Adam McFadden
Firehouse Training
Adam is a Hazmat Technician, Shift Training Instructor and Former Recruit Training Officer for Canada’s Largest Fire Service; as well as a member of the Joint Response Hazmat & CBRNE Team, & Rapid Response Special Events Team for the City of Toronto, Canada. He is also the owner of Firehouse Training, a private-industry fire service training company, developing various programs in the areas of industrial firefighting response tactics, lithium-ion battery fire tactics and safety, hazardous materials spill response, terrorism awareness and flammable liquids training. Adam has over 20 years of experience in the Hazmat industry, has completed Cargo Tank Hazmat Specialist Training, Hazardous Materials Incident Command & Hazmat Safety Officer training programs with the Michigan State Police Academy. He was also a participant at the Tracking Terrorism: Countering the Threat Symposium in Durham Region, Canada. Adam has spoken previously at various Hazmat Conferences including the Florida State Hazmat Symposium, in Daytona Beach, Continuing Challenge in California, New England Hazmat Conference, Hazmatcon: Hazardous Materials Conference in Michigan, and Ontario Hazmat Responders Association Hazmat Conference, in Niagara Falls, Canada just to name a few.
Albe Bassett
Albert (Albe) Bassett is the Fire Chief with the New Canaan (CT) Fire Department. He has 30 years of fire service experience. Before becoming Fire Chief, he served as the Assistant Chief of Administration for the Norwalk Fire Department. Previously, he was a department training officer and a shift commander. Chief Bassett is an NFPA 472 Hazardous Materials Technician and is currently one of the team leaders for the Fairfield County Hazardous Incident Response Team. He is a certified rescue technician and a member of the Connecticut USAR team. Chief Bassett is an adjunct instructor with Naugatuck Valley Community College and the Connecticut Fire Academy. He is a member of the NFPA Hazmat Standards Committee. Chief Bassett is certified as a Fire Service Instructor 3 and holds a B.S. degree in Fire Technology and Administration, an MBA from the University of New Haven, and a Master's in I/O Psychology from Walden University. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Walden University.
Ben Herskowitz
Mr. Herskowitz’s been involved in Emergency Services since the mid-
nineties, starting as a Firefighter. For the past 22 years, Ben has been with a
Hazardous Materials Response Team starting as a Hazardous Material/Radiological
Specialist before being promoted to Hazardous Materials Team Chief of Hazmat 2
Environmental Fire Rescue Company of Lancaster County, PA in 2008. Mr.
Herskowitz also has experience in emergency management and currently serves as
the Deputy Director for the 6th most populous county in Pennsylvania and managed
the county’s radiological response plans for Three Mile Island and Peach Bottom
Atomic Power Station.
Mr. Herskowitz has responded to several complex incidents that include multiple
operation periods and complex planning components including train derailments,
orphaned radiological sources, and abandoned chemicals. Serving in roles from
Group Supervisor to EOC Manager.
Ben Russell
Bobby Salvesen
The HazMat Guys
DESCRIPTION
Brian Ramsey
Emergency Response Contractors
With over 36 years of emergency response experience in the following disciplines: Industrial, Municipal, and Emergency Response Contractors, Mr. Ramsey brings real world experiences to life in the classroom through his lectures and demonstrations. Mr. Ramsey is currently the owner of Emergency Response Training Group and Fire Protection Consultants. He is a retired Fire Chief for Eastman Chemical Company, based out of Kingsport, Tennessee with over 33 years of hazmat and industrial fire response experience. Mr. Ramsey is an adjunct instructor for Tennessee Fire Codes Enforcement Academy, he holds certifications as an IFSAC Journeyman fire fighter, Fire Instructor II, Fire Inspector I, Rope Rescue I, Tennessee Emergency Medical Technician, Hazardous Materials Specialist, Rail Car Specialist, Highway Transportation Specialist, and Emergency Response Transportation Specialist. Additionally, Mr. Ramsey is actively involved with the Sullivan County LEPC for over 10 years, he has served as chairman, vice chair, and hazmat sub-committee chair he is currently vice chair of the Northeast Regional Fire Chiefs. Mr. Ramsey has been providing dynamic presentations of PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of HAZARDOUS MATERIALS to various emergency responders for over 25 years. His presentations allow for participants to understand the dynamic and graphic tendencies of flammable liquids and explosive flammable gases.
