This document provides biographical information about Renald R. Pelszynski Jr., including his employment history and fire investigation and law enforcement related training. It details his experience as a firefighter, lieutenant, assistant fire marshal, and fire investigator for various public and private organizations from 1974 to present. It also lists over 100 fire, arson, and law enforcement training courses he has completed.
A fire marshal, in the United States and Canada, is often a member of a state, provincial or territorial government, but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include fire code enforcement or investigating fires for origin and cause. Fire marshals may be sworn law-enforcement officers and are often experienced firefighters. In larger cities with substantially developed fire departments the local fire departments are sometimes delegated some of the duties of the fire marshal.
A fire marshal's duties vary by location. Fire marshals may carry a weapon, wear a badge, wear a uniform or plain clothes, can drive marked or unmarked cars, and make arrests pertaining to arson and related offenses, or, in other localities, may have duties entirely separate from law enforcement, including building- and fire-code-related inspections. In many areas, the fire marshal is responsible for enforcing laws concerning flammable materials.
2024 State of Marketing Report – by HubspotMarius Sescu
https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
· Scaling relationships and proving ROI
· Social media is the place for search, sales, and service
· Authentic influencer partnerships fuel brand growth
· The strongest connections happen via call, click, chat, and camera.
· Time saved with AI leads to more creative work
· Seeking: A single source of truth
· TLDR; Get on social, try AI, and align your systems.
· More human marketing, powered by robots
A fire marshal, in the United States and Canada, is often a member of a state, provincial or territorial government, but may be part of a building department or a separate department altogether. Fire marshals' duties vary but usually include fire code enforcement or investigating fires for origin and cause. Fire marshals may be sworn law-enforcement officers and are often experienced firefighters. In larger cities with substantially developed fire departments the local fire departments are sometimes delegated some of the duties of the fire marshal.
A fire marshal's duties vary by location. Fire marshals may carry a weapon, wear a badge, wear a uniform or plain clothes, can drive marked or unmarked cars, and make arrests pertaining to arson and related offenses, or, in other localities, may have duties entirely separate from law enforcement, including building- and fire-code-related inspections. In many areas, the fire marshal is responsible for enforcing laws concerning flammable materials.
2024 State of Marketing Report – by HubspotMarius Sescu
https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing
· Scaling relationships and proving ROI
· Social media is the place for search, sales, and service
· Authentic influencer partnerships fuel brand growth
· The strongest connections happen via call, click, chat, and camera.
· Time saved with AI leads to more creative work
· Seeking: A single source of truth
· TLDR; Get on social, try AI, and align your systems.
· More human marketing, powered by robots
ChatGPT is a revolutionary addition to the world since its introduction in 2022. A big shift in the sector of information gathering and processing happened because of this chatbot. What is the story of ChatGPT? How is the bot responding to prompts and generating contents? Swipe through these slides prepared by Expeed Software, a web development company regarding the development and technical intricacies of ChatGPT!
Product Design Trends in 2024 | Teenage EngineeringsPixeldarts
The realm of product design is a constantly changing environment where technology and style intersect. Every year introduces fresh challenges and exciting trends that mold the future of this captivating art form. In this piece, we delve into the significant trends set to influence the look and functionality of product design in the year 2024.
How Race, Age and Gender Shape Attitudes Towards Mental HealthThinkNow
Mental health has been in the news quite a bit lately. Dozens of U.S. states are currently suing Meta for contributing to the youth mental health crisis by inserting addictive features into their products, while the U.S. Surgeon General is touring the nation to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of loneliness and isolation. The country has endured periods of low national morale, such as in the 1970s when high inflation and the energy crisis worsened public sentiment following the Vietnam War. The current mood, however, feels different. Gallup recently reported that national mental health is at an all-time low, with few bright spots to lift spirits.
To better understand how Americans are feeling and their attitudes towards mental health in general, ThinkNow conducted a nationally representative quantitative survey of 1,500 respondents and found some interesting differences among ethnic, age and gender groups.
Technology
For example, 52% agree that technology and social media have a negative impact on mental health, but when broken out by race, 61% of Whites felt technology had a negative effect, and only 48% of Hispanics thought it did.
While technology has helped us keep in touch with friends and family in faraway places, it appears to have degraded our ability to connect in person. Staying connected online is a double-edged sword since the same news feed that brings us pictures of the grandkids and fluffy kittens also feeds us news about the wars in Israel and Ukraine, the dysfunction in Washington, the latest mass shooting and the climate crisis.
Hispanics may have a built-in defense against the isolation technology breeds, owing to their large, multigenerational households, strong social support systems, and tendency to use social media to stay connected with relatives abroad.
Age and Gender
When asked how individuals rate their mental health, men rate it higher than women by 11 percentage points, and Baby Boomers rank it highest at 83%, saying it’s good or excellent vs. 57% of Gen Z saying the same.
Gen Z spends the most amount of time on social media, so the notion that social media negatively affects mental health appears to be correlated. Unfortunately, Gen Z is also the generation that’s least comfortable discussing mental health concerns with healthcare professionals. Only 40% of them state they’re comfortable discussing their issues with a professional compared to 60% of Millennials and 65% of Boomers.
Race Affects Attitudes
As seen in previous research conducted by ThinkNow, Asian Americans lag other groups when it comes to awareness of mental health issues. Twenty-four percent of Asian Americans believe that having a mental health issue is a sign of weakness compared to the 16% average for all groups. Asians are also considerably less likely to be aware of mental health services in their communities (42% vs. 55%) and most likely to seek out information on social media (51% vs. 35%).
