area.

Kuntz brings with him an 18-year track record in the international commercial vehicle industry. After holding positions in German sales, he took on various management positions in Asia, where he helped build up the international business for Daimler Truck. He can look back on valuable experience in international sales management as well as in the areas of customer services, sales and dealer network development. In addition to Customer Service, he is responsible for quality assurance at Magirus.

Thomas Hilse, President of Magirus GmbH, commented: “We are pleased that Marc Kuntz will comprehensively strengthen our team. He has the needs of our customers and our trade partners
firmly in focus and will play a decisive role in shaping the further development of the company through his extensive experience and proven expertise.”

Commenting on his new role, Kuntz said: “I am delighted to be taking on such an important role at a company as rich in tradition and innovation as Magirus. It is my goal that Magirus, especially in the area of Customer Services and Quality remains an absolutely reliable partner for the fire departments, in order to support their requirements in fire and disaster protection in the best possible way.”

Boston Fire Department names new Fire Commissioner

by Featured NewsPeople

Mayor Michelle Wu has officially announced that Boston Fire Department veteran Paul Burke has been appointed as the new Fire Commissioner. Burke, who most recently served as a Deputy Chief, replaces the outgoing Jack Dempsey, who hit the mandatory retirement age of 65 in June.

Burke’s most recent posting as deputy chief of fleet and facilities has involved supervising all. vehicles and buildings. Previously, he managed the team in charge of technical rescues and other emergencies.

“Paul is a trusted leader in this department and has served in many roles leading our fire response,” Mayor Wu said in a statement. “I’m proud to welcome this Roslindale native into leadership as a partner to build a healthy environment for our firefighters and a diverse, connected workforce serving our communities in moments of need.”

“It is a tremendous honour to have the opportunity to lead our Fire Department,” Commissioner Burke said in a statement. “I look forward to working with all of our firefighters to deliver this critical service to our city.”

IFSJ Exclusive Interview: Jon Walter, Managing Director at Rhino Doors

by Breaking NewsPeople

Rhino Doors, manufacturer of high-performance engineered doors, recently appointed Jon Walter as Managing Director. IFSJ Editor Iain Hoey caught up with Jon to find out more about what his appointment means for the company.

Can you tell me a bit about Rhino Doors: what it is, what solutions it provides?

Rhino Doors designs and manufactures high-integrity doors for the protection of people and high-value assets, and our products offer our clients protection against terrorist assault, explosion, fire, noise, flood or radiation, or a combination of these hazards.

We work across several key sectors, including transport, defence and critical national infrastructure, and our customer portfolio is extremely varied and has included the Ministry of Defence, Transport for London, utilities providers, power generation companies, and hospitals.

We offer our clients a fully comprehensive service, including design and manufacture, site assessment to plan for installation, and installation and servicing through our dedicated aftersales division, Rhino Site Systems.

Can you tell me a bit about your background?

I have always worked in the manufacturing industry, initially in the automotive and rail sectors, and latterly with specialist engineering businesses, of which Rhino is a great example.

My career started in quality management and then progressed through operational control to business management, in the UK, Europe, and the US. I have also spent some time in management consultancy, particularly in the field of operational and business improvement.

How did you come to join Rhino Doors as Managing Director?

I was introduced to Rhino Doors through a mutual acquaintance. The company has grown significantly over the last three years and, to better focus on meeting its clients’ needs, has transformed from a single site company to a holding group, managing three companies over two sites.

Rhino Engineering Group is the parent company, with Rhino Doors, Rhino Site Systems and Rhino HySafe all sitting beneath it. When Stuart Lawrence moved up to Group Managing Director of Rhino Engineering Group, a vacancy was created for a Managing Director of Rhino Doors.

When I was introduced to the company, I was struck by the positive can-do culture and the willingness to go the extra mile to support clients. That, together with an impressive product range and my preference for niche engineering, made it an interesting proposition and I joined Rhino in April of this year.

What expertise will you be bringing to the business?

I have many years’ experience of running and growing engineering businesses. I enjoy selling engineered products which address a challenging technical problem; if the product is good, selling is really about demonstrating the technical solution to the customer, which is very satisfying. Having worked in the automotive industry, I am uncompromising when it comes to improving business performance by reducing waste and introducing methods of working smarter, not harder.

Can you tell me more about Rhino Doors’ expansion plans? Are there any markets it’s looking to expand into?

Rhino’s plan is to continue the pace of growth over the next four years to roughly double the size it is now. This will be achieved by diversifying into other sectors and by continuing to grow the Group’s installation and servicing business.

