A Publication of Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association, Inc.
winter 2014
Building the Brand
Presidents’ Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 “Hello? FAMA Calling.”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Governmental Affairs Committee (US). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fire Service Forecast: Data-Driven Decision Making. . . . . . . 5 Welcome New Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Spring Meeting Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Fall Meeting Wrap-Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16 Date change for fall meeting . . . . . . . . . 15 A Letter From Bill Webb. . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 In Memoriam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars. . . . . 17 Trade Show Report Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Member News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-23 FAMA Board Listing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 2014 Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Pages 2-3 Presidents’ Messages
Page 5 Data-Driven Decisions
Page 7 Spring Meeting Schedule
Pages 8-16 Fall Meeting Wrap-Up
Presidents’ Messages By Bruce Whitehouse
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s I look back over events of the past year, I am inspired by the accomplishments: two great membership meetings with dynamic speakers,
improved statistics reporting, lots of beneficial activity with the Technical Committee, and a very successful outcome from GAC initiatives.
It couldn’t, and wouldn’t, happen without the efforts of many, so please join me in extending a heartfelt “thank you” to our 2013 Board plus our committee chairs and members for their commitments and contributions during this past year. And the acknowledgements wouldn’t be complete without an extra special thanks to Harold Boer for his quiet, effective leadership. I learned a lot from Harold during this past year, not the least of which was the value in distilling things down to the basics. I recall him stating that the role of an industry trade association was to improve the business conditions and profitability of its members. As Harold notes in his message for this issue of the FAMA Flyer, the focused activities of last year all contributed, in one way or another, to helping improve business and business conditions — and thereby profitability — for our members. As we move along in 2014, I look forward to helping build upon past
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successes. In doing so, I really want us to advance the FAMA brand. I believe building brand awareness will, by extension, enhance the brand, the business conditions, and the profitability of our members — all the while serving the needs of the fire service and our first responders. To that end, your Board has identified and will be focusing on the following three major initiatives for 2014: • Improving continuity. Experience has shown that the same initiatives are often restarted each year with the incoming president. As a volunteer organization, we need to focus on delivering increased value to our members. We’ll discuss this in more detail at the Spring Meeting; • Contracting with an outside agency to provide expanded analysis of our currently available stats. This initiative has been on the books for several years. We’ve made some good progress but it is time to harness the value of our statistics — a differentiator that can
provide significant benefit to our membership; and, • Enhancing member engagement through expanded committee involvement as well as using our strong asset base to provide superior meeting experiences and encourage all members to attend. Of course, we remain committed to furthering the work of our Technical and GAC committees and we have a number of programs that need our ongoing support and resources. Be sure to watch for more information on the FAMA roundtable session to be held right after the Technical Committee Meeting at FDIC. This new initiative promises to be a great opportunity to help fire service professionals and build the FAMA brand at the same time. The theme for our 2014 Spring Meeting, “Imagine the Future,” is inspired by the success of organizations like Disney and represents our meeting focus of imagining, and imagineering, the future of FAMA. A solid agenda is developing that will ensure great content and take-a-ways, plus real value as well as unique networking opportunities. Registration is now open. Simply go to www.fama.org for meeting information and hotel reservations. I look forward to seeing each of you at the Spring Meeting in March in Orlando, FL. ◉
Presidents’ Messages by Harold Boer
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here did 2013 go? As I write this, we have just finished our 2014 FAMA planning meeting. It was a time to review this past
year’s activities and set some new initiatives for 2014. I would like to thank the committees and all the chair people for all their work. As a volunteer organization, this work can sometimes take the place
of your day to day responsibilities. We made some good progress on our 2013 initiatives; one being more timely reporting of statistics. Thanks to the hard work of Jack McLaughlin and Peggy McKeever, this year we were able to review stats at our FAMA meeting. Next year, we hope to have a proposal on how to enhance statistics and get more info from the data.
The Tech Committee has been very busy and a major accomplishment is the Apparatus Safety Guide. This should be available for our members by the Spring Meeting.
initiative for 2014 is to review the Board management structure and how we can be more effective. I want to thank the Board for their assistance and thank Karen for keeping us all on task and for all she does for FAMA. I know Bruce and the Board will continue to advance the mission of FAMA and the ongoing projects are in good hands. I encourage all members to become engaged in FAMA activities. Join and become active on a committee. A trade association is what its members make of it. Thanks, Harold Boer
As FAMA moves to more involvement in the industry, the workload for the Board increases. An
Past President
Marketing Committee
“Hello? FAMA calling.” Expect a call from someone on the Marketing Committee. By Andrew Lingel In an effort to
further promote FAMA throughout the industry, FAMA Marketing members are contacting member companies to request that you add the FAMA logo to the home page on your company website along with a link to the FAMA website. Our goal is to increase FAMA’s visibility. The FAMA member logo is slightly different than the official logo and is
posted, in two formats, in the secure member area of the FAMA website. Simply log in, read the guidance on usage, and download the logo for use on your corporate website. The Marketing Committee is also updating the FAMA brochure and the one-page overview known as The Top 10 Reasons to Join FAMA. We’re due for an update as the current brochure was designed in 2002! The plan is to have the new brochure and overview ready in time for FDIC.
One of the Marketing Committee’s tasks is to monitor and make updates to the FAMA website. An area of particular interest to FAMA members is the buyer’s guide where users can search by product and find FAMA companies that can meet their needs. The buyer’s guide is tied to member profiles so please take the time to update your company’s profile at least once a year to ensure your listing includes accurate information. Finally, the FAMA Marketing Committee welcomes Curt Ignacio as our new FAMA board liaison starting January 1, 2014. Welcome, Curt! ◉
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governmental affairs corner
Yet Another Round of Washington Battles By Dave Gatton
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n early November, FEMA opened the application period for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant process that will award FY 2013 funds. Earlier in the year, the
SAFER applications were received and are under current review by the DHS. Yes, folks, there is still part of the
government that functions! Given political gridlock that has failed to enact a single appropriations bill by so-called regular order, a subsequent government shutdown that left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth, and a lackluster economy, is there any room for looking on the bright side of life? Well, the answer is “yes”—sort of. It is an incredible feat that the fire coalition, consisting of organizations such as CFSI, IAFF, IAFC, NVFC, FAMA and FEMSA—I trust you know what the acronyms stand for— have remained vigilant and united in speaking with one voice in support of the fire grants programs, as well as others. In my 35 years of experience in Washington, D.C., I can say with certainty that it is because of this cooperation, collaboration and mutual support, that we have been able to retain much needed assistance to local fire and emergency response departments across the country. The fire coalition is truly unique in this regard and we must do everything we can to maintain and nurture it. As we move to 2014, I want to commend both FAMA and FEMSA members who have supported the
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organizations that comprise the fire coalition. You have attended CFSI’s Fire Dinner faithfully (and the FAMA/ FEMSA Hill Day held in conjunction with it); you have supported the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which works with the families of the fallen (our own John Granby at the 2013 annual gathering in Emmitsburg, MD, rang
This is an incredible victory … and everyone is to be congratulated! the ceremonial bell in honor of those fallen); you have held Home Days across the country to help educate elected leaders and congressional offices about the important role the AFG and SAFER programs play and how the programs help to create jobs here at home; and in your own communities you have promoted the importance of the fire service in its growing and changing role within neighborhoods and our national response system. Congratulations. But as always our work is never done! The House and Senate Budget Committees actually reached an agreement to pass a budget for FY 2014. This means that over the holidays
Appropriations Committee staffers revised their appropriations bills to meet the new “top line” budget numbers.. We are pleased to report that House and Senate appropriators have agreed on the details of an omnibus appropriations bill for 2014 funding of all the federal agencies and that the measure receives strong bi-partisan support. Better yet, the bill provides funding of $340 million for each of the AFG and SAFER programs for FY 2014. This is an incredible victory for the fire service coalition and everyone is to be congratulated! The good news is both sides found common ground and sought to avoid a government shutdown that would be injurious to the economy. The budget deficit was $680 billion in 2013, down from over $1 trillion in FY 2012—a significant decrease but still too high. And, economic forecasters predict GDP growth in 2014 will be 2.7%—not great but better than 2013. The nation’s mayors, in a report prepared by IHS Global Insight, predict that in 2014 all but four of the nation’s 363 metro areas will experience expanding economies. The important thing is not to become cynical. Congress, at least for now, has come to its senses. We still live in the best country in the world and at some point soon, we will find an equilibrium in our politics that merits the integrity of our governmental institutions and the commitment of the American people to democracy and the challenges of our day. Saddle up. We ride another year. Let’s hope it’s smoother going in 2014. ◉
Follow the Numbers
Fire Service Forecast: Data-Driven Decision Making By Paul C. Darley President and CEO, W.S. Darley & Company
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n the movie “Money Ball,” Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane uses statistical information to create a winning baseball team. You can do the same with your fire
department, company, or just about any organization.