AI Trends in Creative Operations 2024 by Artwork Flow.pdfmarketingartwork
This article is all about what AI trends will emerge in the field of creative operations in 2024. All the marketers and brand builders should be aware of these trends for their further use and save themselves some time!
A report by thenetworkone and Kurio.
The contributing experts and agencies are (in an alphabetical order): Sylwia Rytel, Social Media Supervisor, 180heartbeats + JUNG v MATT (PL), Sharlene Jenner, Vice President - Director of Engagement Strategy, Abelson Taylor (USA), Alex Casanovas, Digital Director, Atrevia (ES), Dora Beilin, Senior Social Strategist, Barrett Hoffher (USA), Min Seo, Campaign Director, Brand New Agency (KR), Deshé M. Gully, Associate Strategist, Day One Agency (USA), Francesca Trevisan, Strategist, Different (IT), Trevor Crossman, CX and Digital Transformation Director; Olivia Hussey, Strategic Planner; Simi Srinarula, Social Media Manager, The Hallway (AUS), James Hebbert, Managing Director, Hylink (CN / UK), Mundy Álvarez, Planning Director; Pedro Rojas, Social Media Manager; Pancho González, CCO, Inbrax (CH), Oana Oprea, Head of Digital Planning, Jam Session Agency (RO), Amy Bottrill, Social Account Director, Launch (UK), Gaby Arriaga, Founder, Leonardo1452 (MX), Shantesh S Row, Creative Director, Liwa (UAE), Rajesh Mehta, Chief Strategy Officer; Dhruv Gaur, Digital Planning Lead; Leonie Mergulhao, Account Supervisor - Social Media & PR, Medulla (IN), Aurelija Plioplytė, Head of Digital & Social, Not Perfect (LI), Daiana Khaidargaliyeva, Account Manager, Osaka Labs (UK / USA), Stefanie Söhnchen, Vice President Digital, PIABO Communications (DE), Elisabeth Winiartati, Managing Consultant, Head of Global Integrated Communications; Lydia Aprina, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Nita Prabowo, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Okhi, Web Developer, PNTR Group (ID), Kei Obusan, Insights Director; Daffi Ranandi, Insights Manager, Radarr (SG), Gautam Reghunath, Co-founder & CEO, Talented (IN), Donagh Humphreys, Head of Social and Digital Innovation, THINKHOUSE (IRE), Sarah Yim, Strategy Director, Zulu Alpha Kilo (CA).
Trends In Paid Search: Navigating The Digital Landscape In 2024Search Engine Journal
The search marketing landscape is evolving rapidly with new technologies, and professionals, like you, rely on innovative paid search strategies to meet changing demands.
It’s important that you’re ready to implement new strategies in 2024.
Check this out and learn the top trends in paid search advertising that are expected to gain traction, so you can drive higher ROI more efficiently in 2024.
You’ll learn:
- The latest trends in AI and automation, and what this means for an evolving paid search ecosystem.
- New developments in privacy and data regulation.
- Emerging ad formats that are expected to make an impact next year.
Watch Sreekant Lanka from iQuanti and Irina Klein from OneMain Financial as they dive into the future of paid search and explore the trends, strategies, and technologies that will shape the search marketing landscape.
If you’re looking to assess your paid search strategy and design an industry-aligned plan for 2024, then this webinar is for you.
5 Public speaking tips from TED - Visualized summarySpeakerHub
From their humble beginnings in 1984, TED has grown into the world’s most powerful amplifier for speakers and thought-leaders to share their ideas. They have over 2,400 filmed talks (not including the 30,000+ TEDx videos) freely available online, and have hosted over 17,500 events around the world.
With over one billion views in a year, it’s no wonder that so many speakers are looking to TED for ideas on how to share their message more effectively.
The article “5 Public-Speaking Tips TED Gives Its Speakers”, by Carmine Gallo for Forbes, gives speakers five practical ways to connect with their audience, and effectively share their ideas on stage.
Whether you are gearing up to get on a TED stage yourself, or just want to master the skills that so many of their speakers possess, these tips and quotes from Chris Anderson, the TED Talks Curator, will encourage you to make the most impactful impression on your audience.
See the full article and more summaries like this on SpeakerHub here: https://speakerhub.com/blog/5-presentation-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers
See the original article on Forbes here:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2016/05/06/5-public-speaking-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers/&refURL=&referrer=#5c07a8221d9b
ChatGPT and the Future of Work - Clark Boyd Clark Boyd
Everyone is in agreement that ChatGPT (and other generative AI tools) will shape the future of work. Yet there is little consensus on exactly how, when, and to what extent this technology will change our world.
Businesses that extract maximum value from ChatGPT will use it as a collaborative tool for everything from brainstorming to technical maintenance.
For individuals, now is the time to pinpoint the skills the future professional will need to thrive in the AI age.
Check out this presentation to understand what ChatGPT is, how it will shape the future of work, and how you can prepare to take advantage.
A brief introduction to DataScience with explaining of the concepts, algorithms, machine learning, supervised and unsupervised learning, clustering, statistics, data preprocessing, real-world applications etc.
It's part of a Data Science Corner Campaign where I will be discussing the fundamentals of DataScience, AIML, Statistics etc.
Time Management & Productivity - Best PracticesVit Horky
Here's my presentation on by proven best practices how to manage your work time effectively and how to improve your productivity. It includes practical tips and how to use tools such as Slack, Google Apps, Hubspot, Google Calendar, Gmail and others.
The six step guide to practical project managementMindGenius
The six step guide to practical project management
If you think managing projects is too difficult, think again.
We’ve stripped back project management processes to the
basics – to make it quicker and easier, without sacrificing
the vital ingredients for success.
