Meri-K Appy served as Vice President for Public Education at NFPA from 1989 – 2003, as President of the Home Safety Council from 2003- 2010, and as President of Safe Kids USA until December 2011.  Now a national consultant, she is on the Vision 20/20 Executive Committee as Director of Strategic Partnerships and liaison to the Strategy 2 Committee (Education and Outreach).

Appy is also National Program Manager for Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol, a proven school-based Community Risk Reduction initiative from the Michigan Public Health Institute that delivers free smoke alarm education/installation to high-risk Grade 2/3 students and their families. Sound Off was developed and evaluated through a series of 7 Fire Prevention and Safety Grants from FEMA/DHS. The FY24 grant includes a special focus on delivering Sound Off in rural communities served by volunteer firefighters.

Jessica Sondgeroth has spent the last 13 years serving in various roles within the fire service. Currently her role with the Vision 20/20 project is CRR Academy coordinator along with supporting the collaboration of nationwide CRR efforts. She also provides technical support, rural strategy planning, and coordination with Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol made possible by funding to MPHI from the USDHS/FEMA. Prior to her work on these projects Jessica worked for the South Carolina State Fire Marshal’s office on the CRR Team, Palmetto Incident Support Team, Fire Investigation Team and locally was a volunteer fire professional.

Ken Brown retired from the position of Fire-Rescue Chief and Coordinator of Emergency Services for Goochland County Virginia after 33 years of career experience. Ken has a long career in the Virginia Fire Services, holding the previous positions as Director of Fire Services for Prince George County, Company Officer with the City of Newport News Fire Dept., and Fire Chief for the 909th CES Fire Dept. USAFR (Ret).  Most recently, Ken was the governor appointee Community Risk Reduction Coordinator to Virginia Department of Fire Programs.  Ken is a certified instructor IV and adjunct with the Department of Fire Programs for over 40 years.  He is a proud graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officers Program. 

Ken has been a member of many fire service organizations, including the Virginia State Firefighter's Association, the Metro Chiefs Association, the Emergency Fleet Management Association, where he was the former President, Metro Regional Fire Investigation Task Force, and Virginia State Public Fire and Life Safety Coalition where he was the former Chairman.  In 2003, he was appointed to the Virginia Fire Services Board and remained on board for ten years.

Currently he is the State Director for the NVFC serving as chairman of the Recruitment and Retention committee and Past President of the Va. State Firefighters Association. Ken has been active in the volunteer fire service for 51 years and is currently an active member of Fife Company 4 of Goochland Fire-Rescue. 

Brendan Cuffe is a Senior Manager of Execution Engineering at AES Clean Energy, where he leads engineering initiatives supporting grid operations and energy market integration. He has over 15 years of experience in power systems, renewable energy integration, and utility-scale infrastructure development.

Rick Edinger, EFO, has dedicated more than 50 years to public safety, serving as both a volunteer and career firefighter, medic, and hazardous materials responder. He retired in 2018 as Deputy Chief of Operations for a fire and EMS department in Virginia but remains actively involved in the field. Chief Edinger currently chairs the NFPA Technical Committee for Hazardous Materials Response Personnel and continues to consult, develop training curricula, and instruct in fire service and hazmat response topics.

Over the course of his career, Chief Edinger served 25 years as a hazardous materials technician with the Chesterfield Fire & EMS Hazardous Incident Response Team. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Technology from Columbia Southern University and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Additionally, he possesses certifications in various incident management disciplines and has responded to emergencies at both the state and national levels.

His core areas of expertise include incident and organizational management, safety leadership, and risk mitigation. He also serves as a contract instructor for the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD, where he teaches hazardous materials and special operations courses. 

Eric is a retired firefighter who brings 20 years of experience with him to the energy storage industry. Eric received his Bachelor’s in Fire Administration from Bowling Green State University. During his tenure with the fire service, Eric spent his time in multiple organizations as a Fire Instructor for Clark State College and Sinclair Fire Academy, a Rescue Technician with the Region 3 Strike Team, as well as a Special Rescue Instructor with Rescue Methods. Within his home department, he was assigned as a field training operator (FTO) for new recruits, a Union Leader with ten years’ experience, a member of the Miami County Hazmat Team working closely with the county EMA’s office, and a member of the department’s Dive Team. Before he left the fire service, Eric spent the last year helping his department secure the only fire training tower in Miami County. Over the last six years, Eric has been a member of ESRG’s testing cadre as an onsite firefighter for full scale battery fire testing. As of three years ago, Eric became a full-time employee with ESRG and has spent his time assisting with ESRG’s lab, while also traveling the country training and consulting numerous fire departments along with stakeholders about battery energy storage safety and standards.

