NYSAFC 109th Annual Conference & FIRE 2015 Expo Keynote Speaker Announced

NYSAFC is pleased to announce that President Jim Pauley of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) will deliver the keynote address during the association’s 109th Annual Conference and FIRE 2015 Expo at the Turning Stone Resort in Verona, NY. "Bringing Safety Home – Partnering to Reduce Fire Loss" will be delivered on Thursday, June 18, 2015, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the Showroom during the General Session.

All attendees are welcome to attend the General Session, which runs from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and includes the association business meeting (9:00 – 10:00 a.m.), followed by the keynote address (10:00 – 11:00 a.m.) and NYSAFC memorial service (11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.).

Keynote Address: "Bringing Safety Home – Partnering to Reduce Fire Loss"

In 2013, approximately 3,200 people died in fires. More than 80 percent of those fire deaths occurred in the place people feel safest – their home. While we have made significant progress in reducing home fires, homes are still the place where the majority of fire deaths and injuries happen. New construction materials and techniques, the contents in homes, and complacency about fire risk have all combined to create a challenging environment for those in fire safety. Increased use of home fire sprinklers and smoke alarms can enhance life safety, but we continue to see resistance to adopting sprinkler requirements and feel the effects of a general public complacency about fire. NFPA President Jim Pauley will talk about current trends and thoughts on how to collaborate to better protect people, property, and our first responders from fire.

Jim Pauley was named president and chief executive officer of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in 2014. NFPA is the world's leading advocate of fire prevention and an authoritative source on public safety. Pauley previously served as senior vice president, external affairs and government relations with Schneider Electric, where he was responsible for state and federal legislative and regulatory policy. In addition, Pauley has served in a number of external leadership positions including chairman of the board for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), chairman of NFPA’s Standards Council, and chair of the High Performance Building Council for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). He has authored numerous industry related papers and articles focused on the critical role that codes and standards plays in society, including "The Electrical Safety System in the United States," "North American Codes and Standards: A Global Challenge," "Why Inspections Matter," and "The Challenge to Increasing Electrical Safety." Pauley holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky and is a licensed professional engineer.

More information on the 109th Annual Conference & FIRE 2015 is available here.