“Where is the fire industry headed?” and “When will it turn around?” are the two most common questions I hear from those in the fire industry trying to navigate through these difficult times. No one knows for sure, but there are a lot of industry data we can use to help answer these challenging questions.
Data-Driven Decisions I’ve always been a believer in datadriven decisions. When it comes to figuring where this industry is headed, I turn to sources such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National League of Cities (NLC), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA)—just to name a few. Each organization collects data that it shares with the public and its membership. Here are a few highlights of the data published from these different organizations. The NFPA has an excellent research section on its Web site. One of the best reports is the Annual Fire Loss Report published each year in September. It is filled with more statistics than you can ever absorb, but high-level trends certainly emerge. For example, there were 1.375 million fires and 2,855 firerelated deaths in 2012. This was down one percent from the previous year and
down more than 55 percent compared to 1977, when there were 3.3 million fires and 7,400 deaths. Fires accounted for only four percent of the 31.8 million calls in 2012, while 68 percent were EMS calls. The search feature of the IAFC’s Web site is great, and there are more articles on fire industry statistics than you can imagine. I encourage you to go to its Web site and type in the words “Fire Stats.” You’ll be hit with 2,500 records ranked by relevance. You can quickly narrow this down through a refined search on the topic of your choice.
City finance officers report that they are now better able to meet their financial needs than at any time since 2007. The NLC publishes the single best annual report for determining the future health of America’s cities, the “Research Brief on America’s Cities.” The 2013 report, released in midOctober, covers survey results from cities with populations ranging from 10,000 to three million residents. This report covers everything from building permit reports to spending activities. City finance officers report that they are now better able to meet
their financial needs than at any time since 2007. This extremely favorable news is based on increased revenues and cuts in services. The report also addresses the 18- to 24-month lag between the general economy and municipal budgets. The NVFC’s Web site has a section devoted entirely to statistics. There are 756,450 volunteer firefighters in the United States comprising 69 percent of the nation’s fire service. Of the 30,145 departments in the country, 20,200 are all volunteer, 5,530 are mostly volunteer, 1,865 are mostly career, and 2,550 are all career. The number of volunteer firefighters in the United States has declined by more than 18 percent since 1984. Major factors contributing to the decline include increased time demands and less focus on volunteering-this at a time when the average age of volunteers is increasing significantly. The FAMA Web site also has some great tools, such as a weight and cube calculator to determine how much equipment can fit on your new truck. All United States fire apparatus manufacturers submit statistics on the number of new vehicle orders and those shipped each quarter. This detailed report is only for members, but the FAMA board has given me permission to share the following: New orders for fire apparatus have increased recently. In the first quarter of 2013, new orders were up about 25 percent compared to the same period in 2011 and 2012. New orders were up five percent compared to the last quarter W W W. FA M A .O R G
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Follow the Numbers of 2012. The second quarter of 2013 continued strong, with new orders up 17 percent over the same period last year. If this trend were to continue, annual sales would be up 25 percent compared to 2012. This is a big IF, as I don’t think the trend will continue. The numbers are skewed because of some large, nonmunicipal orders in these quarters. Regardless, it’s very favorable news.
Analysis Key take-aways from the above research include the following: • Communities are reporting far fewer fires, but fire departments are responding to more calls than ever— primarily EMS. Municipal fire chiefs are clearly focused on budgets and doing more with less and they are worried about the rank and file. On the whole, the budget outlook looks better than it has in the past six years. • Volunteer fire chiefs have never found it more challenging to find qualified recruits. • Although the market for fire apparatus is improving, fire apparatus manufacturers and their dealers are fighting for market share in a depressed market. It’s a good time for departments to buy new apparatus, as prices are competitive and reflect savings that won’t be available once the next round of NFPA 1901 changes takes effect in 2015. • Multipurpose vehicles are here to stay. From big cities to small volunteer departments, vehicles that can respond to all calls make economic sense while addressing staffing and true response needs. Although I can’t say the market has finally turned the corner, the above is
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WELCOME NEW FAMA MEMBERs very positive news. In 2012, the United States municipal market was still down more than 40 percent compared to its zenith in 2008 when the market peaked at more than 5,000 trucks. Historically, our industry has relied on large municipal orders, and these have slowed during the past five years.
We’ll likely see the market settle into a “new normal” of 4,250 to 4,500 new fire apparatus sales per year. Because of this, we are starting to see some pent-up demand, particularly in larger cities as municipal budgets show a more positive outlook. This, however, is tempered by a reduction in AFG grant funding and a lower percentage of awards being made for fire apparatus. Fire department budgets are no longer sacred cows when it comes to municipal spending cuts. Fire chiefs need to fight for their share of the improving pie. Those who go to the city finance manager armed with the proper statistics will clearly improve their chances of winning budget approval. Once the dust settles over the next year or two, I project that we’ll likely see the market settle into a “new normal” of 4,250 to 4,500 new fire apparatus sales per year. ◉ PAUL C. DARLEY is president and CEO of W.S. Darley & Co. He is a past president of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) and served on the board of directors of the Fire & Emergency Manufacturers & Services Association (FEMSA). He has a bachelor of science degree in marketing and finance and a master’s degree in business administration.
This article originally appeared in the December 2013 edition of Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment.
Custom Truck & Body Works, Inc. Sam Snider, President 13787 White House Road Woodbury, GA 30293 Tel: 706-553-9178 samcustomworks@aol.com www.customtruckandbodyworks.com About:
Custom Truck & Body Works specializes in custom built, specialty emergency vehicles. Our expert engineering and fabrication staff can design and build an apparatus from small, utility-type units to fully customized medium and heavy-duty all-aluminum units. With over a century of collective experience in quality emergency vehicle design and construction, our production department can build a vehicle to meet your department’s exact needs and requirements.
