California Fire Prevention Institute- CFPI 2022

Learn more aboutRobert Marshall

Robert Marshall

Fire Marshal

San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department

Robert Marshall is the Fire Marshal for the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department in the San Francisco Bay Area. Robert has served on the board of NorCal FPO's and is the current chair of CFPI. Robert is the Secretary-Treasurer of the IAFC Fire and Life Safety Section, and serves on the Fire Code Action Committee of the ICC. Robert lives in the East Bay with his wife Dana.

Learn more aboutRandy Metz

Randy Metz

Fire Marshal

Carlsbad Fire Department

Learn more aboutLeonard J Ramo, PE, PEng, CFPS

Leonard J Ramo, PE, PEng, CFPS

President

Telgian Engineering & Consulting

Len is the President at Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC. He has more than 25 years experience in fire protection engineering. He has extensive experience with fire suppression system design, fire hazard analysis, fire testing and risk management. He is licensed as a Professional Engineer in 50 U.S. states, as well as select other territories and Canadian provinces, and is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS). He serves on several NFPA technical and correlating committees including NFPA 1, 22, 101, 400 and 5000, and SFPE Committees including CPQ – Public Policy Subcommittee and the Standards Committee on Performance Based Design. Len is also a Governor on the SFPE Foundation Board.

Learn more aboutJoel Reitz

Joel Reitz

Senior Account Manager

Science Building Solutions

Joel Reitz began his 30+ year career in the Fire Alarm/Life Safety Industry in 1989, after six fun-filled years in the US Navy. Joel worked as a Field Technician, Service Sales Representative before moving into the Construction/Design Build role he currently holds. Joel is NICET Level IV Certified in Fire Alarm Systems and is the President of the California Automatic Fire Alarm Association (CAFAA) and has served on the CAFAA Board of Directors for over nine years. Joel is a Member of the NorCal FPO’s and NFPA.

Learn more aboutDaniel Tate

Daniel Tate

Senior Systems Designer

Intrepid Electronic Systems Inc

Daniel Tate has been working in the fire protection industry throughout California for more than 25 years. As a Senior Systems Designer for Intrepid, Mr. Tate is involved with all design related operations. He has been on the CAFAA Board of Directors for 5 years. Prior to his current position at Intrepid, he held the positions of Senior Systems Designer, Project Manager, and Sales Representative with Grinnell Fire Protection, Siemens, SimplexGrinnell, JG Tate Fire Protection, and COSCO Fire Protection.

Learn more aboutSean DeCrane

Sean DeCrane

Lead Regulatory Engineer, UL LLC Liaison

Underwriters

Sean DeCrane started his career with the Cleveland (OH) Fire Department in 1991 where he is currently a Battalion Chief assigned to the 3rd Battalion while previously serving as Chief of Training for the Cleveland Fire Training Academy. He is a State of Ohio certified instructor and represents the International Association of Fire Fighters in the International Code Council. He also has served on the 2009 and 2012 International Fire Code Development Committees and is the current committee chair for the 2015 Edition. He was awarded the 2010 International Code Council's Fire Service Award, the International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Life Safety Section's 2013 Fire Service Award, and gave the 2015 FDIC General Session Keynote Speech. DeCrane also serves on the National Fire Protection Association's NFPA 1 Fire Code Technical Committee. In addition, he serves on the Underwriters Laboratories Fire Council, the U.S. Fire Administration's Residential Fire Environment Workshop Project, the U.S. Fire Administration's project on Fire Fighting Tactics in Wood-Frame Residential Construction, and the Modern Fire Environment Education Committee.

