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DALLAS - Two new members are joining the leadership team to work with the American Fire Sprinkler Association(AFSA)as it continues its mission to attract and educate fire sprinkler contractors to save lives and property and help ones already here grow. Starting January 4, 2020, Bruce Lecair will join AFSA as the director of membership & chapter support covering the western half of the U.S. and Canada, and Dominick Kasmauskas, CFPS as the regional director of membership & chapter support will be responsible for the eastern half of North America. Kasmauskas will report to Lecair, and Lecair will report directly to AFSA President Bob Caputo, CFPS.
"The work and commitment of our Board of Directors have been paramount in ensuring AFSA's continued support of our membership with key insights and new resources during a critical and transformative year for the industry," said Caputo. "With Bruce Lecair and Dominick Kasmauskas supporting our members, and the thought leadership of our directors, we are excited to continue moving the Association forward-providing unparalleled benefits to our membership and leading the industry together through 2021 and beyond. The future of AFSA is brighter than ever."
Both Kasmauskas and Lecair are industry veterans with extensive experience in legislative activities as well as membership and chapter development.
After a 30-year fire service career that began in 1976 in the United States Air Force California Air National Guard, Lecair retired in 2007 as the Assistant Fire Chief of the Woodland Fire Department in California before serving the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) as associate director and southwest regional manager.With 13 years' experience working with NFSA members in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico, he has extensive knowledge of the industry and looks forward to expanding his network and meeting AFSA members nationwide. Lecair served on all three of the Residential Fire Sprinkler Study Groups during the adoption of the California State Residential Fire Sprinkler Requirement, chaired two subcommittees, and co-wrote and co-authored the education program that was taught over 40 times in 24 regions across California.
In 2019, Lecair served as the chair of the CalFire Office of the State Fire Marshal Work Group that studied and wrote the recommendations for the upcoming California 2021 edition based on the new 2020 edition of NFPA 25, Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-based Fire Protection Systems. He later chaired the subcommittee that redesigned and edited the Automatic Extinguishing Systems Forms for use in the next adoption of the new standard.
"It is a pleasure to serve alongside great leadership and see the association grow," said Lecair. "AFSA was created with a very specific mission and it is a catalyst for economic development. It is an honor to be a part of the AFSA team and be that essential voice for the industry as we work to fulfill our mission of saving lives and property."
Based in Corona, California, and focusing on the western half of North America, Lecair will be responsible for the oversight of AFSA's membership team. He has an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Science from Woodland Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from the University of Phoenix, and a Master of Science Degree in Emergency Services Administration from California State University, Long Beach. He is an Air Force veteran.
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Dominick Kasmauskas, CFPS
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Beginning with the fire service in 1974 in suburban northern New Jersey, Kasmauskas worked in the fire sprinkler industry for 19 years before taking this position and is looking forward to continuing his work in legislation, codes, and local laws to assist in making the business environment better for fire protection contractors. He notes, "I am ready to hit the bricks, find out what is affecting AFSA members of all categories, positive or negative, and seeking their imminent needs for training as well as protect the membership from adverse issues."
Kasmauskas is an NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist® and serves on the NFPA 1030/1031 Fire Inspector and Plans Examiner Committee. He is also a former member of the NFPA 101/5000 Educational & Day Care Committee and a former member of the Board of Directors for the NFPA Fire Service Section. Kasmauskas was formerly a contract instructor for the International Codes Council, served on the ICC International Green Construction Code (IgCC®) Energy & Water Subcommittee, served on the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Fire Protection Committee, and served as a liaison to the US Green Building Council.
Based in upstate New York, he also regularly attended many fire protection industry-relevant and code enforcement chapter meetings throughout the Midwest and eastern U.S. in his previous positions. He also gained experience in legislative matters in New Jersey and as a volunteer advocate with the Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute by promoting not only firefighter issues but also the adoption of the first statewide Pennsylvania building code. He is a graduate of the Bergen County Police Reserves Academy in Mahwah, New Jersey, holds an Associate of Science in Fire Science from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey, and is an Army veteran.
"We welcome the knowledge and enthusiasm our new membership directors bring to the AFSA membership team," said AFSA Chair Ted Wills, president of Anchor Fire Protection in Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania. "Their keen insights in the field, as well as their ability to see the big picture, will serve us well as we transition into a new normal."
As the voice of the merit shop fire sprinkler contractor since 1981, AFSA's mission is to educate and train the industry and promote fire protection systems to save lives and property. Visit firesprinkler.org.
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