Leadership

CCFS Leadership Team

Operations of an organization such as CCFS are a team effort.  We are fortunate to have a leadership team made up of well known and nationally respected leaders in the area of campus fire safety. These dedicated professionals provide a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise that is unmatched anywhere and they are responsible for the oversight and operations of CCFS.

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Learn more about the Officers, Board members and headquarters staff, their experience and their roles within CCFS:

Justin Daniels, President

Justin Daniels, Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Operations, University of Oklahoma – Norman Campus. 

Justin started working in the fire marshal’s office at the University of Oklahoma in February 2002. In February 2008, Justin became a Certified Fire Inspector, promoted to Assistant Fire Marshal in January 2013, and then to Fire Marshal in August 2013. As Fire Marshal, his duties and responsibilities included but are not limited to: fire inspections for all 300+ existing buildings on campus; fire and life safety training for faculty, staff and students; plan review for new buildings and existing facility remodels; fire drills; fireworks and open flame permits; assist with game day operations and other special events; fire investigation; supervision of 3 Fire Inspectors; and to ensure all fire and life safety systems on campus are inspected and maintained. Justin is also responsible for Emergency Management Operations and serves as the OU Emergency Operations Center manager.

 Alan Sactor, Vice President

Alan Sactor, Assistant Director with the University of Maryland Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk and University Fire Marshal. 

Alan is appointed as the Assistant State Fire Marshal for the University of Maryland with jurisdiction for fire prevention, fire investigations, and building construction. Building construction responsibilities cover other University System of Maryland campuses including Bowie State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Salisbury University, and Frostburg State University. His office also provides emergency response and manages the university's AED program.

Alan has over 41 years of experience in fire protection and the fire service including working as a firefighter/paramedic in the Washington D.C. area. He is a member of the technical committees for NFPA 1037, Professional Qualifications for Fire Marshal and NFPA 3&4, Commissioning and Integrated Testing of Fire and Life Safety Systems.  He also serves on the APPA Standards and Codes Council. He is past Chairman of the Maryland State Fire Marshals Committee.

Alan was a participant and presenter at the first USFA/NFPA Forum on Campus Fire Safety and the first National Summit on Campus Fire Safety.  Alan is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist and holds a Master of Science in Environmental Management. He has been with the University of Maryland since 1985.

Jody Nolan, Treasurer/Secretary

Jody Nolan
Fire/Occupational Safety Specialist at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Jody has 25 years of service in the RIT Environmental Health and Safety Department and has been involved in the fire service for 33 years and in the Code enforcement arena equally as long.  Jody holds a Bachelor of Science, Applied Arts and Sciences-Honors from RIT with Concentrations in Disaster and Emergency Management, Safety Technology, and Marketing and a general education concentration in Communication. She is currently pursing her Master of Science Degree in Professional Studies, with concentrations workplace learning and instruction and digital media and communications. 

In 1993, Jody was the first woman to be elected to the Board of Directors of the NYS Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association. With that election, She was also the first woman to hold a Board of Director position of any of the fire service organizations in New York State. She has held every board seat in the organization and held the office of President twice.  As President, Jody was actively involved in the process when NYS was moving to a model code.  This provided an opportunity to get involved in codes on a national level.  She was elected to the Board of Directors of a legacy organization IFCI (International Fire Code Institute) and served as the editor of the newsletter until the organization was absorbed into the International Codes Council.  She continues to be active with the ICC serving as Vice Chair of the Reference Standards Committee.  

When Jody first joined RIT, there was very little fire safety information for college students. Most educational material was geared toward specific populations such as children and elderly. Unfortunately, it took several tragedies nationally to change that landscape.  Organizations such as the Center for Campus Fire Safety and colleagues in the fire safety role on University campuses have made a significant impact to ensure students are fire safe. This was no easy undertaking. There have been many roadblocks along the way. Convincing University leadership that these measures are necessary was and still is probably the biggest challenge.  