Learn more aboutTodd LaBerge

Todd LaBerge

Fire Protection Engineer/Professional Engineer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Statement of Qualifications: Todd LaBerge, Fire Protection Engineer/ Professional Engineer Current Professional Engineering Licenses: AZ, CA, CO, GA, MA, ME, MI, NV, NC, OR, PA, UT, WA Todd LaBerge, P.E. is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer/ Professional Engineer throughout the United States with over 25 years’ experience in industrial facilities, hazardous materials operations, and high-piled combustible storage warehouses. Mr. LaBerge’s professional Fire Protection Engineering experience spans the public and private sectors, with previous responsibilities including: Global Director of Fire Protection and Life Safety for Intel Corporation, Fire Protection Engineer for the City of Sunnyvale, CA Fire Department, consulting for the US Department of Defense for hazardous materials storage facilities and weapons depots, and serving as the Fire Marshal / Managing Fire Protection Engineer for the US Department of Energy at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Mr. LaBerge is deeply involved with the code development process in the International Fire Code (IFC) and California Fire Code (CFC), with additional work for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the UL Standards committees. Current committee work includes the IFC Committee for Chapter 39 Processing and Extraction Facilities, in addition to representing the Northern California Fire Prevention Officers on the Chapter 50 Hazardous Materials chapter of the California Fire Code. Additionally, Mr. LaBerge is a primary voting member of NFPA 400 Hazardous Materials Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code Subcommittee on Storage, Industrial, and Miscellaneous Occupancies. Lastly, Mr. LaBerge is a member of the committee for the new UL Standard Number 1389 Standard for Plant Oil Extraction Equipment for Installation and Use in Ordinary (Unclassified) Locations and Hazardous (Classified) Locations. Mr. LaBerge has led numerous Fire Code and Building Code compliance classes focusing on cannabis cultivation, extraction, and processing facilities with additional compliance training on high-piled combustible storage and industrial processes for Fire Marshals, Building Officials, Law Enforcement, and Department of Public Health personnel in addition to private sector Architectural and Engineering firms, and Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing design firms. Mr. LaBerge can be contacted at 408-718-3356, and talaberge@lbl.gov

Learn more aboutJames Carver

James Carver

Fire Marshal (Retired)

James Carver retired in December 2020 after serving 29 years with the city of El Segundo Fire Department, retiring as the Fire Marshal. As the Fire Marshal, James oversaw the Fire Prevention Division, managed the Department’s fire prevention program. With a budget of $500,000, and through the dedicated staff, he was charged with accomplishing the goals and objectives set forth to enhance and gain commitment to fire/life safety, environmental protection, and reduce the risk to loss of life and property. Through his career, James performed site inspections, from annual inspections of business occupancies, to high rise inspections, new construction inspections and CUPA inspections for the Hazardous Material Business Plan, Underground Storage Tank and Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks. He performed technical plan reviews and met with contractors and developers on site fire protection and fire safety requirements. James was Department’s lead investigator for fire and hazardous material investigations. James has been inspecting the high rise buildings for system acceptance and annual inspection for over twenty years. James has an Associate’s degree in Fire and Emergency Technology from El Camino College, and has attended the fire protection series of classes at the National Fire Academy. James is a Past President of the Southern California Fire Prevention Officers Association and Past president of the South Bay Fire Chiefs Association, Fire Prevention Officers Association. Prior to working for the City of El Segundo, James was a Firefighter and Fire Inspector for Northrop Corporation in Pico Rivera, working in the B-2 Bomber program.

Learn more aboutE. Brene Duggins

E. Brene Duggins

Media Coordinator - Oak Grove High School

Brene Duggins is the Fire Prevention Coordinator/Training Captain at Holly Grove Fire Department in Lexington, NC. During her 20 years as a volunteer in the fire service, she has shared her passion for technology and education across not only the state of North Carolina but across the East Coast teaching the public as well as Fire Service Personnel to enhance their own programs through the integration of technology. Most recently she has started Ms. D's Virtual PD, which is a virtual professional development training program that combines live training sessions and on-demand training opportunities for public school personnel and fire service personnel. Brene is the Chair of the NC Eastern Region Fire and Life Safety Educators Association and also is the Secretary of the North Carolina Fire and Life Safety Educator Association State Council. Her day job is as the Media Coordinator at Oak Grove High School in Davidson County, NC, and she is also a Past President of the North Carolina School Library Association.