“If you’re looking for some real-world guidance, then The Six Step Guide to Practical Project Management will help.”
Dr Andrew Makar, Tactical Project Management
Unlocking the Power of ChatGPT and AI in Testing - A Real-World Look, present...Applitools
During this webinar, Anand Bagmar demonstrates how AI tools such as ChatGPT can be applied to various stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC) using an eCommerce application case study. Find the on-demand recording and more info at https://applitools.info/b59
Key takeaways:
• Learn how to use ChatGPT to add AI power to your testing and test automation
• Understand the limitations of the technology and where human expertise is crucial
• Gain insight into different AI-based tools
• Adopt AI-based tools to stay relevant and optimize work for developers and testers
* ChatGPT and OpenAI belong to OpenAI, L.L.C.
ChatGPT is a revolutionary addition to the world since its introduction in 2022. A big shift in the sector of information gathering and processing happened because of this chatbot. What is the story of ChatGPT? How is the bot responding to prompts and generating contents? Swipe through these slides prepared by Expeed Software, a web development company regarding the development and technical intricacies of ChatGPT!
Product Design Trends in 2024 | Teenage EngineeringsPixeldarts
The realm of product design is a constantly changing environment where technology and style intersect. Every year introduces fresh challenges and exciting trends that mold the future of this captivating art form. In this piece, we delve into the significant trends set to influence the look and functionality of product design in the year 2024.
How Race, Age and Gender Shape Attitudes Towards Mental HealthThinkNow
Mental health has been in the news quite a bit lately. Dozens of U.S. states are currently suing Meta for contributing to the youth mental health crisis by inserting addictive features into their products, while the U.S. Surgeon General is touring the nation to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of loneliness and isolation. The country has endured periods of low national morale, such as in the 1970s when high inflation and the energy crisis worsened public sentiment following the Vietnam War. The current mood, however, feels different. Gallup recently reported that national mental health is at an all-time low, with few bright spots to lift spirits.
To better understand how Americans are feeling and their attitudes towards mental health in general, ThinkNow conducted a nationally representative quantitative survey of 1,500 respondents and found some interesting differences among ethnic, age and gender groups.
Technology
For example, 52% agree that technology and social media have a negative impact on mental health, but when broken out by race, 61% of Whites felt technology had a negative effect, and only 48% of Hispanics thought it did.
While technology has helped us keep in touch with friends and family in faraway places, it appears to have degraded our ability to connect in person. Staying connected online is a double-edged sword since the same news feed that brings us pictures of the grandkids and fluffy kittens also feeds us news about the wars in Israel and Ukraine, the dysfunction in Washington, the latest mass shooting and the climate crisis.
Hispanics may have a built-in defense against the isolation technology breeds, owing to their large, multigenerational households, strong social support systems, and tendency to use social media to stay connected with relatives abroad.
Age and Gender
When asked how individuals rate their mental health, men rate it higher than women by 11 percentage points, and Baby Boomers rank it highest at 83%, saying it’s good or excellent vs. 57% of Gen Z saying the same.
Gen Z spends the most amount of time on social media, so the notion that social media negatively affects mental health appears to be correlated. Unfortunately, Gen Z is also the generation that’s least comfortable discussing mental health concerns with healthcare professionals. Only 40% of them state they’re comfortable discussing their issues with a professional compared to 60% of Millennials and 65% of Boomers.
Race Affects Attitudes
As seen in previous research conducted by ThinkNow, Asian Americans lag other groups when it comes to awareness of mental health issues. Twenty-four percent of Asian Americans believe that having a mental health issue is a sign of weakness compared to the 16% average for all groups. Asians are also considerably less likely to be aware of mental health services in their communities (42% vs. 55%) and most likely to seek out information on social media (51% vs. 35%).
AI Trends in Creative Operations 2024 by Artwork Flow.pdfmarketingartwork
This article is all about what AI trends will emerge in the field of creative operations in 2024. All the marketers and brand builders should be aware of these trends for their further use and save themselves some time!
A report by thenetworkone and Kurio.
The contributing experts and agencies are (in an alphabetical order): Sylwia Rytel, Social Media Supervisor, 180heartbeats + JUNG v MATT (PL), Sharlene Jenner, Vice President - Director of Engagement Strategy, Abelson Taylor (USA), Alex Casanovas, Digital Director, Atrevia (ES), Dora Beilin, Senior Social Strategist, Barrett Hoffher (USA), Min Seo, Campaign Director, Brand New Agency (KR), Deshé M. Gully, Associate Strategist, Day One Agency (USA), Francesca Trevisan, Strategist, Different (IT), Trevor Crossman, CX and Digital Transformation Director; Olivia Hussey, Strategic Planner; Simi Srinarula, Social Media Manager, The Hallway (AUS), James Hebbert, Managing Director, Hylink (CN / UK), Mundy Álvarez, Planning Director; Pedro Rojas, Social Media Manager; Pancho González, CCO, Inbrax (CH), Oana Oprea, Head of Digital Planning, Jam Session Agency (RO), Amy Bottrill, Social Account Director, Launch (UK), Gaby Arriaga, Founder, Leonardo1452 (MX), Shantesh S Row, Creative Director, Liwa (UAE), Rajesh Mehta, Chief Strategy Officer; Dhruv Gaur, Digital Planning Lead; Leonie Mergulhao, Account Supervisor - Social Media & PR, Medulla (IN), Aurelija Plioplytė, Head of Digital & Social, Not Perfect (LI), Daiana Khaidargaliyeva, Account Manager, Osaka Labs (UK / USA), Stefanie Söhnchen, Vice President Digital, PIABO Communications (DE), Elisabeth Winiartati, Managing Consultant, Head of Global Integrated Communications; Lydia Aprina, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Nita Prabowo, Account Manager, Integrated Marketing and Communications; Okhi, Web Developer, PNTR Group (ID), Kei Obusan, Insights Director; Daffi Ranandi, Insights Manager, Radarr (SG), Gautam Reghunath, Co-founder & CEO, Talented (IN), Donagh Humphreys, Head of Social and Digital Innovation, THINKHOUSE (IRE), Sarah Yim, Strategy Director, Zulu Alpha Kilo (CA).
