Speakers

Thomas PARRISH
Thomas PARRISH
SET, PSP, CFPS, CFI-1 CFI-2 CFPR
Telgian Fire Safety
VP
Tom Parrish has more than 30 years of experience in fire protection and emergency response and is the retired fire marshal for Putnam Township, Mich. He serves on several NFPA technical committees including NFPA 72 Signaling Systems for the Protection of Life and Property and Emergency Communications Systems. He currently serves as president of AFAA and is a senior instructor for NFPA. His professional credentials include NICET Level IV certified Fire Alarm Technician, Level III NICET Inspection and Testing, Certified Fire Protection Specialist and Master Electrician. He is board-certified as a Physical Security Professional by ASIS and holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Technology from Kean University.
What is a Dedicated Function Fire Alarm System?


Ian Pickens
Ian Pickens
Extreme Fire Protection
Project Manager / Designer
After earning his Mechanical Engineering degree from Oklahoma State University, Ian Pickens began his professional career as a fire sprinkler designer and project manager at Extreme Fire Protection. Over the past three years, he has developed expertise in designing fire sprinkler systems, adhering to NFPA standards, FM Global datasheets, and ICC codes. Pickens' experience spans a diverse range of projects, including retrofits, heavy timber structures, residential, commercial, industrial, and in-rack sprinkler systems. He holds a NICET Level II certification in Water-Based Systems Layout and has successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Pickens is currently working towards obtaining his Professional Engineering license in fire protection.
Coordination in the Field (Panel)


Larry Rietz
Larry Rietz
SET, CFPS
Jensen Hughes Inc.
Technical Fellow
Larry Rietz is Vice President and Service Line Leader for Fire Detection and Alarm for Jensen Hughes and works as a designer, instructor, author, and industry advocate. He is a NICET Level IV Certified Fire Alarm designer and Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) with over 29 years of life safety industry experience. He serves on multiple NFPA and UL Technical Committees, and he served on the Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA) Board of Directors from 2014 - 2023. He is a frequent presenter at a large variety of industry events, is a Contract Instructor with AFAA, and is a guest lecturer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and the University of Maryland (UMD) fire protection programs.
Preaction Systems: Where Alarms and Sprinklers Meet


Melisa Rodriguez
Melisa Rodriguez
P.E., SET
Johnson Controls
Business Development Manager
Melisa Rodriguez is the vertical business development leader for Storage with Johnson Controls. She is a licensed Fire Protection Professional Engineer with 20 years of experience in the industry and has held various roles including project manager, designer, lead fire protection engineer, and senior business development manager. She is NICET Level IV certified in Water-Based Systems Layout and has earned her Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and MBA from the University of Minnesota located in Minneapolis, MN. Melisa serves as chair on the MN board of licensure (AELSLAGID). Melisa is also vice chair of the MN Governor’s Council for Fire Prevention and Control, a principal member of NFPA 14, 13R/13D and 88A Technical Committees, NFSA Future Leadership Committee vice chair, SFPE Virtual Learning Subcommittee chair, and president of the MN Chapter Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
Leading Teams Across Generations


Sean Rogers
Sean Rogers
Potter Electric Signal Company
Director of Product Managemen
In his current role, Sean Rogers oversees Potter’s sprinkler suite of products and leads the product development team in creating industry-leading designs that take advantage of the latest technologies. While he has only been in the sprinkler industry for the past two years, Sean brings many years of experience implementing and launching new technologies into seasoned product lines in the oil and gas and lighting industries.
Unveiling Tomorrow: Digital Trends to Watch for in 2025


Steven Scandaliato
Steven Scandaliato
CFPS, RME, SET
SDG, LLC
Principal
Steven Scandaliato is a principal at SDG, LLC. He has over 39 years of experience in fire protection engineering, contracting, design, and project management covering all types of fire protection and life safety systems. He serves as a member of several NFPA committees, including 11, 13, 16, 101, 102, and 5000. He also serves on several technical committees including the Technical Advisory Committee for the American Fire Sprinkler Association. He is a member of NFPA, SFPE ,and AFSA.
Design and Calculations for Foam-Water Systems


Phil Schechinger
Phil Schechinger
Viking Group, Inc.
Vice President
Phil Schechinger has been in the fire protection industry for over 30 years in a multitude of positions. He has been involved with the AFSA for 20 years and is currently the chair of the Manufacturers/Suppliers Council.
Paths to Progress: Powerhouse Professionals in the Industry


