Key Takeaways

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• Mike ’s Background
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• Over 40 years of Fire Protection Consulting Experience
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• Studied Fire Protection and Safety Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology
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• Labs were at Underwriters Laboratories
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• Received an MBA from University of Houston
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• Working at Rolf Jensen and Associates and then Jensen Hughes 
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• Over 30 years 
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• Involved in the code writing process and litigation support.
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• Saw failures of passive systems
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• Got involved with the healthcare industry and was part of committees related to life safety code.
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• Dealt with Healthcare projects, finding a balance in passive and suppression systems. 
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• Faced different life safety issues in different occupancies like assembly spaces, large theaters, and high-rise buildings
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• Healthcare 
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• Was sent to a committee meeting as an alternate and eventually became a full committee member. 
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• Wife was a nurse, so familiarity with the Healthcare space. 
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• Did work with the Military and VA Hospitals. 
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• Chaired the fundamentals committee and the entire correlating committee
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• Currently chairs the medical gas technical committee
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• Industry Challenges 
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• Large energy storage systems / thermal runaway
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• Doors! Fire Rated doors and compliance / testing 
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• How numbers were put into codes 
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• Labor shortage / hiring process
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• Advice for newcomers to the Engineering Field 
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• Find a Niche
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• Consider subcategories of engineering, such as acoustics or corrosion control
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• Build a resume with an internship
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• Coffman Engineering 
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• Full-service MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) firm
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• Works in the Fire Protection Group, which has grown rapidly to cover offices all over the country
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• Started as a structural engineering company and has expanded its services over 42 years
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• Department of Defense work
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• Oil and Gas
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• Broaden horizons by working on a variety of projects like working on the Texans Stadium
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• Speaking Engagements
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• Covered changes in code at a recent ASHE event
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• Discussed findings from fire Data. Where fires are happening in Healthcare
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• Helps determine where the focus should be in limiting...