A Supporting Foundation: The Fire-Dex Spouses 149 CONTRIBUTION BY Diane Liana WIFE OF DAVE LIANA, CFO I don’t have the words to describe my husband, Dave, and the depth of his passion for the company. He has always said, “I don’t know if I will ever retire. Fire-Dex just means too much to me, and I’m so motivated to continue helping the company grow and succeed.” He loves his job and the people, and he never complains about having to show up on Monday. There has never been a time when I have introduced Bill and Julie as the owner and his wife, only as our good friends. And that says everything about the family atmosphere at Fire-Dex. My family has been able to attend the various celebratory events at Fire-Dex. These events were joyful opportunities to connect with so many of our good friends working there. All our families have enjoyed long friendships with each other, which is very meaningful to Dave and me. Along with our husbands, we wives have enjoyed building lifelong relationships with the Fire-Dex associates, with vendors, and with customers. —Diane Liana •
150 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle CONTRIBUTION BY Michelle Allison WIFE OF STEVE ALLISON, CEO I have always felt I had a supporting role in Steve’s career. He works 24/7, 365 days of the year, with lots of travel and late-night hours. That has been necessary for him to support and grow the business. He knows that everything is taken care of on the home front, which provides him with relief and the ability to focus on his work. It’s the perfect balance. I could not sing the praises of Fire-Dex more. We are a family at Fire-Dex. Throughout the company, we stand shoulder to shoulder with every employee and their family members. The company’s leadership has always recognized the supporting role that spouses play in their husbands’ work. We spouses also support one another. There are certain events where spouses are included to declare that we are the key ingredient in the recipe for Fire-Dex’s success. When Steve worked at other companies in the past, the company culture seemed positive at the time, but I did not know how good it could be. Spouses were included, but you didn’t have the same warm, comfortable feelings of appreciation and inclusion. I was Steve’s wife at these other companies, but at Fire-Dex, I’m an extension of the family. Our family inclusiveness at Fire-Dex has also extended to our customer base. As a wife in the Fire-Dex family, I have enjoyed meeting various customers and their spouses. Steve and I have traveled together to attend different events, further increasing our ability to get to know our customers and treat them like family. This allows Fire-Dex to spread the word about what we offer and enjoy the success of a well-built reputation. I would go to the highest mountain and shout out the praises of Fire-Dex. —Michelle Allison •
A Supporting Foundation: The Fire-Dex Spouses 151 CONTRIBUTION BY Aaron DeVere HUSBAND OF LAUREN DEVERE, PRESIDENT, FIRE-DEX F ire-Dex is so successful because it’s unique as a family business, and there is such camaraderie and mutual support. Everyone gets along, and everyone believes in the product and the goals of saving lives and getting firefighters home to their families. I have enjoyed visiting with team members at various levels and different locations, and I can confidently say that Fire-Dex truly does have the best people on board. As president of Fire-Dex, my wife plays a vital role, and I support her in any way I can. I’m her sounding board and proud to be there for her at all times. My passion for the company equals my wife’s passion for Fire-Dex. I enjoy seeing her success, her humility, and her caring attitude toward the associates and customers of Fire-Dex. It’s been really fun to watch Fire-Dex’s growth just skyrocket over the years. While Lauren certainly carries a big role at Fire-Dex, she is also an amazing mom and wife. There are certain sacrifices involved. I know it is really hard for Lauren to leave the boys, for both of us, but the benefits are well worth it. I’m lucky to be able to work from home when she’s on the road, so we make a great team. To keep a healthy work-life balance, we have to stay in constant communication to coordinate our schedules. Marriage, like a lot of things in life, involves a healthy, respectful give and take. With this approach, we have been able to manage our daily lives and business involvement with ease. •
152 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle CONTRIBUTION BY Robert Gilman HUSBAND OF TAYLOR GILMAN, PRESIDENT, GEAR WASH A s the spouse of Gear Wash president Taylor Gilman, I have seen firsthand the stellar culture at Fire-Dex, which is a significant factor in not only the well-being of its team members but in the success of the company. Businesses today must embrace a pro-active approach to caring for their customers, and few do it better than Fire-Dex. This kind of intentional caring and genuine concern is similar to what is found in a strong friendship or even marriage. I show Taylor the same support she shows me; our goals and commitment to each other align perfectly to ensure a balance for both our professional and family lives. That type of balance can be achieved, but it takes motivation and commitment, just as a company can strike the right balance between family and business. Fire-Dex does it right. Family and business can be combined in the same entity to provide the best products and services to their customers. That balance can only be achieved when the right values are embraced and shared throughout the organization, and it starts at the top. From the highest level, the leadership has to authentically care and to walk the walk…to show that “family” means more than just a word. At Fire-Dex, it truly does. The leadership at Fire-Dex has shown that the loyalty, dedication, and commitment they have for their families have been seamlessly integrated as values shared by the entire Fire-Dex family. ––Robert Gilman •
A Supporting Foundation: The Fire-Dex Spouses 153 CONTRIBUTION BY Holly Karban WIFE OF JOHN KARBAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, FIRE-DEX J ohn has been at Fire-Dex for almost nineteen years. Though he travels a lot and stays constantly busy, my job is to support him. Of particular interest to me is that John and I enjoy discussing the business of Fire-Dex. I am so impressed with the growth of the company and how the associates have benefited from that. The associates are wonderful people and all share the goal of ensuring that the workplace is enjoyable and fun. Who wouldn’t want to work there! I would do anything for the Fire-Dex family because they would do anything for us. ––Holly Karban •
154 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle What Our Associates Say
What Our Associates Say 155 What words describe Fire-Dex? Fun Aggressive Committed Family Challenging Friendship Enthusiastic Dependable Growth Opportunity Innovative Passionate
156 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle What would you tell a new employee? We are a big family and we want you to be involved and heard. You have a seat at the table. We will do everything we can to make you successful. We work hard while having fun. Break dishes—don’t be afraid to try new things, be different, add value to win market share.