Jay Strickland
Jay Strickland
Strickland Fire Protection, Inc, A Pye-Barker Company
COO/GM
Jay Strickland is a seasoned leader in the fire protection industry, with over 40 years of experience as the co-founder and former President of Strickland Fire Protection, a company he helped establish in 1983. Under his leadership, the company grew from a small local business into a prominent industry name, known for its unwavering commitment to safety, integrity, and excellence. In 2021, Jay successfully negotiated and led Strickland Fire Protection into a strategic partnership with Pye Barker Fire & Safety, where he continues to serve as an executive, furthering the growth and impact of both companies. Currently, Jay serves as the Second Vice Chair and an At-Large Director on the Board of Directors for the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). He is a past chair of the AFSA Chesapeake Bay Chapter. Jay is also known for his ability to build strong relationships with clients, partners, and colleagues, thanks to his approachable demeanor, hard work ethic, and never-give-up attitude. Outside of his professional life, Jay is a devoted family man married for 38 years with 3 children in the sprinkler industry and 9 grandchildren who all live on the family farm in Maryland. Jay is deeply involved in his community and charitable efforts. He has been actively supporting Convoy of Hope and Kids against Hunger, packing over 100,000 meals a year since 2012, and participating in mission trips to Brazil for over 20 years. Jay is also known for a little bit of magic that goes a long way. His wife said he needs new tricks, he said he just needs a new audience.
Paths to Progress: Powerhouse Professionals in the Industry


Randal Stutzman
Randal Stutzman
Randal Stutzman Advisors
Managing Director
After having completed a successful 45-year career with FMI Corporation and FMI Capital Advisors, Inc., Randy Stutzman shares his expertise with a select group of clients. He has spent his entire working career acting as a trusted advisor to contractors. Starting in the late 1970s, he spent the next 20 years consulting with companies on a wide variety of issues including strategy, pricing and bidding, increasing field productivity and ownership transfer. Since the late 1990s, Randy concentrated on helping clients in ownership transfer and management succession, including representing sellers to third parties, finding opportunities for buyers, facilitating employee and family buyouts, and adopting Employee Stock Ownership Plans. Stutzman's focus has always been to do what is right for the client and build company value.
Letting the Numbers Drive Smart Business
Create a Winning Environment in Your Organization


Joshua Swann
Joshua Swann
P.E., NAFI-CFEI, IAAI-FIT
Exponent
Managing Engineer
Joshua Swann, Ph.D., P.E., is a licensed fire protection engineer at Exponent. He leverages his knowledge of fire protection engineering to analyze the design, inspection, testing, and maintenance of building fire protection and life safety systems as well as conduct investigations to determine the root cause of failures related to fire protection systems.
Forensic Examination of Accidental Sprinkler Activation


Brandon Telford
Brandon Telford
CFPS
The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc.
Technical Services Manager
Brandon Telford has been with Reliable since 2015 and has over 27 years of fire protection industry experience. He started his career in fire protection contracting for nine years in the Mid-Atlantic region, followed by three years working on Department of State and Department of Defense projects in Albania and Qatar. Before joining Reliable, Telford worked for six years as a sales territory manager for a fire protection products manufacturer. He holds A.A.S. degrees in both Fire Protection Engineering Technology and Safety Management from Delaware Technical Community College. He is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) through NFPA and has achieved NICET certification as a Level III Certified Engineering Technician (CET) in Water-Based Systems Layout. Telford currently sits on the NFSA Engineering and Standards, NFPA 13, 13R, 13D, 15, and 25 technical committees.
Protection of Lithium Ion Cells
Illustrating In-Rack Sprinkler Independence


Martin J Tomasic
Martin J Tomasic
Tornatech Inc.
Director of Sales
Martin Tomasic is an engineer by profession and was the U.S. national sales manager for Tornatech Fire Pump Controllers for 12 years before being promoted to Director of Sales. Basded out of Cincinnati, Ohio, Martin is responsible for developing and implementing strategic business plans for all world markets, managing a global sales team, as well as managing corporate partners and global accounts worldwide. Martin continues to do extensive training on industry regulations and fire pump controllers for various organizations such as AFSA SFPE, ASPE, etc., as well as for many state AHJ, fire marshals, fire consulting engineers, sprinkler contractors, pump representatives, and end users. His expertise and commitment to his customers have allowed him to be recognized as a leader in sales and training, receiving many business development & sales achievement awards throughout his career.
Arc Flash: Identifying & Eliminating the Risk Within Fire Pump Controllers


