Posted on Wed, Sep 28, 2011
In the next few days MN8-Foxfire will be celebrating our one year anniversary. In our brief first year of operations, our products are now being used by over 10,000 firefighters across the globe. We all knew that this concept was going to be big but none of us expected us to be in this position after only a year.
This concept started with a simple silicone helmet band that was made with a rare advanced photoluniescent technology. The first prototype of this unique helmet band sat on my helmet for over a month collecting dust before I really had the chance to see what it could do. The first fire I made with this band, I was on the ladder and was assigned to pull ceiling. It was like any other typical fire, dark and smoky and we could barely see each other . As I was opening up the ceiling, I felt something tugging on my helmet. Turning around to see what was grabbing my helmet, I saw the engine crew looking at me in amazement as they tried to figure out what was causing this bright green glow to emanate from my helmet. I “encouraged” them to stop grabbing my helmet and start putting the wet stuff on the red stuff. Once at rehab, I started to notice a crowd forming around me and guys asking me if I was the “glowing green guy”. Once I explained what it was and how it could help with accountability and reduce disorientation, guys started grabbing for their wallets to purchase. As we rode back to the fire station, I started to think about what this incredible technology could do to help our fellow firefighters if it could be properly developed, marketed and distributed. I knew I owed it to my fellow firefighters to bring this idea to fruition. This could not be a part time job or hobby, it needed focus, attention and my undivided attention. I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes that is promiately displayed in a metal sign above my desk: “Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat”; fortune favors the bold. It was time to be bold and not tip toe into this opportunity. I needed to jump in with both feet and thats exactly what our team and I did. In the middle of a horrible recession with reduced budgets and everybody saying that this was too risky, we launched a concept, a concept that not even I expected to blossom this quickly or robustly.
A few weeks later we started MN8-Foxfire in the back of a friends garage. In a few months we moved to a low-rent strip mall and last month we opened our new headquaters in a beautiful new office.
The first day of MN8-Foxfire’s official operations was at the 2010 Ohio Fire & EMS Expo. An expo created by a couple of fellow firefighting entrapeneurers, Mark Zambito and Chis Craig from the Columbus, Ohio area. It was so special finishing up this same show last week and reminescing on what we have learned since exhibiting at this same show a year ago.
I knew our bold decision was going to pay off. From that first show in Columbus, Ohio, it was time to take the show on the road. Over the first few months I personally visited over 50 fire departments from coast to coast, Hawaii and even Russia. I shared how our products can improve visiability, increase accountability of tools and personell and reduce disorientation by increasing positional orientation. A few months later we exhibited at FDIC in Indianapolis. We were interviewed by two news channels and had one of the busiest booths at the show of 42,000+ attendees. After FDIC we were hit by a tidal wave of new sales and new distributors. Several national and local shows followed over the next several months and every month since then our sales and new distributors continue to grow at a break-neck pace. None of this would be possible without the help from my fellow firefighteing brothers and friends.
The greatest pride over this last year has not been the sales, accolades or partnerships, it is opening my inbox or recieving phone calls and hearing stories from my fellow firefighters about how this product has made their job both more effective and safer. Take some time to read an example of one of these stories about how our helmet bands helped a crew in a flashover.
Accountability Case Study
I am filled with both awe and pride how what started as a novel idea has grown into a movement that is literally changing the way in which we fight fire. As I look back on this year, I am humbled by the distributors, business partners, departments and firefighters that have put their faith and confidence in us. Most of all I am proud that what I learned in the marines and the fire service holds true whether it be taking the fight to the enemy, battling a stubborn structure fire or running a business, FORTES FORTUNA ADIUVAT !
Posted on Sat, Sep 17, 2011
A few weeks ago Foxfire was honored by winning one of the twelve grants from the Cincinnati Innovates competition. Cincinnati Innovates is an innovation competition that is open to anyone who has an innovation, idea, or invention and has a Greater Cincinnati connection. This competition is designed to showcase the technological, artistic, and ingenious innovations of all Cincinnatians. Foxfire was selected from over 300 entires.