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Firetrucks Unlimited offers a variety of fire apparatus and equipment services to municipal, government and volunteer fire departments. Our team includes former firefighters who will work with you to design a brush truck customized to meet your specific needs while staying within your budget. Our wildland fire apparatus comes with the best warranty in the industry, and our knowledgeable staff is always available to answer your questions. Our Type 6 Brush Truck is quick, tough and effective, and is an essential tool when facing challenging fire fighting situations. Firetrucks Unlimited also offers used fire trucks for sale, fire truck refurbishment, and ambulance remounts.
2014 Spring Meeting Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, Florida MEETING REGISTRATION AND HOTEL RESERVATION INFORMATION IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FAMA WEBSITE HOME PAGE.
Preliminary Schedule of Meetings & Events (as of 1/10/14 — subject to change)
Saturday, March 22 Arrival 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Hospitality
Suite Open Committee meetings (scheduled by committee chairs)
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM PM
Welcome Reception Dinner on your own
Sunday, March 23
7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Board of Directors’ Meeting
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Board of Directors’ Meeting (w/Committee Chairs)
11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Hospitality Suite Open
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Golf Tournament
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Monday, March 24
New Member/First Timer Reception Dinner on your own
7:30 AM – 1:00 PM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Optional Group Activity: Disney Backstage Tour (See the website for details and cost.)
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Reception
7:00 PM
Banquet
Tuesday, March 25
7:30 AM – 1:00 PM
FAMA Membership Meeting
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Wednesday, March 26
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FAMA Membership Meeting
Spouse/Guest Program: Truffle and Trifles – A Creative Cooking Experience
Hospitality Suite Open (exclusive of dinner hours)
Hospitality Suite Open Afternoon Open Departure
FAMA Fall Meeting Recap By Karen Burnham
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he FAMA fall meeting is the second of two membership meetings held each year. The fall meeting is held in conjunction with the annual meeting of FEMSA, and it’s pretty much “all business.” While there are great
opportunities for networking, this conference is jammed packed with back-to-back professional, qualified speakers who provide great value and educational content. A portion of the conference includes FAMA’s business meeting. Unlike the meeting in the spring, the fall meeting is a time to tie up the loose ends on projects and committee activities, and to move forward into the coming year with renewed expectations. A new “twist” to this meeting was a breakout session of small member groups who openly discussed: (1) Should FAMA offer a “Stats Only” Membership?; (2) Should the Board explore the concept of revising membership eligibility criteria to include refurb shops?; (3) Interest level and ranking of 10 speaker topics; (4) Suggestions to increase the value of FAMA’s Statistics Program; and (5) Discussion topics for the FAMA Roundtable Program at FDIC 2014. Board members served as moderators of the group sessions, and summarized their discussions with members in attendance. An important component of the fall meeting is the board election. The Nominating Committee has the daunting task to identify qualified members who are willing to carve out a significant amount of time from their businesses and personal lives to help represent the interests of the membership. By acclamation, the slate of board nominees submitted by the committee was voted by those
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members present at the meeting. Congratulations to the 2014 FAMA Board of Directors:
you to 2013 President Harold Boer for a year well run and well done. His meetings were concise, timely, and he has a keen ability to be sure things got done. The baton passes to Bruce Whitehouse in 2014—FAMA’s first president from Canada. Surely Bruce will leave his mark, as those have before him. It’s lining up to be a busy and exciting year, and I look forward to it. ◉
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President Bruce Whitehouse Vice President Phil Gerace Treasurer David Durstine Secretary Scott Edens Past President Harold Boer Sr. Director-at-Large Steve Toren Jr. Director-at-Large Curt Ignacio Year after year, significant time, effort and resources are spent to continue a determined, forward-moving pace. Each year brings forth new challenges, new ideas, new leadership, and strong determination to succeed. Thank
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1. Richard Young of Performance Advantage Co. leads the plate-filling exercise. 2. First-time attendee Colin Chambless of Kusmaul’s Electronics chats with Grady North of E-ONE 3. FAMA and FEMSA members meet and greet. 4. M ichael Bowman (right), with Spartan Chassis, is on a roll. 5. “Staying Fit on the Road” Fire Drill participants (l to r): Joe Skey, FireRescue Magazine/FirefighterNation.com; Kimberly Henry, PBI Performance Products; (unidentified), Bruce Whitehouse, AMDOR; Paul Bostrom, Brostrom (H.O.) Company; Johan Gidstedt, Tempest Technology; moderator Crosby Grindle, FireRescue GPO; (back to camera: John McNulty, Municipal Emergency Services). 6. Ron Ziegler of Seats Inc. (left) talks with Mike Adams of Ziamatic Corp. 7. L eft: Bill Ballantyne from PyroLance North America; Right: Rich Suche of Fort Garry Fire Trucks, at the Welcome Reception. W W W. FA M A .O R G
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fall meeting recap
Dr. Basu’s “Rebound” Dr. Anirban Basu joined us in Tampa for the Fall Meeting, and once again he proved that economics can be informative, engaging and entertaining. by Bruce Whitehouse
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n his address titled “Going up for the Rebound,” Dr. Basu suggested that the global economy has been getting better, although the overall pace of growth has slowed. The US and Canadian economies are increasing
at a rate of about 1.7% annually. This compares favorably with about 1.2% aggregate growth for the advanced economies but lags the emerging developing countries at 5%. These comparisons are important because, as we all know, our supply chains and our sales are increasingly impacted by global market conditions. In the Fall of 2012, Dr. Basu had predicted that 2013 could have a more positive look if federal politicians were to work together and if pressures from other parts of the world receded. Given that the political climate in Washington hasn’t improved and that other parts of the world continue to struggle, it shouldn’t be surprising that overall growth is still sluggish in the US. In his outlook, Dr. Basu reiterated a statement from previous years: that consumers continue to practice what he calls “retail therapy.” Consumer spending has risen 4.7% over last year—and this at a time when
the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index is at 79.9%. With 90% the benchmark for a “confident” indicator, the current rating reflects
the pressures of high unemployment, home prices that continue to stay below pre-recession levels, rising mortgage rates and increasing federal deficit. But consumers, who represent two-thirds of the economy, continue to spend aggressively. And we should be glad they are doing so. The Conference Board Leading Economic Indicator Index—a composite of leading indicators— was at 96.6 in August 2013. This contrasts to a benchmark of 100 in August 2004. Overall, the index has proven to be extremely reliable and its current status reflects flat public capital spending, an increasingly “part time job” environment, geopolitical influences and the anticipated tapering by the Federal Reserve. Overall, Dr. Basu concluded that export markets will continue to play an increasing role in our economies and that 2014 should be a “good” year—especially if the US and Canadian dollars stay soft versus major international currencies. ◉
Thank you to Task Force Tip’s Rod Carringer for providing photos of the fall meetings in Tampa.
