AFSA SOUTHEASTERN CONVENTION SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Bob G. Caputo, CFPS, CET

Bob Caputo has more than 25 years experience in the fire protection community including all areas of the fire sprinkler industry. A former fire fighter trained in fire suppression at the U.S. Naval Fire Fighting Training Center in San Diego, Bob has been an instructor since 1989, teaching seminars for both American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) and NFPA. He holds fire sprinkler contracting licenses in multiple states, serves on the NFPA 13 Installation Committee and is the author of AFSA’s Project Management Tools program. He was named FPC Magazine’s “Man of the Year” in 1997 and was named San Diego County Fire Prevention Officer of the Year in 1994.

Ralph K. Foster III, PE

Ralph Foster is the Principal Fire Protection Engineer of Foster Engineering and Consulting, LLC. Ralph is a licensed Fire Protection Engineer in multiple states. He earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and is an NPFA Certified Fire Inspector I and Certified Fire Plans Examiner.

Ralph began working for the state in 1986 as an elevator and amusement ride inspector. In 1989, he started working with the State Fire Marshal’s Office on the Engineering Staff where he reviewed plans for compliance with adopted codes. In 1994, Ralph became the Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal supervising 19 Deputy State Fire Marshals who inspect facilities for fire and life safety. In 1999, he became the Manager of Engineering Services with the State Fire Marshal’s Office training and supervising the Engineering Section. In 2003, the office was reorganized and he served as the Senior Staff Engineer. From 1999 to 2007, his duties included evaluating “Performance Based Designs”; teaching the State Fire Marshal’s Certification Course, NFPA’s Certified Fire Inspector I and Certified Plans Examiner I; providing interpretations of International Building and Fire Codes, NFPA standards, state laws and regulations; and reviewing and evaluating complex or unusual projects. In 2008, he left the Fire Marshal’s Office to be a consulting Fire Protection Engineer. Foster Engineering & Consulting was founded in 2006.

Mr. Foster served 28 years in the SC Army National Guard retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He volunteers as an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 10 and resides in Columbia SC with his family. He is a member of SFPE, NFPA, ICC, and AFSA. He is active in the SC Fire Marshals Association, the Central Savannah River Chapter of the SFPE and the SC Fire Sprinkler Contractors Association.

Areas of expertise:

•  Design and analysis of fire suppression and detection systems
• Fire and life safety code analysis for new and existing buildings
• Egress analysis and evacuation planning
• Conducting seminars on fire protections systems and life safety codes
• Trouble shooting existing installations to diagnose problems and develop solutions

Chris Dilday

Chris has worked in fire protection industry and has been with SPP pumps for 15 years. As the Southeastern Regional Sales Manager he travels throughout the US educating life safety professionals and contractors about fire pumps and representing SPP Pumps. In addition, Chris served our country in the Army and has been an active member of the Georgia Army National Guard for the past 19 years.

Patrick McCoin, CBIA

Patrick is a native of Nashville and has spent the past 21 years working in the insurance and construction industries. His responsibilities include new client engagements, client management and client retention. Patrick has extensive experience in helping middle market and large companies develop and implement effective Risk Management and Insurance programs. Patrick joined HUB International in 2012. He previously worked at Willis, beginning in 2006. His areas of expertise include Construction, Commercial Real Estate, Food & Beverage, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Multifamily Real Estate and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). He holds his Certified Builders Insurance Agent (CBIA) designation.

Patrick is a 1999 graduate of The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He currently serves as a deacon at Forest Hills Baptist Church, volunteers at Second Harvest Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Vanderbilt Burn Center and the American Heart Association.  He is currently the President of the Brentwood Academy Alumni Council, a member of the Downtown Nashville Lions Club, Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), Tennessee Association of Roofing Contractors (TARC), Tennessee Fire Sprinkler Contractor Association (TFSCA) and Tennessee Road Builders Association (TRBA).

During his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Nicole, and their three children: Catherine (12), James (6) and Richard (4).  When time permits, he also enjoys golf, fishing and hunting.

Scott Stone

Scott has more than 20 years of experience in the captive insurance industry ranging from the day-to-day management, to consulting on program structures. He has experience with a variety of captive types from Risk Retention Groups to single parent captives and in most major captive domiciles.

Scott serves as a liaison between HUB Mid-South clients and key captive stakeholders. Scott’s role is to educate clients on captive program structures and alternatives to identify the best solution for their overall risk management program.

Scott began his career with Deloitte, and prior to joining HUB, worked for captive management companies. Scott is a graduate of Babson College and a member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Captive Insurance Association.

Steven D. Wolin

Steve Wolin is Vice President, Product Technology & Compliance, for Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. He is responsible for furthering the development of new products at Reliable. Mr. Wolin is a recipient of the Fire Protection Research Foundation’s Harry C. Bigglestone Award for Excellence in the Written Communication of Fire Protection Concepts and the Foundation Medal for Best Project. He is a Member of the NFPA Technical Committees on Sprinkler System Discharge Criteria (NFPA 13), Residential Sprinkler Systems (NFPA 13D, 13R, & 13), and Storage and Warehousing of Containers and Portable Tanks (NFPA 30), as well as the Board of Trustees of the Fire Protection Research Foundation. He is Chair of the NFPA Technical Committee on Hazard and Risk of Room Contents and Furnishings (NFPA 555, 556, & 557) as well as the SFPE Subcommittee for Standards Oversight.

Cary M. Webber

Cary Webber is the Director of Technical Services at Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Company, and a 42-year veteran of the fire sprinkler industry. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Spokane Community College. He has been SET Level IV certified by NICET, CFPS certified by NFPA, and is a member of NFPA 13, 11, 15, and 25 committees, and the NFSA Engineering and Standards committee.

Mike Bruce

Mike Bruce is the owner of Applied Industrial Controls, Inc. which is one of Firetrol’s largest worldwide authorized fire pump controls factory representatives. AIC, Inc. is the exclusive representative for Firetrol in the states of GA, NC, SC, TN, AL, and the panhandle of FL. Mike has represented Firetrol as a Controls Engineer since 1985 and has been responsible for sales, field service, new controller certification testing, and controls training. Mike has served on the Firetrol National Representative Advisory Board for over 20 years where he his responsibilities involve working on controller design updates, and code compliance topics. He has worked with NFPA Code committee members, consulting and corporate safety engineers, national design teams, insurance and fire inspectors and many other professionals and organizations throughout the country. Mike currently is very active as an instructor for continuing education seminars throughout the southeast and is a current member of the GA Fire Sprinkler Association.
AIC, Inc. also has a complete UL 508 engineered systems integration division that designs and builds many types of pump control systems for municipal, commercial and industrial applications. AIC’s team includes controls engineers, field service technicians, UL wiremen, and inside and outside sales personnel.