What Our Associates Say 157 We seek your ideas. You will come to understand we are a family. If you work hard and continuously improve, opportunities abound here. What you will do at Fire-Dex will make a significant impact for our company and for our customers. You’re joining a wonderful team of people that will support you. You have a chance to be part of a team that is growing rapidly and truly cares about every associate.
158 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle Fire departments, industrial workers, and family members have expressed their deepest gratitude for getting their loved ones home. We hear that we are highly responsive—a key Fire-Dex differentiator. What have customers said about Fire-Dex capabilities?
What Our Associates Say 159 Our open-door policy resonates with customers. Customers value our culture and company as well as the comfort, moveability and dexterity of our products.
160 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle Keep it simple. The power of 3 Easy to remember… even for me! Be brief. Be brilliant. Be gone. Teach the young. They take care of the old. Humility is a skill. OFI—Opportunity for Improvement CI—Continuous Improvement Be Lean, Teach Lean, Celebrate Lean Whistle while you work. “It’s Burke magic!” What associates say about Burke strategy, creativity, passion.
Bill Burke-isms 161 Please Sell More (PSM) Bill Burke-isms Give more credit than you take. Habits are hard to change. Pick good ones. It’s 90 percent mental. The other half is physical. —Yogi Berra One of Bill’s favorite sayings. Please Spend Less (PSL)
162 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle To give away money is an easy matter in any man’s power. But to decide to whom to give it, and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every man’s power nor an easy matter. Aristotle
Giving Back 163 Giving Back Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give. —Ben Carson Think of giving not as a duty, but as a privilege. —John D. Rockefeller Jr. The highest use of capital is not to make more money but to make money do more for the betterment of life. —Henry Ford IT IS IMPORTANT FOR FIRE-DEX TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH OUR FACILITIES ARE LOCATED. WE MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO SUPPORT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDERS, FIREFIGHTERS, MILITARY PERSONNEL, AND THEIR FAMILIES. —Lauren DeVere, President, Fire-Dex
164 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle When it comes to giving back, Fire-Dex focuses on supporting the local communities in which each of its facilities is located. That includes the company headquarters in Medina, Ohio, its second production facility in Pelham, Georgia, and its Gear Wash locations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Hudson, Florida. Some examples of those are: Medina and Northeast Ohio BLUECOATS Fire-Dex supports Bluecoats, a nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to supporting the families of safety officers who have lost their lives or have become permanently disabled or incapacitated in the line of duty. Bluecoats operates in Medina, Cuyahoga County, and Summit County, Ohio. BURNING RIVER PEER SUPPORT GROUP Burning River Peer Support Group is a support network that encourages mental health and wellness best practices among first responders by taking a holistic approach in and out of the firehouse. Established in 2019 in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio, area, its mission is to minimize first responder suicides by creating a platform for members to feel comfortable addressing their mental health needs. CHILDREN’S CENTER OF MEDINA COUNTY The Children’s Center of Medina County provides essential services for children and families while providing a centralized location for family visitation appointments and anti-human trafficking events and educational training. Fire-Dex has been a proud sponsor of A Night at the Races, the center’s annual fundraising event. FEEDING MEDINA COUNTY Feeding Medina County’s mission is to educate and engage the local community in creating an environment where no one goes hungry. This organization delivers half a million pounds of food each year, feeding 7% of Medina County’s population. In December 2017, Fire-Dex associates generously donated 151 pounds of food to this organization. FOOD PANTRY MEDINA HIGH SCHOOL— FEED THE BEES This organization provides free meals that are distributed to all students during virtual lessons, particularly during COVID. It was initiated by the Medina City Schools’ Food Service/Child Nutrition Department.