Learn more aboutSteve Leyton

Steve Leyton

President, Protection Design and Consulting

Protection Design and Consulting

Steve Leyton is President of Protection Design and Consulting in San Diego, CA. He began his career in 1981 on the design/build side of the fire sprinkler industry and founded Protection Design in 1995 to focus on Architectural and Developer clients, in addition to working with the contractor community. His professional affiliations include membership in NFPA, International Code Council (ICC), American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), California Fire Prevention Officers Northern and Southern Sections, and the San Diego Fire Protection Association. He has represented AFSA as a principal member of the NFPA 13 Technical Committee for Residential Sprinklers and is Chairman of the NFPA 14 Technical Committee on Standpipes. Steve has served on several current and past advisory groups for the California State Fire Marshal’s office, including Chair of the installation committee for the 2009 Residential Sprinkler Code Adoption Task Group and was Co-Chair of the ICC Ad-Hoc Committee on Residential Fire Sprinklers in 2005. Steve has worked on a wide range of residential, commercial/industrial, institutional, and high-rise projects in the USA, Mexico, and Asia.

Learn more aboutKevin Reinertson

Kevin Reinertson

Deputy Fire Marshal

Riverside County Fire

Kevin Reinertson is a Deputy Fire Marshal with the Riverside County Fire Department heading up the department’s Special Projects and Administrative Division. Kevin is also active in the Southern California Fire Prevention Officers Association, served on its executive board, 2016 – 2020, and has been co-chair of the Code Committee since 2015. Kevin has been active in code development at the local, state, and national levels. Prior to coming to Riverside County in 2015, Kevin worked at the California State Fire Marshal’s Office (OSFM) from 2006 to 2015 where he was the Division Chief of the Code Development and Analysis Division and oversaw the adoption of the initial I-Codes in 2006 and subsequent years up to the adoption of the 2016 California Fire and Building Codes. Kevin’s involvement in fire and building codes really stems from his work in designing and drafting building plans for his father’s architectural firm. Before finding his way to the California Office of the Fire Marshal and Riverside County Fire Department, Kevin was a District Representative II for the California Department of Housing and Community Development who administers the building construction codes for residential occupancies for statewide application, as well as a Building Inspector and Plans Examiner for the City of Roseville and Sacramento County.

Learn more aboutAdria Reinertson

Adria Reinertson

Deputy Fire Marshal

Riverside County Fire

Adria Reinertson is a Deputy Fire Marshal with the Riverside County Fire Department heading up the department’s Strategic Planning Division. Adria previously served as assigned Fire Marshal for the City of Moreno Valley. Adria is also active in the Southern California Fire Prevention Officers Association, served on its executive board, was president in 2012, and has been co-chair of the Code Committee since 2011. She has been active in code development at the local, state, and national levels. Adria comes from a fire service family; her mother is FM of OCFA. Adria started her career with Santa Ana FD as a Fire Prevention Reserve, then joined the Fountain Valley FD in 1999 as a Haz-Mat Specialist and promoted to Deputy FM in 2007 where she was responsible for the fire prevention, hazardous materials, public education, and emergency management programs. In 2014 she joined the Riverside County FD where she serves today.

Learn more aboutBuddy Showalter

Buddy Showalter

Senior Staff Engineer

International Code Council

Buddy Showalter is a senior staff engineer with the International Code Council's (ICC) product development group. He develops technical resources in support of the structural provisions of the International Building Code and International Residential Code. Showalter reviews publications authored by the Code Council and engineering groups, while also developing publications and technical seminars on the structural provisions of the International Codes for building departments, designers and special inspectors. He is the project lead in the development of Mass Timber Buildings and the IBC and associated education programs, jointly developed by ICC and the American Wood Council (AWC). A graduate of Virginia Tech, Showalter has also been a member of the editorial board for STRUCTURE magazine for more than 15 years. Before joining ICC, Showalter spent 26 years with AWC where he led its technology transfer program with oversight responsibility for publications, website, helpdesk, education and other technical media. He has more than 34 years of experience in the development and support of building codes and standards, publishing more than 60 technical articles for industry-related trade journals.

