VALPARAISO, IN—Following an exhaustive nationwide search, Philip Gerace, former KME director of sales and marketing, has been named as Task Force Tips’ new vice president of marketing and will be based at the company’s worldwide headquarters in Valparaiso, Indiana. 

“This is one of those opportunities I couldn’t pass up, because TFT is a rare company that values its employees, takes great pride in the quality products it produces, and goes out of its way to serve those who serve,” Gerace explains. “In the business world, you often come across those who say one thing and end up doing another as they grow. That isn’t true of TFT; this is a homegrown company that has maintained and built on the values it has had ever since the day the company started.” 

Many in the industry know Gerace from his years of service on the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) board of directors, which culminated in his serving as its president in 2015. The Penn State alum’s professional credits, tied with 12 years of service as a volunteer firefighter, has earned him invitations to write for industry publications, including Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment. 

As with his earlier position at KME, Gerace sees himself first and foremost as a team member, “because if you’re part of the team, then you serve a critical role,” he explains. “A team can always develop more than an individual who is left by his or herself.” He added that TFT is unique in that its marketing department is “self-sufficient,” boasting everything from state-of-the-art printing and banner production facilities, to having its own in-house staff of seasoned print, digital, and marketing professionals.

“By not having to outsource, we have a better control over our quality, can customize projects for our dealers and customers, are better equipped to handle last minute changes, and in the end provide a sleek, professional product to serve those who serve,” he says. “We not only embrace change—we anticipate it and prepare for that point in time that it will inevitably surface.”

For more information on TFT, visit www.tft.com.

By Rich Marinucci

I have just completed a week at the FDSOA Apparatus Symposium and Safety Forum. I currently serve as the executive director of the FDSOA, and my responsibilities kept me busy. But, I was able to make some observations while wandering around and talking to the attendees, presenters, and vendors. Probably the most impressive thing to me is the fact that there are some tremendously dedicated folks in this profession that go far beyond the basic job responsibilities to make this industry better. The willingness of many to give back and work tirelessly year in and year out is amazing. There are some newcomers, but there are many veterans who return year in and year out because of the passion they have for the fire service. Fortunately for the rest of us they continue to share their knowledge. I wish I could mention them all but I am sure I would miss someone so I don’t want to offend anyone. Suffice to say though, that you can identify those who long ago could have rode off into the sunset and enjoyed their retirement knowing they left a good legacy. If you’re fortunate to run into one of these folks, please thank them for their contributions. They are easy to identify. They are active participants and usually beginning to show their age (no disrespect intended here.)

Looking at the conference as a whole, I wonder why more people are not in attendance. This is not to say that there wasn’t a good crowd. There were more people than the previous year, and both events are growing. The question is more from a philosophical viewpoint. There is no doubt that those attending the Apparatus Symposium could find something that will help save money, extend apparatus life expectancy, and improve reliability. It would not be hard to get an idea that would easily save more money than the trip would cost. So, it can’t be about the money. There are issues politically that prevent participation. In my recent organization, there was a policy that banned out of state travel to conferences. In my view, it was arbitrary, and the boss was unwilling to make the case regarding the benefits. That was unfortunate. On the plus side, I was able to participate in many events without their support. But, others in my organization were not able to see the benefits of continued professional development. They miss out on the motivational stories of so many professional fire service people. It is short-sighted. For one to truly excel, he needs to work on continual learning and improvement. Exposure to nationally (and even internationally) recognized experts is something that everyone should have the opportunity to experience.

Another aspect of the past week to consider is the increased complexity of the fire service. Clearly the apparatus and the components are getting more sophisticated and technical. A backyard mechanic is not likely to be able to pull out his tool box and get right to work figuring out a problem. Those who are good at working on apparatus are truly talented and must continually study. Whatever one’s responsibility regarding apparatus, whether spec writing, fleet management, repair, preventive maintenance, or anything else, the industry is continually advancing and improving. Those who fail to remain as current as possible are not doing their communities or departments any favors. It sometimes appears that if you even blink, you can miss something. Watching those who are so deeply engaged reinforces the nee