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fall meeting recap
Speakers on Healthcare Reform and the Gen Y Workforce Following the always popular Fire Drill and afternoon break, our final two program parts covered the timely topics of health care reform and effective ways to deal with the next generation of workers. By Judy Weigand
Larry Grudzien, an attorney practicing exclusively in the field of employee benefits, presented “Health Care Reform Changes — What is Effective for 2014 and 2015.” Grudzien acknowledged that while many changes related to health care reform were due to take effect on October 1—only three days after our meeting— features of implementation were still unclear and unsettled. Grudzien presented an amazing array of reform-related information on notices, fees, taxes, waiting periods, pre-existing condition clauses, out-of-pocket limits, wellness programs, the employer mandate, reporting requirements, cost-sharing requirements, employer credits and subsidies, fully insured and self-insured plans, plan rules and cost control suggestions. (Whew!) Time was allowed for questions and there were many! Michael Booth and Tom Hutchinson from Mid American Group, a company specializing in employee benefits, presented the topic “Finding, Training, Motivating, and Keeping the Next
Michael Booth, left; Tom Hutchinson, right Generation of Workers.” Focusing on “Gen Y” or the “Millennials,” the 63 million Americans born between the years of 1980 and 1985, Booth and Hutchinson helped us to understand the traits of this generation that will make up more than 40% of our workforce by the year 2020. Millennials want to work, but they don’t want work to be their life. They carry, on average, a student loan debt of $26,600. They are very tied to their parents. In
looking for jobs, they use social media, job boards, search engines, and career sites. Interviewing tips were presented as were recruiting tactics, training tips, perks that will attract and keep Gen Y, and an outline of who their “dream boss” would be. For review, or for those who were not able to attend, PowerPoint slides from both presentations are available in the member area of the FAMA website. ◉
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A big Thank You to the sponsors of our 2013 Annual/Fall Meetings in Tampa, Florida PennWell
FEMSA/FAMA Hospitality Suite
FIRE GROUP
FOR WEB ONLY
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and
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Fall 2013 • FEMSA.org
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fall meeting recap
Fire Chiefs’ Roundtable: Vision 2020 — What the Fire Service Will Look Like By Janet Wilmoth The fifth annual Fire Chiefs’ Roundtable at the FEMSA/FAMA Annual
Meeting in Tampa was once again moderated by Dennis Compton, retired chief of Mesa, AZ. Fire chief participants included: Chief Brian Crawford, Plano, TX; Chief David Downey, Miami-Dade Fire Dept.; Dr. Bruce Moeller, Pinellas Co., FL; Chief John Pope, Collinsville, MS; and Chief Edward “Loy” Senter, Chesterfield, VA. Before answering a series of questions submitted by the FEMSA/ FAMA members, each chief offered opening comments. Chief Brian Crawford, recently appointed chief in Plano Fire Department, offered his priorities for the department, as well as the introduction of a new “priority dispatch” system that he believed would be “efficient, effective and useful” in the Plano community.
Chief John Pope stated that many departments are facing budget cuts and fire station closings, but in a smalltown community like Collinsville, Pope said, “It’s an even tougher sell.” Pope’s department is preparing to purchase a new apparatus to replace one from 1980. “We see all the new innovations, but if we look at it from a cost experience, the bigger the unit, the bigger the costs.”
Metro Chief David Downey commented, “We know that politics drives our service from a federal to a local level. It’s critical that we continue to justify the service that we provide.” Questions on staffing and apparatus are continuous according to the chief. “At the end of the day, we’re still going to need people,” he added. In a department with 250,000 annual calls, Downey said, “We’re only touching ten percent of the community. How do we get the value out and to the other ninety percent? It’s important that we strategize to get the message out about the value of the fire service.” Dr. Bruce Moeller, executive director for Safety & Emergency Services, Pinellas County, concurred with Chief Downey and addressed the loss of federal funding and how funding now rests with local government. “Fire deaths and injuries are at our lowest levels ever,” said Moeller and questioned whether firefighters need to be on duty 24/7. He added, “Predictive approaches and analytics will be integral. There’s going to be a need to collaborate and consolidate among departments.” During the question and answer portion of the program, topics ranged from consolidation to PPE to trade shows. Among the notable comments: When purchasing personal protective equipment, what’s important?
Roundtable participants, l to r: Bruce Moeller, Chief David Downey, Chief Brian Crawford, Chief John Pope, Chief Loy Senter
Chief Crawford responded that price is very far down the line. He looks at the application to interface with the equipment and he wants to talk to other W W W. FA M A .O R G
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fall meeting recap people who are using the equipment. “Price is a little bit down the road unless it’s significantly different.” he added, “Predictive approaches and analytics will be integral. There’s going to be a need to collaborate and consolidate among departments.” Chief Downey said he questioned the end result of the PPE and the benefit to his firefighters and community. In addition, “How does it fit with our neighboring departments— whether equipment or apparatus.” Are committees used in purchasing? Chief Senter supported the use of committees. “The challenge I have is that I want to design the best fire truck, but we have got to get back to what we need and not what we want.” Chief Crawford shared that Plano Fire Department is in the process of implementing a new program that will put two paramedics in an SUV versus running a 40,000 pound vehicle on medical calls. “We have to become a change-oriented culture. Let’s be the
change agent and start embracing those changes.” Firefighters are being asked to do more with less. What one innovation would you like most? Chief Crawford responded, “GIS— to monitor firefighters’ location and their health.”
ultimately responsible and he will have to sell the administrators. Chief Crawford referred to himself as the “end user” and does his research by going to IAFC’s Fire-Rescue International with a list of vendors that he wants to see and he walks the floor at least twice.
Chief Downey stated, “Apparatus design. Look at apparatus design today versus thirty years ago. They are the same design trucks.”
What about alternative fuels and green technology for the fire service?
Chief Pope commented on turnout gear. “We have seen so many changes in the last forty years…hats off to the manufacturers. Now we have different types of clothing that doesn’t fatigue firefighters.”
Chief Crawford turned the question around and told the audience, “Bring us the apparatus that is affordable… You build it, it works, we will buy it.”
Trade shows — What is your take in participating in trade shows and are they of value to you? Chief Loy actively sends his committees to conferences around the nation. Dr. Moeller shared that it depends on the product line, but the chief is
Dr. Moeller looks forward to the day when it’s affordable and practical.
In their final comments, the chiefs were encouraging the FAMA/FEMSA membership to work with the fire service to attain similar goals of better equipment and safety for firefighters. Chief Downey stated, “We need to continue to work together, both trade and the fire service. I welcome the continued opportunities to work with manufacturers. ◉
Bill Bruns Inducted as Honorary Member FAMA veteran and industry icon Bill Bruns was called to center stage at
the fall meeting banquet by 2013 President Harold Boer. On behalf of the FAMA Board of Directors, Boer inducted Bruns as a FAMA Honorary Member. This is a distinction earned by a unique group of past FAMA members for exemplary and selfless efforts in advancing the industry.
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Past recipients include: Al Burnham (2000), Bob Barraclough (2001), Mike Waldoch (2002), George Sztykiel (2003), Kit Cafaro (2004), Bill Darley (2004), and now Bill Bruns (2013). Congratulations, Bill, and thank you for your wisdom and leadership over the years. ◉
fall meeting recap
Yield to the Future by Grady North
J
ack Uldrich, a renowned global futurist and the author of eleven books, provided a thought-provoking presentation entitled “Why the Future of the
Meeting Date Change
Fire and Emergency Industry Will Demand Unlearning.”