Giving Back 165 JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT This is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving students the skills and knowledge they need to be successful. Fire-Dex supports this through financial donations as well as providing volunteers who teach programs in the classroom and after school. AMERICAN RED CROSS Fire-Dex supports this largest humanitarian network in the world at various locations. The American Red Cross delivers comfort and care to those in need as well as conducting blood drives. UNITED WAY OF MEDINA COUNTY Fire-Dex was recognized as the 2018 United Way of Medina County Business Partner of Year. This recognition was based on the company’s commitment to the mission of the Employing Medina County program. Fire-Dex received the award at the United Way of Medina’s Annual Community Meeting at the Lodge at Allardale in Medina. Hudson, Florida CALVARY CHAPEL—HELPING HANDS Calvary Chapel provides a centralized location where the community can access free food, clothing, prayer, and healing ministry services. Milwaukee, Wisconsin CAPUCHIN COMMUNITY SERVICES House of Peace—The Capuchin friars of the Province of Saint Joseph attend to the spiritual and basic human needs, offering food, clothing, legal, health, and social services. Pelham, Georgia MITCHELL COUNTY FOOD BANK AND HELP CENTER, INC. This food bank and help center strives to break the cycle of poverty by offering programs, assessing individual needs, and providing healthy food that can improve the quality of life for those in need. Memorials and Flag Poles F ire-Dex has often donated flags or sponsored memorials. In 2018, Fire-Dex donated a flagpole to the Ocean Reef Fire Department in Key Largo, Florida, and CEO Bill Burke attended the flag raising ceremony. That same year, Fire-Dex also helped sponsor the Medina 9/11 Memorial, a nine-foot-long I-beam from the North Tower was incorporated into the memorial that would be erected south of Fire Station 1.
166 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation T he Fire-Dex team has participated in and sponsored the annual Tunnel to Towers: 403 Reasons to Run, which honors the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller, who died in 9/11. The event gives back 93% of funds raised to the families of fire, police, EMS, and Wounded Warriors. Aluminum Cans for Burned Children T he Fire-Dex team donates aluminum cans to support the Aluminum Cans for Burned Children (ACBC), which raises money to help burn survivors and their families. The collected cans are sold back to the aluminum industry for recycling.
Giving Back 167 Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance F ire-Dex donated the H41 Interceptor Hood as an auction item to help raise funds for the weekend retreat, Those Left Behind, an event that supports family survivors of Firefighter and EMS suicides. AMEDICAusa A MEDICAusa supports firefighters in Guatemala who cannot afford modern protective gear. They also provide training and coordinate fire equipment donations. Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) F ire-Dex has donated over 15,000 non-surgical AAMI Level 3 isolation gowns and made many turnout gear donations to the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), America’s oldest continuous fire training, education, and research institution. Fire-Dex began producing these isolation gowns and coveralls in 2020 in response to COVID-19. ISFI, in turn, distributes the garments to fire departments and EMS services statewide. As the ideal safety wear for medical calls and contamination events, the gowns provide enhanced protection against biological and environmental hazards. They can also be laundered and reused, unlike most disposable gowns. The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Illinois, a state mutual aid organization, and Carle Health, an integrated system of local health care services and physicians’ groups based in Urbana, Illinois, assists IFSI in allocating this donated PPE. The Illinois Fire Service Institute is grateful for the generosity of our valued partner, Fire-Dex. It is through this partnership that we are able to distribute critical PPE to fire departments and regional medical facilities across Illinois. This donation is a testament to the importance of strong local, state, and industry relationships. —Chief Jim Keiken, ISFI Director Fire-Dex is a proud, enthusiastic supporter of ISFI’s mission to directly impact first responders’ work, health, and safety. The latest donation totaled more than $500,000 in specialized protective clothing. “We’re happy to continue our support of IFSI by putting these garments in the hands of those who will put them to best use,” says Jenny Surovey, Fire-Dex VP of Marketing. “The Institute sits at the forefront of national training standards, and it is our privilege to assist fire service industry members with convenient access to top quality PPE.”
168 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle Helping Hurricane Ian Search and Rescue A fter Hurricane Ian swept through Florida in the fall of 2022, Fire-Dex and Gear Wash provided critical PPE equipment and discounted cleaning and repair services to search and rescue teams on the ground. Many of their customers were affected by the hurricane, including fire departments throughout Orange, Seminole, Polk, and Osceola counties. Task force units from these departments were engaged in local search and rescue operations after the storm and then remained deployed until the recovery was completed. Fire-Dex donated fifty pairs of rubber boots, one hundred pairs of Dex-Pro Gloves, and twenty-five pairs of Dex-Rescue extrication gloves, delivering the donation, along with water, sports drinks, protein bars, and other snacks, to help keep rescue units hydrated and energized. Gear Wash extended discounted services to certified rescue teams through its Miami and Hudson, Florida, locations. Folds of Honor I n December 2019, Fire-Dex donated $2,500 to the Palmetto State Chapter of Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to families of military servicemen and women who have fallen or been disabled while on active duty in the United States Armed Forces. The Palmetto State Chapter is grateful for the generosity of corporations like Fire-Dex, who adopt a belief in our cause. As a 501(c)3, we rely heavily on the support we receive to better the lives of spouses and dependents who have already lost too much. —Jeff Morris, President, Folds of Honor Fire-Dex’s contribution was generated through a Veterans Day promotion that gifted eleven pairs of structural firefighting gloves, at no extra cost, for every one hundred pair of gloves sold through November 22, 2019. In addition, for each 111-pair order, Fire-Dex donated $111 to Folds of Honor on Giving Tuesday. After 2,200 gloves were sold during the promotion, their $111-per-order donation totaled $2,442, with Fire-Dex rounding their total contribution to $2,500.
