Advisory Council

John Fellers
CSHEMA Special Representation Liaison and Immediate Past President
Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA)

John Fellers has been working in higher education and campus fire safety for more than twenty years. John is currently an Assistant Director in Environmental Health & Safety at Texas A&M University (TAMU). He is also a Charter Member of the Center for Campus Fire Safety and is the 2020-2021 President of the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA). John began his career in higher education as an apprentice working on fire safety systems and later crossed over into fire code compliance. John has served in several capacities in higher-ed including Director of EHS and Security, Authority Having Jurisdiction, and Fire Marshal. In addition to this experience, John has more than five years of experience in non-profit association leadership serving on the Board of Trustees for CSHEMA. In his time volunteering at CSHEMA John has led conference planning, multiple communities of practice and committees, promoted professional development, and worked to enhance overall member experience and engagement. 

John holds a Master of Science degree with an emphasis in safety management, is a Certified Safety Professional, Certified Fire Protection Specialist, Certified Fire Inspector, and holds licenses with the State of Texas as a Registered Accessibility Specialist, Flame Effects Operator and Pyrotechnic Special Effects Operator.

Jesse Ferri
Resident Assistant of Vroman Hall
Information Technology, BTB
Campus Engagement Board Leader 
SUNY Cobleskill ITS Helpdesk Assistant

Jesse Ferri, is a current student at SUNY Cobleskill studying Information Technology. He holds many leadership positions on campus such as a Resident Assistant, a Campus Engagement leader, and he also works at the student help desk on campus. Some fun things he likes to do on his free time is to hang out with friends, work on his hydroponic tower garden, and listen to music.  Jesse is a student member of CCFS.
 

John Foley
Managing Director
Safer Buildings Coalition (SBC)

John serves as Managing Director of the Safer Buildings Coalition. John serves the SBC mission through policy, regulation, and code development, by solidifying member services and value, and by establishing a strong operational and financial base as tools to propel SBC’s mission. John has held key business development, operations, engineering, and executive roles at telecom service companies such as Level 3 Communications, MFS, and MCI. John was a co-founder of XO Communications where he was VP of Operations and Engineering, and later VP of International Network Development. John led dark fiber provider City Signal Communications in the position of President and CEO. John served as Capture Director for specialty construction firm Henkels and McCoy, a leading DAS Integrator. John also spent several years in television and video production services with PMTV, developing and managing complex video production projects including sports and corporate simulcasts and broadcasts. John participates on the TIA Smart Buildings Working Group and Public Safety Subgroup, and the Smart Cities Council/WIA City Networks Task Force.

John comes from a family with a tradition of first-responder service, with his grandfather, great uncle, brother, and son all serving in the Philadelphia Police department. 

Lee Hamilton
National Operations Manager – Fire Sprinkler 
Siemens Industry

Lee is the national operations manager for fire sprinkler and water based solutions for Siemens Industry and calls central Texas home. Mr. Hamilton has been with Siemens since 2018 and has been in the fire and life safety industry since 2004. Beginning his career as a field technician, he has installed and maintained many different types of protection systems including (but not limited to) fire sprinkler, fire suppression and extinguishing, fire alarm/detection, mass notification and firefighter enhancementradio systems.

Lee also served as fire marshal and life safety specialist for Texas State University in San Marcos, TX from 2012 to 2015. There he maintained the university fire and life safety inspection program, instructed personnel on confined space protocols, worked as a member of the University HAZMAT/Spill Response Team and trained university staff/faculty/students on fire and life safety equipment and processes while fulfilling his other duties. Lee believes that a full understanding of fire and life safety is necessary to provide the level of protection needed to ensure that people are safe where they live, work and play. This has helped to shape his path and caused him to pursue both industry and code enforcement experiences to help bridge gaps that can contribute to misconceptions about what is required and the best ways to accomplish fire and life safety goals for different environments and hazards. Mr. Hamilton is still an active member of the Texas Fire Marshal’s Association and continues to pursue greater understanding of hazards and solutions. At Siemens, Lee has continued his passion for life safety education through teaching training courses and running the Fire Sprinkler Inspector Development program. He also helps to roll out advancements in processes, technology and digitalization.

Mr. Hamilton is NICET certified in Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems, Water Based Systems Layout and Design, and Special Hazards and maintains his State of Texas RME-I, Fire Alarm License and Class A Suppression license. He serves as an alternate on the NFPA 25 Technical Committee representing Siemens, holds levels in the FEMA National Incident Management System, and is also a member of the National Fire Sprinkler Association. 

Chief Shane Ray
President
National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA)

Shane Ray began his fire service career in 1984 and worked through the ranks of career and volunteer organizations serving from firefighter to chief. Shane currently serves as President of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, headquartered in Maryland. Shane served 13 years as Fire Chief, and he served six years as the mayor in his hometown of Pleasant View, Tennessee. He also held the position of Superintendent of the South Carolina Fire Academy and as South Carolina State Fire Marshal.

Chief Ray is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, the University of Maryland’s Leadership Development Program, and the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. 

Shane’s education not only comes from universities and institutions but from practical experience as well. Chief Ray currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Congressional Fire Services Institute and remains very active at the local, state, and federal levels involving legislative and regulatory issues impacting the fire service and fire protection.  

Shane was selected as Fire Chief Magazine’s Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year for 2005 and Eastern Kentucky University’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award for 2006. He was also selected as Tennessee Fire Chief of the Year in 2011. He was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Nikki Haley in June of 2014.

Shawn Simons
Motivational Speaker and Fire and Life Safety Educator
After The Fire

Shawn Simons is a burn survivor and an international Motivational Speaker who delivers a first-hand account of surviving a tragic residence hall fire at Seton Hall University in New Jersey when he was a college freshman. Because of a fraternity prank gone wrong, 3 lives were lost and both he and his roommate as well as two others, were severely burned. He now travels the world educating and motivating young adults in colleges and high schools as well in corporate settings that despite the challenges and adversities we all face, we can overcome anything with the right tools. He lives by the motto “Your scars are a reminder that you’re an overcomer and serve a greater purpose.”

Shawn resides in Roselle, NJ where he is married to his wife, Dr. Chinaire Simons, and has two teenage sons, Tamir and Jaylen. Shawn is the one of the main subjects of the New York Times Best-Selling book “After the Fire: A True Story of Friendship and Survival” and the subject of the award-winning documentary “After the Fire: A True Story of Heroes and Cowards.” More of his mission can be found at www.alandshawn.com

L. Vance Taylor
Chief, Office of Access and Functional Needs

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

Luis “Vance” Taylor is the Chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Vance leads the team responsible for ensuring the needs of individuals with disabilities and persons with access or functional considerations are identified and integrated into the State’s emergency management systems before, during, and after disasters. Vance was appointed by President Biden to serve as a member of the President National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) in 2022. As a member of the NIAC, Vance advises the White House on how to reduce physical and cyber risks and how to improve the security and resilience of the nation critical infrastructure sectors. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Vance was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as a child and uses a power wheelchair. He has worked in Washington, D.C. as an advisor for two different members of Congress, directed security policy at a national water association, and been a principal at a ranked homeland security and emergency management consulting firm. Vance is a nationally recognized public speaker and advocate for individuals with disabilities. Vance has a Master’s degree in homeland security from the University of Connecticut and an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in communications. He is married to his sweetheart, Casey, and they have two wonderful daughters. Vance and his family live in Rancho Cordova, CA.