News Category: News

Code Red Consultants is experiencing an exciting phase of growth, marked by new strategic hires across multiple teams. Notably, our Business Operations team gained two new key members: Joe Fontecchio, IT Director and Renata Katz, Marketing Manager. Joe brings a wealth of experience in driving strategic growth through cutting-edge technology solutions. Renata’s role is pivotal in propelling Code Red Consultants towards national growth through refined and impactful marketing initiatives. Additionally, we have onboarded three new Life Safety Consultants: Nick Lee, Matt Connors, and Kevin Healy. We are excited to continue to bring on new talent and look forward to introducing our newest staff to our clients and partners in the fire protection and life safety industry.

Joe Fontecchio joins Code Red Consultants as a highly respected IT Director with nearly two decades of expertise. His remarkable journey from a proactive engineer to a prominent leadership role is defined by his continuous pursuit of growth and improvement. In his career, Joe has effectively led diverse teams and spearheaded significant projects encompassing data center implementations, system architecture, networking, and cloud adoption. Renowned for his dedication to building best-in-class IT infrastructures, Joe’s leadership style is characterized by hard work, honesty, and a strong emphasis on collaborative, trust-based team dynamics. His strategic and practical insights into IT infrastructure development mark him as an influential figure in the field.

Renata Katz joins Code Red Consultants as the firm’s Marketing Manager. Renata leads the development and execution of the firm’s marketing initiatives. Before joining Code Red Consultants, Renata gained substantial experience in graphic design, web design, email marketing, and branding. Within her role, Renata uses her blend of creative flair and strategic expertise to propel business growth. She enjoys bringing her creative visions to life within the dynamic and collaborative environment at Code Red Consultants while working alongside an exceptional team.

Nick Lee joins Code Red Consultants as a dedicated Life Safety Consultant with a strong focus on helping clients achieve their project objectives. Nick leverages his background in construction management to identify problems and curate solutions through his own experiences and challenges within the industry. Nick takes advantage of all the life safety & consulting services Code Red Consultants offers, which includes construction life safety, smoke control special inspections, & NFPA 241 services. He looks forward to continuing his growth at Code Red and being a valuable resource to clients & colleagues.

Matt Connors joins Code Red Consultants as a Life Safety Consultant who excels in a fast-paced, collaborative work environment. He brings a unique perspective to Code Red Consultants with nearly 5 years of experience working in the construction industry as a site superintendent. Matts worked on a wide array of projects, ranging from condominium fit outs to commercial lab buildings. His experience on such projects allows him to readily understand the construction process and provide insight into Code Red’s many consulting & field services. He takes pride in his work and is passionate about exceeding client expectations. As a new consultant, Matt is eager to continue growing every day through new challenges and experiences, both personally and professionally.

Kevin Healy joins Code Red Consultants as a Life Safety Consultant who confidently approaches each upcoming challenge and is eager to expand his skill set. He first joined the Code Red team as an intern, which enhanced his technical skills and fostered a mindset of continuous learning. This is essential in a field that requires staying up to date on evolving codes, standards, and technologies to ensure the highest level of compliance and safety for both individuals and properties. Kevin’s problem-solving ability and background in electrical engineering and fire alarm product design position him to make a dynamic impact at Code Red and the clients we serve. Kevin uses his eagerness to learn and contribute to drive innovative solutions and advancements in fire protection engineering. Kevin’s professional focus encompasses smoke control special inspections, fire alarm system design, and fire protection system design.

What’s the adage – once is luck, twice is coincidence, and three times is a habit? This January, Code Red Consultants held its 3^rd Annual Emerging Talent Winternship and it’s now become a habit!

This professional development program is designed for aspiring engineers and offers participants an opportunity to expand their network, strengthen their resume, and further appreciate the field of Life Safety Consulting and Fire Protection Engineering.

Participants received introductions to Code Red Consultants’ various service offerings – including code consulting, design, and field services. They received mentoring and technical guidance from our team of Consultant Engineers as they navigated through a sample building project. At the conclusion of the week, the “Winterns” presented their findings and discoveries to the office from the purview of each entity involved in the construction of the sample project building.

As part of Code Red’s objective to foster an environment of continued education, we enjoy this opportunity to share knowledge and work with the next generation of engineers!

 

Please join us in welcoming Ty Schmidt, P.E., George von Roth, P.E., Brian Soucy, and Nathan Crock. Mr. Soucy and Mr. Crock join us as Life Safety Consultants and Mr. Schmidt and Mr. von Roth will serve as Sr Project Managers, expanding Code Red’s breadth of knowledge.