Learn more aboutJonathan Carl

Jonathan Carl

Senior Fire Protection Application Specialist

Victaulic

Johnathan Carl, CET, Victaulic. Johnathan Carl is a Senior Fire Protection Application Specialist at Victaulic. Johnathan holds multiple NICET certifications and multiple NFPA certifications. Johnathan has over 25 years in the Fire Protection Industry as a Sprinkler fitter, Project Manager, and lead inspector. Johnathan has served as a Captain for the South Whitehall Fire Department Engine 32 for 15 years and has also served as the AHJ for the Flakeboard/ Arauco wood plant in North Carolina. Johnathan currently serves on NFPA 14 as a principle committee member, NFPA 13 as an Alternate committee member and the NFSA/ NFPA 25 task force committee. Johnathan has delivered multiple Fire Protection seminars and training throughout the United States, South America, and Canada. Johnathan is member of NFPA, NFSA, ASCET, NICET and AFSA.

Learn more aboutMatt Hinds-Aldrich

Matt Hinds-Aldrich

Senior Risk Strategy Lead

American Association of Insurance Services

Learn more aboutMegan Fitzgerald-McGowan

Megan Fitzgerald-McGowan

Firewise USA® Program Manager

NFPA

Megan Fitzgerald-McGowan is a program specialist with the National Fire Protection Association’s Wildfire Division and the primary contact for the Firewise USA® program. Megan has a deep belief that a collaborative approach from all stakeholders is the best way to create a world safer from wildfire and other fire and life safety threats. She has been working in and around wildfire since 2003 and has held operational and dispatcher wildland fire qualifications. Before joining NFPA in 2017, Megan worked for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, serving as their Firewise state liaison for a year and a half. Megan holds a master’s degree in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho and a certificate in Fire Ecology, Management and Technology.

Learn more aboutRich Snyder

Rich Snyder

Fire Captain/Fire Marshal

Fire Marshal Rich Snyder is a native of Southern California. He began his fire career in 1986 with the Sierra Madre Fire Department. In 1990 Rich became a career Fire Prevention Specialist and has served as the City's Fire Marshal and Station Shift Captain since 1995. Rich holds State Certifications including Fire Investigator, Fire Protection Specialist, Fire Prevention Officer, Plans Examiner, and Wildfire Engine Boss among others. Throughout his career, he has served on many State and Local Wildland Code Development Committees and has responded to dozens of wildland fire incidents throughout the state of California as a Captain/Engine Boss. Rich was the first to successfully develop a unique ground application of Phos-Chek fire retardant, a program he’s utilized to protect the perimeter of the city of Pasadena’s iconic Rose Bowl and other wildfire-risk areas in the San Gabriel Valley, annually for the past 30 years.

Learn more aboutMichael O'Brian

Michael O'Brian

Fire Chief

Brighton Area Fire Authority

Michael O’Brian is the Fire Chief of the Brighton Area Fire Authority in Brighton MI. He is a past president of the Michigan Fire Chiefs Association and a current board member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs as well as the IAFC-Fire and Life Safety Section. Mr. O’Brian is the proud father of Amy and Elliott and also is the owner of Code Savvy Consultants, a code consulting firm which provided technical services to Business and governmental entities Michael has a core belief in physical fitness and is a co-owner of Kensington Valley CrossFit. He has been involved in code development since 2004 and has served on multiple ICC code development committees, is chair of the Fire Code Action Committee and has served on NFPA 1 as well as the residential sprinkler committee. Mike is also the 2021 winner of the ICC Robert W. Gain Fire Prevention Leadership Award.