One of Jody's most significant accomplishments at RIT was convincing leadership that fire sprinklers were a necessary component of a proposed residence hall renovation project.  The proposed renovations were large, but not large enough that the codes would require installation.  As a result of her recommendations and those of her predecessors, every residence hall on campus now contains fire sprinklers.  RIT has also retrofitted one of our older apartment complexes with fire sprinklers.  All new construction also includes fire sprinklers, in some cases regardless of whether code requires it. 


Michael J. Swain, Immediate Past President

Michael Swain (ret.) was the Campus Fire Prevention Marshal at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Michael has worked in campus fire safety at the University for 31 years and is now semi-retired. Michael serves as Immediate Past President for The Center for Campus Fire Safety.  Michael has been a member of the Greenfield, Massachusetts Fire Department for 36 years and currently holds the rank of District Chief. Michael is a Past President of the Fire Prevention Association of Massachusetts and is currently serving as secretary of the association. He was the 2008 Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year for Massachusetts. 
 
Robert Ferrara, Director
 

Robert (Bob) is the Director of Fire Safety for Montclair State University, responsible for all aspects of life safety throughout the University. This includes fire and life safety inspections of campus buildings to ensure compliance with fire and life safety codes, as well as reviewing plans for construction and renovation projects. Preventive activities include fire prevention training for University personnel, conducting fire and evacuation drills, testing and inspections of building life safety systems. He provids educational programs, evaluating materials, and establishing guidelines for fire safe materials.  

Montclair State University is the second largest university in New Jersey.  The training programs and procedures that he has developed over the past few years, now serve as a model for colleges throughout New Jersey. With over 36 years’ experience in the fire service, and 25 years of this time in Fire Prevention.

Bob Ferrara holds the rank as Chief of the Department for the Lyndhurst Volunteer Fire Department. He also holds the positions as Fire Official and Fire Sub-Code Official for the Township of Lyndhurst. His office conducts inspections of all buildings in the Township and conducts fire investigations. In addition, he conducts plan review and inspections of all new construction.

Chief Ferrara was  awarded the Firefighter of the year in the state in 2003 and Fire Sub-Code Inspector of the year in 2013 from the State Department of Community Affairs.  He also co-authored a chapter in The Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA’s) Book of Knowledge, focusing on fire prevention on college and university campuses.  Throughout this chapter, he stresses the importance of joining organizations such as CCFS – thus providing CCFS with greater exposure.  Currently he is assigned to the Mass Notification Sub-Committee, partnering with NEMA to develop guidelines for mass notification systems for the advancement of building, fire, and life safety’s systems.  As part of this sub-committee, he markets the efforts of CCFS to potential industry members and to potential members in the fire service.


Douglas Gazzale, Director

Douglas Gazzale, CFPS, CFEI, IAAI-FIT, CFI-II, CFPE
Firefighter/EMT, College Park Fire Department

Career Summary:
-Actively involved in the fire service since 2002 and in higher education fire safety since 2005
-Firefighter/EMT and Life Member with the College Park Fire Department
-Firefighter/EMT with the Basking Ridge Fire Company
-Firefighter with the Liberty Corner Fire Company
-Member of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Fire Investigation Unit
-Previously served as the Fire Marshal at The College of New Jersey; Manager for Fire, Safety, and Compliance at Mercer County Community College; [Fire] Safety Compliance Specialist at New York University; and Deputy Fire Marshal/Fire Protection Specialist at University of Maryland, College Park

Education Summary:
Bachelor of Science, University of Maryland, College Park
Master of Communication Management, University of Southern California
Paramedic Certificate, Prince George’s Community College

Family/Hobbies:
Doug enjoys spending time with his wife and children


Larry Labbe, Director 

Larry Labbe is the Chief Fire Marshal, Georgia Institute of Technology. He has served the fire service since 1996, and been responsible for higher education since 2010.  Additional credentials include: Executive Fire Officer, BSBA – Southern Polytechnics State University, Fire Science Diploma – Lanier College.Larry is a member of: ICC, NFPA, Center for Campus Fire Safety, GA Fire Sprinkler Association, Board of Director for the Georgia Fire Sprinkler Association and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Insurance Commissioner of Georgia, The Code Committee for the Center for Campus Fire Safety.  He is a State Deputized Fire Marshal and serves on Course development committees for the Georgia Fire Academy, Fire Plans Reviewer and Life Safety Code 2017 Code Official of The Year. 

