BAFE and FireQual announce management appointments

by People

BAFE FireQual Ltd are pleased to announce that they have appointed Nic Preston as the FireQual Qualifications Manager from 1st September 2020.

Nic has over 14 years of experience in the training and development sector with a proven ability in quality assurance demonstrated in several roles influencing training environments within the UK. His most recent roles have been developing and implementing growth strategies as Chief Executive of SFEDI Awards, the Awarding Organisation for enterprise development. Alongside this he has also been responsible for their compliance with regulatory systems across the UK and was the Responsible Officer for their systems for learners and training centres.

Nic said “Introducing a range of high quality nationally recognised qualifications for the betterment of fire protection services and staff within the fire safety industry will be a rewarding task. FireQual has huge potential to make the industry safer and demonstrably more competent and I look forward to the challenge this offers. Although FireQual is a new venture, it builds on the vast array of knowledge and expertise within the sector both within BAFE and through our valued external partners who continue to support this new endeavour as we move forward. I welcome the opportunity to work with a range of excellent industry partners, training organisations and their candidates to build new relationships and opportunities as we move forward.”

Stephen Adams, Chief Executive – BAFE, added “We believe FireQual is being entrusted in very good hands with Nic. His experience will be invaluable in the development of this Awarding Organisation. This is a big opportunity to develop individual skills to ensure that competence remains at the forefront of the fire safety industry. We are pursuing this because we know that it is the right thing to do in the interest of life safety.”

The BAFE Fire Safety Register is delighted to announce that Chris Auger, currently the BAFE Head of Schemes, has been promoted to Director of Schemes, with responsibility for the organisation and development of existing and new schemes, together with our quality assurance and complaints management. He will have the vital day to day support role with BAFE licensed Certification Bodies.

Chris continues to do a first class job with his work on the Hackitt Working Groups and other stakeholders, especially to promote the value of Third Party Certification and competence, which is now gaining much stronger traction, with the support of UKAS. He has brought a much stronger profile for BAFE amongst a wide range of influencers across the construction sector.

Chris commented: “The BAFE Competence schemes continue to grow and develop, with registrations rising even during the lock down period. We are grateful to Companies and Certification Bodies for continuing to recognise the importance of Third Party Certification and finding new methods to ensure compliance. We have a number of new initiatives to support the industry, specifiers and end users and I am delighted to be taking on this role. With the development of FireQual there will also be a genuine prospect to include accredited technician competence into more of our Company schemes, which will be considered by our dedicated Scheme Monitoring Groups. This will consider all appropriate training and qualifications available, not just FireQual. Organisational competency and evidence of individual expertise remains the forefront of this discussion.”

www.bafe.org.uk/

Larry Lacefield named Telgian Fire Safety President

by Americas - Featured NewsPeople

Telgian Fire Safety (TFS) recently announced the appointment of Larry L. Lacefield as President. In this position, Lacefield will maintain strategic and operational responsibility for all TFS business operations.

Lacefield is a dynamic and proven business leader with more than 20 years of successful experience leading high-impact, operational initiatives. As an innovative and growth-focused executive, he has an extensive background in guiding cross-functional teams and in the effective delivery of program objectives and quality service.

“Highly skilled in the development and implementation of strategy, operational capacity, risk management, and performance metrics, Larry’s leadership will ensure Telgian Fire Safety’s ongoing commitment to quality service,” says Telgian CEO James Tomes.

A retired U.S. Navy Master Chief, his military career in the Special Warfare Command included various global operational roles. In addition, he completed combat tours in the Middle East, Asia and many other areas around the world. Lacefield is the recipient of numerous military awards, including Meritorious Service Medals, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals and multiple combat operational award medals. As a keynote speaker for civilian and military organisations, he continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to our country and community.

In addition, he is a member of the Medical Science Liaison Society, as well as the American College of Healthcare Executives. Lacefield also holds the designation of Project Management Professional (PMP), is a Lean 6 Sigma Green Belt and holds Top Secret Clearance SCI.

Lacefield earned a Bachelor of Science from Touro TUI University and graduated from the US Naval War College with a degree in Executive Leadership and Organizational Leadership. Additionally, he holds a Master’s Degree in Global Business Leadership from the University of San Diego and completed the Management Development Program at the Harvard Business School San Diego Alumni Association.

www.telgian.com/

New Chair for National Fire Chiefs Council announced

by People

Mr Mark Hardingham will become chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) from 1 April 2021, succeeding Roy Wilsher, who has held the post since April 2017 and the NFCC’s formation.

