Principal, Founder

Todd Skoglund is a veteran emergency responder and educator who has been involved with hazardous materials emergency response operations and education since 1995. Todd has trained countless responders from the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In addition, Todd is a featured presenter and keynote speaker at regional, national and international hazardous materials conferences and seminars.

Todd's extensive experience includes delivering thousands of hours of courses, lectures, and presentations in the specialty areas of the Hazardous Materials Awareness, Operations, and Technician, NIMS Incident Management for responders as well as businesses, schools, and transportation, Interoperable Radio Communications for Schools, NFPA 472 Highway Transportation Specialist, Hazardous Materials Air Monitoring, Hazmat Chemistry, NFPA 472 Hazmat Safety Officer, Terrorism in Chemical Transportation, NFPA 472 Tank Car Specialist, Advanced Tank Car Specialist, Intermodal Container Specialist, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Technician.

Todd holds a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management from Colorado Christian University (Colorado Springs, Colorado) and a Master's Degree in Education from Lesley University (Cambridge, Massachusetts). He is a member of the Colorado School Safety Summit, the Colorado Emergency Management Association, the Pueblo (CO) Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), the Pueblo, (CO) HazMat Committee, and the National Fire Protection Association. In addition, Todd is a member of the Pueblo (CO) Westpark Fire Department and is a Special Advisor to the Durango (CO) Fire Rescue Authority. 

He is certified as an Instructor of Domestic Preparedness by the U.S. Army Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, and is an instructor of the Modular Emergency Response Radiological Transportation Training (MERRTT) program.  Todd served as a hazardous materials emergency response consultant to the Arapahoe/Douglas Hazardous Materials Response Team (ADHMRT) mobilized during the 2008 Democratic National Convention (DNC) held in Denver, CO. His writings are published in the Carolina Fire Rescue EMS Journal, CERCA (Canadian Emergency Response Contractor's Alliance) magazine, and HAZMAT Magazine.

Instructor

Mike Becker is a 28 year veteran of the fire service.  Mike is currently a company officer with the Longmont Fire Department in Longmont Colorado where he has served for the last 15 years.  Mike has served as the coordinator for the Longmont Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team since 2006.

Mike’s fire service career started in 1981 as a volunteer firefighter in New Jersey.  After serving as Chief of Department for two years Mike moved to Colorado in 1992.

Mike’s educational background includes Colorado Division of Fire Safety Certifications, Fire Officer I, Fire Instructor I, Driver/Operator Pumper and Hazardous Materials Technician.  Mike also maintains the following certifications;  ICC Fire Inspector I, EMT-B, ICS 100,200,300,700 & 800, Accredited CSEPP decontamination evaluator for chemical weapons stockpile, adjunct instructor for California Standardized Training Institute (CSTI) Hazmat Technician / Specialist Trainer Program and an IAPD (International Association of Professional Drivers) Instructor.

Mike is an active member of the Boulder County LEPC, State of Colorado Hazmat/WMD Working Group, IAFC Hazmat Fusion Center sub-committee member.  Mike assisted with the planning and staffing of the Hazardous Materials Coordination Center during the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Mike brings with him a vast background and frontline experience in Firefighting and Hazardous Materials response.  Mike has responded to several large hazmat incidents in Northern Colorado and shares these experiences in the classroom and training grounds.  As an instructor Mike has been privileged to train and work with thousands of responders and facility personnel across the country.

Emergency Response Instructor

Jeffrey Kolts is employed full time as a Sergeant by the largest police department in the State of Colorado, where he is presently the head of motorcycle training.  During the course of his 22 year career, Jeff has worked in a number of assignments including patrol, vice, crimes against persons, property crimes, and traffic enforcement.  Jeff has been involved in planning motorcades and special events for a number of years, and was integral in planning the motorcades for the Democratic National Convention, as well as other large scale events. Jeff is certified as a Type-3 Planning Section Chief from the State of Colorado, and is certified under both the Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEP) and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). 