Giving Back 169 American Lung Association Annual Customer Appreciation Night E ach year, Fire-Dex hosts a customer appreciate night. On April 27, 2017, Fire-Dex hosted a free customer appreciation night at Crane Bay Events Center in Indianapolis. Guests at this particular customer appreciation event were given the opportunity to play games to win prizes. Crane Bay’s name comes from its unique feature—fully functional, manually operated nineteenth-century cranes that formerly operated in a potbelly stove factory. Former Baltimore and Indianapolis Colts football player Gary Padgen transformed the factory into a unique events venue in 2012. The center faces the downtown Indianapolis skyline. Fire-Dex Foundation F ire-Dex recently put the Fire-Dex Foundation in place. The program is designated to provide support to departments in need. The program is 100% funded by Fire-Dex and Gear Wash and will service departments around the world who need our support during natural disasters.
170 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle We have similar missions that are focused on the health and safety of first responders and are passionate about providing education and resources to help support the fire industry. Jenny Surovey Fire-Dex VP of Marketing
Sponsorships 171 Sponsorships We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others. —Cesar Chavez Sponsorship is about putting your name and reputation on the line for someone else. —Lynne Doughtie F ire-Dex has entered into carefully selected sponsorship agreements in which the partnering organization shares similar interests and passions. Here are two of those sponsorships. Fire-Dex Sponsors NASCAR Nextel Cup Team in 2006 F ire-Dex entered into an associate sponsorship of BAM Racing, the NASCAR Nextel Cup team, their No. 49 Dodge Charger, and driver Brent Sherman. BAM Racing is a NASCAR racing team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is owned by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau. The team fields the #49 Paralyzed Veterans of America Dodge driven by John Andretti in the NEXTEL Cup, NASCAR’s top racing series. The team’s current primary sponsor is Freightliner but is also sponsored by Fire-Dex; occasionally, in a few races, the #49 goes unsponsored.
172 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle Partnership with Fire Dept. Coffee and FDC Media I n October 2022, Fire-Dex announced it was the official exclusive gear partner for Fire Dept. Coffee, run by active and retired firefighters who give back to first responders who become sick or injured while on the job or who are facing other serious health challenges. Founded in 2016 by firefighter/paramedic and U.S. Navy veteran Luke Schneider, Fire Dept. Coffee is a NaVOBA-certified, veteran-owned business dedicated to handcrafting greattasting coffee and supporting first responders. The latest deal with Fire-Dex includes the popular Fire Department Chronicles YouTube Channel. The Fire Dept. Coffee team will wear Fire-Dex gear while filming their content. Cross-promotional giveaway campaigns will also be held throughout the year on Fire-Dex social channels. Fire-Dex has donated multiple sets of turnout gear, dual-certified tech rescue and wildland gear, extrication gloves, and structural gloves, helmets, and hoods to Fire Dept. Coffee and FDC Media, the growing social media content arm of Fire Dept. Coffee that provides entertaining and educational online content for firefighters. Finding a trusted partner for PPE solutions is essential for our team, both in our jobs as full-time first responders and as content creators of FDC Media. —Jason Patton, VP, Fire Dept. Coffee
Sponsorships 173 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
174 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle After my 31 years at FDNY, the opportunity to be a part of an amazing Fire-Dex team was such an awesome and rewarding experience for me. Robert NY Firefighter
Customer Testimonials 175 Customer Testimonials I love the fact that the best is yet to come for Fire-Dex. Direct quote from firefighter I am fairly new to fire at just over four years online. I’ve always viewed bunker gear as a (very) necessary burden—uncomfortable and very cumbersome… Fire-Dex bunker gear has proven to be a game changer. The fit is appropriate for my body size and structure, which makes the pants far more comfortable and much easier to work in… It is an incredible asset to have bunker gear that moves and works with you. Female firefighter, Colorado I will say I have used several kinds and types of gloves over the past 20 years, and these gloves are THE BEST gloves by far. They stay very pliable after getting wet and dried. Will, Tennessee The development of TECGEN71 outer shell made Fire-Dex’s FXR design the most flexible, lightweight, and breathable firefighter turnout gear I have ever worn. Bob, FDNY I have been a firefighter/officer for over thirty years and involved in teaching and competing in auto extrication for over twenty years. With the advent of the TECGEN PPE, I have found greatly reduced core temperatures when teaching and competing in Auto to Heavy Extrication. This, coupled with the safety and dexterity of the TECGEN gear, provides all our instructors with a quality product. Jeff, Washington Just wanted to take a moment and thank your company for building quality equipment. I was involved in a fire and was wearing a pair of Dex-Pro gloves that I raved about, before and after the fire. Mitch, Maine Best pair of structure boots I’ve ever worn. Aaron, Canada Your product saved my life.