Learn more aboutSteve Hawks

Steve Hawks

Staff Chief

CalFire, Wildfire Planning and Engineering

Chief Hawks has served since 1989 with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). He has promoted through the ranks from firefighter to his current position as Staff Chief of CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Planning and Engineering Division which encompasses oversight of Land Use Planning, Wildfire Prevention Engineering, CalStats, Fire Plan, and Fire Prevention Grants programs. Chief Hawks has been involved with several teaching cadres, served for 13 years on different CAL FIRE Incident Management Teams, and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forest Resource Management with a minor in Business Administration from Humboldt State University.

Learn more aboutRobert Davidson

Robert Davidson

Managing Partner

Davidson Code Concepts LLC

The Managing Partner of Davidson Code Concepts, LLC since 1990, Mr. Davidson has more than thirty-three years of experience in both the volunteer and career fire service as well as law enforcement, emergency management and EMS experience. With over 25 years as a code enforcer, he retired as Fire Marshal in charge of the Fire Safety Division of the South Brunswick Township Code Enforcement Department with responsibilities including enforcement of the NJ Uniform Fire Code and managing the Office of Emergency Management. He has experience teaching a variety of subjects involving health, safety and code enforcement for the International Association of Fire Fighters; the International Code Council; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; The NJ University of Medicine and Dentistry; Middlesex County College, Middlesex County NJ Fire Academy, University of North Carolina School of Architecture, Charlotte Campus and University of Texas-Arlington Campus. He has been a speaker at numerous NFPA World Safety Conferences as well as at state and regional code official conferences. He gained national recognition as the Chair of the International Code Council’s International Fire Code Development Committee. In September of 2006 he was the recipient of the International Code Council’s annual ‘ICC Fire Service Award’ which is presented in recognition of untiring support of and dedication to professional code enforcement and the fire protection profession and in 2011 he was awarded with an ICC Honorary Membership which is granted to an individual who has been recognized as having rendered outstanding service to the International Code Council.

Learn more aboutRob Rappaport

Rob Rappaport

Fire Marshal & Owner, Rappaport Consulting

Rappaport Consulting

Learn more aboutFrank Alvernaz

Frank Alvernaz

Director of Fire Life Safety

Helix Electric

Frank Alvernaz is the Director of Fire Life Safety for Helix Electric. He has over 30 years of experience in the life safety industry, specializing in fire alarm, security, and low voltage systems. Frank has been on the Board of Directors for the California Automatic Fire Alarm Association since 2014. Within CAFAA he is the Chairman of the Training Committee and sits on the advisory boards of the Ethics & Sponsorship Committees. Frank has an AA degree in Administrative Justice, is NICET certified, and recently obtained his FCC license for GROL with radar endorsement. His passion for the fire alarm industry also translates into his dedication and commitment to his family and community. Frank is the Past-President of the Ponderosa Junior Bruins Football Program, a feeder program to the high school, overlooking more than 250 youths participating in football and cheer. He has coached his two sons in both football and baseball since they were both very young. Frank is currently focusing this season on helping coach his youngest son in his first year of high school football.

Learn more aboutRocque Yballa

Rocque Yballa

Lead Designated Campus Fire Marshal

UCSF Campus & Medical Center

Rocque Yballa is a Designated Campus Fire Marshal for University of California at San Francisco. He retired as Division Chief and Fire Marshal serving the cities of Burlingame, Hillsborough, and Millbrae in San Mateo County. He has over 30 years of fire service experience with concentrations in fire prevention and emergency management. As an instructor, he has been part of many cadres completing certification curriculum development for the State of California and has recently retired from teaching Company Officer Courses, Fire Science and Incident Command System at City College of San Francisco. As a member and past president of the California Fire Chiefs’ Association, FPO Section - North; Rocque currently serves as Marketing & Membership Co-chair, and formally served as chairs for Legislative, Fire Code and Hazardous Materials as well.

Learn more aboutKirk Greenwood