The grant we received was from 7/79 VIDEO PRODUCTIONS to help produce some incredible upcoming video content showcasing Foxfire’s illuminating technology to help firefighters reduce disorientation, improve accountability of tools and personnel, and to illuminate search areas.
This award was very special for several reasons but one of the main reasons was that we were a runner-up last year. If is was not for last years contest, Foxfire may never have even been created. Let me explain:
Since I was a little kid I always dreamed of two things; becoming a firefighter and creating and running my own business. My dream of being a firefighter was realized almost ten years ago but the dream of becoming an entrepreneur was a little more elusive. For the last 15+ years I had the opportunity to hold some very exciting jobs in the software and pharmaceutical industries. From 2003-2010 I had the privilege to work for a major pharmaceutical corporation. I had wonderful colleagues and really felt that I was able to help physicians improve the quality of life for their patients. As I had the opportunity to climb the corporate ladder, I realized that I was going to have to move from Cincinnati and I was going to also have to do a better job “playing the political game.” I was not willing to do either. Like all firefighters, I call them like I see them and I believe mission accomplishment is more important than people’s feelings. During those last few months, I realized that my options in corporate-america were dwindling, I discovered advanced photoluminescent technology and how it could help my brother firefighters.
I remember being called up to the corporate offices to discuss my next position with the company the same day that I found out we were a finalist for last year’s Cincinnati Innovates Competition. I believe in God and I believe that he has big plans out there for all of us if we are only willing to open our eyes and see the signs. I believe that being notified of us being a finalist for this competition the day before I had my career planning meeting was one of those signs I could not ignore. The recognition from the Cincinnati Innovates contest was the “push” I needed to take the risk to start this company and invest in the technology to transform the firefighting industry. My boss was flabbergasted when I told her I had decided to leave the large corporation to create my own company that was going to help firefighters. Even though she respected my vision she was very clear in her disappointment in me leaving the safety, income, and security of corporate America. I knew I had to do this for me, for my family, and for my firefighting brothers.
As we embark on the one year anniversary of creating Foxfire, I am filled with the pride and honor knowing that our product are now in use by over 10,000 brave firefighters in eight different countries. Not a week goes by that I don’t receive and e-mail, note, or phone call telling me how our products have helped firefighters perform their jobs better and SAFER.
Every day I wake up go to my new office and make runs with my department, I feel like I’m living a dream, a dream that started many years ago. A dream that won’t continue to grow and develop without your help. I never want to have that big corporate-america attitude that doesn't foster and welcome feedback and advice. Keep those contacts coming, let us know what we can do better, let us know what you would like to see next ,we can’t do this without you. We are all in this together, we are all brothers!
Posted on Thu, Sep 15, 2011
One of the reasons I joined the fire department was because I missed the brotherhood I experienced in the US Marines. Just like US Marines, a firefighter would never leave a brother behind. Read about SGT. Dakota Meyer, the first USMC Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War who did not leave his brothers behind !
http://www.marines.mil/community/Pages/MedalofHonorSgtDakotaMeyer-News.aspx
Posted on Sat, Sep 10, 2011
Ten Years
It’s been ten years since the day that changed everything. I like the rest of you remember exactly where I was when it happened. I remember waking my dad up in the west coast, calling my mom at her school, I remember calling my wife at work. I remember the emotions of surprise followed by amazement followed by anger. An anger that in ten years has not subsided. I had been out of the USMC infantry for only a few years in 2001 but I remember wanting to rejoin my former infantry unit and start practicing my deadly craft I honed over the last decade with my fellow Marines on those bastards a world away.
I also remember the next day, September 12th. As we were coming to grips as a nation what just happened we came closer together, a lot closer. Do you remember all those beautiful majestic flags that appeared all over every street and fruited plane ? Do you remember the packed churches and synagogs ? Do you remember the members of congress singing God Bless America on the stairs of one of the intended targets? God Bless America Video I remember all of those beautiful images, I remember thinking it’s not how hard you get hit it’s how fast you get back up.