176 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle Awesome gear from an awesome company. Wouldn’t choose anyone else or tell anyone to use another company! Semper Fi! Jeremy, Tennessee I spent ten hours at a fire on Sunday in my brand-new Fire-Dex gear. What a difference! So comfortable and easy to move in, even after it got wet and sweaty. Thanks for what you do. Lee We worked a job two nights ago under the fireplace. We broke the hearth and brick for 1.5 hours. New TECGEN performed amazing… Never got overheated or felt the need to remove anything… Amazing performance by the gear to allow for swinging of sledgehammers and pry tools. Jason, New York TECHGEN71 is seven months old. We’ve been in six fires. This last fire was the hottest and it held up great. Manny, New York This gear is wonderful. I have the EMS, forestry, and structural gear. Very easy to wear for long durations of time. The lightweight material doesn’t sacrifice thermal protection. Water beads up and drops right off the material, making cleaning a breeze. Karibeth, Pennsylvania I have literally put these gloves through HELL over the last two years and they are still holding up extremely well. These are by far the best gloves I’ve ever worn. Chris, Louisiana In my thirty-year career in the fire service, this is by far the most comfortable, most flexible bunker gear that I would say I’ve ever used. Mark, Florida This gave me flexibility. I am able to move. I didn’t get fatigued. If I got wet, I didn’t get soaked. I didn’t get any steam conditions and never had any issues with this gear. I gotta tell you, in my twenty-six-year career, this gear is by far one of the best! Dave, New Jersey
Customer Testimonials 177 Definitely a reduction in weight. You can feel the difference in the coat itself. It’s not as confined as some of the other coats. Because of the technology they have, they’re able to decrease the size of the thermal barriers but give you the same level of protection. Kyle, Connecticut I was so impressed by the lightweight material of the gear that I actually went out and bought my own set. I have a set I use when I go on every tactical incident. A lot of guys are jealous because I wear this gear and they want to know about it. I try to pass the word about how wonderful this stuff is to wear. Scott, Indiana The stresses on the bodies are getting less and less because these things are keeping the heat away from us. It allows us to get deeper. It allows us to get to the people who are looking for us and the reason we are there. Carl, New Jersey
178 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle Every once in a while, a product comes around that I stand behind. These gloves have been worn for over six months of shift work and for another fourteen weeks of WFD academy. This is with hose pulling and search almost daily. These gloves are the best I’ve worn with unmatched dexterity! I love my Dex-Pro gloves. Isaac, Kansas I’m overly impressed with not only how lightweight this gear is, but the sheer dexterity it gives you. This gear has been through twenty-plus burns and it still not only held up but the knee pads are almost in the same shape as when they came out of the box. I have been in almost every manufacturers’ gear on the market, but you guys have knocked it out of the park! Richard As a female, it’s super hard to find boots that fit smaller feet and are just equally as comfortable. The FDXL 100 leather boot does both! Thank you! Emily We have a big oil and gas burn we do a few times a year. It’s by far the hottest fire we have. There were several of us wearing this gear and standing right next to this hottest fire and you could not feel any heat coming through this gear. This TECGEN71 worked really well. Dallas Terrell, Director, Wayne County Fire School So I took my hand full-gloved, all PPE’d out, and held it over the burn pot and kept moving. My hand got really hot so that I had to remove it from the heat but I couldn’t feel anything through my arm, even in the pinch points in elbows and shoulders. Firefighter Ryan Leifheit, about TECGEN71 These new hoods are composed of materials that not only protect our firefighters from fire and heat, but also help protect them from cancer-causing microparticle carcinogens. Firefighter, Virginia
Customer Testimonials 179 The [TECGEN71] gear recovered quicker when I came out after wearing it three to four hours. I took it off to take a break. When I put it back on, I noticed it had recovered. Brent Gates, Fire Chief, Ohio Certified Fire Instructor My H41 Interceptor Hood took the brunt of the heat, keeping me from suffering third-degree burns. There is no doubt in my mind that if it weren’t for the top-notch craftsmanship put into my H41, I would not be back on shift today sending this. Excellent job to everyone at FireDex!!! I thank you, and my wife and kids thank you!!! Captain Chris Mitchum, Alexandria, Louisiana The Interceptor Package allowed us to use our budget in a more resourceful way, saving our structural gear for the right calls. We were using our structural gear way too much, and it was not designed for that. Chief Bobby Halton, Jennings Volunteer Fire Department, Jennings, Oklahoma I was looking to change the way we designed our gear. Because of the high rate of deaths due to cardiac and overexertion issues, and not thermal burns, I wanted to find gear that was lighter, more breathable, and faster drying without a major sacrifice to thermal protection. The Fire-Dex gear hit every parameter on my list. Assistant Chief Matt Lund, Christiana Fire Company The actions you take when moving through the fireground like crawling and climbing, it [TECGEN71] was designed more so to take on the posture of your body. Mike Winthers, City of Camden Fire Department It was over when I picked up the jacket. I couldn’t believe how light it was, and I wasn’t even getting hot. Assistant Chief Keith Buntin, Jennings Volunteer Fire Department, Jennings, Oklahoma
180 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in turnouts. And we will do even more. Todd Herring VP, Fire-Dex
