News Category: News

In January 2025, Code Red Consultants held its annual Emerging Talent Winternship — a one-week program designed to help students expand their networks and deepen their understanding of the fire and life safety industry through mentorship and hands-on project experience. This year, our Winterns participated in a high-rise building fire attack simulation. In full firefighting gear, they tackled the challenge of executing a standpipe evolution, using a standpipe system from within a multi-story building to combat a fire. This evolution highlighted the critical role of fire protection and life safety features in a building, demonstrating how and why the fire service utilizes these systems to ensure the safety of occupants.

We’re proud to announce a significant enhancement of our expertise in fire protection and fire alarm system design by adding two accomplished industry leaders to the Code Red Consultants team. With their combined expertise in fire protection system design, product innovation, and high-hazard fire protection, Rob Viall and Melissa Avila bring a wealth of knowledge and experience that will elevate our service offerings and ensure we meet our clients’ expanding needs in fire protection system design, special hazard analysis, and protection for manufacturing and industrial applications. This expansion reflects our continued commitment to delivering expert, tailored solutions across the built environment nationwide.

Rob Viall, P.E. joins Code Red Consultants as a Project Manager and Fire Protection Engineer with over 15 years of experience in designing fire protection systems and delivering comprehensive building and life safety code consulting services. His technical expertise spans sprinkler and standpipe systems, specialty fire suppression systems, fire pumps, and fire alarm/mass notification systems. Throughout his career, Rob has contributed to a wide range of project types, including commercial facilities, high-rise buildings, warehouses, laboratories, aircraft hangars, and military facilities. He brings a deep understanding of the International Building and Fire Codes, NFPA codes and standards, FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheets, and Unified Facilities Criteria (UFCs), making him an asset to any project team.

Melissa Avila, P.E. joins Code Red Consultants as a Project Manager and Fire Protection Engineer with nearly two decades of experience in the research and development of fire protection products. Her deep expertise in sprinklers and special hazard systems brings a valuable technical perspective to the team, shaped by years of hands-on product innovation. With a strong grasp of both the technical and practical aspects of fire protection, Melissa offers a unique lens into industry challenges and opportunities. She is passionate about staying informed on current developments and actively engages with diverse viewpoints shaping the future of fire protection.

Code Red Consultants welcomes three new Life Safety Consultants to our expanding team! We’re excited to continue growing our team and look forward to introducing our latest staff members to our clients and partners in the fire protection and life safety industry.

Jordan Greene-Williams joins Code Red Consultants with over ten years of experience in code compliance and enforcement at the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. With a strong academic background in fire science, he brings a depth of knowledge in fire protection paired with hands-on field expertise. His work has spanned routine life safety inspections to complex investigations following fatal fires, equipping him with a well-rounded and practical understanding of fire safety challenges. Jordan is known for his commitment to fostering strong, collaborative relationships with local fire departments across the South Shore and Cape Cod regions—partnerships that have been vital in advancing fire prevention and public safety initiatives.

Terrence Benedict joins Code Red Consultants with an educational background in Mechanical Engineering and a strong field services foundation built through two prior internships with our firm. Terrence is deeply committed to creating safe environments for both the public and construction teams, and he thrives in the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of fire protection. Dedicated to continuous learning, he is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering to further expand his expertise and impact in the field.

Kirsten Harrod joins Code Red Consultants as a Life Safety Consultant with an educational background in Industrial Engineering and Management. She has experience in construction project management and manufacturing operations, offering a thoughtful and solutions-oriented perspective. Kirsten thrives in collaborative, fast-paced environments and excels with teammates working toward shared goals. As she kicks off her career at Code Red Consultants, she is eager to deepen her understanding of the fire protection and life safety industry, grow professionally, and contribute meaningful, value-added work to every project she supports.

We’re introducing two new exceptional senior staff members, Jay Ierardi, Ph.D., P.E., and Tom O’Donnell, to our team. With their extensive experience and proven track records in fire protection and life safety, Jay and Tom bring a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight that will propel our business to new heights.

Jay Ierardi, Ph.D., P.E., joins Code Red Consultants as a Senior Technical Advisor. As a fire and life safety consultant for over 20 years, he has been helping project teams and Authorities Having Jurisdiction achieve successful outcomes in all aspects of commercial real estate. Jay’s experience covers all market sectors, with a focus on transit-oriented mixed-use developments and complex building renovations. He is a key resource for Owners, Architects, Engineers, Contractors, and Code Officials throughout planning, design, permitting, construction, and occupancy. Known for his collaborative approach, Jay specializes in structural fire resistance, mass timber, and existing buildings. His leadership roles have showcased his dedication to enhancing people and processes, and he is committed to nurturing the next generation of top fire and life safety professionals at Code Red Consultants.