Ty Schmidt, P.E. joins Code Red Consultants as a Sr Project Manager with a decade of experience solving complex fire and life safety code issues on buildings ranging from small scale office tenant improvements to high-rise hospital medical complexes. He has demonstrated this broad multi-project type and market sector Fire Protection and Life Safety Consulting experience in jurisdictions across the country from California to Massachusetts. Ty’s expertise includes building and fire code consulting, fire protection and fire alarm systems consulting (suppression, alarm & smoke control), accessibility, and performance-based design.

George von Roth, P.E. is a skilled professional with over 10 years’ experience in fire protection engineering and project management. In his role as a Sr Project Manager, he and his team work to develop automatic sprinkler and fire alarm system designs across various project types, ensuring compliance with relevant codes and regulations. In previous positions, George demonstrated expertise as a Senior Fire Protection Engineer, focusing on code compliance, permitting, and the development of fire alarm and suppression systems for new and existing construction. George also has unique experience as a Lead Design Engineer for an installing contractor, where he specialized in designing code-compliant fire suppression systems, performing hydraulic calculations, and producing accurate permit and installation drawings.

Brian Soucy brings 8 years of experience working with the UMass Chan Medical School/UMass Memorial Medical Center for eight years. He spent his first four years in the Fire Safety Department, conducting inspection and testing on various fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, pre-action & dry sprinkler systems, fire pumps, fire alarm devices, elevator recalls, fire doors, and was involved in commissioning of new/renovated areas of buildings. Brian then transitioned to the Occupational Safety and Environment of Care department at UMass, where he led the fire safety program at the UMass University Campus ensuring regulatory compliance for Joint Commission, conducting multiple fire drills annually, and implementing a staff training program on fire extinguisher usage. In addition to his work at UMass, Brian served as a member of the fire service for the towns of Auburn and Charlton for a total of eight years.

Nathan Crock is a dedicated life safety consultant with a strong focus on achieving project objectives, helping clients meet their goals. He leverages his background in chemical and fire protection engineering to analyze problems and develop solutions related to code compliance as it relates to handling chemicals and hazardous materials, with specific focus on the laboratory permitting process. Nathan enjoys the variety of projects and clients and is eager to get involved in new fields and project types.

The highly anticipated 2023 Code Red Summer Internship kicked-off in June. We welcomed a talented group of eight interns who have embarked on enriching opportunities involving career development, personal growth, and networking. Throughout the program, interns engage in a wide variety of activities, including on-site inspections, report writing, and specialized training sessions led by our skilled engineers. Additionally, team building events will be had to foster collaboration and camaraderie, creating an environment that fosters professional and interpersonal growth.

Code Red growth continues and is expanding its presence with the addition of technical staff in new regions across the country! This will strengthen our ability to serve clients in these areas and further establish our market presence.

To support this exciting growth, we have also made strategic additions to our administrative team. We welcome the arrival of a highly experienced Human Resource Director, who will play a pivotal role in talent management, the continued fostering of a positive culture, and attracting top industry professionals. Additionally, we have onboarded an accomplished Accounts Receivable Specialist, who will bring depth to and enhance our financial operations. Read about our newest hires below!

Josh Apolenis, P.E. is a Sr Project Manager with a decade of experience in Fire Protection and Life Safety Consulting with project work spanning across the country from California to Washington, DC. Josh has broad experience across various project types and market sectors with expertise in building and fire code consulting, hazardous material analysis and planning, fire protection systems design and consulting (suppression, alarm & smoke control), accessibility consulting, and performance-based design.

Andrew Biery, P.E. also joins Code Red as a Sr Project Manager with significant experience in a wide variety of consulting services including performance-based design, hazardous material analysis and process safety, fire and egress modeling, probabilistic risk assessments, building code compliance, and fire hazard analysis in residential, higher education, mixed-use, business, healthcare, and hazardous material markets. Andrew also has extensive experience in consulting efforts relating to large, international infrastructure projects in aviation and rail, as well as the re-use of historical buildings for residential or commercial purposes.

Sean Herman joins the firm as a Life Safety Consultant with seven years of experience in the Fire Protection and Life Safety Consulting industry. His project work and management experience has spanned across the country from California to Massachusetts, working on a variety of project types and market sectors; most notably, primary education, higher education, high-rise office and residential buildings, and mixed-use buildings. Sean’s expertise includes building and fire code consulting, fire protection systems design and consulting, negotiation with the Authorities Having Jurisdiction, and utilizing CAD/BIM programs to develop and deliver a successful and efficient project.

Karen Lacroix brings decades of experience to her role as HR Director. With a background in the Architectural, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry since 2005, she has acquired extensive knowledge as both an individual contributor and HR leader, granting her deep understanding of the unique challenges within the consulting engineering industry. Throughout her career, Karen has successfully implemented HR initiatives that have had a positive impact on organizational culture, talent acquisition, performance management and employee engagement.