Chris Hawley
Emergency Management Solutions
Chris owns FBN Training, which provides Hazardous Materials/WMD training worldwide. He is also the Chief Operating Officer for Emergency Management Solutions, a training and consulting group focused on emergency response. In addition, he is proud to teach with The Meter Guys training program. He was a founding partner of Blackrock 3, providing Incident Management Training for technology organizations. Previously, he was a Deputy Program Manager responsible for WMD and Counterproliferation courses within the DOD International Counterproliferation Program (ICP). This cooperative program with the FBI and DHS provides threat assessment, Anti-Terrorism and HazMat training, and full-scale exercises worldwide. Before this position, Chris was the Special Operations Coordinator for the Baltimore County, MD Fire Department. He was also the Special Operations Chief for the Black Rock City Emergency Services Department, which serves the Burning Man event. Chris has been in the fire service for 45 years and a HazMat responder for 37 years. He is the author of several HazMat and Terrorism response textbooks and most recently published his 3rd Edition of Monitoring & Detection textbook with Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Chris Pfaff
HazMat & Rescue
DESCRIPTION
Gary Verna Jr.
Gary A. Verna Jr., CEM®, serves as the Deputy Director of Emergency Management and Emergency Management Coordinator for the Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services. He has extensive operational leadership experience in hazardous materials response, EOC management, fireground operations, EMS operations, and multi-agency incident coordination. Gary oversees countywide emergency management programs and has directed numerous industrial, rail, transportation, fire, EMS, and environmental incident responses across Lebanon County and the region.
Greg Scott
Summit HazMat & Emergency Consulting
Veteran Owned and operated, with over 28 years of dedicated service in the fire and emergency services industry. I bring firsthand operational experience in firefighting and hazardous materials response to every training session. My instruction is grounded in real-world response and tailored to support the ongoing growth of senior firefighters while building a solid foundation for new recruits.”
My credentials include serving with the Canadian Forces Fire and CBRNE as a Fire and Hazmat Training Officer and serving as a Hazmat Instructor for Georgian College’s Pre-Service Firefighter Program. As a former member of the Simcoe County Hazmat/CBRN Team, I have an extensive hands-on experience managing complex hazardous materials and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRNE) incidents.
Jerry Knapp
Suburban Tactical, Inc.
Frequent presenter at FDIC and hands on engine company instructor. He taught at FDIC on House Fires, Suburban Engine Company, etc. Currently, Jerry works as a training officer at the Rockland County Fire Training Center, Pomona, NY.
Jim Leer
My emergency response and safety experience has expanded over 30 years in municipal code enforcement, volunteer fire service, volunteer hazmat response, and insurance loss control. I am a member of the Somerset Regional VFD and Somerset County Hazardous Materials Team 600. I am a full-time Senior Loss Control Consultant for a commercial and personal lines insurance company. I have been a Pennsylvania State Local Fire Instructor for over 25 years achieving Emeritus Instructor level with a focus on hazardous materials courses.
Joe Scaglione
Joseph D. Scaglione is a 25-year veteran of the fire service, with 17 years of service with the Meriden (CT) Fire Department, where he serves as a Captain. He holds a Bachelor of Science in molecular cell biology and biochemistry, with a concentration in organic chemistry, from the University of Connecticut, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Learning Experience Design and Educational Technology at Western Governors University. He is a certified Fire Service Instructor III and Fire Officer II. He is an adjunct instructor who teaches for various organizations, including the Naugatuck Valley Community College Fire Technologies Program, the Connecticut State Fire Academy, and the state regional fire schools in Wolcott, Litchfield, and Hartford County. He is an NFPA 472-certified hazardous materials technician and a member of the New Haven Area Special Hazards (NASH) Team. He is a former industrial firefighter with Hamilton Sundstrand Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services, and a former member of the Connecticut USAR Task Force Team. Capt. Scaglione serves on the IFSTA validation committees for the Essentials, 7th and 8th editions, as well as the 9th edition of Fire Inspector and Code Enforcement. He is a certified State of Connecticut fire marshal who served as Deputy Fire Marshal for the Towns of Portland and Wolcott, Connecticut. Capt. Scaglione was featured in Fire Engineering Magazine in February 2017, The Engine Company, "Deploying the Leader Line or Courtyard Lay,” and is a regular presenter at the IAFC Hazardous Materials Conference in Baltimore, MD.