Trends In Paid Search: Navigating The Digital Landscape In 2024Search Engine Journal
The search marketing landscape is evolving rapidly with new technologies, and professionals, like you, rely on innovative paid search strategies to meet changing demands.
It’s important that you’re ready to implement new strategies in 2024.
Check this out and learn the top trends in paid search advertising that are expected to gain traction, so you can drive higher ROI more efficiently in 2024.
You’ll learn:
- The latest trends in AI and automation, and what this means for an evolving paid search ecosystem.
- New developments in privacy and data regulation.
- Emerging ad formats that are expected to make an impact next year.
Watch Sreekant Lanka from iQuanti and Irina Klein from OneMain Financial as they dive into the future of paid search and explore the trends, strategies, and technologies that will shape the search marketing landscape.
If you’re looking to assess your paid search strategy and design an industry-aligned plan for 2024, then this webinar is for you.
5 Public speaking tips from TED - Visualized summarySpeakerHub
From their humble beginnings in 1984, TED has grown into the world’s most powerful amplifier for speakers and thought-leaders to share their ideas. They have over 2,400 filmed talks (not including the 30,000+ TEDx videos) freely available online, and have hosted over 17,500 events around the world.
With over one billion views in a year, it’s no wonder that so many speakers are looking to TED for ideas on how to share their message more effectively.
The article “5 Public-Speaking Tips TED Gives Its Speakers”, by Carmine Gallo for Forbes, gives speakers five practical ways to connect with their audience, and effectively share their ideas on stage.
Whether you are gearing up to get on a TED stage yourself, or just want to master the skills that so many of their speakers possess, these tips and quotes from Chris Anderson, the TED Talks Curator, will encourage you to make the most impactful impression on your audience.
See the full article and more summaries like this on SpeakerHub here: https://speakerhub.com/blog/5-presentation-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers
See the original article on Forbes here:
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/welcome/?toURL=http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2016/05/06/5-public-speaking-tips-ted-gives-its-speakers/&refURL=&referrer=#5c07a8221d9b
ChatGPT and the Future of Work - Clark Boyd Clark Boyd
Everyone is in agreement that ChatGPT (and other generative AI tools) will shape the future of work. Yet there is little consensus on exactly how, when, and to what extent this technology will change our world.
Businesses that extract maximum value from ChatGPT will use it as a collaborative tool for everything from brainstorming to technical maintenance.
For individuals, now is the time to pinpoint the skills the future professional will need to thrive in the AI age.
Check out this presentation to understand what ChatGPT is, how it will shape the future of work, and how you can prepare to take advantage.
A brief introduction to DataScience with explaining of the concepts, algorithms, machine learning, supervised and unsupervised learning, clustering, statistics, data preprocessing, real-world applications etc.
It's part of a Data Science Corner Campaign where I will be discussing the fundamentals of DataScience, AIML, Statistics etc.
Time Management & Productivity - Best PracticesVit Horky
Here's my presentation on by proven best practices how to manage your work time effectively and how to improve your productivity. It includes practical tips and how to use tools such as Slack, Google Apps, Hubspot, Google Calendar, Gmail and others.
The six step guide to practical project managementMindGenius
The six step guide to practical project management
If you think managing projects is too difficult, think again.
We’ve stripped back project management processes to the
basics – to make it quicker and easier, without sacrificing
the vital ingredients for success.
“If you’re looking for some real-world guidance, then The Six Step Guide to Practical Project Management will help.”
Dr Andrew Makar, Tactical Project Management
Unlocking the Power of ChatGPT and AI in Testing - A Real-World Look, present...Applitools
During this webinar, Anand Bagmar demonstrates how AI tools such as ChatGPT can be applied to various stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC) using an eCommerce application case study. Find the on-demand recording and more info at https://applitools.info/b59
Key takeaways:
• Learn how to use ChatGPT to add AI power to your testing and test automation
• Understand the limitations of the technology and where human expertise is crucial
• Gain insight into different AI-based tools
• Adopt AI-based tools to stay relevant and optimize work for developers and testers
* ChatGPT and OpenAI belong to OpenAI, L.L.C.
Unlocking the Power of ChatGPT and AI in Testing - A Real-World Look, present...
Ren Pelszynski CV 2015
1. James F. Valentine & Associates
FIRE PROTECTION & INVESTIGATIONS
Corporate Office:
P.O. Box 1160
300 Thomas Road
Building 401
Williamstown, NJ 08094 Tel: (888)
273-6644
(856) 784-6077
Fax: (856) 782-7031
www.FireInvestigations.com
info@valentineassoc.com
CURRICULUM VITAE
Renald R. Pelszynski Jr., C.F.I., C.F.E.I.
James F Valentine Inc.
16 Masters Lane
Hazle Township, PA 18202
(215) 209-9363
FIREFIGHTER RECRUIT:
Appointed on August 12, 1974 to the position of Firefighter. Attended the Philadelphia
Fire Academy for eight (8) weeks of intensive training including first aid, Ladder and Engine
company operations, and familiarization of equipment. Attended the Philadelphia Naval Base,
Damage Control School, for one (1) week of training in the suppression of shipboard fires.