In a press release, the FCC stated that Mr Hardingham – currently chief fire officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and chair of NFCC’s protection and business safety committee – will take over as chair in April next year for an ‘initial two-year period’. He will succeed Mr Wilsher, who has been chair since the NFCC was formed in April 2017.

NFCC board of trustees chair Teresa Budworth stated: ‘Firstly, I would like to thank Roy for his dedication and hard work for NFCC. Under his leadership, NFCC has achieved so much in a relatively short period of time. It is testament to Roy that NFCC has established a pivotal role in advising government and supporting fire and rescue services [FRSs] across the UK, while implementing national policy and delivering critical national workstreams.

‘NFCC was formed only two-and-a-half months before the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. Roy offered the sector and government outstanding help and guidance, during a very demanding period. His membership on the government’s expert panel and now as chair of the protection board has been pivotal in making change for the better.

‘It is a credit to his leadership that the NFCC is in the strong position it is today ensuring fire is on the front foot and able to continue to protect our communities with excellence.  I would like to give him my sincere thanks. I would also like to welcome Mark to the role of NFCC chair. He brings with him a wealth of experience, especially with his protection role and his tireless work on a new building safety framework.

‘I am sure NFCC will continue to go from strength-to-strength under his leadership.’

Mr Wilsher added: ‘It has been an honour to serve as NFCC’s inaugural chair since 2017 and I will continue to do my best for the council over the coming months. I have always said a key success factor for my tenure would be the appointment of a second NFCC chair. NFCC is now an influential organisation, based on our technical expertise, professional knowledge and relationships. It is well-established and respected, and I have set sound policy and financial foundations for the future.

‘I will continue to move NFCC forward on its journey until Mark takes on the role in April 2021. We have seen big changes since NFCC was introduced and I am proud of these achievements. To lead the fire sector through – at times — a profoundly difficult time and to be instrumental in implementing changes for the better, has been a privilege.

‘I would like to wish Mark the very best for when he takes on the role of NFCC chair. I am in no doubt he will build on what is already in place and NFCC will continue on its journey and achieve many more successes.’

Mr Hardingham commented: ‘I am delighted and excited to be taking on the role of NFCC chair in 2021. I have worked closely with Roy throughout his tenure and seen first-hand his commitment and dedication to establishing the NFCC as the trusted and respected professional voice of UK FRSs.I look forward to working with my chief fire officer colleagues and the wider NFCC membership and staff as we approach the challenges and opportunities throughout my term.’

www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk/

Dirk Laibach appointed to the IWMA Board

by People

As of now, Dirk Laibach is a new member of the IWMA board of directors. IWMA general manager Bettina McDowell says: “Mr. Laibach, who will have to be confirmed in office during the IWMA member meeting in October, replaces Peter Clauss, who became a member of the board in April 2020.”

Dirk Laibach boasts over 30 years of varied global experiences in the fire suppression/detection industry, including 23 years related to water mist. He has held positions of ever-increasing responsibility with Siemens, KIDDE, FOGTEC Fire Protection, Marioff and currently is Senior Product Manager for water mist at Johnsons Control.

Through his involvement and membership in a number of trade associations, codes and standards organizations (CEN) and approval authorities (like VdS, FM) in Europe and the USA, he has extensive relationships within the industry and AHJ bodies.

Dirk Laibach holds a degree in electrical engineering (Dipl.-Ing.) from the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf, Germany, and is a VdS-certified engineer for water mist fire suppression systems.

The IWMA board of directors would like to thank Peter for his contributions and good work.

www.iwma.org/

REV Group announces new Vice President of Sales

by People

REV Group has announced the appointment of George Petropoulos as Vice President, Sales for REV Ambulance Group. Overseeing the sales teams for Horton, American Emergency Vehicles (AEV), Leader, Wheeled Coach, Road Rescue, Frontline and McCoy-Miller, George reports into Anoop Prakash, Ambulance Division President, REV Group.

Prior to joining REV Group, George spent nearly 20 years at Harley-Davidson Motor Company where most recently he was the Manager, Police & Fleet Sales, increasing the company’s municipal market share from 40% to 75% over an 11-year period. George is a retired Major and Transportation / Logistics officer in the U.S. Army and serves as a part-time police officer for the Town of Mukwonago Police Department in Wisconsin.