Currently Brad is the US LastFire Representative, and independent consultant. He has over 40 years of experience as a Response Professional in the Oil&Gas and Petrochemicals businesses.  Throughout his career, Brad has served on numerous professional committees and organizations, taught at various Universities, and has been employed with several different organizations in a variety of locations throughout his tenure. He has also served as a municipal responder (volunteer, paid on call, part-time)for nearly 30 years as well, serving in roles from Fire Fighter to Chief Officer.  

David is a 22 year member of the fire service and currently serves as a Lieutenant and coassigned to the Training Division with the Columbia County Fire Rescue (Ga.) and a part time Firefighter with Grovetown (Ga) DPS. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia State Firefighter's Association, National Volunteer Fire Council State Director, Georgia Pipeline Emergency Response Initiave Board of Directors, NFPA’s Working Group on Flammable Refrigerants, Alternate to NFPA 1021 and 1056 Committees, and was Secretary of IFSTA's Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator 3rd Edition Curriculum Committee, contributor to the “Training Officer’s Desk Reference”, and is a Safety and Health coordinator with HEPACO LLC. As an active instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy with Firefighter Basics, David is constantly engaged with teaching live fire, leadership, HAZMAT, and Firefighter Survival/RIT classes.

Jasen Dodson serves as a Battalion Chief for Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and in the data center alley of Loudoun County.  Jasen has served the department for 23 years.  He has been a hazmat technician for 22 years and served as a Safety Officer for the department.  He is currently the Chairman of the Northern Virginia Emergency Response System (NVERS) Emerging Technologies Workgroup.  The NVERS Emerging Technologies Work Group is comprised of multiple jurisdictions in the Northern Virginia region and has developed a Data Center Response Manual.  In addition, the workgroup has developed tactical one-pagers for battery energy storage systems, electric vehicles, photovoltaic and wind.

 He is also the Chairman of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) Emerging Technology Workgroup that received the Governor’s Award for the development of the VDFP Electric Vehicle and Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Safety Awareness course.  He is also a member of the Council of Governments (COG) ESS/EV Committee, a technical panel member of the UL Electric Vehicle Committee, a member of the USFA and IAFC battery safety committee.  

Bill Hopson is a 48 year veteran of the New Jersey Fire Service.  He began is career in 1978 with the Seaside Heights, NJ Fire Department.  For the last 35 years, he has served with the Beachwood NJ Fire Department.  Bill has been an active and engaged fire service instructor since 1982.  Bill has delivered fire service training across the country and in various parts of the world. Bill is a 3^rd generation fireman and a strong supporter of the NVFC and their mission.

Seth McPherson brings more than 27 years of experience in the energy industry, with a career spanning solar operations, electrical work, and major energy infrastructure. He currently serves as a Solar Technician III at AES’s Clover Creek facility near Mona, Utah, where he has supported safe, reliable solar operations for more than four years. Before joining AES, Seth previously worked in construction and as an electrician at the Intermountain Power Plant in Utah. Outside of work, Seth is a father of three and a proud new grandfather.

Douglas Cline, Chief of the Professional Development Division with Horry County Fire Rescue, a combination Metro Department with over 750 Fire and Emergency Medical Personnel, serving a diverse population and 1255 square miles of jurisdiction. Chief Cline is a 46-year student of the fire and emergency services, as well as a well-known international speaker and instructor presenting dynamic power packed /high intensity programs on leadership, instructor development, officer development, fire ground tactics, rapid intervention team training and firefighter safety and survival. Cline is a highly published author of articles, blogs and textbooks for both Fire and EMS.  As a Chief Officer, Cline is a distinguished authority on Leadership, Officer Development and has traveled internationally delivering distinguished programs on these topics. 

Following the death of his daughter Casey by a distracted driver in 2009 in Ocean City, New Jersey,  Mr. Feldman created  EndDD.org , “End Distracted Driving,” and has developed science-based distracted driving presentations, as well as other resources used by businesses, schools and community groups in educational initiatives. Mr. Feldman coordinates a network of volunteer speakers who have presented to more than 550,000 students across the U.S. and in Canada, all without cost to schools.

Mr. Feldman has personally given more than 1000 distracted driving presentations to more than 150,000 teens and adults since 2011. He has been the keynote speaker at a number of legal, medical, traffic safety and business conferences. Current projects include developing programs for elementary and middle school students and evaluation of distracted driving initiatives to maximize their effectiveness. He is a member of the NTSB’s National Distracted Driving Coalition, subcommittees  youth education, the annual “Do Not Disturb While Driving Day,” as well as the prosecution of distracted driving cases. He works with state highway safety offices on distracted driving and vulnerable road user educational programs.