Assigned to firefighting duties upon completion of recruit training. Duties included the
care and operation of various types of Fire Department vehicles, power tools, hand tools, rescue
and fire suppression equipment. Primary duties included rescue, ventilation, and fire suppression.
Other duties included temporary assignments to Medical Units, and conducting inspections related
to Fire and Building Codes. Trained and assigned to act as a Lieutenant in the absence of a
regularly assigned officer. During this period, responded to several thousand fires and explosions
of multiple classification, in all types of structures, up to and including multi-story high rise office
and apartment buildings.
LIEUTENANT, FIRE OPERATIONS: ( June 1986 to December 1986)
Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on June 30, 1986. Supervised the day to day operations
and training of assigned personnel in Engine companies, Ladder companies and Medical Units.
Directed firefighting operations and medical assignments, as well as inspections relating to the Fire
and Building Codes. Responsible for establishing the preliminary origin and cause determination at
the scene of numerous fires.
ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL : (December 1986 to September 1993)
2. Assigned to the Fire Marshal’s Office for training on December 29, 1986.
Responsible for determining the origin and cause of fires and explosions occurring within
the City of Philadelphia. Testified numerous times as an expert witness in Municipal, Common
Pleas, and Federal Courts, in both criminal and civil proceedings.
Additional responsibilities include: working with the Department of Licenses and
Inspections, as well as other city agencies, in enforcing the Philadelphia Fire Code; and conducting
preliminary investigations into hazardous material incidents, building collapses, and mass casualty
incidents occurring within the City of Philadelphia.
Interacted with agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Federal Bureau of
Investigation, Environmental Protection Agency, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the U.S.
Department of Labor, and the Secret Service. Assigned to the protection team for high government
officials, including the President of the United States. Coordinated arson investigations with the
Philadelphia Police Department and other law enforcement agencies.
ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL, SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT: (September 1993)
Assigned to A.T.F., Phila. Group II, Arson/Explosives, as a member of the Federal Arson
Task Force operating within Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. Participated in high profile
case investigations including arson, homicide, explosives/bombings, insurance fraud, organized
crime and extortion.
ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL, S.I.U. / EAST POLICE DIVISION ARSON RESPONSE
TEAM (E.P.D.A.R.T.), City-Wide Federal Arson Task Force: (June 1994 through December
2006)
In addition to above duties, assigned to work along with A.T.F. agents and detectives from
the East Police Division in conducting arson and arson related investigations, including hate
crimes, in a target area responsible for the highest incidence of arson, narcotics trafficking and hate
crimes within the city. This team worked extensively with other agencies including D.E.A. and the
F.B.I., utilizing electronic surveillance and confidential informant information, as well as standard
arson investigation techniques. Trained in undercover operational techniques. Has both prepared
and presented an Arson Awareness Training Course to Police and Fire personnel operating within
the E.P.D.A.R.T. response area. To date several hundred personnel have received this training.
Has co-authored and taught the “Vehicle Arson Awareness Training “ program presented to every
member of the Philadelphia Fire Department. Has co-authored and taught a continuing education
program to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Has lectured before the “MAGLOCLEN”
group and the Delaware Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units.
Acted in the capacity of Chief Fire Marshal in the absence of other Command Staff.
MJM INVESTIGATIONS: (January 2007 through January 2008)
Conducted fire / explosion investigations including the Palo Seco Power Plant explosion /
fire in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Promoted to fire investigation team leader / regional manager for the
2
3. east coast region. Supervised regional fire investigators and performed administrative duties as
required.
JAMES F. VALENTINE INC.: (February 2008 to date)
Conduct fire and explosion investigations and perform other assignments as required.
TRAINING
August 1974
BASIC FIRE FIGHTING RECRUIT TRAINING
Phila. Fire Training Academy
Eight week basic fire fighting course.
February 1979
COMMAND OFFICER’S CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Philadelphia Fire Department
Ten week training program assigning members to a transitional role through each office and unit
within the Department. The focus being on Lieutenant and Acting Lieutenant ranks.
March 1979
FIRE / ARSON DETECTION COURSE
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
16 hours - National Fire Academy Field Course
March 1979
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION , Pa. Dept. of Health
Thomas Jefferson University
Certification training for E.M.T.’s.
September 1984
INDUSTRIAL FIRE FIGHTING COURSE
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
40 hour course focusing on issues and concerns encountered in an industrial fire scenario.
April 1985
FIRE / ARSON DETECTION COURSE
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
16 hours - National Fire Academy Field Course
November 1986
SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING PROGRAM
Philadelphia Training & Development Center
8 hour course required for all supervisory ranks.
December 1986
SUPERVISION COURSE
Philadelphia Training & Development Center
16 hour supervisory training required for the rank of Lieutenant and above.
December 1986
3
4. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COURSE
Philadelphia Training & Development Center
Required training for all supervisory ranks.
December 1986
PHILADELPHIA FIRE MARSHAL’S TRAINING
Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office
Comprehensive 320 hour training program in the operations and investigative techniques of the
Fire Marshal’s Office
February 1987
HAZ - MAT INCIDENT ANALYSIS
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
National Fire Academy Field Course identifying Haz - Mat incidents and the proper approach to
them.
March 1987
ARSON DETECTION COURSE
Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigators (P.A.A.I.)
Arson training program conducted by the P.A.A.I.
April 1987
ELECTRICAL FIRES INVESTIGATIVE TRAINING
University of Delaware
Electrical fires investigative training course.
May 1987
FIRE / ARSON INVESTIGATION
National Fire Academy
80 hour professional development course conducted at Emmitsburg, Maryland.