Jack bills himself as the founder and chief unlearning officer of the school of unlearning. Our minds are often programmed to see what we are familiar with — not what is actually there. When Uldrich asked attendees what a yield sign looks like, many folks described a sign like this:
But others—mostly younger attendees—said the sign looks like this:
Uldrich brought home the point that yield signs throughout the U.S. haven’t been yellow and black for more than 40 years. Another focus of Uldrich’s presentation was the idea that businesses need to stay ahead of emerging technologies. Who would have thought, a few years ago, that an individual could buy a 3-D printer and download the instructions on how to print a working plastic gun? Uldrich asked how 3-D printing and other new technologies are going to change the way we do business. Everything from how we train (think: electronic simulators instead of physical equipment) to how products are sold, is rapidly changing in our society. Uldrich’s well-received presentation provided a window for viewing and thinking about the future in a different way. ◉
Holy Frijoles! Due to record-breaking attendance at the 2013 Fall Meeting in Tampa, and the need for a larger hotel room block going forward, the date of the 2014 FAMA Fall Meeting/FEMSA Annual Meeting has been changed to October 1-4, 2014 at the San Antonio Marriott. Please update your calendar.
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fall meeting recap
Ending on High Notes by Karen Burnham
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he final event of the FEMSA/FAMA annual conference is the farewell banquet. All members and guests enjoyed a fine dinner, additional networking opportunities, and a
recap of the meeting segments held over the last couple of days. Special thanks to Whelen Engineering for sponsoring the dinner, and to FireRescue1.com for sponsoring the dinner open bar and providing its “challenge coin” to all dinner attendees. Throughout the dinner, a slideshow of past meetings was enjoyed. FAMA President Harold Boer and FEMSA President Dan Reese shared a few closing remarks in appreciation to all who participated in this year’s conference. With his president’s term coming to a close after leading the charge for five years in that post, Dan Reese called to the podium all members of the FEMSA Board and staff. He recognized them for their dedication, hard work and friendship, and presented a gift to each as a token of his appreciation and gratitude. The finale of the evening was the “Marshmallow Challenge” orchestrated by FEMSA board member Giff Swayne. The Marshmallow Challenge is a remarkably fun and instructive design exercise that encourages teams or groups of folks to experience simple but profound lessons in collaboration, innovation and creativity. The task was simple: In 18 minutes, each dinner table of guests was to build the tallest free-standing structure
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out of 20 sticks (l to r): Frederic Lefrancois and Jeff Sadler, both of Wildfire of spaghetti, one and Jim Maher of Trident Emergency Products LLC, enjoy the yard of tape, one challenge at hand. yard of string, and one marshmallow which was to be placed on the top of the structure. A countdown stopwatch was displayed and moderator Swayne periodically announced the time remaining, adding varying levels of pressure to the task. Surprising lessons emerged when comparing teams’ performances. Who tends to do the worst? Why? Who tends to do the best? Why? What improves performance? What kills it? In the end, two teams tied for the win with each winning participant receiving a Starbucks gift card. Congratulations to: Table #9 participants Jeff Burns, Tim Doane, Scott Edens, Don Fishel, Dave Gatton, John McNulty, Pat Miner, Lee Morris, and Scott Warbritton — and — Table #16 participants Steve Asthalter, Barbara Connolly, John Evans, Jim Everett, Bill and Norma Franz, Chick
(l to r): Jim Everett (standing), and Dick Young, both of Performance Advantage Co., and Karen Mandel of Hi-Tech Fire & Safety ponder the task at hand with input from their table mates. (This table was a winner in the building contest.) Granito, Karen Mandel, Jim Walter, and Dick Young Plans are underway for the 2014 conference with a new date: October 1-4 — in San Antonio, TX. The fall conferences only get bigger and better, so plan now to be part of it. ◉
In Memoriam
Greetings. I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to attend the FEMSA/FAMA Annual Meeting in Tampa and provide an update on federal issues impacting the fire and emergency services. I didn’t realize that my good friend Chief Dennis Compton put in a good word about CFSI during the Roundtable discussion that he facilitated and where he suggested that you join the CFSI Associates Club Program. I’d like to briefly explain the purpose of the Associates Club Program. As I mentioned in my own presentation, CFSI is a privately-funded organization. We do not receive grants or any other support from the federal government— even through the AFG program which we have fought so hard to preserve for the past 13 years. CFSI’s Associates Club Program is geared to individuals who are interested in helping us further our mission to educate members of Congress about the challenges facing our nation’s one million first responders. So here’s your opportunity to help the one organization in Washington, DC that builds partnerships in our nation’s capital to advance the fire service agenda. I’m hoping you can find a level of support that you could pledge to help us in our mission. By pledging, you will help make a difference on Capitol Hill for our nation’s firefighters and rescue personnel. Sincerely,
Bill Webb Executive Director Congressional Fire Services Institute
SAVE THE DATE Seize this opportunity to meet with your members of Congress, network with your peers from the fire service, and increase your understanding of federal fire services programs by attending our seminars program. CFSI 26th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner and Seminars April 30 - May 1, 2014
Roman Kaminski A Friend of the Fire Service Like No Other by Bill Webb
Roman Kaminiski never wore the turnout gear but he was one of the most dedicated and committed members of the fire service. Sadly, Roman died of a heart attack at the age of 92 on November 15, 2013. For many years he was the IFBA’s representative to the CFSI National Advisory Committee. In 1997, his fellow NAC members selected him to serve as the committee’s chairman for consecutive terms in 1997 and 1998. A consummate gentleman, leader, successful businessman and benefactor to the community, Roman was highly respected by his fellow NAC members for his integrity, character and dedication. He gave 70+ years of service to Baltimore City Fire Department. In gratitude, the BCFD named a fire station in Roman’s honor. Roman will be missed and never forgotten. ◉
Thanks to
Eric Schlett Lyle Hoyt
Senior Vice President
Vice President — Fire Group
The FAMA Board and Membership gratefully acknowledge the generosity of PennWell Fire Group management and staff for the design and printing of the Flyer.
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TRADE SHOW REPORT CARD By Summer Johnston and Ken Nielsen
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future. We can set up an area outside for demos too.
he 2013 trade show season has come to an end. We have a lot of information for you and hope you find it useful. Thank you to tradeshow
Q: Is the NYSAFC considering ending the show early on Saturday?
management at PennWell, NYSAFC, Cygnus and the IAFC for answering
questions gathered from post-show surveys.
A: Not at this point in time. Q: Is the NYSAFC working with the city to reduce hotel rates during the show?
FAMA members, please remember to fill out trade show surveys when you are notified by email. Participation is essential so we have reliable statistics for this report.
FDIC (Fire Department Instructors Conference) Indianapolis, IN April 25-27, 2013 Q: Is PennWell working on anything to increase FDIC’s Saturday attendance? A: Saturday attendee promotion will be amplified for 2014 with exclusive Special Events and grand-prize giveaways. (Must be present to win). In addition, there will be unique marketing campaign elements to include geo-targeted newspaper print ad and radio spots, as well as a dedicated HTML (e-blast) and social media campaign. Q: What is PennWell doing to keep exhibit cost from increasing?
A: Staging on Sunday is too early. It is something we have looked at in the past, but it was not workable for many of the larger booths. We will look into it again with Brede and will revisit and discuss at the 2014 exhibitor roundtable.