September 11th took many things from us but it also gave me a very special gift. All my life I wanted to be a firefighter, after September 11th, I decided I was not going to dream about it anymore. I joined my local volunteer fire department, one of the greatest gifts of my life. This gift has given me the honor to enter an elite fraternity of brothers throughout the US and world. It has given me this incredible opportunity to start and develop Foxfire and do my little part to help firefighters find a better and safer way of being heroes. The advanced photoluminescent technology we use was actually first developed for the stairways of the World Trade Center after the 1993 bombing to help illuminate the exits and stairwells. Foxfire applied that same technology for firefighting.
Last night my seven year old son saw me crying in my office and with a very concerned look he said “Daddy what wrong?” I figured it was time to tell him about that day three years before he was born. I told him about the 343 brave men, the other heroes, the innocent victims, and the members of our armed services that gave their lives as a result of that fateful day. He asked me a very simple question, “why?” I simply told him they climbed up those buildings because they were ordered, then I thought about it some more. They climbed up those buildings to save the lives of the people. Then I thought it about it some more, they climbed up those building because their brothers climbed up those buildings and a brother never leaves another brother. I told him about my dear friend Lt. Rhett Fleitz and Capt. Willie Wines who like 12,000-15,000 other firefighters on 9/11/11 will be climbing 110 stories in 55 different events throughout the country to honor those brave 343. I shared with my son that Capt. Wines told me that they were going to be the last ones to start their climb because they wanted to make sure anyone that struggled got the encouragement they needed to finish. Why ? Because thats what brother do, they never leave another behind.
Posted on Sat, Sep 10, 2011
Ten Years
It’s been ten years since the day that changed everything. I, like the rest of you, remember exactly where I was when it happened. I remember waking my dad up in the west coast, calling my mom at her school, I remember calling my wife at work. I remember the emotions of surprise followed by amazement followed by anger. An anger that in ten years has not subsided. I had been out of the USMC infantry for only a few years in 2001 but I remember wanting to rejoin my former infantry unit and start practicing my deadly craft I honed over the last decade with my fellow Marines on those bastards a world away.
I also remember the next day, September 12th. As we were coming to grips as a nation with what had just happened we came closer together, a lot closer. Do you remember all those beautiful majestic flags that appeared all over every street and fruited plain ? Do you remember the packed churches and synagogues ? Do you remember the members of congress singing God Bless America on the stairs of one of the intended targets? God Bless America Video I remember all of those beautiful images, I remember thinking it’s not how hard you get hit it’s how fast you get back up.
September 11th took many things from us but it also gave me a very special gift. All my life I wanted to be a firefighter, after September 11th, I decided I was not going to dream about it anymore. I joined my local volunteer fire department, one of the greatest gifts of my life. This gift has given me the honor to enter an elite fraternity of brothers throughout the US and world. It has given me this incredible opportunity to start and develop Foxfire and do my little part to help firefighters find a better and safer way of being heroes.
The advanced photoluminescent technology MN8 uses was actually first developed for the stairways of the World Trade Center after the 1993 bombing to help illuminate the exits and stairwells. Foxfire utilizes that same technology for firefighting.
Last night my seven year old son saw me crying in my office and with a very concerned look he said “Daddy what's wrong?” I figured it was time to tell him about that day three years before he was born. I told him about the 343 brave men, the other heroes, the innocent victims, and the members of our armed services that gave their lives as a result of that fateful day. He asked me a very simple question, “why?” I simply told him "they climbed up those buildings because they were ordered, and firefighters always obey orders." Then I thought about it some more. "They climbed up those buildings to save the lives of the people and thats what firefighters do, they save lives." Then I thought it about it some more, "they climbed up those building because their brothers climbed up those buildings and a brother never leaves another brother behind." I told him about my dear friend Lt. Rhett Fleitz FireCritic and Capt. Willie Wines Iron Firemen who like 12,000-15,000 other firefighters on 9/11/11, will be climbing 110 stories in 55 different events throughout the country to honor those brave 343 at Stair Climbs. I shared with my son that Capt. Wines told me that they were going to be the last ones to start their climb because they wanted to make sure anyone that struggled got the encouragement they needed to finish. Why ? Because thats what brothers do, they never leave another behind.