We see significant opportunities in the nuclear energy sector, with the decommissioning of the Magnox era reactors and the need for secure storage areas for contaminated waste. We are developing a series of very high-performance fire doors which will have multiple applications, and our security door business continues to show strong growth. It is particularly exciting to see the launch this year of Rhino’s high-performance insulated fire door offering up to 90-minute protection for both integrity and insulation, presented in a package that will be attractive to architects.

Another exciting development for the Group is our sister company, Rhino HySafe, which is currently in the R&D phase of producing ultra-fast explosion relief products for use within hydrogen refuelling stations. This project, which is part-funded by the Welsh Government, has no direct connection to Rhino Doors, but we are watching with close interest to see how HySafe’s products could incorporate Rhino Doors technology.

Generally, we will play to our strengths and expand our involvement in challenging, high-value projects which use doors with multiple protective functions. On the installation and servicing side, I know that Rhino Site Systems wish to provide customers with safety checking and servicing plans for non-Rhino doors, in addition to our own installed portfolio.

Telgian CEO James Tomes named Phoenix Titan 100

by Featured NewsPeople

Fire protection, life safety and security industry leader Telgian has announced that the company’s President and CEO James Tomes has been named to the 2022 Phoenix Titan 100.

The program, which recognizes Phoenix’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives, honours the most accomplished business leaders in their respective industries.  

“It’s an honour to be named to the Phoenix Titan 100,” said Tomes. “The Phoenix area is home to some of the most innovative, successful and diverse firms in the country. This recognition truly highlights the positive strides that Telgian has taken throughout its’ 35-year history, leading the fire protection, life safety and security industry.”

Jaime Zawmon, President of Titan CEO, said: “The Titan 100 are shaping the future of the Phoenix business community by building a distinguished reputation that is unrivaled and preeminent in their field. We proudly recognize the Titan 100 for their successes and contributions. We know that they will have a profound impact that makes an extraordinary difference for their customers and clients.”

Collectively the 2022 Phoenix Titan 100 and their companies employ upwards of 90,000 individuals and generate over $32 billion dollars in annual revenues. The leaders and industries selected are proof that the Phoenix Titan 100 are positively impacting the entire Arizona market.

West Yorkshire sees sharp drop in firefighter numbers

by Featured NewsPeople

West Yorkshire has experienced of the sharpest drops in firefighter numbers in England since the Grenfell Tower disaster five years ago according to government figures.

There was a combined total of 1,106 full-time firefighters, on-call firefighters and control staff at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service at the end of March 2021, the latest available Home Office figures show. That was down by 61 (5.2%) from 1,167 four years earlier, which was the last workforce count before the Grenfell fire on June 14 2017.

It is one of more than 20 areas across England to see the number of firefighters and control room staff dip since the tragic fire at the London tower block on June 14, 2017, which took the lives of 72 people.

It means West Yorkshire saw the joint ninth-biggest drop of any of the 44 fire and rescue services across the country over that time. In comparison, London Fire Brigade saw the figure rise by 45, from 4,799 to 4,844.

The fall was driven by the declining number of full-time firefighters, offset slightly by the rising number of on-call firefighters and control staff, who answer 999 calls.

Three join NFPA board of directors

by Featured NewsPeople

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has completed the election of its Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting on June 6, 2022, which includes three new members: “Butch” Browning, Adrián Gallardo Landeros, and Mark Ghilarducci. Patrick Morrison was re-elected for his second three-year term.

Browning served as the Louisiana State Fire Marshal since 2008 and on the NASFM (National Association of State Fire Marshals) Board of Directors for the last 12 years. With more than 35 years in the fire service, He will assume the role of Executive Director of NASFM July 1st.

Landeros has served as the general director of Servicios de Información Estratégica, S.C. for the last 20 years. During his career, he has provided professional advice and consulting services to 12 Mexican state governors, legislative bodies, and several federal ministries. He has also coordinated or co-authored more than 20 books on Mexican economic and political issues.

Ghilarducci, serves as the Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) within the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. Prior to his appointments at Cal OES and FEMA, he served as deputy state fire chief at Cal OES. He also has more than 30 years of experience in public safety and government management at the local, state, and federal levels.

Morrison, the Assistant to the General President for Occupational Health, Safety and Medicine at IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters), was elected to his second three-year term.

Previously, the Board elected a slate of officers that includes Russell Leavitt as chair, R. David Paulison as first vice chair, John Bonney as second vice chair, Roger Montembeault as secretary, Donald Cook as assistant secretary, Michael Wallace as treasurer, Stacy Welch as assistant treasurer, and Amy Acton as immediate past chair.