“We are integrating our sales organisation to optimise our sales process and commercial execution,” said Anoop Prakash, Ambulance Division President, REV Group. “George’s extensive municipal sales experience will allow us to continue to advance our service and support to our dealers, partners and customers across the REV ambulance brands.”

George has received the distinguished service award from the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund and is on the Board of Directors for the USO in Wisconsin.

www.revgroup.com/

Pelican Products names Phil Gyori as Chief Executive Officer

by People

Pelican Products, Inc. announces the appointment of Phil Gyori as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gyori has served as Group President of Pelican since joining in 2016. He succeeds Lyndon Faulkner, who becomes Executive Chairman after serving as Chief Executive Officer since 2006.

Grant G. Behrman, Managing Partner of Behrman Capital, said: “We are delighted that Phil Gyori will serve as the new CEO of Pelican Products. Phil is a distinguished and outstanding executive who has been instrumental to Pelican’s success through his leadership of the company’s multiple divisions worldwide. Promoting Phil is both a well-earned and natural step.”

“It is also fortunate that Lyndon Faulkner will continue with Pelican as Executive Chairman. Pelican’s exceptional performance throughout Lyndon’s tenure as CEO is a testament to the strength of his leadership. The company has realised a 400% sales increase during this period through an aggressive business strategy, including acquisitions and international expansion through which we now operate in 26 countries across the globe. We are grateful for Lyndon’s innumerable contributions and pleased that he will continue to share his wisdom and experience with Pelican.”

Mr. Gyori said, “I am honoured to lead Pelican Products at this very exciting and critical time. Our company is ideally positioned to capitalise on our market leadership in the coming years with an exceptional global team that is dedicated to meeting and exceeding the needs of our customers worldwide. We will build on the incredible foundation established by Lyndon to take Pelican and our operating divisions to new heights.”

Mr. Faulkner added, “I am very proud of what we have accomplished at Pelican over the past several years. Together with Behrman Capital, our very supportive and insightful owners, we have built Pelican into a truly global leader with many exceptional growth opportunities in the coming years. Phil is an outstanding choice to lead Pelican through its next chapter, and I look forward to supporting him in my new role.”

About Phil Gyori

Phil Gyori has over 30 years of executive and management experience and a proven track record of driving rapid business growth. He has a rich background in marketing, business development and brand management, and his expertise also extends to other cross-functional areas including sales, product development, purchasing and overseas sourcing. As Group President of Pelican since 2016, he has had responsibility for all three of the company’s divisions: U.S. Commercial / Government / Consumer, International and Pelican BioThermal.

Prior to Pelican he spent 16 years as an executive at Bushnell, a global leader in Sports Optics & Outdoor Recreation, where he was the general manager for the $400 million North American Division and where he helped grow the overall business from $100 million to $600 million. Before joining Bushnell, he served in leadership roles at Nike, Procter & Gamble, and The Quaker Oats Company.

Mr. Gyori holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business.

www.pelican.com/

Melinda Williams promoted to new role at Telgian

by Americas - Featured NewsPeople

Telgian Engineering & Consulting (TEC) recently announced the promotion of Melinda Williams to Director of Government and Business Affairs. In this role, she will be responsible for business development and sales, with a focus on fire, life safety and security technology and requirement trends within federal, state and local government entities.

“Melinda is an invaluable member of the TEC team,” says Telgian Engineering & Consulting President Leonard Ramo. “As TEC continues its rapid growth providing service to the government sector, her innovation and vision, as well as the depth and breadth of her experience in the fire, life safety and security industry will prove essential for our government clients.”

In addition to a diverse background, which includes work as a policy advisor and educator, Williams brings over 14 years of fire, life safety and security experience to the new position. She will partner with executives and officials, providing innovative solutions to the specific challenges faced by government entities. “Melinda’s proven ability to communicate a clear understanding of the various challenges in the industry is one of her greatest strengths,” continues Ramo.

Melinda Williams holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Brown University and completed post-graduate studies at National University.

www.telgian.com/

UL Fire Council appoints Telgian’s Leonard Ramo

by Americas - Featured NewsPeople

Telgian Engineering & Consulting President and fire protection expert Leonard Ramo was recently invited to join the Fire Council of UL for a three-year term. The Fire Council is one of nine councils whose esteemed members provide support to UL by sharing practical experience on a wide range of engineering and safety topics.

The Fire Council selects members based on their fire protection industry expertise, integrity and a proven commitment to furthering public safety. Council members include academic experts, building officials, federal government agencies, fire service members, independent fire safety experts and representatives from the insurance industry, all of whom share a collective goal to identify safety challenges arising from new products and innovative technology.

