I have been in the insurance claims business for 30 plus years since February 1982. I started as claims adjuster trainee in 1982 and have served in various claim positions (outside adjuster, claim supervisor, litigation specialist, assistant claims manager, account manager, claims manager, and assistant vice president) for several companies over my professional career. I now work as the Corporate WC Claims Manager for an international corporation based in PA.

As a kid, my grandparents lived down the street from the firehouse. Both of my grandfathers were active with both serving as past presidents of the Limerick Fire Company. My one grandfather was a Charter Member (1921) and past Fire Chief of Limerick Fire Company during the WWII years. My uncle was a past president of LFC and a past engineer at LFC. My mom is still active in our Ladies Auxiliary and my daughter has since joined the fire company. I visited the fire company at a young age and loved it. I joined as soon as I was eligible at age 18 in September 1976. I was fortunate enough to serve Limerick Fire Company as Fire Chief for 15 years (1990-1995 and 1998-2006) and President since 2008 following in the service footsteps of both of my grandfathers.

Besides Limerick Fire Company where, I served as Fire Chief and current President, my family with family vacations and faith are my favorites along with Philadelphia sports teams especially the Eagles and the Phillies.

There are many things like serving as Fire Chief and President of the fire company or serving on a truck committee or building committee but, the most thing that, I am especially proud of is that, my daughter, Gina who, joined the fire company as a junior member in September 2009 and is now an active firefighter with her NFPA 1001 - Firefighter I & II & Fire Officer I Certification. She is now the 4th generation in our family to join Limerick Fire Company. She is now active in our fire rescue operations as well as serving on various committees.

I love the feeling that you get when, you help someone in a difficult situation like a house fire or motor vehicle accident. I also enjoyed the time served as president of the Fire Chief's Aid Association of Montgomery County from 2001 through 2006 and I learned many things from this opportunity..

Another accomplishment was working with all members of the fire company to get our Silver and our Gold Certification for Firefighter I (NFPA 1001 thru 12/2019) from the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner and PA Department of Emergency Medical Service Voluntary Rescue Recognition - Technical Certification. This makes us very qualified to serve the residents of Limerick Township and our surrounding communities for Fire & Rescue Services.

My most difficult challenge within the fire service has been serving as the chairman of the consolidation of Limerick Fire Company and Linfield Fire Company into the new Limerick fire Department effective 01/01/2019. There are always challenges and opportunities with mergers and consolidations. There is a lot of give and take. However, the teamwork of the members and committees involved made this possible to better serve the residents and businesses of Limerick Township and continue the viability of a 100% volunteer fire department..

I actually have three (3). My first one is being the incident commander for the July 28, 1994 Tornado that hit the Hamlet Development in Limerick Township near the firehouse at 11:52 PM. It was five (5) days of my life that I will never forget. Most people do not realize that, we had to clear debris from in front of our engine bay doors to get our apparatus out of the station to respond. The firehouse also sustained $18,000 in property damage as well. The amount of mutual aid and the professionalism of all first responders and support services like PECO was fantastic!

The second incident is probably the largest structure fire that I responded too where, we assisted at, the S&D Warehouse in Royersford on October 30, 1991. The first and second alarm were struck on the inital dispatch and the amount of 5" LDH to extinguish the large volume of fire was unbelievable. The number of fire companies from Montgomery County, Chester County, and Berks County that responded, proved the ability of mutual aid to solve a situation and works well.

The third incident is the seven (7) fatality MVA on U.S. 422 on March 20, 1997. It was carnage that, I can still see in my mind when I think of it and hope to never see that again.

Lastly, I have learned not to say, "we will never respond there". Mutual Aid has really expanded since 2000.

There too many to mention all over my 40 plus years that, started at Building 17 at Norristown State Hospital in 1978 and now continues at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy (formerly the MCFA). However, the main ones are:

NFPA 1001 - Firefighter I
NFPA 1001 - Firefighter II
NFPA 1041 - Fire Service Instructor I
NFPA 1041 - Fire Service Instructor II
NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer I
NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer II
NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer III
NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer IV
VRT - BVR Technician
NFPA 472 - Hazmat Operations (Core, PPE, & PCMSC)
NFPA 1521 - FD Incident Safety Officer
Rescue I
EVOC
NFPA 1002 - Fire Apparatus Driver Operator Pumper
NFPA 1002 - Fire Apparatus Driver Operator Aerial
Certified Fire Administrator (HACC)