NVFC mourns passing of legislative chief Dave Finger

by Featured NewsPeople

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the passing of chief of legislative and regulatory affairs Dave Finger, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on 3 June.

“Dave was a true asset to the NVFC and a friend to all who knew him,” said NVFC CEO Sarah Lee. “Whether working on legislation, answering difficult inquiries, advising the board, or any number of other tasks, he was a respected voice people listened to and learned from. He faced his cancer battle just like he did everything else in his life – with strength, dignity, and his signature humor. It is with the heaviest of hearts that we say goodbye to Dave, but his memory, legacy, and the impact of his work will live on.”

NVFC’s official statement said that Finger dedicated his career to utilising political advocacy to make a difference and impact positive change for the fire and emergency services community. He received his bachelor’s degree in political economy at Michigan State University and his master’s degree in legislative affairs from The George Washington University. Prior to joining the NVFC, he was the lead staffer on first responder issues for the Research and Technology Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

During his tenure at NFVC, he tackled many issues to represent the interests of volunteer responders on Capitol Hill, with regulatory agencies, and as NVFC staff liaison for 20 NFPA standards-setting committees. He also facilitated numerous NVFC board committees as well as the EMS/Rescue Section. The NVFC staff and board routinely sought his advice and expertise on governmental and regulatory matters. He brought a depth of knowledge and insight to his role that resulted in numerous victories for the volunteer. He was always ready to step up to a challenge and was skilled at working with other groups and organisations to amplify messages and make the biggest impact.

Rhino Doors makes two senior appointments

by Featured NewsPeople

Rhino Doors, manufacturer of high-performance engineered doors, has made two new senior board level appointments to facilitate the continued expansion of its products and services.

Jon Walter joins the company as Managing Director, with extensive experience in senior leadership roles at manufacturing and engineering organisations in Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the US. His appointment will see Stuart Lawrence stepping down to focus on his role as Group Managing Director of Rhino Engineering Group, driving the expansion of the wider business.

Meanwhile, Matthew Richards takes up the role of Project Engineering Director, after spending over ten years in engineering project management positions within the oil and gas industry. His appointment is to allow company’s Chief Engineer, Dr Chris Norris, to lead on design across the group, with a particular focus on research and development for HySafe.

Both Lawrence and Norris will remain directors of the business, with Lawrence assuming the role of Chairman of Rhino Doors.

“I’m very pleased to be coming onboard to lead the company at this critical time in its history,” said Jon Walter, the on his new post. “We have a team of long-serving and loyal people who have a wealth of knowledge about the products we develop, and that in itself is a huge asset.

“My focus will be firmly on broadening the scope of our operation, as well as the sectors we work within, to find new applications for our products and to deliver value to organisations across the UK and around the world.”

Matthew Richards added: “With my background in complex projects and developing systems for improvement, I’m delighted to be working with a business which has great growth potential.

“I’m looking forward to working closely with the wider Rhino team to achieve a common goal, to develop our processes and products, and continue on our path of business growth.”

National Volunteer Fire Council appoints Deputy CEO

by Featured NewsPeople

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced that Dr. Candice McDonald will join staff as deputy chief executive officer.

In this role, she will assist CEO Sarah Lee in managing the internal operations of the NVFC, including grants oversight, budget development, organisational planning, and more.  

“We are very excited for Dr. Candice McDonald to join the NVFC as a key part of our staff leadership team,” said Lee. “Candice brings a myriad of experience and expertise that will help the NVFC grow and move our initiatives forward. I am confident she will be an asset to our team and to the emergency responder community that we serve.”  

McDonald’s involvement in the NVFC dates to 2010, when she became one of the organisation’s first Fire Corps State Advocates. In addition to her work with Fire Corps, she has served as an instructor for the NVFC, facilitated webinars and online events, written numerous articles, and provided subject matter expertise in various areas. 

McDonald holds a doctorate in business administration with a specialty in homeland security, a master’s degree in organisational leadership, and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management. She also has an extensive professional background in marketing.

She currently works as a federal special agent for NASA in the Office of Protective Services, where she utilizes skills including grant and project management, budgeting, and staff management. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Eastern Gateway Community College, serves as a recruitment and retention expert for the U.S. Fire Administration, and has taught recruitment and retention courses across the U.S.  

McDonald has been active in the volunteer fire and emergency services for almost two decades, serving as a volunteer firefighter, EMS chief officer, instructor, and fire inspector. She is the incoming president of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, a trustee for Women in Fire, and a member of the FDIC/Fire Engineering Advisory Board.