Home: Newport Beach, California — where the Pacific meets opportunity, and every sunset reminds me why I moved west. Age: Old enough to have built and sold one company, young enough to be expanding another — let's call it "experienced optimism." Profession: Fire protection supply and life safety — keeping buildings safe and businesses running, one sprinkler system at a time. Organization: Response Fire Supply; previously co-founded Reaction Supply. Title: Founder & Owner — building systems that protect lives and businesses across the Western United States. Significant other: My wife, Jill — she’s the steady hand when business gets turbulent, and my favorite partner in all things. Alma mater: Menlo College, Class of 1984 — where I learned that a business degree is just the cover charge; the real education happens in the trenches.
Current project: Expanding Response Fire Supply's footprint across California, Nevada, and Arizona — five branches and counting, because fire safety doesn't respect state lines. Recent recognition: Being acknowledged as a thought leader in fire protection innovation — though I prefer "problem solver with excellent vendor relationships." Recent professional development: Navigating the intersection of regulatory compliance and rapid growth — proving you can scale without sacrificing safety standards or service quality. Latest accomplishment: Building Response Fire Supply from the ground up into a multi-state operation with fabrication capabilities — turning vision into infrastructure that protects thousands daily. Latest contribution to others: Helping fire sprinkler contractors meet increasingly complex safety regulations while keeping their projects on time and on budget — because compliance shouldn't be a roadblock to progress. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Selling Reaction Supply after building it to seven branches, then starting fresh with Response Fire Supply — proof that sometimes the second act is where you perfect the performance. Hobbies: Avid golfer — where patience, strategy, and continuous improvement mirror the business lessons I apply daily.
Personality profile: Strategic thinker, relationship builder, solutions-focused — someone who sees systems where others see problems. How do you define a perfect friendship? Like a reliable sprinkler system — always there when you need it, requires minimal maintenance, and performs flawlessly under pressure. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Built on trust, sustained by transparency, and strengthened through challenges — where both parties know the score and work toward mutual success. What is your greatest joy? Watching my business protect lives and property across three states — knowing that every system we supply could be the difference between disaster and deliverance. What is your guilty pleasure? Spending too much time on the golf course when I should be reviewing spreadsheets — though both require precision and planning. What word or phrase do you use far too often? "Let's look at the system" — whether it's fire protection, business operations, or problem-solving, everything's a system that can be improved. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Investing in my team and infrastructure — because great people and great tools create great outcomes. How do you relieve stress? Physical activity and fresh air — whether that's the golf course, a walk on the beach, or working with my hands.
What was your first paying job? Sales positions right out of college — where I learned that every 'no' is just practice for the next 'yes.' What book have you repeatedly read? Business strategy and leadership classics — because the fundamentals don't change, only the applications evolve. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? A vintage fire sprinkler head from my first major project at Reaction Supply — a reminder that protection and prevention beat reaction every time. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My business partners and mentors at Reaction Supply — who taught me that building something lasting requires both vision and the willingness to get your hands dirty. What’s the best advice you received growing up? "Measure twice, cut once" — advice that applies equally to construction, business decisions, and life choices. What’s the best advice you received in your career? "Your reputation is built one interaction at a time" — whether with customers, vendors, or competitors, every conversation counts. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? IoT-enabled fire safety systems — finally bringing real-time monitoring and predictive analytics to an industry that's been waiting decades to go digital.
What is your big idea?
That fire protection should be proactive, not reactive — using technology and strategic planning to prevent disasters before they happen, not just respond faster when they do.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Making comprehensive fire safety accessible and affordable for businesses of all sizes — because protection shouldn't be a luxury reserved for those with unlimited budgets. What change would you like to see in the world? Universal adoption of modern fire safety standards — especially in regions where regulations lag decades behind technology, putting lives and property at unnecessary risk. What message do you want to send out into the world? Safety is not an expense, it's an investment — and the return is measured in lives protected and disasters avoided. What widely held belief do you reject? That fire safety is just about compliance checkboxes — it's about creating resilient systems that protect people and enable businesses to thrive without fear.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Built to Last. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Matthew McConaughey — equal parts laid-back California cool and relentless business drive. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? The inventors of the automatic sprinkler system — to thank them for creating technology that's saved millions of lives and shaped entire industries. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A builder — turns out I became one, just not in the way I imagined. Instead of buildings, I built businesses and systems that protect them. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? The first contract from Response Fire Supply — proof that sometimes starting over leads to something better than what you left behind. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With family and close friends, reflecting on all we've built together — grateful for every life protected and every challenge overcome. What advice would you give your younger self? Start Response Fire Supply sooner, and trust your instincts — they're usually right, even when the path forward isn't clear.
Personal mission: Building fire protection systems that save lives and businesses that stand the test of time — proving that doing good and doing well aren't mutually exclusive. Personal motto: Build systems that last, relationships that matter, and a legacy worth leaving. Favorite quote: "Success is never final; failure is never fatal. It's courage that counts" (Winston Churchill). Desired epitaph: "Built systems that protected millions, businesses that employed hundreds, and a legacy measured not in revenue but in lives safeguarded."
