The Private.Life / FirstLine-TaskForce TEAM

My career began in 1978 in a small town in the southwest corner of Wyoming know as Evanston, where I accepted a position in the oil field working for Schlumberger Well Services. As a Global Energy Services company Schlumberger was comprised of specialized teams dedicated to downhole exploration, downhole computer log services, and technologies designed for oil field operations. 

Schlumberger had a long-standing commitment to health, safety, and the environment. The position offered me at the time was Safety Engineer for Site Operations.  My education and training centered on oil field protocols. Yet, specializing in core gun/explosives and the handling of cobalt-60 radioactive elements emitting -y- rays or an accelerator producing a beam of electrons identifying oil shale.  

From 1980 to 1990 I consulted directly with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Working side by side with Dr. Ralph Swisher, director of the Community & Family Preparedness Program, at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

I designed and developed a visual communication network intended to aid first responders by enhancing their medical assessment proficiencies in the aftermath of a disastrous event. In addition, the visual communications network involved Homeland Security, and notable state and county agencies regarding specific emergency action plans for escape, evade, and evacuate tactics. Over a twenty-year period, I had the privilege to attend the following training seminars for emergency management organizations: 

•  The 1994 National FEMA Conference in San Diego California, at which time the focus for a standardized preparedness messaging network became a front runner for crisis management.  
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• The 1995 FEMA Conference for Disaster Preparedness and Family Protection Program in Emmitsburg, MD.  
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• The Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference in 1996, 97, 98, and 2000 in Tampa, Florida.
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• The Hurricane Expo in Port Charlotte, Florida 1996, 97, and 2000. 
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• The National Hurricane Conference in Houston, Texas in 1996 and again in 1997.  
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• The World FEMA Conference in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia. 
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• The Florida Emergency Preparedness Association Conference in 1997 and 2000.

  In 2006 I received my degree in information systems from Southern Utah University (SUU), following which I found myself recruited by PDI INC. / American Express Health Care Division, a contractor for American Express. As the area director of sales in the southern California division my responsibilities encompassed training newly recruited associates to manage high value acquisition medical accounts for American Express from 2006 to 2009 (our division terminated during the recession of 2008, 2009).  

During my three years with American Express, I received the highest awards for account acquisitions, sales goals, and customer service, as well as divisional awards for service.  

In 2011, I started my own company known as FirstLIne TaskForce (FirstLineTaskForce.app). Over the past decade the endeavor was to produce a platform capable of creating a Preparedness Culture instituting a balance between American citizenry and disastrous events. 

Telgian is a worldwide provider of comprehensive fire, security, life safety consulting and engineering/design services. Telgian partners with clients to produce innovative solutions that reduce exposure to loss from fire and disasters. The result is productive, profitable environments that keep businesses safe and compliant. Russell Leavitt’s Telgian roots can be traced to the genesis of the company.

In 1990, he co-founded Fire Design Group, which merged with Tomes, Van. Rickley and Associates in 1991. He subsequently served in numerous. executive positions including TVA Fire and Life Safety President, Managing  Member of Fire Materials Group, LLC, and CEO of Telgian.  

Today, Leavitt serves as the Executive Chairman and Board Member for Telgian Holdings, Inc., as well as the Chairman of Telgian Corporation. Leavitt is active in numerous trade and professional associations and holds several leadership positions. 

In 2013, he received the AFSA Henry S. Parmelee Award for dedication to the professional advancement of the fire sprinkler industry and improvement of fire safety through automatic sprinklers. He is also the recipient of the NFPA Standards Council Special Achievement award in 2018 for his work on the 2019 edition of NFPA 13.

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), he is the organization’s 1st-Vice Chair. He is also the Chair of the NFPA 13 Technical Committee for Fire Sprinkler system Discharge Criteria, a Principal Member of the NFPA Technical Committee for Installation and a Principal Member of NFPA 3, 4, and 25.  

Leavitt is a non-voting member of the Automatic Sprinkler Correcting Committee and represents NFPA 13 on the Technical Committee for NFPA 909 (Code for the Protection of Cultural Resource Properties) and 914 (Code for the Protection of Historic Structures).

Throughout his career, he has authored numerous articles and training guides, including the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) Beginning Inspector Training Program and the AFSA Online Hydraulics Training Program.  

In addition, he is a major contributor to several NFPA Handbooks and served as the subject matter expert for numerous NFPA live and online training programs. 

Leavitt shares his 38+ years of experience in the fire protection industry by conducting training presentations for the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), along with NFPA and AFSA. 

Leavitt is a Level IV NICET certified technician and Certified Fire Protection Specialist who holds fire protection contracting licenses in 35 states. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vega

Telgian https://www.telgian.com/

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/telgian/