FSSA Leadership & Committees

The Fire Suppression Systems Association mission is to be the leading authority and advocate of special hazard fire protection. As a volunteer organization, we depend on the work of our leadership and volunteers who carry out the work of the association.

2025-2026 Board of Directors

OFFICERS DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT: Bob Ballard | Victaulic

VICE PRESIDENT: Peter Particelli | Fire Equipment, Inc.

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Lance Harry | Fireaway, Inc.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Brett Straten | Associated Fire Protection, Inc.
  • Scott Bailey | Koorsen Fire & Security
  • Paul Hayes | Hiller
  • Lee Kaiser, ORR Protection Systems, Inc.
  • Michael Kiamanesh | WAYSMOS USA INC
  • Rick Seidel | Fike Corporation
  • Stefan Sekula | Viking Corporation
  • Scott Sherman | TJ Nowak Supply Company, Inc.
  • Al Thornton | The Chemours Company
  • Jeremy Wheeler | 3S Incorporated
INSTALLERS DIVISION
 MANUFACTURERS DIVISION

CHAIR: Steve Rice | Summit Fire & Security
VICE CHAIR: Scott Panowitz, BFPE International

CHAIR: Shannon Esopenko, Wesco HMB
VICE CHAIR: Raymond Patterson, Siemens Industry

Committees & Task Forces

Click on each committee below to learn more and submit your interest of participating on a committee today. FSSA Committees run on an April 1 - March 31 year. Interested in serving? Submit a committee interest!

SUBMIT YOUR INTEREST FORM TODAY

Codes & Standards Oversight Committee
Chair: Kevin Kelly | Victaulic

FSSA has representatives who serve on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Committees on behalf of the association and the industry. Our representatives provide a summary report containing pertinent activity from committee meetings or task groups, for all FSSA members. As a member, you benefit from gaining insight on new and/or existing codes and standards, in addition to having the opportunity to represent FSSA on NFPA committees. NFPA representatives are expected to:

  • Represent the collective views and positions of the FSSA.
  • Be dedicated to the entire process, with intent to attend all meetings and respond to all ballots.
  • Provide a summary report containing pertinent activity at any Industry Association Committee meeting or Task Group meeting.

Headquarters will distribute communication regarding vacancies in this committee. The FSSA Technical Committee will review the applications and will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors for final approval.

View current FSSA Representatives and NFPA Reports

Global Outreach Committee
Chair: Peter Hallinan | SSi Fire Solutions

The FSSA Global Outreach Committee works to grow the FSSA membership globally by focusing on building credibility and value in the EMEA and APAC regions, increasing our global presence by building regional partnerships with industry organizations through co‐branding webinars and publications, and explore international chapter establishment to create greater value in growth regions.

Marketing Committee
Chair: Rick Scott | BFPE International

This committee oversees efforts to generate awareness of the benefits of special hazards fire suppression systems. The committee acts to establish communication strategies and marketing initiatives. The committee works to develop the FSSA website and social media, ensuring relevant and current content. The committee collaborates with all other FSSA committees to disseminate information through communications channels, and evaluate how initiatives are performing and improve.

Membership Committee
Chair: Gary Paul | The Protectowire Company, Inc.

The FSSA Membership Committee reviews names and qualifications of desirable FSSA prospects. Active member solicitation activities are also the functions of this committee. Actively recruit potential members to the association, screen new applicants by checking references and websites and make a recommendation to the board of directors for admittance into the FSSA.

PFAS Task Force
Chair: Al Thornton | The Chemours Company

The PFAS Task Force was created in response to growing concerns regarding proposed and/or promulgated legislation banning or restricting the use of some PFAS. The goal is to educate by providing scientifically based information and resources on the future of fire suppression agents that may be impacted by PFAS regulations, provide updates to members surrounding ongoing changes to the landscape, and advocate with various regulators on the behalf of FSSA membership and the fire suppression industry.

Program Committee
Chair: Todd Stevens | SEVO Industrial Fire Protection

This committee develops the FSSA Annual Forum which offers educational sessions, division meetings and the opportunity to network with industry peers. More specifically, the committee works to develop appropriate content topics and potential speakers for the forum, assists in identifying sponsorships and other opportunities to generate revenue for the annual forum.

Public Policy Committee
Chair: Joe McElvaney | Hiller

This committee provides leadership and expertise for FSSA's public policy efforts and to help FSSA monitor those public policies related to FSSA's purposes. The public policy committee also identifies, evaluates and monitors social, political and environmental trends, issues and concerns. The committee also assists the FSSA Board of Directors in analyzing these public policy trends and how they may impact fire protection activities and performance.

Technical Committee
Chair: Lee Kaiser | ORR Protection Systems, Inc.

FSSA’s Technical Committee reviews technical matters related to issues that are important to the membership and recommends courses of action to the board of directors. The committee executes special projects that are technical in nature. The committee conducts formal reviews and prepares proposals and/or comments on behalf of FSSA on public documents that relate to special hazard fire protection such as NFPA, UL and other important codes and standards. Headquarters will distribute communication regarding technical committee elections when a seat is vacant.

View the roster, upcoming meetings and committee minutes

Training & Development Committee
Chair: John Demeter | Wesco HMB

The FSSA Training & Development Committee (formerly the education committee) develops association programs and activities to educate personnel within the fire suppression industry. The education committee manages the content of the FSSA Training Program and FSSA Educational Foundation, suggests appropriate FSSA webinar content topics and potential speakers to the marketing committee.

FSSA Educational Foundation

President: Pam Boyer | BFPE International

The FSSA Educational Foundation awards scholarships annually to talented and worthy individuals within the fire suppression industry.

Learn more about the fssa educational foundation

FSSA Headquarters Team

Becca Stinner, CAE | Executive Director
Crista LeGrand, CAE, CMP | Managing Director
Kim Shaw | Director, Marketing & Member Services
George Keeley | Legal Counsel
Tom Wysocki | Technical Director

FSSA Past Presidents

View a listing of past FSSA Presidents here