A Revolutionary Product: TECGEN 181 A Revolutionary Product: TECGEN The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but by the play instinct arising from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the object it loves. —Carl Jung There is only one thing stronger than all the armies of the world: and that is an idea whose time has come. —Victor Hugo You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself, and for the firefighter it is fire. —Larry Brown I f you want to bring about a breakthrough, you have to be willing to shake things up. The status quo cannot satisfy; otherwise, there is no need for action. To deliver this kind of change, you have to be willing to be a bit…well, revolutionary. The word “revolutionary” didn’t always mean what it does today. For centuries, it had to do with the movement of celestial bodies making one apparent rotation, or revolution, around the Earth. The word was then connected to the movement of wheels turning around, and later to a state of affairs changing…sometimes dramatically. By the seventeenth century, it was used to refer to the overthrow of the established system. Not everything revolutionary is an act of rebellion, but to do something that overthrows the established way of doing things, you have to be comfortable with letting things get messy, with trying new ways of thinking and operating, and with passionately pursuing innovative solutions. At Fire-Dex, that kind of passionate commitment is not a revolutionary idea—it’s another day on the job. But it delivers some pretty remarkable results. TECGEN71 is a game changer for Fire-Dex, allowing them to dramatically accelerate their growth and market share. —Jeff Morris, Senior Vice President, Milliken & Company
182 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle • I n 1997, after graduating from college, Todd Herring landed a job at Milliken & Company, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. During his ten years at Milliken, Todd worked at various jobs in the areas of process engineering, workflow management, process improvement, and then, eventually, in a position implementing Ph.D. research into products and manufacturing, turning vision and potential into reality. He couldn’t have known it then, but his experience and connections would be a tremendous asset for Fire-Dex in the future. TECGEN Founded T odd Herring’s deep expertise in technology and manufacturing led him to co-found TECGEN in 2008—a company named for the transformative fabric it produced, one blended with Kevlar and Nomex fibers. They had figured out how to produce a material that is lightweight, with high thermal value, yet offers outstanding breathability. It was an apparel technology breakthrough. In 2014, an economic downcycle slowed the revenue for TECGEN’s two divisions. These divisions sold their unique material— TECGEN51—to industrial and fire service customers (wildland and search and rescue). During this difficult period when revenue was down, some of the company’s investors wanted
A Revolutionary Product: TECGEN 183 to sell the company. It did not take long for the perfect buyer to surface. Acquiring TECGEN National Safety Apparel (NSA)—the original company that owned Fire-Dex—acquired TECGEN with Fire-Dex 2015. TECGEN’s two divisions were split with NSA absorbing the industrial division and Fire-Dex the fire service division. Leading up to this acquisition, Todd Herring had spoken to Bill Burke at a dinner about the potential of developing TECGEN fabric for the outer layers of both PPE pants and coats. Bill quickly grasped the impact that such a revolutionary product could have on the market and on first responders’ gear. He told Todd, “We are going to put some horsepower behind this new product development… and we are going to change the world.” The Breakthrough: TECGEN71 New product development began immediately with Todd Herring leading the team at Fire-Dex as vice president of Product Innovation and Strategy. Within a few months, the teams at Fire-Dex had developed their one-of-a-kind product: TECGEN71. It utilized the same fibers as TECGEN51 but with different percentages of those fibers designed specifically for turnout gear—PPE pants and coats.
184 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle Partnering with Milliken & Company With a revolutionary new product in hand, they now needed the capacity to produce it in substantial quantities to meet the demand that was sure to develop when this product hit the marketplace. Fire-Dex also needed a manufacturing partner with strong experience in manufacturing such complex interwoven fibers into fabric materials. On top of this, the partner also needed to be an expert in supply chain logistics. It was a tall order, but one company stood out from the others by powerfully checking off all the boxes: Milliken & Company. This was Todd Herring’s former employer, so he knew it well—an American industrial manufacturer that has been in business since 1865. Milliken is active across disciplines including specialty chemicals, floor covering, healthcare, and—the one that aligned them with Fire-Dex’s mission—protective textile materials. Milliken has been granted more than 2,500 U.S. patents and more than 5,500 worldwide. Leading the team from Milliken was Jeff Morris, senior vice president of Protective Fabric. Milliken had been exploring the possibilities of manufacturing a similar fabric technology for turnout gear, and they were open to entering into an exclusive manufacturing agreement with Fire-Dex. Jeff Morris recalls the planning and execution of manufacturing TECGEN71 for Fire-Dex. “We Without Sacrificing TPP TECGEN71 Composites vs. Typical Combinations 15% Lighter 40% Thinner 70% More Flexible 48% Higher THL Visit firedex.com/TECGEN71 for wear trial information. TECGEN71 is an outer shell designed to lessen heat stress by reducing weight and increasing flexibility. SUPERIOR FIBER LIGHTEST WEIGHT SYSTEMS HIGHEST THL 4 LBS LIGHTER THAN TRADITIONAL TURNOUTS As an industry, we have been trained to think that you have to sacrifice thermal protective performance (TPP) in order to achieve maximum total heat loss (THL). CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR PPE EXCLUSIVE OUTER SHELL TECGEN71 is an outer shell designed to lessen heat stress by reducing weight and increasing flexibility. Certified to NFPA 1971. FIREDEX.COM/TECGEN71
A Revolutionary Product: TECGEN 185 were looking to manufacture an exclusive line for a PPE customer, and the timing of TECGEN71 folded perfectly into our plans,” he says. Morris adds, It’s not every day you combine a technology breakthrough with such high market appeal with best-in-class manufacturing to produce such an award-winning fabric. What a fantastic experience it has been working with Fire-Dex. With Milliken’s capabilities to rapidly create prototypes, samples were completed in only two months. The product was created in January 2017. NFPA 1971 standards testing was completed in June 2017, and the first product was shipped later that month to a fire department in Florida. TECGEN71 was off and away, and there would be no looking back. Market Disruption S uch a transformative, new, and exclusive product took the PPE market by storm. TECGEN71 was quickly recognized for the superior benefits that it offers. First responders overwhelmingly loved it. Meanwhile, competitors, suppliers, distributors, and fiber manufacturers alike were all striving to understand the competitive advantage of TECGEN71. We shocked the industry. Now all guns were pointing at us, but we never took a bullet. Today, we are still winning battle after battle. —Todd Herring