November 1987
FIRE / ARSON DETECTION TRAINING
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
16 hours - National Fire Academy Field Course
March 1988
ARSON DETECTION SEMINAR
Delaware County Community College
16 hour training program conducted by the P.A.A.I.
June 1988
ARSON DETECTION SEMINAR
Pennsylvania State University , State College
Arson investigation training presented by the P.A.A.I.
January 1989
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT U.S.A.
National Emergency Training Center
4
5. A professional development course identifying the issues and roles of public service officials
during crisis and emergency situations.
July 1989
ADVANCED EXPLOSIVES INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Subject areas covered included pre-planning, team concept and individual duties, initial and final
explosive scene evaluations, processing the crime scene, technical resources available to the
investigator, information management, roles of the prosecutor and expert witness, informants and
undercover techniques, and the pathologist’s role in bombing investigations.
September 1989
INTERCOUNTY DETECTIVE SCHOOL
Federal Bureau of Investigation
120 hour course of study in law enforcement techniques and procedures applicable to the duties of
a detective under the auspices of the F.B.I. and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.
January 1991
FIRE, FRAUD & SUBROGATION SEMINAR
I.N.S. Investigations Bureau Inc., Philadelphia Fire Academy
8 hours of fire investigative training techniques.
April 1991
PSYCHOLOGY OF FIRE-SETTING BEHAVIORS
Philadelphia Police Academy
An A.T.F. sponsored course providing insight into the psyche of the fire-setter presented by Dr.
Diane Williams, Center for Arson Research
April 1991
LEVEL III, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
32 hour course providing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certification in the proper
identification and handling of hazardous materials.
November 1991
STATEMENT ANALYSIS / INVESTIGATING AUTOMOBILE FIRES
Philadelphia Fire Academy
8 hour investigative training program presented by the B.A.T.F. and the I.A.A.I.
January 1992
BASIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
Philadelphia Fire Administration Building
8 hours training on fire alarm system operations presented by the Honeywell Alarm Company.
January 1993
ADVANCED ARSON FOR PROFIT
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Subject areas covered included the arson task force concept, analytical techniques, visual
investigative aids, financial investigative techniques and motives, kinesic interviewing, report
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6. writing, electronic surveillance techniques, real estate and insurance investigative techniques,
laboratory capabilities, and utilization of the expert witness.
September 1993
POLICE INVESTIGATIVE TRAINING
Philadelphia Police Department Advanced Training Bureau
40 hour course addressing crime scene investigation and the duties of the investigator.
October 1993
CLANDESTINE DRUG LABS, RECOGNITION & SAFETY
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
Training course identifying various types of clandestine drug labs and associated hazards.
November 1993
MANAGING COMPANY TACTICAL OPERATIONS
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
National Fire Academy course addressing the decision making process of the Fire Scene
Commander.
November 1994
PHILA. FIRE CODE & B.O.C.A. NATIONAL FIRE CODE TRAINING
Temple University
3 day training program co-sponsored by the Phila. Fire Department and the Dept. of Licenses &
Inspections addressing the 1994 Phila. Fire Prevention Code.
November 1994
ARSON / BOMB GROUP SYMPOSIUM
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
8 hours training addressing arson and explosives investigative issues.
January 1995
REID TECHNIQUE OF INTERVIEWING AND INTERROGATION
Philadelphia, Pa.
3 day interview training program.
April 1995
VIOLENCE IN THE 90’S CONFERENCE
Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Law Enforcement Network
Philadelphia, Pa.
5 day conference addressing violent criminal activities in the 1990’s
October 1995
Fire, Explosion and Incendiary Investigations ( N.F.P.A.-921)
Bucks County Community College
8 hours training utilizing NFPA-921 as a guide to investigations.
November 1995
THE BASICS OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION & RECONSTRUCTION SYMPOSIUM
The International Institute of Forensic Science, Pa. Convention Center
8 hours of instruction focusing on accident scene investigation.
June 1996
FIRE DYNAMICS AND ARSON INVESTIGATION
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7. Allegheny County Fire Training Academy, Pa.
3 day comprehensive fire investigation training program sponsored by the B.A.T.F.
August 1996
PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SCRAP TIRE FIRES COURSE
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
8 hours instruction on the prevention and mitigation of scrap tire fires following the I-95 tire fire.
November 1996
‘UTIPARS 9701” - IN SERVICE UNDERCOVER TRAINING
ATF National Academy presented in Phila., Pa.
40 hour training program utilizing undercover investigative techniques.
May 1997
FIRE AND ARSON SEMINAR
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
8 hour training seminar presented by the Phila. Fire Marshal’s Office and the FAIR Plan
August 1997
POSTBLAST INVESTIGATION
Earl Naval Weapons Station, Department of the Treasury
40 hour field based training on post-blast investigations.
August 1997
EMERGENCY RESPONDER NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL RESPONDER
AWARENESS TRAINING
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
4 hour block of instruction presented by the United States National Domestic Preparedness
Program addressing Terrorism Training.
August 1997
EMERGENCY RESPONDER NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL RESPONDER
OPERATIONS TRAINING
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
4 hour block of instruction presented by the United States National Domestic Preparedness
Program addressing Terrorism Training.
September 1997
MEASURED RESPONSE CHEMICAL WARFARE FACILITATED TABLETOP EXERCISE
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
Participant in this 8 hour training exercise sponsored by the United States National Domestic
Preparedness Program addressing Terrorism Training.
April 1998
ARSON / BOMB NETWORK TRAINING
Burlington County, N.J. , Public Safety Complex
6 hours training on Church arson and investigating electric and natural gas fires.