Victoria Valentine
Victoria Valentine
P.E., FSFPE
AFSA
Director of Program Development & Special Projects
Victoria B. Valentine, P.E., FSFPE, is the director of engineering and technical services for the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). She has served the fire sprinkler industry and fire protection community for over 20 years. Victoria is a licensed professional engineer and a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE). Her education was pursued at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), achieving both a BS in Civil Engineering and an MS in Fire Protection Engineering. In addition, she has focused her career working with non-profit associations concentrating on professional qualifications, codes and standards development, and training programs to ensure quality in fire protection systems. Throughout her professional career, she has written many publications and presented on fire protection systems to a wide variety of audiences. Victoria continues to be involved with many organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Fire Sprinkler Association, the National Fire Protection Association, and the SFPE, among others. She also maintains efforts to engage the next generation in fire protection careers and support young professionals as they develop into the next leading experts.
Updates to NFPA 200
Coordination in the Field (Panel)


Jared Van Gammeren
Jared Van Gammeren
ET
Driven Fire Consultants
Owner
Jared Van Gammeren has been in the fire sprinkler industry for over 20 years, working his way up through the ranks as an installer, foreman, superintendent, designer, estimator, project manager, design manager, director, and owner. His design firm, Driven Fire Consultants, currently performs work in 25 states and employs licensed engineers in nine states. Driven Fire performs design work on hospitals, industrial projects, schools, and mixed-use buildings from coast to coast. Van Gammeren is NICET Level III certified in both Water-Based Systems Layout and Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems. He is a volunteer firefighter and has served as a principal member of NFPA 33 and 34. He currently sits on AFSA's Apprenticeship & Education Committee and serves as a VIP instructor for AFSA's apprentice training series.
Introduction to BIM
Design Management


Terry Victor
Terry Victor
SET
Risk Suppression Partners, LLP
Terry Victor, director of Risk Control Services at Risk Suppression Partners, has over 50 years of technical experience in the fire sprinkler industry. He is NICET certified Level IV in Water-Based Systems Layout and Special Hazards Systems Layout. He has served on various industry boards and committees, including a member of the CFSI National Advisory Committee and the NFFF Advisory Committee to the Board. He is a current member of the AFSA Apprenticeship & Education, Legislative, and Convention Committees. Terry is an active speaker at various fire protection industry conferences and seminars including those for the AFAA, AFSA, ASCET, CFSI, FFLA, NFPA, and NFSA. He is a past member of numerous NFPA technical committees including those for NFPA 3, 4, 11, 13, 13D, 13R, 14, 15, 20, 25, 72, 101, 214, 303, 915, and 5000. He received the NFPA Committee Service Award in 2015.
What Would You Have Done to Avoid a Lawsuit?
NFPA 915: What it Means to Your Business
Installation Practices – Enforcement vs. Application
Ask the Experts


Jason Webb
Jason Webb
Potter Electric Signal
Industry Affairs Consultant
Jason Webb is an industry affairs consultant for Potter Electric Signal. After retiring from a long fire service career which included over a decade as AHJ in a high-growth metropolitan fire department, he has been a fierce fire safety advocate, trainer, program developer/director, and consultant for industry associations and Potter. He is an accomplished author and instructor, providing continuing education for firefighters, fire and building code officials, fire protection contractors, facility managers, and design professionals for more than twenty years. He is an active member of the ICC, NFPA, NFSA, AFSA, AFAA, FSSA and SFPE and sits on numerous codes and standards development committees.
Developing Targeted and Effective Training


Cary Webber
Cary Webber
CFPS
Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Company Inc.
Director
Cary Webber, director of Technical Resource Application, has over forty-five years of experience in the fire protection industry, having held positions as a designer, estimator, project manager, service manager, and inspections manager. Cary joined Reliable in 2012 as a technical services manager for the West Coast region and was promoted to director in 2017. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Washington and an A.A.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Spokane Community College. He has been NICET certified as a Level IV Senior Engineering Technician (SET) in water-based systems layout and is an NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS). Cary currently sits on the NFSA Engineering and Standards, NFPA 11, 13, 15, 25, and 30 committees.
A Tale of Six Cities


Jacqueline Wilmot
Jacqueline Wilmot
P.E.
Fire Protection Research Foundation
Research Project Manager
Jacqueline Wilmot is a licensed fire protection engineer and research project manager at the Fire Protection Research Foundation, NFPA's research affiliate, where she facilitates research projects and programs for the suppression and detection portfolios. Before joining The Fire Protection Research Foundation in 2020, Jacqueline was a Senior Engineer at NFPA for 7 years where she was a staff liaison to several NFPA codes and standards in the Fire Protection and Building Life Safety Division. Prior to her time at NFPA, Jacqueline was an Engineer for three years at Engineering Planning and Management, Inc., where she provided fire protection and regulatory consulting services to the nuclear power industry.
Update on Suppression Research from FPRF
Ask the Experts