Larry is also Cub-master for Pack 770, Center fielder for McGlovin Competative co-ed softball team   He manages a comprehensive risk reduction program for the Institute Statewide and abroad. 

The Fire Safety Office at Georgia tech is a fully functional Fire Marshal’s office providing education programs, plan review, inspections and fire investigation.


Maria Marks, Director

Maria Marks, CFPS, SET|SIEMENS Smart Infrastructure.

With a Life Safety focus on the building design and construction industry Maria looks to create Safe Smart buildings and communities. Her focus is on the balance between adoption/development of codes and standards and the potential of Emerging Technologies, while maintaining resiliency, and reliability of Life Safety systems. Maria has been active in the Fire Life Safety and Security industry for over 25 years. She is active with National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), SFPE and NFPA. Maria holds several board seats including the SFPE Foundation Board of Governors and the Board of Visitors for the University of Maryland Department of Fire Protection Engineering.

 


 

Kevin McSweeney, Director

Kevin T. McSweeney, CFPS, CFI II
Campus Fire Marshal
University of Delaware

Mission/Responsibilities:
All campus fire prevention, fire engineering and fire educational programs. Supervise a staff of two FTE’s and up to three part-time inspectors.

Summary of Career:
- Volunteer firefighter for since 1973
- Retired USAF Fire Protection, Deputy Fire Chief
- Former 10-yr. Fire Safety Specialist with DE State Fire Marshal

Summary of education and/or committees:
- BS Degree, Human Resource Management, Wilmington University
- AS Degree, Applied Fire Science, USAF Community College
- NFPA 3 and NFPA 4 Alternate Committee Member
- Member and Presentation Speaker CSHEMA

Family/hobbies:
- Married to my Dear Patricia since July 1976
- Hobbies include: gardening, golfing (hack), grilling, and listening to Pandora (rock and roll)


James Rainer, Director

James Rainer
Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Texas A&M University

James 
serves as an Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Texas A&M University, as the university Fire Marshal, and co-lead the University’s 20 plus member Haz-Mat Team for many years.  As assistant director his duties include overseeing the Fire and Life Safety program, having overseen the FLS program for over 28 years.  He has been with EHS for over 31 years as a student worker, fire inspector, manager, and assistant director.  He also served as a part-time faculty member in the Fire Science program at Blinn College for the last 24 years, developing and teaching courses such as Building Codes and Construction for the Fire Service, Fire Detection and Suppression Systems, and Fire Inspection Principles.  Additionally, James served as a member of the University Police Department Training Advisory Board, Campus on the Built Environmental Deferred Maintenance Sub-council, and the Blinn College Fire Science Program advisory board for the past several years. 

As Fire Marshal, his duties include all aspects of fire safety in the 775 plus campus facilities, plan review for all new construction and facility remodels, permitting all pyrotechnics, flame effects, and prescribed burns, assisting in the coordination of athletic and other special events on campus as well as serving as the liaison between Texas A&M and our local fire departments and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.   

James holds an AA degree in Education along with a BS in Construction Science and a MS in Construction Management, both from Texas A&M University.  He is a Certified Building Inspector, Fire Inspector, and Plans Examiner along with holding licenses as a Flame Effects Operator, Pyrotechnics Operators, and Pyrotechnics Special Effects Operator.

Dr. Rodger Reiswig, Director 

Dr. Rodger Reiswig, SET, Fellow,
VP, Industry Relations
Johnson Controls


Mission/Responsibilities:
Global industry liaison for building codes, installation standards, product certification standards and representative for various life safety industry associations and organizations.

Career Summary:- Former Detroit Diesel engine certified technician repowering large marine vessels and earth moving equipment

- NICET certified level IV for fire alarm systems and then moved to teach others about the life safety industry
- Regional Field Sales Engineer with Simplex responsible for product application and field technical support for the east coast.