Angela Fochetti is an Accounts Receivable Specialist with a B.S. in Corporate Finance and Accounting from Bentley University. Prior to joining the firm, she held the positions of Assistant Director of Student Accounts and Senior Accountant at the College of the Holy Cross. Angela assisted families and students in establishing accurate and equitable payment plans. Additionally, Angela managed two student loan programs and was recognized as a prominent advocate in the billing and loan process.

Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Hoyt, P.E., Hubert Biteau, PhD, P.E., and Chris Lizewski, P.E. to Code Red Consultants! Mr. Lizewski will serve in a Sr Project Manager Role and both Ms. Hoyt and Dr. Biteau will serve as Senior Technical Advisors, expanding Code Red’s breadth of knowledge.

Chris Lizewski has been a Fire Protection Engineer working throughout New England since 2011. Over the course of his career, he has experienced a diverse range of projects spanning various markets, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare facilities and hospitals, secondary and higher education, hospitality, and high-rise office/lab buildings. He is highly experienced in code consulting services as well as fire suppression, fire alarm, and smoke control system review taking projects from concepts to construction. He enjoys working alongside owners, architects, fire departments, authority having jurisdictions and end users to find solutions to projects that maximize his Client’s ability to execute their project goals. Mr. Lizewski finds hazardous material safety in industrial, manufacturing, and laboratory settings most rewarding as these specialties play to his strengths in sorting out numerous challenges amongst multiple stakeholders.

Prior to joining Code Red, Ms. Hoyt served as the Chief Fire Protection Engineer for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.  Through her role, she participated in developing the current ICC-based state building code as a member of the Board of Building Regulations and Standards. She provided technical support for the current NFPA 1-based state fire code and researched new and developing trends in fire protection, risk-based analysis of emerging technologies, and translation of her knowledge into applicable code language. Ms. Hoyt prepared third party reviews of architectural, fire sprinkler, and fire alarm plans for a multitude of projects and frequently attended design development meetings, site visits, and final inspections as a liaison between the design team and the local building and fire officials. In her new role, Ms. Hoyt will provide guidance on technical aspects of projects, developing education on applicable codes and emerging trends for members of the team and clients. She will also advise team members on perspectives of local enforcement agents for incorporation into comprehensive project approaches with a focus on code compliance, fire risk management, and life safety.

Dr. Biteau specializes in the evaluation of fire safety strategies for a wide range of hazards, buildings, and market types. His expertise spans across a diverse set of hazards including wildland fires, energy storage systems (ESS), hazardous material processes, and explosion and deflagration mitigation systems in accordance with NFPA 68 and 69.  He has conducted NFPA 855 risk assessments and hazard mitigation analyses for energy storage systems and has worked closely with utility companies on the implementation of a fire hazard evaluation and mitigation tool for gas transmission lines and gas transmission stations. Dr. Biteau can also lead efforts to conduct small and large-scale fire experiments based on internationally accepted standards. He can design, manage, and execute fire testing to provide critical information regarding the fire behavior of materials and material assemblies. Before joining Code Red, Dr. Biteau provided forensic services for more than 12 years, investigating the origin and causes of fires in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, evaluating the performance of fire protection systems, and evaluating the thermal behavior of appliances, as well as various consumer electronics.  He has served on a variety of NFPA Technical Committees including NFPA 88A, NFPA 285, NFPA 461, and NFPA 855.

Please join us in welcoming Jennifer Hoyt, P.E. and Hubert Biteau, PhD, P.E. to Code Red Consultants! Both Ms. Hoyt and Dr. Biteau will serve in Senior Technical Advisor Roles, expanding Code Red’s breadth of knowledge.

 

Prior to joining Code Red, Ms. Hoyt served as the Chief Fire Protection Engineer for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services.  Through her role, she participated in developing the current ICC-based state building code as a member of the Board of Building Regulations and Standards. She provided technical support for the current NFPA 1-based state fire code and researched new and developing trends in fire protection, risk-based analysis of emerging technologies, and translation of her knowledge into applicable code language. Ms. Hoyt prepared third party reviews of architectural, fire sprinkler, and fire alarm plans for a multitude of projects and frequently attended design development meetings, site visits, and final inspections as a liaison between the design team and the local building and fire officials. In her new role, Ms. Hoyt will provide guidance on technical aspects of projects, developing education on applicable codes and emerging trends for members of the team and clients. She will also advise team members on perspectives of local enforcement agents for incorporation into comprehensive project approaches with a focus on code compliance, fire risk management, and life safety.