Jeff is an active instructor of the Incident Command System curriculum, and has delivered this training to numerous first responders in the State of Colorado, and across the United States.  Jeff has designed and delivered curriculum to numerous police officers in the area of basic motorcycle and basic motorcade training.  Jeff also has taught the Anti-Biased Policing Training for line officers, and has designed and delivered this training for agency heads and commanders.

Jeff holds a B.A. in Law Enforcement from Marquette University, a M.S. in Management from Regis University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Administration.

Emergency Response Instructor

Jim began his career as a paramedic for Ambulance Service Co. in 1983 and has been with the South Metro (Denver, CO) Fire Rescue since 1989. He has served as a firefighter, paramedic, engineer and company officer. He is currently a lieutenant/paramedic. He is active in the Special Operations division in Training, Technical Rescue, Hazardous Materials, Urban Search and Rescue, Incident Management, Wildfire and SWAT medic teams. Jim worked for the Paramedic Division of Denver Health & Hospitals for three years. 

Jim has an extensive training background.  He is an instructor for the Department of Defense and has instructed military units, civilian hospitals and first responders all across the United States in NBC terrorism. From 1979 to 1999 Jim served as a member of the Arapahoe Rescue Patrol, a Mountain Search and Rescue team based in Littleton, CO. He retired from the organization as its Chief. His main areas of expertise were Technical Rescue and Incident Management.

Captain DeFusco is a 21-year veteran as a peace officer in the County of Pueblo, serving with both the Pueblo Police Department and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.  Captain DeFusco oversees the Patrol Division, Firearms Training, K-9 unit, School Resource Officers/DARE unit, CSU-Pueblo and Narcotics Unit within the Law Enforcement Bureau.  Captain DeFusco has been previously assigned as a Patrol Deputy and Police Officer, SWAT Team member, Firearms/Range Instructor, Field Training Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Police Detective Corporal, Narcotics Detective, Narcotics Lieutenant and Detention Security Captain.

Instructor / Speaker

Joe is an internationally-recognized counter-terror, school safety, private enterprise and government security practitioner and speaker. He has been a CNN counter terror contributor and is a regular seminar and conference presenter. Mr. Ruffini is accredited by the Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board (ATAB) as a Certified Master Anti-Terrorism Specialist (CMAS).

His diverse military experience includes command of armor and armored cavalry units in both the U.S. and British Armies and counter-terror experience in Germany and Cyprus. In the early 1990s, as a space operations expert, Major Ruffini commanded the United States Space Surveillance Center and the Space Defense Operations Center in Cheyenne Mountain. As a Lieutenant Colonel, Joe served the U.S. Space Command as its Chief of Special Plans and Chief of Special Technical Operations, where he honed his expertise across the full spectrum of security disciplines, from operations and communications security, to computer, information, and physical security.

Joe studies current and emerging world threats to the United States Government and private enterprise on a wide scale –from the overseas theft of American intellectual property to pending terror attacks. In the private sector, Joe is a seasoned business developer, marketer, and program manager. His commercial initiatives span the spectrum from entrepreneurial projects in the Middle East to enterprise security consulting for Fortune 1000 companies.

A core presenter for many years supporting the National Counterintelligence Center, CIA, Langley, his common sense, no nonsense approach to personal, corporate, and national security is embraced by government and private sector audiences alike, and include attendees from such noted organizations as the National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). He has provided services for Fortune 1000 companies such as US Steel, Lockheed Martin, Bechtel, Raytheon Corporation, GE Access, and General Dynamics, as well as numerous law enforcement activities and communities. Recently, Joe served our nation as an Executive Consultant supporting United States Space and Strategic Commands, and the White House National Security Council in support of counter insurgency and information operations for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. His first book, When Terror Comes to Main Street: A Citizens Guide to Terror Awareness, Preparedness, and Prevention,” was published in May 2006 and published a second time in 2008 by the Special Operations Association.