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Firehouse Expo Baltimore, MD July 25-27, 2013 Q: What are Cygnus’s plans to bring in more exhibitors to the 2014 show?
NY Chiefs (FIRE 2013) Verona, NY June 13-15, 2013 Q: Is NYSAFC working on anything to increase attendance? A: We are expanding our advertising outside of New York and requiring full-term registration to increase the number of days attended. Q: Is it possible to set up live demo areas in the middle of the exhibit floors where vendors can sign up to provide a demo?
A: PennWell is always working with our vendors to keep costs as low as possible A: We are always open to new for exhibitors. This is especially evident ideas; NYSAFC is a firm believer by our long term contract with the city that anything can be done in the of Indianapolis. However, keeping cost down for YEARLY GPA firefighters and their department’s remains of TRADE SHOW 2010 2011 paramount importance 2.92 2.99 FIREHOUSE WORLD to ensure their ability to 3.14 3.44 FDIC attend FDIC. 3.33 2.76 NY CHIEFS Q: Staging on Sunday 2.88 2.36 FIREHOUSE EXPO is too early. Can it be 2.48 2.63 FRI moved to Monday? PA EXPO
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A: We entered a three-year contract which has one year left. However, we haven’t increased the cost to exhibit in the past two years.
A: I can’t stress enough our commitment to improving the Firehouse Expo experience for both our attendees and our exhibitors. We’ve made progress through hard decisions, changing from how it’s always been done, to evolving with the fire industry. In 2013 we made the move to a two-day exhibit hall at Firehouse World to save our exhibitors hotel and entertaining costs as well as time away from the office.
Moving forward into 2014, we made the decision to change our general contractor to Shepard Exposition Services to improve 2012 2013 the exhibitors’ third party service. A lead 2.68 2.86 retrieval license, listing 3.45 3.57 on our mobile app 2.93 2.90 and banner ad on our 2.49 2.65 website are included 2.38 2.62 3.07 3.12 with every booth
at both shows as well as carpet for the larger apparatus companies at Firehouse Expo. We’ve also moved to a simplified price structure for Firehouse Expo that actually lowered rates for some booth sizes. The cost and time saving tactics are necessary; however, we know the primary focus of our exhibitors is for us to bring them more customers. We’re working with local and surrounding state associations to bring their members to the show with reduced conference rates, hosted meetings and targeted conference content. We added a $99 conference rate for members of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association and we’re currently establishing a Conference Advisory Committee for both shows to ensure we deliver the best content and instructors from around the country. The support of the local departments and unions has been incredible. City of Baltimore Acting Fire Chief Jeffrey Segal has pledged his support of an additional Thrill Show to take place during Firehouse Expo as well as a critical mass casualty drill to get the surrounding counties involved with the show as well as the drill. There’s a lot
of excitement and enthusiasm coming out of both cities. Increasing our attendance is the priority.
as to how we will address this cost issue. But we will address it for 2014.
Q: Does Cygnus have any plans to turn Firehouse Expo into a two-day show Friday and Saturday? A: Our research with area departments, particularly with volunteers in MD, is that they would like evening hours. We are doing research currently to determine whether to start Thursday in early afternoon and run into the evening for the MD state and area volunteers. We would love feedback from FEMSA members and to have them be part of that research. Q: Is Cygnus working with the city to reduce hotel rates during the show? A: This has been ongoing dialogue. Currently, it’s been price freezing and amenities, which is why we have forgone both a booth pricing increase and we moved away from the 3-tiered pricing to ensure exhibitors are getting the best value with us. We continue to source low-cost options outside of our existing block, and by the airport, and will report back to FAMA and FEMSA formally through our Exhibitor Advisory Board
FRI (Fire-Rescue International) Chicago, IL August 16-17, 2013 Q: There were numerous complaints about FRI Unplugged being held during show hours. Does the IAFC plan on continuing this? A: No, we will not be doing FRI Unplugged again. We attempted to do something on the floor that was not successful. We will not try that again. Q: Does the IAFC have any plans to increase show management’s presence at Fire-Rescue International? A: We always have plenty of staff on the floor of the show. Unfortunately, perhaps businesses did not know who they could reach out to. We will do a better job of letting our businesses know the right point of contact. ◉
Member News
David Durstine Appointed to Vice President of Weldon Akron Brass Company, a global marketer and manufacturer of high performance firefighting equipment, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Durstine to the position of Vice President of Weldon and Akron Brass Global Products.
Durstine, who most recently held the position of vice president of marketing, will oversee day-to-day operations, engineering and sales of the Columbus, Ohio manufacturing facility. Weldon, a division of Akron Brass specializes in lighting and electronic solutions to the student transportation, emergency services and specialty vehicle markets. Joining the company
in 2001, Durstine will continue to have global product line responsibility across all Akron Brass brands along with his new role. “David has brought product innovation and a strong focus on the customer to Akron Brass,” stated Sean Tillinghast, president of Akron Brass. “His global awareness and successful leadership roles in sales and marketing will continue the advancement of Weldon’s value proposition. We are excited to appoint David to this position,” continued Tillinghast. W W W. FA M A .O R G
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Member News “The opportunity to lead Weldon is a great privilege,” Durstine said. “I am looking forward to building upon an already established 40+ year old brand.” Mr. Durstine earned a bachelor of arts in business administration from Muskingum University. For the past 12 years, he has been active with the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) and is currently serving on their board of directors. He sits on the NFPA 1901 Standard for Fire Apparatus Committee and is a 15-year veteran volunteer firefighter with the Apple Creek Fire Department. David currently resides in Wooster with his wife Jamie and their 4 children.
Akron Brass Acquires Assets of Reach Engineering LLC Akron Brass Company announced it has acquired the assets of Reach Engineering LLC, a privately owned company headquartered in Ocala, Florida that provides specialized electronics to the emergency and industrial vehicle markets. Reach Engineering has significant expertise in emergency vehicle products and services and is recognized as an innovator of solutions specifically addressing the needs of the fire service. “This strategic acquisition demonstrates our commitment to bringing highly customized life-safety technologies to the industry,” said Tom Hudak, President of Akron Brass.
Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV) Appoints New E-ONE CEO Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV) has announced the appointment of Dan Peters as President and 20
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CEO of E-ONE, Inc., a manufacturer of first responder apparatus. Peters replaces Kent Tyler who has been appointed to the position of President and CEO for the newly formed ASV Bus Division. “With his extensive background in the first responder industry, we’re thrilled to have Dan taking on this new role as Kent prepares to lead the Bus Division,” said Peter Guile, President and CEO of ASV. “His customer-focused approach and proven business leadership ability will allow him to seamlessly take over this position at E-ONE.” Peters has more than 15 years of experience in the first responder industry – four years in an executive role with a fire apparatus manufacturer and 12 years with a fire industry supplier where he served as president from 1998 to 2008 and Vice President of Sales and Marketing from 1996 to 1998. “I’m very excited to be back in the fire industry,” said Dan Peters, President and CEO of E-ONE. “Kent, Peter and the E-ONE team have made E-ONE a name to be reckoned with in the fire industry and I look forward to working with the E-ONE team, dealers and customers to continue building upon that legacy.” Peters had served as president of Collins Bus Corporation since early 2013. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Wabash College and is a former president, board member and committee chair of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers› Association, or FAMA.