Dr. Biteau specializes in the evaluation of fire safety strategies for a wide range of hazards, buildings, and market types. His expertise spans across a diverse set of hazards including wildland fires, energy storage systems (ESS), hazardous material processes, and explosion and deflagration mitigation systems in accordance with NFPA 68 and 69.  He has conducted NFPA 855 risk assessments and hazard mitigation analyses for energy storage systems and has worked closely with utility companies on the implementation of a fire hazard evaluation and mitigation tool for gas transmission lines and gas transmission stations. Dr. Biteau can also lead efforts to conduct small and large-scale fire experiments based on internationally accepted standards. He can design, manage, and execute fire testing to provide critical information regarding the fire behavior of materials and material assemblies. Before joining Code Red, Dr. Biteau provided forensic services for more than 12 years, investigating the origin and causes of fires in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, evaluating the performance of fire protection systems, and evaluating the thermal behavior of appliances, as well as various consumer electronics.  He has served on a variety of NFPA Technical Committees including NFPA 88A, NFPA 285, NFPA 461, and NFPA 855.

For contact information and to learn more about the newest members to our organization, follow the links below.

JENNIFER HOYT, P.E.

HUBERT BITEAU, PHD, P.E.

Code Red Consultants continues to grow with the arrival of four new staff; Joshua Thomas, Matt Nicastro, Nicolas Hesel, and Madelyn Uryase. We are excited to continue to bring on new talent and look forward to introducing our newest staff to our clients and partners in the fire protection and life safety industry.

Josh thrives in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. With experience in automatic sprinkler system installation, existing fire protection system evaluation, a variety of general code consulting, integrated system testing, and special inspections, he finds value in identifying client needs and providing solutions that exceed expectations. He is drawn to the consulting industry by his passions for problem-solving and helping clients meet and exceed their goals. Josh is eager to take advantage of all learning opportunities presented to further develop himself personally and professionally, including working towards completing his Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering.

Matt appreciates working in a collaborative environment. He works primarily in the residential, academic, office, and assembly markets, working on numerous aspects of the building and development process. He is focused on bringing his understanding of the relevant codes and standards to projects and enjoys finding solutions to routine and unique challenges, providing the best possible solution for his client’s needs. Matt takes every opportunity to grow and learn, both in the office and out in the field, including continuing his education as he works towards completing his Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering.

Nica is a highly motivated consultant who is passionate about complex problem solving and decision making. He is coming off a summer internship with Code Red! His background in aerospace engineering provides a unique perspective on engineering fundamentals that apply to fire systems and science. Nicolas will primarily work within the fields of healthcare, transportation, and smoke control modeling. He enjoys critical thinking and collaborating with colleagues to provide solutions for our clients in a timely and cost saving manner. As a new consultant, Nicolas strives to continue bettering himself every day, including continuing his education in pursuit of his Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering and studying for his Fundamentals of Engineering exam.

Maddie comes to Code Red with field experience in the construction industry. Her background in Civil Engineering and construction provides a unique perspective on the design process and how these plans come to life on site. This allows her to understand the decisions made by parties involved in the construction process and potential solutions when obstacles arise. Maddie focuses her consulting efforts mostly in the residential, academic, office, and assembly markets, including accessibility code analysis. As a young consultant, Maddie is very excited to be provided with numerous learning opportunities as well as colleges she can look up to as she progresses in her career. Maddie is currently working towards completing her Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering.

Please join us in welcoming them aboard!

Code Red Consultants announces the addition of consultants Andrew Went and Jake Smith! Each may have their own unique backgrounds, but both new hires bring the same passion and dedication that our industry commands and our clients have come to expect.

Andrew joins Code Red with over 30 years of experience in the fire service, including the last 3.5 years as head of the Fire Prevention Division of the Providence, RI Fire Department. Working in that role he oversaw fire investigations, public education, inspection, code enforcement, and plan review across a wide variety of building types and occupancies including educational, industrial, nightclubs and other assemblies, business, mercantile, high-rise, and large-scale storage of gasoline, LP and LNG. He brings to Code Red the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) perspective of construction fire safety, having witnessed many fire safety failures in his career.

Jake is a motivated life safety consultant who seeks to gain as much knowledge of the fire protection industry as possible. As a result, he offers support in many services offered by Code Red Consultants including construction fire safety, firestopping special inspections, healthcare surveys, and building and life safety code consulting. Jake concurrently took classes for his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and his Master’s in Fire Protection Engineering while being a member of the wrestling team and acting as an officer in his fraternity. He is no stranger to hard work! Completing two summer internships with Code Red and another with a residential construction firm, Jake joined fulltime with an understanding of how to be successful. Jake enjoys working with others to solve unique problems in the field and in the office and is excited for the growth he will achieve while working at Code Red Consultants.

Please join us in welcoming them aboard!