Emergency Response Instructor

Charles "Chip" Day is the Operations Program Manager for the Center of Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH), L.L.C., an environmental consulting firm that is part of the University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences Incubator Program. CTEH is an environmental consulting firm that has several specialties including toxicology, risk assessment, emergency response and operations oversight. Chip has over 26 years of experience in the hazardous material emergency response industry and is considered a tankcar and tank truck specialist as well as a product specialist for chlorine, hydrogen fluoride, vinyl chloride and numerous other chemicals. He has managed hundreds of incidents over the course of his career ranging from minor spills to industrial facility disasters.

Chip is an Issue Team Member for the Chlorine Institute and has been involved in the design, testing and demonstration of several specialty pieces of equipment. Mr. Day has also been developing specialty techniques which have become industry standards with regards to patching, transferring and handling critically damaged and breached vessels of chemicals including chlorine, anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, LPG, hydrogen chloride, and anhydrous ammonia. In addition to managing the hundreds of incidents listed above, he has been directly involved in the emergency response and recovery following thousands of incidents throughout North America.

Incident Management Instructor

Todd's background includes service in the United States Marine Corps. Reserve, law enforcement experience as a SWAT officer and operational sniper, managerial and policy implementation as an interim Chief of Police, and various assignments in support of U.S. efforts against global terror.

Todd has been contracted as a consultant to elements of U.S military Special Forces, the U.S. Army Garrison Command at Fort Carson Colorado, and has written the emergency response plans for over 20 water districts across the country. He is a certified instructor for several members of the National Consortium on Domestic Preparedness thru the Department of Homeland Security, and the FEMA Emergency Management Institute.

He also instructs for: the Colorado Division of Fire Safety, the Colorado Division of Emergency Management, Colorado Regional Community Policing Institute, Colorado Wild land Fire and Incident Management Academy, Pikes Peak Community College ( Homeland Security Program) and the Biological Nuclear Incendiary Chemical and Explosives training Center at Denver Health.

Todd holds an instructor certification for Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training curriculum (POST). He is a certified instructor in all levels of the new all hazard ICS curriculum having completed the EMI L-449 train the trainer, and is a credentialed Career and Technical Education instructor by the Colorado State Board of Community Colleges and Occupational Education. He recently was also selected as a FEMA instructor for the new national ICS position specific training.  Todd is a certified all hazards type II planning section chief (t) in incident command. He is the planning section chief for the Eastern Colorado Incident Management team, which covers 3 all hazards regions of Colorado and 22 counties.

Todd recently served as the planning section chief at the Colorado Sate Emergency Operations Center during the Democratic National convention in Denver for the eight day duration of the convention overseeing 2420 state resources. He is a certified emergency manager and a member of the Colorado Emergency Managers Association. Todd is also a certified deployable resource as an EMAC type I “A” member which handle major logistical support issues in state to state resource request mode during large scale type I and type II incidents.

Emergency Response Instructor

Jarrod Wildman is a Colorado native who began his Firefighting journey as a member of the Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District in the foothills west of Denver. He served in the United States Navy aboard the Spruance Class Destroyer U.S.S. Ingersoll (DD-990) as a Damage Controlman. He attained the rank of Second Class Peaty Officer prior to an Honorable Discharge in 1998.

In 1999, Jarrod became a firefighter with the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority, and since 2003 has been an Engineer. Jarrod is an Engine Boss for the District’s Wildfire Team and has deployed on several Federal Incidents throughout the years. In 2006 he joined the Special Operations Bureau as a Training Technician. His work in the Bureau includes all aspects of firefighter training and multiple Recruit Firefighter Academies. 

He is an NWCG Instructor and has taught many disciplines of wildfire and ICS with the Colorado Wildfire College, New York Wildfire and Incident Management Academy, and The Colorado Wildfire and Incident Management Academy. Jarrod is also an adjunct instructor for the Fire Department Instructors Conference (F.D.I.C.) His emphasis is on Quality Training Programs, Advanced Extrication Techniques, Technical Rescue, Rescue Diving, Wildfire, ICS, and All Hazard Risk Management.