Joey Pordash
Joey Pordash is a Hazardous Materials Tech/Specialist from Allegheny County Pennsylvania, the county that surrounds the City of Pittsburgh. Joey is a current Battalion Chief with the Allegheny County Hazardous Materials Red Team 440 where he is a current state certified Radiological Officer/Instructor. Joey is also the Radiological Officer with the Fayette County Emergency Management Agency Hazmat Team 900, as well as the Hazmat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue Company out of Lancaster County PA. I have 9 years’ experience on the hazmat team specializing in radiation and medical toxicology.
John Bowen
National Weather Service
John Bowen is a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in State College, PA. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and a Masters of Science in Homeland Security Science with a concentration in Emergency Management Disaster Science, both from Western Kentucky University. John has been with the National Weather Service beginning in 2023, but he has been providing decision support services and event weather support since his time as an undergraduate student. A few of the more notable events John has been involved with for weather support include the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, the 2022 Chicago Marathon, and more recently the 2025 Flight 93 Memorial Service.
Mike Armstrong
DOW
Mike Risell
Michael Risell is an accomplished Fire Chief with over 45 years of distinguished public service in fire, rescue, and emergency management. He brings extensive leadership experience in both volunteer and combination departments, with a strong background in operations, training, budgeting, and personnel management. Known for improving emergency response systems and fostering teamwork, he has led large-scale training initiatives, developed critical emergency plans for schools and senior living communities, and played a key role in facility and apparatus development.
Risell currently serves as Chief of Fire and Emergency Services for Upper Providence Township, overseeing multi-agency operations, personnel, and a multimillion-dollar budget, while maintaining a lifelong commitment to public safety, education, and community service.
Mike Taylor
Robert Wise
EPA
Robert Wise is a EPA Federal On-Scene Coordinator in EPA Region 9. Before he was an OSC, he was a EPA TAT and START emergency response contractor. In total, OSC Wise has over 38 years of experience. OSC Wise's experience ranges from basic hazmat response to Mercury Response to Radiation Response/Cleanup to WMD Response. OSC Wise has overseen the cleanup and assessment of over 200 Superfund Removal Sites. OSC Wise has responded to national disasters including Washington Anthrax, Hurricane Katrina, the Lahaina Wildland Fire and the Palisades Fire to name a few. OSC is a SME on multiple topics including radiation, Mercury Response, fireworks and chemical hoarders. OSC is a sought after Instructor and is the Director of Curriculum for the Continuing Challenge Hazmat Workshop.
Sam Simon
DOW
Emergency Manager and Leader of the Emergency Services and Security Department for Dow Chemical’s Pennsylvania Hub Sites: Bristol, Croydon, Springhouse, and Collegeville since 2018; with 17 years prior as a Shift Fire Chief, Incident Commander, Hazmat Specialist at Dow’s Bristol Site.
- Dow’s Distribution Emergency Response Coordinator / Team Leader for the Northest Region of North America
- Dow’s Northeast TRANSCAER Coordinator; planning, organizing, and conducting Transportation Emergency Response Training in many communities across North America
- Pennsylvani State Certified Fire Suppression, Hazmat, and Technical Rescue Instructor Teaching for Bucks County Community College
- 3rd generation Fire Chief with over 35 years of service with Penndel Volunteer Fire Company in Bucks County, PA. Current Assistant Fire Chief.
Helping employees, contractors, responders, and communities stay safe as well as prepared is a top priority of mine.
Scott Burgess
Steve Curry
Tim Ferretti
Ferretti Salvage & Recycling
Tim Ferretti is an EV/AFV cleanup contractor and safety consultant for the scrap Industrial demolition, and automotive recycling industries. A former Marine with Hazmat and electronics training Tim transitioned to the scrap and auto recycling safety field in 2010. Throughout his career Tim has been developing safe procedures for, and training salvage yards on, how to dismantle Propane, Hybrid, Electric, CNG, and LNG vehicles as each new model is released. After expanding into the industrial demolition industry Tim was trained and certified as a HAZWOPER Supervisor then HazMat Tech.
Tim has most recently begun instructing HazMat level classes as a subject matter expert in both electric and alternative fueled vehicle systems.
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