April 1998
FIRE & ARSON SEMINAR - ISSUES AND RESOURCES “98”
Delaware County Emergency Training Center
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8. 6 hours of fire investigative training.
May 13, 1998
“SOS - AVOIDING THE HAZARDS OF INSURANCE FRAUD”
Delaware Valley Chapter, International Association of Special Investigation Units
8 hour seminar focusing on the investigation of insurance fraud.
May 1998
INVESTIGATION OF GAS & ELECTRIC APPLIANCE FIRES
Fire Findings, Benton Harbor, Michigan
16 hour course covering the investigation of gas & electric appliance fires.
May 1998
STOLEN VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION & LEGAL ISSUES
Delaware County Training Center, Pa.
8 hour block of instruction regarding vehicle crimes
July 1998
DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS RESPONDER AWARENESS AND OPERATIONS COURSES
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy
8 hours of instruction to address the threat of NBC terrorism as an emergency responder.
October 27, 1998
VEHICLE THEFT SEMINAR
P.A.C.I.A. - Pa. Auto Crime Investigators Association, Phila. Pa.
8 hour seminar focusing on auto related crime.
February 23, 1999
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION , BOMB & POST BLAST INVESTIGATION
F.B.I. Phila. Division, S.A. Mike Baker
Upper Moreland Township, Willow Grove, Pa.
8 hours training focusing on terrorist and bomb scene investigation.
April 17, 1999
INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES AND COURT CASE PREPARATION
Montgomery County Fire Training Academy
Presented by Montgomery County District Attorney, Fire Marshal, and P.A.A.I.
8 hours training focusing on interviewing , Miranda warnings and case preparation.
April 30, 1999
ARSON SCENE FOR THE INVESTIGATOR
Camden County Police Academy
Criminal Justice Studies
24 hour training program focusing on arson and fatal fire scene investigation from a law
enforcement perspective.
May 5, 1999
FIRE & ARSON SEMINAR : ISSUES & RESOURCES - “99”
Burlington County Public Safety Center, Mt. Holly, N.J.
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9. 8 hours training focusing on legal issues, Firefighter arsonists, and Virtual Reality computer
training.
May 11, 1999
JUVENILE FIRESETTING INTERVENTION
Bucks County Fire Marshal Department and Fire Professional Aiding Children
(FIRE PAC)
8 hour conference on juvenile firesetting interventions for the professional.
May 12, 1999
“SIU and LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACTION”
Delaware Valley Chapter, International Association of Special Investigation Units
8 hour seminar on the proper investigative interaction between insurance companies and law
enforcement agencies.
August , 1999
AMTRAK AND OPERATION RESPOND
Philadelphia Fire Training Academy, presented by Amtrak and Operation Respond Institute
4 hour awareness training in safety, security and emergeny response procedures involving railroad
and passenger train incidents.
October 26-28, 1999
CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TEAM TRAINING (CIMRT)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms – Phila. Field Division
Training to set up a command structure and respond to a major incident by identifying, acquiring
and planning the use of resources needed to prevent and/or resolve critical incidents.
March 23-24, 2000
ADVANCED COURSE on THE REID TECHNIQUE of INTERVIEWING & INTEROGATION
John E. Reid and Associates, Chicago, Illinois presented in Phila., Pa.
2 day interview/interrogation training program focusing on the Reid Interviewing Technique.
March 23, 2000
FLASHOVER SURVIVAL TRAINING
Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center
Five hour block of instruction on the flashover phenomenon and techniques to identify and survive
same.
May 10, 2000
SIU 2000 – FIGHTING FRAUD IN THE NEW MILLENIUM
Delaware Valley Chapter, International Association of Special Investigation Units.
8 hour seminar focusing on investigative tools available to combat insurance fraud.
January 13 – 14, 2001
NFPA 921: “GUIDE FOR FIRE & EXPLOSION INVESTIGATIONS”
National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, Md. – Pa. Association of Arson Investigators
16 hour Train–the-Trainer program relative to NFPA 921.
June 12 – 14, 2001
CONSPIRACY INVESTIGATIONS
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10. MAGLOCLEN Headquarters, Newtown, Pa. – Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force
Training
24 hour training conference on conducting long term conspiracy investigations
August 6– 10, 2001
STATE and LOCAL POSTBLAST INVESTIGATIONS
McGuire Air Force Base, Department of the Treasury, B.A.T.F.
40 hour field based training on post-blast explosion investigations.
May 9, 2001
“HAND and HAND TOGETHER in the FIGHT AGAINST FRAUD”
Delaware Valley Chapter, International Association of Special Investigation Units
8 hour seminar on fighting insurance fraud.
January 24-25, 2004
FIRE DYNAMICS / FIRE MODELING / EVIDENCE COLLECTION
National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD and the Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigators
(P.A.A.I.)
12 hour tested seminar based on NFPA 921 guidelines.
May 13, 2004
“VISION” – SEEING THE BIG PICTURE
Delaware Valley Chapter, International Association of Special Investigation Units
8 hour seminar on fighting insurance fraud.
March 23, 2005
JUVENILE FIRESETTER BEHAVIOR
Philadelphia Fire Department and Dian Williams, Ph.D., Center for Arson Research
8 hour seminar focusing on Juvenile Fire setting behaviors.
May 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL GROUNDING and BONDING for the FIRE INVESTIGATOR
Montgomery County Fire Academy and the P.A.A.I
3 hour electrical training seminar.
April 11-12, 2005
PENNSYLVANIA JUVENILE FIRESETTER INTERVENTION TRAINING WORKSHOP
Montgomery County Fire Academy and the Offfice of the State Fire Commissioner
Two day training workshop focusing on Juvenile Firesetting.