Jarrod is an IFSAC-Accredited Fire Officer, Fire Instructor and Operations-Level Hazardous Materials Technician. In addition, he is also a National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) Engine Boss as well as an Emergency Medical Technician certified by the State of Colorado. He also holds an AAS in Fire Science.

Explosives / Forensics Instructor
 
James Crippin specializes in explosives response / analysis / mitigation, anti-terrorism training, incident exercise production/evaluation, crime scene response/ training, security evaluations, and forensic analysis training.

James has been involved in the field of forensic science since 1977.  From August 1978 to 1988 Mr. Crippin served as forensic chemist and laboratory supervisor with Missouri State Highway Patrol system.

Mr. Crippin resigned from the Missouri State Highway Patrol in August of 1988 and became a commissioned agent with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. He is currently involved in the development of a Post-Blast Investigation (PBI) and an Explosives Analysis on-line course for the Department of Justice. He is also an instructor in the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Training Program for the US State Department and has taught over 70 classes in various areas of forensic analysis or Homeland Defense areas.

Mr. Crippin is a member of or has served in office for 9 different professional organizations including MAFS and SWAFS. He is a past chairman of the Technical Working Group for Fire and Explosions. Mr. Crippin has also presented 25 papers and had numerous articles published in professional journals.

Methamphetamine Lab Safety and Drug Awareness Instructor

Affectionately known as the "Martha Stewart of Meth Labs", Lynn Riemer has over a decade of experience with Narcotics. Lynn was a Forensic Chemist with the Drug Enforcement Administration and spent the last seven years as the Chemist /Criminalist with the Denver, CO North Metro Drug Task Force. She has personally been involved with the processing of over 200 Meth Labs and involved with thousands of drug busts/drug deals. She is a recognized expert in Methamphetamine Manufacturing, Child Abuse, Health Effects, and Hazards Associated with Manufacturing and Contamination.

Lynn is a Coauthor of the book “The Methamphetamine Crisis: Strategies to Save Addicts, Families, and Communities” by Greenwood Publishing, November 2006.

Wildland Firefighting Instructor

Zane Owens began his firefighting career over 21 years ago with the Rye, CO Fire Protection District, where he currently serves as Deputy Chief overseeing Rye's Fire Prevention Program. He is also a seven year veteran with Pueblo (CO) City Fire Department where he serves as an Emergency Medical Officer.  

Chief Owens holds certifications as a Type 4 (Initial Attack) Incident Commander, as well as a Task Force Leader (NWCG). He is also a National Registry Paramedic.  In addition, he is certified in multiple disciplines, including Driver Operator Pumper, HazMat Operations, and Firefighter II.

Chief Owens is a regular instructor at the Colorado Wildfire and Incident Management Academy.

Exercise Evaluator

Lee Gladney has been involved with emergency services since 1994. He is a member of the West Park (Colorado) Fire Department, serving as Captain since 1999. In 1997, he joined the Pueblo County Sheriff's Emergency Services Bureau, where he served as a firefighter for three years before being named a Squad Boss for the Wildland Firefighting Team. In 2000, he was named the Fire Team Leader for the Pueblo Department of Emergency Management and has held that role since.

During Lee's tenure, the effectiveness and safety of the department has improved exponentially each year. His "Err on the Side of Safety" culture makes him a great fit with the Signet North America team.

Emergency Response Instructor

Shawn Guthrie is a thirteen-year veteran of the Pueblo West (C0) Fire Department (currently Assistant Chief) and a seven-year veteran of the Pueblo (CO) Fire Department.  As Assistant Chief of the Pueblo West Fire Department, Shawn is responsible for classroom instruction as well as public information and education. He is a certified Confined Space Rescue Technician and has served as the Coordinator of the Pueblo West Fire Department Confined Space Rescue Program since 2003. 

In addition, Shawn is certified as a Colorado EMT-B, as well as a certified Hazardous Materials Technician.  He is accredited in CSEPP Chemical Awareness, Decontamination, Medical Training, and Personal Protective Equipment, Chemical Hazards Classification, Clandestine Labs, Wildland Fire Behavior, and Firefighting Strategies and Tactics.