Mr. Feldman is a Of Counsel to the Philadelphia law firm of Anapol Weiss.

After his daughter’s death, he obtained his masters in counseling from Villanova University and worked at Penn Wissahickon Hospice providing grief counseling to patients and family members. Mr. Feldman frequently combines law and counseling and speaks to lawyers, as well as community groups, on topics relating to grief and loss and has written articles on improving the dialogue of loss, supporting those who have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one and empathic listening.

He is a recovering distracted driver.

Mr. Feldman can be reached at [email protected]

Tom Jenkins is a Senior Advisor and Research Program Manager with the UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), supporting the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). He previously served as Fire Chief for the City of Rogers, Arkansas, where he led a nationally accredited department of more than 160 career firefighters.

A past President and Chairman of the Board of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Jenkins remains active in advancing the fire service through national leadership, standards development, and advisory roles, including service on the FEMA National Advisory Council and the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

He holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering from Oklahoma State University. Jenkins is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and holds Chief Fire Officer and Chief EMS Officer designations.

David is a 22 year member of the fire service and currently serves as a Lieutenant and coassigned to the Training Division with the Columbia County Fire Rescue (Ga.) and a part time Firefighter with Grovetown (Ga) DPS. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia State Firefighter's Association, National Volunteer Fire Council State Director, Georgia Pipeline Emergency Response Initiave Board of Directors, NFPA’s Working Group on Flammable Refrigerants, Alternate to NFPA 1021 and 1056 Committees, and was Secretary of IFSTA's Pumping Apparatus Driver Operator 3rd Edition Curriculum Committee, contributor to the “Training Officer’s Desk Reference”, and is a Safety and Health coordinator with HEPACO LLC. As an active instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy with Firefighter Basics, David is constantly engaged with teaching live fire, leadership, HAZMAT, and Firefighter Survival/RIT classes.

Howard R. "Skip" Elliott is a nationally recognized expert in transportation policy, safety, security, and organizational strategy. He is the founder and president of HRE Integrity, a management consulting firm helping organizations maximize effectiveness and long-term business value.

Prior to founding HRE Integrity, Skip served as Administrator of the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) at the U.S. DOT, unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, where he oversaw the safety of the nation's pipelines and the secure transport of hazardous materials nationwide. He also served as the President-appointed acting Inspector General of the U.S. DOT.

Skip built a distinguished 40-year career in the freight rail industry, including serving as vice president of public safety, health, and environment at CSX Transportation until his retirement in 2017.

His contributions to transportation safety have earned him numerous honors, including lifetime achievement awards from the Association of American Railroads and the Transportation Research Board, as well as the recent Warren Isman Chairman's Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Hazardous Materials Committee. He is a graduate of Indiana University and a distinguished alumnus of Columbia Southern University.

Tommy Sipsy, Doctorate in Forensic Science, M.F.Sc, B.S., IAAI CFI, CI, NAFI CFEI

Biographical Information: Dr. Tommy Sipsy serves as the manager of the fire investigation unit at Southern Company Gas, where he has worked for the past 41 years. Sipsy possesses a bachelor's degree in fire science, specializing in fire, arson, and explosion investigations, from Eastern Kentucky University; a master's degree in forensic science; and a doctorate in forensic science from Oklahoma State University. As manager of the fire investigations unit for SCG, he allocates considerable time to investigating fires and explosions in conjunction with public and private sector investigators, as well as testing natural gas systems within or adjacent to a facility. Over the past 41 years, he has gained significant expertise in the fuel gas codes and regulations of NFPA 54 and CFR 49.192. Sipsy has acquired certifications from the International Association of Arson Investigators (CFI, CI) and the National Association of Fire Investigators (CFEI). Sipsy is a past president of the Georgia Fire Investigators Association and currently serves as the T&E chair and currently serves as the president of the IAAI Foundation.

David Eskew is a seasoned textile executive with nearly 25 years of experience in the US textile industry. More than half of his career has focused on serving the specialized needs of firefighters and first responders, leading sales and marketing strategies and driving growth for fabric and garment manufacturers. David has played key roles in the transition to non-PFAS product portfolios, helping customers navigate this pivotal change while maintaining the highest standards of protection and performance. Earlier in his career, David gained extensive experience in various textile manufacturing technologies (fiber, yarn, and fabric formation) and spent eight years in the government and defense sector, further broadening his industry expertise. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Textile Management from Clemson University and a Master’s degree in Textile Technology and Apparel Management from North Carolina State University, in partnership with the Institute of Textile Technology. In 2023, he further enhanced his leadership capabilities by completing the Darden Leadership Program at the Darden School of Business.