Education/CommitteesSummary:
- Certification from Two Rivers Technologies as a Master in Telecommunications

- Eastern Technical certification in Electronics Technology and Microprocessor Design
- Master’s Degree in Theology from Evangelical Theological Seminary
- NICET certification in both Fire Alarm and Special Hazard Layout. NICET level IV Fire Alarm Systems Certification and NICET level I Special Hazards Layout
Certification.

Family/Hobbies:
- Married to Lani since June 1990
- Hobbies include: church, cars, jobs around house and playing with the dogs

Richard Roberts, Director

Richard Roberts
Industry Affairs Manager, Honeywell Fire Safety
[email protected]

Over thirty-five years of experience in the installation, sales, commissioning and product management of code
compliant commercial fire alarm, carbon monoxide detection and security systems. Currently Mr. Roberts is
responsible for codes & standards development at the federal, state and local level as well as influencing changes
to legislation.

Board Committee affiliations:

  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): Member of 14 NFPA Technical Committees
  • Underwriters Laboratories (UL): Member of 2 Standards Technical Panels (STP’s) for carbon monoxide detection
  • National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA): (Board of Directors, Chair of Building Codes Committee, Member of the Government Relations Committee.
  • International Code Council (ICC): Member of several Fire Code Action Committee (FCAC) Working Groups relating to fire alarm, carbon monoxide, mass notification systems and in-building ermergency responder communications.
  • National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM): (Member of the Model Codes Committee)
  • International Association of Fire Chiefs: (Member of the Fire and Life Safety Section)
  • Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS): (Board of Directors, Co-Chair of Codes and Standards Committee)
  • Safer Buildings Coalition (SBC): (Vice Chair of the Government Affairs Committee, Member of the Codes and Standards Committee)
  • Security Industry Association (SIA): Member of the Government Relations

Family/Hobbies:
Richard enjoys riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle, experiencing different ethnic foods and spending time with his wife Mary Ann of 39 years. 

Seth Statler, Director

L. Seth Statler
Director of Government Affairs
National Fire Protection Association

Mission/Responsibilities:
-leads government affairs for global nonprofit devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. Founded in 1896, NFPA delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and
standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy.

Career Summary:
- served as associate administrator for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Managed relations with Congress, governors, state legislators and local governments.
- led Congressional Affairs at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the nation's largest law enforcement agency responsible for protecting U.S. borders from terrorism, human and drug smuggling, illegal migration, and agricultural pests while simultaneously facilitating the flow of legitimate travel and trade.
- worked for House Committee on Appropriations as associate staff for Majority Leader Steny Hoyer from Maryland and as a senior aide to former Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maryland.

Education Summary:
- Bachelor of Arts, Gettysburg College
- Masters in Business Administration (Marketing), University of Maryland

Hobbies:
- member of College Park Volunteer Fire Department
- served for 24 years on the board of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), a Congressionally chartered nonprofit he and former Senator Sarbanes created through legislation. Now serves as NFFF Ambassador to the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
- Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Maryland


Headquarters Support

James Gibbs, Business Development Manager

James Gibbs recently joined CCFS as Business Development Manager, but he's been a long time member of CCFS and has attended several Forums, and hosted our Forum in 2015.

James was the Fire Marshal at Arizona State University and retired in 2018 and moved to Oregon.  In June 2018 he became Fire Marshal for Woodburn Fire District and is still working there, but also working to help grow CCFS nationwide.  

Retired as Fire Marshal and Fire Chief (from Arizona State University and U.S. Air Force Reserves, respectfully).  James has his Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership, Bachelor's Degree in Management (emphasis on Fire Prevention Management and Emergency Management) and Associate's Degree in Fire Science.

On a personal note: James is the father of three daughters and grandfather of ten grandchildren (five grandsons and five granddaughters) and very active with family and many different non-profit organizations and events ... email 

 

 


Cathy Tabor: Executive Director, Marketing/Administration ... email

Lori Guilfoyle: Bookkeeper/Contractor  ... email