Tom O’Donnell also joins Code Red Consultants as a Senior Technical Advisor. Tom brings over thirty years of public and private sector experience in reviewing fire, engineering, and architecture in building permitting. He has served several fire marshals as their designee and reported directly to multiple building commissioners while serving in Boston. He also enjoyed collaborating with many talented plan reviewers and fire and building inspectors. Tom has a results-oriented approach and hands-on experience focusing on consensus building that has a proven record of accomplishment of customer and constituent satisfaction. His public, private, and non-profit experience and insights brings added perspective to navigate external forces on rapidly changing development. As a Sr. Technical advisor, Tom will assist Code Red Consultants market sector leadership and their clients in increasing their capabilities for exceptional service delivery to complex development projects across the metro Boston region from inception to closeout.

Code Red Consultants is thrilled to announce the addition of five enthusiastic and talented Life Safety Consultants to our team. This significant phase of growth underscores our dedication to expanding our expertise and delivering unparalleled service to our clients. Each of these new consultants comes with a distinct educational background, bringing a wealth of diverse perspectives and specialized knowledge that will greatly enrich our company.

Dylan Roche joins Code Red Consultants with a background in Architectural Engineering. Dylan’s role at Code Red Consultants primarily involves residential projects and accessibility code analysis, but he doesn’t hesitate to jump into the multitude of other topics and services offered at Code Red Consultants. Dylan is excited to grow his knowledge and experience, learning from the diverse array of opportunities provided at Code Red Consultants.

Kate Lacroix joins Code Red Consultants with a background in Chemical Engineering. She is a Life Safety Consultant who enjoys the fast-paced, team-oriented nature of the fire protection field. Working with various clients, she appreciates that no two projects are the same and appreciates exploring how codes, standards, and technology evolve. Kate utilizes her background in Chemical Engineering to provide code compliance strategies for the handling of chemicals and hazardous materials. Kate looks forward to growing in her role and expanding her technical background through continued learning opportunities.

Kyle Shriberg joins Code Red Consultants with a background in Architectural Engineering. He’s enthusiastic and prepared to rejoin our team full-time following his previous internship with Code Red Consultants. Kyle is a self-motivated, detail-oriented Life Safety Consultant who finds satisfaction in this field knowing he is providing building occupants with a safe environment in the event of an emergency. He enjoys working in the Fire Protection industry due to the need to approach projects differently depending on the type of project and location.

Hunter Carey joins Code Red Consultants with a background in Mechanical Engineering. He brings a level of excellence and determination to Code Red Consultants with internship experience in the design of fire protection systems. With his background in designing sprinkler systems for various projects, his understanding of these systems allows him to exceed client expectations for life safety special inspections and field services. As a new hire, he is eager to advance his professional and personal growth in understanding building systems and working through complex problems.

Samuel Dickens joins Code Red Consultants with a background in Civil Engineering. As a Life Safety Consultant with a passion for collaborative problem-solving, he leverages numerous opportunities to expand his expertise through hands-on experience and the ongoing pursuit of a Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering. Sam thrives on devising solutions to intricate problems and takes pride in his ability to swiftly tackle new challenges. His primary focus is on healthcare facilities, where he provides code consulting and conducts onsite inspections.

At Code Red Consultants, our summer interns are immersed in real-world applications of Fire and Life Safety Consulting, bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and practical experience, including project site visits, existing building evaluations, report writing, and educational training sessions led by our Code Red Consultants team. They gain exposure to a variety of services and markets while building their professional network, enhancing their resumes, and receiving expert feedback. This year we toured a construction site in Cambridge, MA. This experience gave our interns a firsthand look at how Code Red Consultants plays a vital role throughout various stages of a construction project. We are pleased to welcome our group of summer interns and excited about the journey they are embarking on with Code Red Consultants

Code Red Consultants is always finding creative ways to foster a positive culture both in and out of the office. This quarter, we enjoyed a once (twice?) in a lifetime solar eclipse, registered a contingent of runners for the Worcester Firefighter 6k charity race, and offered First Aid & CPR training to our team. We also enjoyed each other’s company at our annual Red, White, and Brew social event. Adding to the fun, we treated ourselves during our Sundaes on a Thursday event, with an ice cream truck parked at the office. We also got competitive with our annual St. Patrick’s Day Trivia & Pi Day Pie Baking Contest, where team spirit and culinary skills were on full display. Whether silly or serious, community-driven or socially driven, our team always makes time for meaningful connections.