Fire protection, life safety and security industry leader Telgian is pleased to announce that company Vice President Tom Parrish has been named President of the Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA). The AFAA membership recently voted on a slate of Officers and Board Members which takes effect in June 2022. Parrish, a long-time member and volunteer, previously served in the role of AFAA Vice President.
“AFAA is thrilled to welcome our new Officers and Board Members. We are eager to expand our efforts with online training and develop more courses; including within the learning management system, which allows you to take training on-demand, 24/7,” says Alex Strausser, AFAA Operations Manager.
“Every minute a fire alarm saves a life and works to keep us safe as we go about our daily lives. The Automatic Fire Alarm Association empowers the fire alarm and emergency communications industry through code development, education, advancements in technology, and leveraging research,” explains Parrish. “I am honored to work with this experienced team at AFAA for the benefit of people, not just those in the United States, but around the globe.”
Parrish has more than 25 years of experience in fire protection and emergency response including his position as Vice President of international fire and life safety firm, Telgian Fire Safety. He has held multiple positions with municipal fire, law enforcement and emergency medical services, as well as in private industry system design and installation programs.
In addition to his position with AFAA, Parrish serves on several National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committees including the NFPA Technical Committee on Loss Prevention Procedures and Practices and NFPA 72 Signaling Systems for the Protection of Life and Property and Emergency Communications Systems.
Joining Parrish for the next two-year term is the following AFAA Board of Directors:
- Dave Newhouse, Vice President
- Sheryl Tricocci, Treasurer
- Larry Rietz, Secretary
- Jason Barton, Board of Director
- Merton Bunker, Board of Director
- Joe Cagiano, Board of Director
- Alex Dimitriu, Board of Director
- Jason Webb, Board of Director
“At AFAA, we will continue to actively participate in in the codes and standards process with our continuously growing representation on over 50+ NFPA technical committees. Thank you to everyone who has supported our organization and efforts for the last 69 years, we couldn’t have done it without you! Welcome aboard to our new Officers and Directors,” says Strausser.
PHOTO: AFAA President Tom Parrish accepts the gavel from Immediate Past President Rick Heffernan at the recent AFAA Breakfast.
About Telgian
Partnering with clients across a wide variety of industries, Telgian provides innovative solutions that reduce exposure to loss from fire and other disasters. Staffed with some of the most knowledgeable experts in the industry, Telgian offers C-suite risk management guidance and can take a building project from site evaluation through design, to engineering and construction, as well as perform ongoing inspections and maintenance for the life of a facility. This results in productive, profitable environments that keep facilities of all types safe and compliant.
The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona with regional offices across the nation and in Latin America. This national and international coverage ensures that stakeholders with multiple locations across diverse areas can be assured of consistency and an exceptional level of safety protection for all of their buildings.
About the Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA)
The Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA) is the only not-for-profit association exclusively focused on the fire alarm industry. Founded in 1953 in Chicago, Illinois by a mixed group of contractors, engineers, and manufacturers. It grew to be a two-tiered organization (National and Local) in 1987. The National AFAA’s primary focus includes active participation in the codes and standards making process of both the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). AFAA’s second focus is the development and presentation of quality fire alarm training programs for the industry. AFAA was instrumental in the development of NICET Fire Alarm Systems certification program back in 1988 and still remains a strong proponent of certification for our industry. Membership consists of manufacturers, consulting engineers, distributors, AHJ’s, and end users.