Dennis Macedo
BOARD PRESIDENT
Dennis spent 33 years with the City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Fire Department. He served the many of those years assigned as a company officer to the busiest apparatuses in the city. He also served as a Coxswain for the Fire and Rescue Marine Units for 12 years. During his career, Dennis, received three commendations from the city and a Firefighter of the Year Unit Citation from the State of MA. He also provided Technical Rescue Training to members of his department.
Currently a member since 1993 of the FEMA/Massachusetts Urban Search and Rescue Team, as a Rescue Team Manager. He has responded to some of the country’s worst man-made and natural disasters, most notably the collapse of the World Trade Center and Hurricane Katrina. Dennis is also a Deputy Operations Chief with the FEMA Incident Support Team (IST) and has many deployments filling other positions within the IST. Dennis has served as the Co-chair of the Rescue Working Sub-Group, as well as the rewrite committee for the latest versions of FEMA’s Structural Collapse Specialist, and Heavy Equipment Rigging Specialist Programs.
Dennis served as a Coordinator for all fire and professional development programs at the Barnstable County Fire and Rescue Training Academy as well as a Specialty Instructor for the New Hampshire State Fire Academy.
A certified Fire Service Instructor, a FEMA certified lead for Structural Collapse and Heavy Rigging Specialist as well as an adjunct Task Force Leader and Safety Officer for FEMA. Dennis is currently the President of SPEC International, while delivering and coordinating many programs both in the United States and Internationally over his many years with SPEC International.
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Jon Rigolo
BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
With over 15 years as a co-owner, director, and senior instructor at Spec Rescue International, [Name] has played a pivotal role in advancing fire service and technical rescue training across local, regional, state, federal, and Department of Defense (DOD) agencies. His expertise spans the development of specialized programs—including the Light Rail Rescue Program and the Rescue Squad qualification and testing program—while also contributing extensively to internal fire service training in technical rescue and hazardous materials operations.
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As an active member of Virginia Task Force Two, he has served on multiple committees and work groups, including the Training Committee, Participating Jurisdiction Representative, and Medical Component Leader, strengthening operational readiness at the task force level.
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In his role as Spec Rescue’s Director of Educational Services, he has led the design, pricing, and delivery of curriculum for state and federal Urban Search and Rescue teams, industrial rescue and standby teams, and DOD agencies. His work includes significant contributions to National Guard Bureau CTEs, SFEs, and EXEVALs in multiple states, alongside building long-term partnerships with AIDEC (formerly JITEC). Additionally, he has overseen the design and management of complex training site development and construction projects, ensuring successful outcomes that meet operational and budgetary requirements.
Rich Alfes
Board treasurer
Rich Alfes is a 30-year fire officer veteran who commanded fire ground and rescue operations with the Naugatuck Fire Department. In charge of (A) platoon, Rich’s duties include coverage of 14 square miles of Urban and Rural responses with primary duties of fire suppression and technical rescue operation. Rich has been accredited for the formation of a comprehensive breathing apparatus program and development of a rescue and collapse unit for the Department. In the year 2002, Rich received the prestigious, Fire Fighter of the year award in Connecticut. He has also received the Fire Mark award from the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and two citations from the City of Naugatuck for outstanding service and valor.
Rich is a Safety Officer / Rescue Specialist with the US Department of Homeland Securities, FEMA, Urban Search and Rescue program. He is assigned to the Massachusetts Task Force and is a Safety Officer. He also serves as a Lead Instructor (L-2) for the National Response Systems Structural Collapse Technician course and Heavy Equipment Rigging Specialist course and Safety Officer. Rich was one of many Rescue Specialist deployed with the Massachusetts Task Force to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Recent activations or deployments have included the Democratic National Convention, Hurricanes Katrina and Ernesto, Ike, Irving, Sandy, Dorian and many other federal and state deployments.
Rich has a background in the machinery industry and worked for the Bullard Machine Tool Company for Eight years. While working at Bullard Machine Tool, he attended the University of Bridgeport, achieving a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
After entering the fire service, Rich attended many NFPA, certified, fire related courses including Fire Officer, Safety Officer, Hazardous Material Technician, and Instructor. Instructing since 1993, Rich has instructed for organizations that include, FDIC/ H.O.T. team building and Breaking Breaching of Concrete, Burning metal, Coordinator of Fire Rescue’s H.O.T. sessions, Wolcott Regional Fire School, the Connecticut Fire Academy, and the University of New Haven. He has instructed both nationally, and internationally in areas of Technical Rescue and Special Operations. He is the Northeast Director for Spec. Rescue International. Rich is currently one of eleven corporate partners of Spec. Rescue International where he develops and delivers fire, technical rescue management classes.
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Kenny Firestone
Secretary
Kenny Firestone is a life-long member of the Troutville Volunteer Fire Department, where he serves as Special Operations Chief overseeing Technical Rescue. He has been part of the Spec Rescue International family since the early 2000s and is a valued member of the executive leadership team. As an instructor, Kenny specializes in technical rescue disciplines with a strong focus on swift-water operations and Paratech programs.
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In addition to his fire service and instructional roles, Kenny is a dedicated family man and respected local business owner in the Troutville community. He also plays a key role within the Spec Build division as a project manager, successfully leading multiple projects to completion on time and within budget.
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OPEN POSITION
DIRECTOR
TO BE ADDED