Five fire protection industry leaders, including Telgian’s Executive Chairman and 1st Vice-Chair of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Russell Leavitt,  Founder and CEO of Protection Design and Consulting Steve Leyton, President and CEO of the Viking Group and Chair of the NFPA Standards Council James Golinveaux, President of Parsley Consulting Ken Wagoner, and President of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) Bob Caputo recently recounted their career journeys in the International Code Council’s Building Safety Journal. In the article, each of these global fire protection leaders shared remarkably similar introductions to the industry as technicians.  Highlighting their stories answers a question which has been asked of each of them again and again during the course of their careers: “How can I do what you’ve done?” 

One of the common themes shared by the group is that by serving on various technical committees and councils, teams and workgroups, technicians can be instrumental in the evolution of the building safety industry, as it continues to keep pace with evolving new technology.

“The common theme for this group of individuals is that we did not wait to be invited, we simply got involved,” says Leavitt. “We did not base our involvement on whether or not we were going to be reimbursed for the time and expense by our employers.  We did not ask, “What is in it for me?”  When these opportunities presented themselves, we jumped into them because we understood they would foster personal and professional growth, and also benefit our industry.”

He continues, “We each intuitively knew that the more involved and visible we made ourselves that great and unique opportunities would ensue.”

Please click here to read the Building Safety Journal article in its entirety.

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