For over 100 years, the Fire Council has provided vital insight and advice on building designs and materials, as well as safety performance requirements for fire suppression, passive fire test methods, and alarm and detection equipment.  As a member, Ramo will be instrumental in the development of effective programs, which address fire safety needs throughout the US and abroad.

In addition, Fire Council members work towards the establishment of requirements regarding the installation of products and materials, components and systems, interpretation and development of standards, and suitability of test methods, as well as regulatory needs and acceptance. Members also provide insight to UL on safety requirements and research related to fire resistant building designs, the flame and smoke characteristics of building materials and a variety of fire suppression equipment and fire safety products.

“It’s an honour to be selected as a member of the Fire Council,” says Ramo. “Together, the Council will continue to develop crucial safety solutions as new products and technologies emerge and the impact of this work we do will have a positive effect around the globe.”

As a Fire Council member, Ramo brings significant industry experience to the table. His career spans more than twenty five years as a practicing fire protection engineer, consultant, and executive. Currently, Ramo is President of Telgian Engineering & Consulting, a full-service global engineering and risk mitigation consultancy specialising in complex, multi-discipline public and private sector projects.

Professional accreditations include registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in all fifty U.S. States, District of Columbia, and select Territories, as well as a P. Eng. in select Canadian Provinces. In addition, Ramo is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and holds a U.S. Department of Homeland Security CVI certification.

As a globally recognised industry professional, he plays an integral role in international codes and standards development by serving on select National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) committees. He is also a member of Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and on both the SFPE Standards Making Committee on Performance-Based Fire Safety Design and the SFPE Committee on Outreach and Advocacy (COA). Ramo is the past president of the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of SPFE, as well, and a member of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME).

www.telgian.com/

Coltraco Ultrasonics promotes Lizi Popham to Head of After-sales

by People

Coltraco Ultrasonics have announced a promotion for one of their valued team members: Mrs Lizi Popham to the role of Head of After-sales.

Since March 2020, the company have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting their team. Coltraco Ultrasonics appreciate the challenges of coronavirus and are working together to ensure they are all reaching for a vision of a profitable, sustainable and happy business.

“I enjoy greatly working with all members of the team,” said Lizi. “Coltraco has an excellent Technical Support system for any customer experiencing any issues and this is something I feel extremely proud of.

“I look forward to the second half of 2020 and am very excited for the future with Coltraco.”

coltraco.com/

Telgian’s Russell Leavitt named NFPA 1st Vice Chair

by Americas - Featured NewsPeople

Russell B. Leavitt, Executive Chairman of Telgian Holdings, Inc. was recently elected 1st Vice Chair by the Board of Directors for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). NFPA is a global, nonprofit organisation devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The organization focuses on fire codes and standards, as well as public education for fire safety, outreach and advocacy, training and essential research.

NFPA Board Members are selected based on fire industry experience, as well as the respect of peers in the safety community, a proven commitment to the association’s goals and an appreciation for the relationship NFPA must maintain with society as its needs evolve.

As NFPA 1st Vice Chair, Leavitt will work with the association as it delivers information, knowledge and training nationwide. In addition to this leadership position within NFPA, Leavitt also serves as chair of the NFPA 13 Sprinkler System Discharge Criteria Technical Committee, on the NFPA 13 Installation Technical Committee, as well as NFPA 3, NFPA 4 and the Cultural Resources (NFPA 909 and 914)  Technical Committees.

With almost four decades of industry experience, Leavitt has long been recognised for his expertise, which he shares as a sought-after speaker and presenter. Leavitt is a senior instructor for AFSA and Fire Smarts and conducts fire and life safety seminars nationally and internationally on a variety of related subjects. Examples include Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office fire sprinkler training events, such Fire Sprinkler Systems – Plan Review and Acceptance Testing for AHJ’s, Marketing for Contractors in Fire Protection for Expo Fire Protection Mexico & International Congress and NFPA 25 Step-by-Step Testing Procedures for FireCon, among others.

During the course of his career, Leavitt has also authored numerous industry training materials and informational articles including “Fire Safety Codes and Standards: What You Need to Know,”  “Understanding Fire Protection Classifications,” “International Fire Sprinkler Opportunity” and AFSA’s ITM Inspector Development Program.

Leavitt will hold the position of NFPA 1st Vice Chair for two calendar years.

www.telgian.com/