Posted on Wed, Sep 07, 2011
My recent trip brought me back out to the land of perpetual sunshine of California (and a stop in Las Vegas) This was another great trip meeting some new firefighting brothers and visiting some new stations. My travels first brought me north of Santa Barbara to the Alan Hancock community College to meet with Chief Andy Dinsmore. Chief Dinsmore runs the Fire training program and reached out to me after reading an article in the recent FireRescue magazine. Chief Dinsmore and I spent quite a bit of time talking about advanced photoluminescent technology and how it can help firefighters improve visibility, increase accountability of tools and personnel and reduce disorientation. We plan on rolling this information out to students and outfitting his cadre with Foxfire illumination products. All of this training will be taking part in their soon to be built spectacular public safety center. Click the following link to learn more about this amazing facility:
Allan Hancock Public Training Facility
The next morning I had the privilege to join Captain Chris Granucci of Los Angeles Fire Department Engine 7 and his crew for breakfast.
Captain Granucci has been testing our products for the LAFD over the last several months. As a true firefighter, he found a way of taking something good and making it better. He builds fly fishing rods in his spare time and used some of that knowledge to improve the way you can apply our illuminating epoxy kits. With some plexi-glass, hardware and a BBQ rotisserie he created a machine that slowly spins your tools so as you apply our illuminating epoxy you don’t get and drips or runs.
The next day I picked up my dad to join me for a USC football game. As I picked him up from the train station, he had a huge grin on his face. The huge grin was because just as he stepped out of the train-station he was greeted by several other members of the LAFD as they were trying to flip over a vehicle that rolled on it’s side.
He walked right up to the officer in charge and showed him a picture of Foxfire and asked him if he had ever heard of Foxfire’s illuminating technology. To my dad’s excitement, he replied that he had heard of Foxfire and thought it was a great way to illuminate the dark environments firefighter’s operate. It’s great to know that our marketing and PR efforts are working. Firefighter’s from coast to coast and even abroad are learning more about these innovative products that are transforming the firefighting industry.
The next day I was off to Las Vegas for a quick 24 hour stop to visit Clark County fire department and the poker tables. Clark County was one of the first fire departments to start using our products. They use our full portfolio of products, the illuminating grip wrap, helmet bands, epoxy and SCBA bottle bands. As great as our product are, they found that they do have limitations. Firefighters do a great job at saving lives and breaking things and Clark County is no different than other departments throughout the US.
Two specific issues that came up were that the SCBA bottle bands can rip after repeatedly removing and re-securing and the glow could diminish on our bands after repeated exposure to high heat (600+ degrees) and especially if you have a black rubber band under it. Keep in mind that a SCBA mask will start to fail at 450 degrees, the only way the butyl rubber on the mask can make it past 500 degrees is if the nomex hood covers the edges. I feel it is important to share these issues about our products because we are a firefighter run business and our number one priority is to best serve our brothers. We stand behind everything we produce but remember all products on the fire-ground have limitations. It is important to know that our products are designed to be heavy duty and firefighter-RESISTANT but not firefighter-PROOF. We all know the adage that a firefighter can break on anvil.
Speaking of firefighters breaking things, I had the chance to cross of another task off my bucket list, taking a dune buggy for a spin in the desert. I joined about a dozen other guys on a high intensity ride through the beautiful desert outside of Las Vegas. We all jumped sand dunes, ran over rough terrain and had an absolute blast with one small hiccup. As I way cruising done a flat stretch of road, I felt my dune buggy swerve to the left and immediately slow down as I saw a tire pop over the top of my buggy and roll out in to the desert. Wouldn't you know that the only firefighter in the group, me, sheered the 2” wide sold metal bar holding the tire. No matter where you go or what you do if there is a way to break it, a firefighter will find the way...