Elkhart Brass expands its domestic sales team with the addition of Ron Sartin. As the OEM Account Manager for the Midwest region, Sartin will
focus on enhancing relationships and building partnerships directly with fire apparatus manufacturers in the Midwest region, which includes the states of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. “Elkhart Brass is proud Ron has chosen to join our team as we continue to grow to better serve our customers,” said Scott Warbritton, Director of Sales, US Market. “We believe Ron’s customer service focus, his broad technical experience and proven drive to excel will benefit future growth and development of this Midwest territory.” A United States Air Force veteran who served in Operation Red Flag, an aerial combat training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, Sartin brings over 25 years of experience to the team with expertise in engineering, service, support, and sales of scientific and industrial instrumentation in the United States, England, Japan and China.
Phoenix Fire Apparatus, LLC of Sumter, South Carolina has agreed to become the newest Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. dealer in the USA, covering all of South Carolina and north Georgia. Phoenix Fire Apparatus is led by company president and longtime Ferrara veteran Kent Cummings. Ferrara Fire Apparatus Inc. President/CEO Chris Ferrara commented on Phoenix and Mr. Cummings. “We are extremely pleased to have Kent and his new company select Ferrara Fire Apparatus as the manufacturer they will represent in South Carolina and north Georgia. Kent has years and years of experience selling our
Member News product and we believe he will make an immediate impact for us.” Phoenix Fire Apparatus is completing a new service center in Sumter, scheduled to open November, 2013. The 7500 square foot facility can accommodate up to eight fire trucks and also has 2000 square feet of office space. “I’m very excited to be part of the Ferrara team,” said Phoenix President Kent Cummings. “We have in-house and mobile service capabilities in place so we can provide the excellent level of customer service expected of a top flight dealership. Also, we have the product offering and experience to make an immediate impact on our South Carolina and northern Georgia sales territories.” Ferrara Fire Apparatus, Inc. is also pleased to announce the addition of FF1 Professional Safety Services of Sparta, New Jersey as their new authorized dealer for the state of New Jersey and northeastern PA. FF1 Professional Safety Services was established in 2005 by experienced firefighters, chiefs, and first responders. They are a multi-faceted company dedicated to the finest in customer service. With three locations in New Jersey; Sparta, Succasunna and Hazlet, FF1 is able to provide excellent customer service throughout the entire territory. “We’re extremely excited to have an energetic organization like FF1 join our dealer network,” said President/ CEO Chris Ferrara. “Through their outstanding service and knowledge of their customers, FF1 has achieved a high level of success with each line of equipment they carry. We believe they’ll have the same experience with Ferrara Fire Apparatus.”
Fort Garry Fire Trucks was chosen to host a press conference with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a large portion of his cabinet on Friday, November 22, 2013. Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, and Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz along with 70 plus other dignitaries were also present at the new facility located in the CentrePort development, Canada’s largest inland port. The press conference was held to officially open CentrePort Canada Way Highway, and announce funding for the second phase of CentrePort Canada Way. Fort Garry Fire Trucks was the first major manufacturer to locate in the CentrePort development. Funding for the reconstruction of highway 75, the major North/South trade route that joins Manitoba with the USA was also announced. Prime Minister Harper was also present to promote the Canada European Union Trade Agreement and the opportunities that it presents for Canadian manufacturers. Fort Garry Fire Trucks was chosen to host the event because it is a large supplier for the Department of National Defence and has built many different models of apparatus for the DND including explosive ordnance disposal vehicles,
l to r: Jim Peters, Operations Manager; Prime Minister Harper; Brian Nash, National Sales Manager; Tony Brelis, Vice President, Rubber Division; In Rear: Steve Suche with Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
pumpers, rescues, and range fire fighting units. Following the press conference, Prime Minister Harper spent several hours meeting the staff of Fort Garry Fire Trucks.
Thomas H. Nugent, President of Kussmaul Electronics, has announced the promotion of Colin Chambless to the new position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Colin joined the Kussmaul team a couple of years ago after 10 years with On Spot Chain and as Director of Sales for American LaFrance. Tom is pleased to have Colin on his executive team heading up the sales and marketing staff, and being available to assist with any unique requirements or special solutions as needed.
Pro Poly of America welcomes our newest team member, Missy Allen, who has joined our accounting department. Originally from Hialeah, Florida, Missy has lived in Ocala since 1973. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Leo University and has been in the accounting profession for 25 years. Missy is married and has one son, Brody. When Missy isn’t working at Pro Poly of America, she enjoys shopping and spending time with her family at the beach or traveling.
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Member News
R·O·M Corporation and Specialty Manufacturing (SMI) Announce Combination Belton, MO–R·O·M Corporation and Specialty Manufacturing (SMI) have announced that they will combine under new ownership with The Sterling Group, of Houston, Texas. Both companies are suppliers for specialty vehicle safety components. The Sterling Group is focused on operational excellence and will help R·O·M and SMI continue to improve their organizations, providing better service and products to their customers. Sterling plans to continue the efforts and successes both companies experienced while operating as portfolio companies of Century Park Capital Partners. The combination of R·O·M and SMI gives the new organization increased size and resources. “R·O·M and SMI offered a powerful combination of market leading businesses that consistently and reliably provided safety-related equipment to fleets in their respective industries for a collective 88 years,” said Gary Rosenthal, Partner at The Sterling Group. “The combination of these two businesses allows us to draw on the strengths of the two legacy organizations. Sterling will work closely with management to further improve operations and take advantage of numerous strategic and acquisition-related opportunities.” “We are pleased to partner with Sterling to bring our companies together,” said Jeff Hupke, newly appointed president of the combined company. “We look forward to deepening our product offerings and expanding our ability to serve our customers.” 22
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Joe Uebbing, newly appointed CEO of the combined company and former CEO of SMI added, “We are very excited to be part of the Sterling family. Their management team has a tremendous amount of operational and management experience that will enable Jeff and me to work with our teams to grow the business and be a better partner to our customers.” As part of the announcement, both companies will continue operating and marketing the R·O·M and SMI brands. Primary points of contact at each company remain unchanged.
USSC Group, a supplier of seating, safety and survivability solutions to the transportation and military industries, is ramping up production and building an entirely new assembly line in its 150,000 square foot facility in Exton, Pennsylvania in order to support OEM demands for Valor fire fighter seats. The Valor program is headed by Joe Mirabile, Vice President of Business Development for USSC and Mark Finley who was recently promoted to Project Coordinator.
North Andover, MA–United Plastic Fabricating, Inc. (UPF) of Massachusetts has purchased a new manufacturing facility in Ocala, Florida. “UPF was leasing a 39,000 square foot facility in Ocala for thirteen years,” said Bryan Curley, VP of Financing. “The acquisition of this facility has more than doubled the amount of space in Florida from which we can now better serve our customers’ needs,” concluded
Curley. UPF moved into the new Ocala facility located at 5000 NW 5th Street, in July. The building, located on a 10-acre lot, has a total square footage of 78,030. “This was a great opportunity for UPF. We had outgrown the leased facility. Material was sometimes stored outside and employees were parking on the lawn,” said Joe Lingel, UPF’s President and CEO. “Purchasing this facility during a slow real estate market in Florida was a great deal, and will provide a better working environment for our employees,” Lingel added. Updates and renovations in the new facility included installation of high output, energy efficient factory lighting; new air conditioning units and duct work in the factory, new VOIP phone system, electric, network and plumbing upgrades along with a new 20-foot router table. With the new location in Ocala, UPF now has over 220,000 feet of manufacturing facilities with a work force of more than 225 employees.