186 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle TECGEN Today With the high market appeal that TECGEN holds in the PPE marketplace, sales exploded and so did Fire-Dex’s market share. Soon, it was clear that this was a breakaway hit for the company. Today, TECGEN products from Fire-Dex account for 60% of the total production capacity at the company. It continues to garner rave reviews and is embraced in the first responder community. Revolutionary, innovative, transformative… it was just what the market needed. Once again, Fire-Dex’s innovation, vision, and ability to create and nurture positive partnerships have propelled the company to new heights. Ongoing Product Innovation and Strategy T odd Herring’s team, which has continued to pursue further product innovation and strategy, is not content to rest on their laurels. Instead, they are looking for the next big breakthrough. The next game-changing opportunity for Fire-Dex is new thermal liners the team developed, which bring down the total weight of a PPE set and increase the breathability. These
A Revolutionary Product: TECGEN 187 thermal liners mean each set weighs up to four pounds less than traditional gear. Today, we produce the lightest, most flexible, and most breathable gear in the U.S. turnout market. No one has come close to offering anything like it. —Todd Herring Todd’s team has continued innovating products such as boots, gloves, and helmets. They are launching a NFPA 1951 rescue glove, another product that is the first ever to market by any industry vendor. The focus is on taking TECGEN technology and bringing products to new levels. The innovation team is aggressively continuing new product development with TECGEN to push the boundaries of what PPE gear can deliver, including efforts to decrease weight and increase the protection level of turnouts. This progress should not be surprising— after all, it follows after a core value of Fire-Dex. Obsessed with innovation, this company is not afraid to take a different path. They are happy to lead the way when it comes to delivering revolutionary new products to protect firefighters. They are perfectly comfortable blazing that trail, even when it gets messy. As Fire-Dex’s chairman puts it, We’re interested in perfecting the recipe, not saving the fine china. We break dishes. —Bill Burke, Chairman, Fire-Dex
188 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle We do what we do with excellence. That’s our DNA. And we appreciate those who recognize it. Bill Burke Chairman, Fire-Dex
Awards and Recognitions 189 Awards and Recognitions Awards can give you a tremendous amount of encouragement to keep getting better, no matter how young or old you are. —Alan Alda The gifted man bears his gifts into the world, not for his own benefit, but for the people among whom he is placed; for the gifts are not his, he himself is a gift to the community. —Henry Ford The honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action. —Aristotle Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition. —Abraham Lincoln Inc. Magazine • America’s FastestGrowing Private Companies, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011—This prestigious annual ranking of the top 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America ranks companies based on the percentage of revenue growth. • Best in Business, 2010—This award celebrates companies of all sizes and industries that made an extraordinary impact in their fields and on society during the year. Crain’s Cleveland Business Magazine • 52 Fastest Growing Companies, 2016— This award recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit, innovative business tactics, and skyrocketing revenue growth of the fifty-two fastest-growing companies in Northeast Ohio. The companies are selected based on a combination of revenue growth and total revenue. Cleveland’s historic Terminal Tower is fifty-two stories tall and so the awards give a nod to Northeast Ohio’s future skyscrapers of business.
190 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle The Entrepreneurs EDGE • Leading EDGE Award for Value Creation, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013— Fire-Dex was among an elite group of 101 Northeast Ohio mid-sized companies to be recognized at the 2013 Leading EDGE Awards. The prestigious award was developed in 2007 by The Entrepreneurs EDGE, a 501(c)3 nonprofit Northeast Ohio economic development group to recognize valuecreating, mid-sized companies in the region. Cascade Capital Corporation • Cascade Capital Business Growth Awards, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022—This program acknowledges businesses from the Akron/Canton Ohio, seven-county region that have achieved superior growth in sales and/or employment over the past five years. • Sales Growth Award (Manufacturing), 2017 • Greatest Employee Growth Award (Manufacturing), 2019 • Cascade Capital Business Growth Award (Huntington Legacy), 2022—This award is a specialty category of the Business Growth Awards recognizing long-term revenue and employment growth and sustainability. Smart Business • Customer Service Award, 2008, 2009, 2017 • Evolution of Manufacturing, 2010, 2011, 2021—This award recognizes Northeast Ohio organizations and their outstanding ability to innovate, create, and drive new processes that result in a positive impact on local economic development. • Smart 50, 2019, 2020, 2022 • Smart Culture Award, 2018, 2022, 2023— The award honors local organizations that have demonstrated cutting-edge practices in sustaining a Smart Culture. Awards are presented at the Smart Culture Conference & Awards that explores how culture can become an asset to drive performance,
Awards and Recognitions 191 transform an organization into an employerof-choice, and ultimately impact the bottom line. • The Family Business Achievement Award, 2020, 2021, 2022—This award recognizes organizations that demonstrate best practices in keeping the business within the family, demonstrate a strong commitment to both business and family, and are engaged in innovative business practices designed to enhance the family business dynamic. • Business Longevity Award, 2022 • Smart 50—President Lauren Burke DeVere was selected as a 2022 Northeast Ohio Smart 50 award honoree. The award recognizes the top executives of the fifty smartest companies in Northeast Ohio for their ability to effectively build and lead successful organizations. Inside Business Magazine • MANNY Award, 2010—This award celebrates the achievements of Northeast Ohio manufacturing and distribution companies. Entrants in the competition are judged by editors of Inside Business magazine and local business leaders. • NEO Success Awards, 2008, 2009, 2017— Established in 1995 as a way to showcase businesses in Northeast Ohio, this award recognizes the top-performing companies in the region. The winners reflect the region’s determination to expand and revitalize its economic status.