June 6-10, 2005
2005 ANNUAL PAAI SEMINAR
Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa., PAAI and Bucks County Community College
Five day tested fire investigation seminar focusing on vehicle fires and forensic pathology.
September 20, 2005
INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM
National Fire Academy
8 hour training program on the Incident Command System
October 21, 2005
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11. IS-00700 NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
8 hour training program on incident management.
May18, 2006
12th
ANNUAL FRAUD AWARENESS SEMINAR
Delaware Valley Chapter, International Association of Special Investigation Units
8 hour seminar on fighting insurance fraud and Deposition Testimony.
June 9, 2006
2006 ANNUAL PAAI SEMINAR
Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa., PAAI and Bucks County Community College
Five day fire investigation seminar.
June 2007
2007 ANNUAL PAAI SEMINAR
Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa., PAAI and Bucks County Community College
Five day tested fire investigation
March 4, 2009
FORENSIC FIRE SCENE RECONSTRUCTION
N.J. Chapter, IAAI, Atlantic City, N.J.
20 hour tested training on fire scene reconstruction techniques.
March 6 – 8, 2013
SOLVING CASES VIA TESTING, COOPERATION AND CLUES IN SOCIAL MEDIA
N.J. Chapter, IAAI, Atlantic City, N.J.
Three day tested fire investigation training.
October 2, 2013
Electrical Aspects of Fire Investigation
New Jersey Chapter, IAAI, Middlesex County Fire Academy
8 hours training – Electrical Aspects
March 4 – 6th, 2015
Burn to Learn
N.J. Chapter, IAAI, Atlantic City, N.J.
Three day tested fire investigation training focusing on NFPA 921 guidlines.
AFFILIATIONS
International Association of Arson Investigators (I.A.A.I.)
Pennsylvania Association of Arson Investigators (P.A.A.I.)
11
12. Delaware Association of Arson Investigators
International Association of Bomb Technicians & Investigators (I.A.B.T.I.)
National Association of Fire Investigators (N.A.F.I.)
International Association of Special Investigation Units, Delaware Valley Chapter
Pennsylvania Auto Crime Investigators Association (P.A.C.I.A.)
Ben Franklin Chapter, N.F.P.A.
National Fire Academy Alumni Association #1816
International Association of Firefighters, Local #22
Philadelphia Fire Officers Union
CERTIFICATIONS
Hazardous Materials Technician, Level III Certification, United States E.P.A.
Certified Fire Investigator, CFI, (I.A.A.I.), Certificate #29-042
Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator, CFEI, (NAFI)
Certified Fire Investigator, Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner’s Office, Certificate #101
AWARDS
Distinguished Service Certificate - awarded by MAGLOCLEN and the Pa. Office of Attorney
General for presentation given at the Violence in the 90’s Conference , April 1995
Certificate of Achievement - awarded by Lodge #5, Fraternal Order of Police, December 1995,
for the investigation of the 1994 “Quaker Lace Building” arson fire. The largest drug related arson
in U.S. history.
Certificate of Commendation - awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, June 1996,
for the investigation of the 1994 “Quaker Lace Building” arson fire. The largest drug related arson
in U.S. history.
Certificate of Achievement - awarded by Lodge #5, Fraternal Order of Police, March 1997, for the
investigation of the I-95 tire fire and related arsons by the same group of defendants.
Unit Citation - awarded by the Philadelphia Fire Department, May 31, 1997, for the investigation
of the I-95 tire fire and related arsons by the same group of defendants.
Certificate of Appreciation - awarded by the Philadelphia Fire Department, January 1, 1998, for
recognition and appreciation in promoting training and education within the Fire Department.
Certificate of Appreciation - awarded by the Delaware Valley Chapter, International Association
of Special Investigation Units, May 13, 1998, for service in the planning, preparation and
presentation of their 1998 training seminar.
Letter of Commendation – awarded by U.S. Department of Justice, United States Attorney
Michael R. Stiles, on March 24, 1999 for participation in the case of U.S. vs. Mike Mustafa. This
case focused on a million dollar arson for profit at the Buy & Save Supermarket, 40 counts of
money laundering, loan fraud and food stamp fraud.
Certificate of Commendation – awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, January 14, 2000 for
the investigation of the I-95 tire fire and related arsons by the same group of defendants.
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13. Unit Citation - awarded by the Philadelphia Fire Department, May 16, 2003, for the investigation
of a triple arson-homicide at 1330 E. Hewson Street which resulted in the confession and arrest of
a suspect for setting the fire.
Ben Franklin Award – awarded by the Philadelphia Fire Department, October 21, 2003,
six years of continuous duty.
Certificate of Achievement – awarded by the Philadelphia Fire Department, August 31, 2004 for
30 years of service to the Philadelphia Fire Department.
Letters of Commendation – awarded by Philadelphia Fire Commisioner , Lloyd Ayers, and Deputy
Fire Commissioner, Ernest F. Hargett Jr., for the investigation and arrest of a serial arsonist
charged with 33 counts of arson.
Unit Citation - awarded by the Philadelphia Fire Department, May 20, 2005 for the investigation
and arrest of a suspect charged with 33 counts of arson.
Letters of Appreciation – awarded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,
Mark W. Potter, Special Agent in Charge and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, A.D.A.
Edward Cameron, for participation in a fire investigation involving the deaths of two Philadelphia
Firefighters. The defendant was successfully prosecuted for his role in an illegal marijuana
growing operation which was determined to be the cause of this fire.
Unit Citation - awarded by the Philadelphia Fire Department, May 19, 2006 for the investigation,
arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for a fire at 3630 Belgrade Street on 8/20/2004
that claimed the lives of two Firefighters.
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