VT Hackney, Inc., a company of VT Systems, will ramp up the production capacity of its Kansas production facility by more than 50% annually with its recently completed addition. Encompassing
70,000 square feet in its 28-acre manufacturing site at Independence,
Member News the newly added facility provides the company with the capacity to produce more than 2,000 truck bodies annually. Approximately 250 people attended the grand opening ceremony of the Kidron production facility including employees, local business representatives, state and local leaders, and company executives. During the event, State Senator Jeff King and local political leaders praised the cooperation among the state, local economic developers and VT Hackney. The Kansas team has been manufacturing transportation products since 1972, along with VT Hackney’s other manufacturing facilities located in Washington, NC, Montgomery, PA, and Kidron, OH.
Garry Briese Joins Darley Board of Directors Darley is pleased to announce that Garry Briese has joined the W.S. Darley & Co. Board of Directors. Garry is no stranger to the fire service or Darley. He served as the executive director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) or over 20 years from 1985–2007. He then moved on to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where he served 2008–2009 as the regional administrator for FEMA Region VIII. He has also served as a member of the Darley Defense
Division Advisory Board since 2009. According to Paul Darley, “Garry brings a great wealth of experience and knowledge to our board. He has a unique perspective that includes not only fire service insights, but also an understanding of federal emergency management and defense needs. He is constantly presenting information on new products and opportunities.” Garry is widely recognized as the earliest national advocate in the United States for terrorism and WMD preparedness for public safety and emergency services starting in 1978. He has addressed numerous conferences on emergency management, homeland security and leadership across the United States and Japan, Israel, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Sweden, Canada, and the United Kingdom. ◉
FAMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Past President
Bruce Whitehouse AMDOR, Inc. 3435 South Service Road Burlington, ON L7N 3W6 Canada Tel: (905) 333-6745; Cell: (905) 467-8905 Fax: (905) 333-8975; Email: bruce@amdor.com
Harold Boer Rosenbauer America, LLC 100 Third Street, Lyons, SD 57041 Tel: (605) 543-5591; Cell: (605) 321-9358 Fax: (605) 543-5593 Email: haboer@rosenbaueramerica.com
Vice President
Sr. Director-at-Large
Phil Gerace KME Fire Apparatus One Industrial Complex, Nesquehoning, PA 18240 Tel: (570) 669-5174; Cell: (570) 233-1452 Email: pgerace@kovatch.com
Steve Toren Waterous Company 125 Hardman Ave. So. South St. Paul, MN 55075-2456 Tel: (651) 450-5038; Cell: (612) 963-5158 Fax: (651) 450-5090 Email: smtoren@waterousco.com
Treasurer David Durstine Akron Brass Company P.O.Box 86, Wooster, OH 44691 Tel: (330) 287-7031; Cell: (330) 621-0025 Fax: (330) 287-7831 Email: ddurstine@akronbrass.com
Secretary Scott Edens Fouts Bros. Fire Equipment 2158 Atlanta Road, Smyna, GA 30080 Tel: (800) 948-5045; Cell: (404) 808-0907 Fax: (770) 438-1504 Email: sedens@foutsfire.com
Jr. Director-at-Large Curt Ignacio Marion Body Works, Inc. 211 W. Ramsdell St., Marion, WI 54950-0500 Tel: (715) 754-5261 x139; Cell: (715) 281-9624 Fax: (715) 754-5776 Email: cignacio@marionbody.com
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First Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid St. Louis MO Permit 175
P.O. Box 397 Lynnfield, MA 01940-0397 Tel & Fax: (781) 334-2911 E-Mail: info@fama.org Website: www.fama.org Editors:
Karen Burnham Bruce Whitehouse Editorial Staff:
Mary Murphy-Overmann Mindy House Design:
Meg Fuschetti spring/summer Issue Deadline: April 30, 2014 ©Copyright 2014, FAMA, Inc., MA (USA)
2014 fire service events calendar Piedmont Fire Expo
Long Island Mega Show
Saskatchewan Fire Chiefs
Ontario Fire Chiefs
FDSOA Apparatus Maintenance Symposium
Pittsburgh Fire, Rescue & EMS Expo
FDIC
XTREME Industrial Fire & Hazard Training
FAMA Technical Committee Meeting
5/4-5/8 Beaumont, TX
Fire Rescue East
Black Chief Officers Committee Annual Conf.
Assoc. County Commisioners of GA
5/5-5/10 Redmond, OR
Oklahoma Fire Chief’s Conference
5/16-5/17 Portland, OR
Fire Rescue Med
5/16-5/18 Harrisburg, PA
CFSI Fire Service Seminars & Dinner
5/17-5/20 Montreal, QC
1/17-1/18 Winston Salem, NC
2/22-2/23 Uniondale, NY
2/22-2/23 Monroeville, PA
1/19-1/22 Lake Buena Vista, FL 1/23-1/25 Daytona Beach, FL
2/27-3/1 Palm Beach Gardens, FL
LSU Fire & Emergency Training Equipment Show
Green River FF Assoc. Officer School 2/28-3/2 Lexington, KY
1/24-1/25 Baton Rouge, LA
Kentucky Assoc. of Fire Chiefs Conf. 1/24-1/26 Bowling Green, KY
EMS Today
2/5-2/8 Washington, DC
Southwest Fire Rescue 2/16-2/18 San Marcos, TX
Firehouse World 2/16-2/20 San Diego, CA
VA Fire Chiefs Mid Atlantic Expo & Symposium 2/20-2/23 Virginia Beach, VA
Smoky Mountain Fire/Rescue Expo 2/28-3/2 Pigeon Forge, TN
Oregon EVT Conference 3/3-3/7 Brooks, OR
Wildland Urban Interface Conference 3/17-3/19 Reno, NV
FAMA Spring Meeting 3/22-3/25 Lake Buena Vista, FL
Midwest Fire Rescue Expo 4/3 Novi, MI
4/3-4/4 Saskatoon, SK
4/7-4/12 Indianapolis, IN 4/10 Indianapolis, IN 4/12-4/14 Savannah, GA 4/14-4/17 El Reno, OK
4/29-5/3 Arlington, VA
4/30-5/1 Washington, DC
FAMA/FEMSA GAC Hill Day 4/30-5/1 Washington, DC
Alabama League of Municipalities Conference 5/3-5/6 Mobile, AL
5/3-5/7 Toronto, ON
Oregon Fire Chiefs Association Conf. Northwest Fire Expo PA Fire Expo
Quebec Fire Chiefs Convention AAAE Annual Conference and Exposition 5/18-5/21 San Antonio, TX
International Hazardous Materials Response 5/29-6/1 Baltimore, MD
Metro Chiefs
5/31-6/5 Baltimore, MD
For updates, corrections, or additions contact Brian Cassell at 570‐656‐0324 or bcassell@kovatch.com — A full listing of 2014 events can be found at www.fama.org —