192 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle Weatherhead 100 Award • Fastest Growing Companies in NEO Outstanding, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2022—The awards, presented by the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, are the premier celebration of Northeast Ohio’s spirit of entrepreneurship and the companies leading the way. Recipients are chosen for their impressive revenue growth and for high standards of leadership and success. Employing Medina County, United Way of Medina County • Partner of the Year, 2018—Fire-Dex was recognized as the 2018 United Way of Medina County Business Partner of the Year. This recognition was based on the company’s commitment to the mission of the Employing Medina County program. Fire-Dex received the award at the United Way of Medina’s Annual Community Meeting at the Lodge at Allardale in Medina. Employer’s Resource Council (ERC) • NorthCoast 99 Best Places to Work, 2009, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022—This distinguished award honors the ninety-nine greatest workplaces for top-performing people that drive results, provide competitive advantages, allow businesses to innovate and grow, and provide economic vitality within their community. Applicants are judged based on policies and practices related to the attraction and retention of excellent performers, as well as data collected from associate surveys. The ERC is a Northeast Ohio Human Resource organization.
Awards and Recognitions 193
194 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle As we look to the future with high expectations that our outstanding growth will continue, we are thankful for the many associates, distributors, customers, and suppliers who have made our 40-year journey so successful. Lauren DeVere President, Fire-Dex
40th Year Anniversary Celebration 195 40th Year Anniversary Celebration E ach year in April, the fire industry’s largest trade show, the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), is held in Indianapolis, Indiana. At this annual event, Fire-Dex hosts an evening function where many of their customers, prospects, vendors, suppliers, and various other companies of note are in attendance. In 2023 at FDIC, Fire-Dex hosted their most elaborate event yet. To celebrate the company’s 40th Anniversary, the event was held at Crane Bay Event Center, a unique, modern venue with a versatile design and gorgeous views of the downtown Indianapolis skyline. Keynote addresses were made by Steve Allison, Lauren DeVere, and Bill Burke to highlight the company’s past accomplishments and share the vision for continued growth in the future.
196 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle We look back to see where we’ve come from. We look forward to see where we’re going. If we are doing things right, either direction is a source of pride. Bill Burke
Looking Forward 197 Looking Forward The future is not something to predict. The future is something to build. —Franco Ongaro A company does not reach the level of success that Fire-Dex has attained without learning a recipe that works. The ingredients, on the surface, are fairly simple to understand: Don’t cut corners. Deliver superior performance and next-generation products. Meet the need in a way that no other company can match. Establish a reputation for integrity, honesty, and consistent character. Build a team that operates more like a family, with shared principles and a common purpose, and treat them—and everyone—with respect and sensitivity. Look for prime business opportunities and seize them with confidence. Plan with vision for the future, knowing that it’s not a sprint, but a marathon. Have friendly people and unbeatable service, and commit to continuous improvement and the highest quality in every endeavor. Listing or even knowing these business strategies and principles is the simple part. Actually putting them into practice from one day to the next and from one year to the next—well, that is a lot more challenging. Most companies are not able to maintain this level of performance and strong character for years, let alone decades. Thankfully, Fire-Dex is not like most companies. Fire-Dex has proved time and again that it can rise above the pack, relying on the strength of its teams and the passionate vision of its leaders. Because of that, everyone associated with Fire-Dex can look to the future with excitement. Every sign points to the fact that this company will continue to build on what has made it so great. Higher and higher goals can be set, and as these hurdles are met, new ones will be established. Fire-Dex will continue its embrace of the core values that give it meaning, while adapting and innovating to continue its quest to serve those who serve with excellence and to the greatest possible extent. What is coming up in the next chapter for Fire-Dex? No one can tell for certain. But one thing is sure: this company will keep strengthening the reputation that its people have worked so hard to preserve, making the world a safer place in the process.
198 Fire-Dex Protection for the Heat of the Battle We are cooking on HIGH! Laurette Burke, Bill Burke’s mother Laurette Burke was the mother of nine children and had twenty-three grandchildren. Bill Burke is lucky No. 7 and probably her favorite. Laurette (Hearne) and Jim Burke’s fathers were both born in Ireland. The Burkes are from County Mayo and the Hearnes are from County Cork. It ain’t over ’till it’s over. Yogi Berra