Bobby Salvesen, a dedicated firefighter since 1994, began his illustrious journey with the East Meadow Volunteer Fire Department. Demonstrating exceptional leadership and skills, he ascended to the role of Chief in 2014. Bobby's thirst for knowledge led him to pursue a degree in Chemistry at the New York Institute of Technology, and he didn't stop there—he's currently enriching his education at SUNY Old Westbury. Venturing into a broader realm of emergency services, Bobby initially joined the EMS in New York City, eventually transitioning to the Fire Department in 2000. Post-September 11, he bravely shifted to Squad 288 in FDNY's Special Operations Command, where he earned a Specialist rating in Special Rescue and HazMat operations. In 2013, Bobby took a significant step "across the floor" to Hazardous Materials Company 1, enhancing his expertise through numerous national courses. His passion for sharing knowledge shines through his roles as an Instructor at the New York State Fire Service Academy and as a Chief Instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy, where he educates on all levels of HazMat and Confined Space rescue. Bobby, a family man, is married and a proud father of two. Bob and Mike Monaco created the HazMat Guys Podcast in November of 2015 to grow the community in the Hazardous Materials field, seeing that there was none to speak of. The intent was to collaborate and communicate not only nationally but globally.

Chris Forkner, founder and principal consultant of Chris Forkner Investigations, is a seasoned professional with 38 years of public safety experience in fire service and law enforcement. Chris retired from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) after 26 years, serving as an ATF Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) and as a member and supervisor of ATF's distinguished National Response Team (NRT). Chris has responded to fire and explosion events domestically and internationally, including terrorist incidents, bombings, large-scale fires, civil unrest events, and major wildfires. Chris has trained fire investigators across the country, including at the National Fire Academy, the ATF National Academy, ATF's National Center for Explosives Training and Research, and internationally at the International Law Enforcement Academy and other locations worldwide. Chris has served on committees and provided leadership for Chapters of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) and currently sits as the 1st Vice President of the Wisconsin Chapter of the IAAI. Chris served on the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) - Wildland Fire Investigation Subcommittee. Chris remains certified as a CFI through the IAAI and has received certifications as an incident safety officer, hazardous materials technician, and firefighter. 

Margaret Zieke is a skilled emergency manager with over a decade’s worth of experience. She has worked extensively with local, state, federal, and tribal partners to develop and facilitate projects to meet the individualized needs of the agency and local community. Margaret is a recognized Communications Unit Leader (COML) and Communications Unit Technician (COMT.) She is currently serving as the Interoperability Program Manager for the Wisconsin Office of Emergency Communications, where she works supporting and developing interoperability policy, communications training and exercises, and public safety broadband policy. She also serves as the Communications Unit Manager for Wisconsin’s Urban Search and Rescue asset (Wisconsin Task Force 1) and has held a variety of roles in the State Emergency Operations Center including COML, Planning Section Chief, Operations Section Chief, and Logistics Section Deputy. 

30 Years at the Appleton Fire Dept 30 Years Wisconsin Hazmat Regional Response Team 10 years Wisconsin Radiation Emergency Preparedness 12 years teaching at Fox Valley Technical College, Hazmat Technician Course 10 years training Hazmat teams and Fire Depts. with Hazard Assessment LLC 10 years with Clareys Safety 

SA Scott Mahloch entered the FBI in 2008 and was first assigned to FBI Milwaukee Division's Kenosha Resident Agency. In 2012, SA Mahloch transferred to FBI Chicago Division, where he worked national security matters and as the FBI Chicago Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator. In 2018, SA Mahloch transferred back to FBI Milwaukee Division, where he currently serves as the FBI Milwaukee Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator. SA Mahloch is a certified FBI WMD Coordinator and has experience serving on the Hazardous Evidence Response Team. SA Mahloch is a retired U.S. Navy officer, serving 23 years. 

Casey Simon is a seasoned Fire Captain with the Milwaukee Fire Department and is a member of Milwaukee's Type I Regional Hazardous Materials Team. With a focus on leadership, training, and community engagement, he is dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of his team and the community in which they serve. In addition to his operational duties, Captain Simon is a passionate educator. As an instructor at his local technical college, he teaches fire and Hazmat courses, imparting practical knowledge to the next generation of first responders. Beyond the technical college, Captain Simon serves as an instructor for Hazard3, a nationally recognized training group. Traveling across the country, he delivers cutting-edge hazmat training to fire departments, emergency personnel, and industry professionals. Captain Simon's influence extends to curriculum development as well; as he played a key role in the development of the State of Wisconsin's Hazmat Curriculum. Serving as a board member of WAHMR for the last year, Captain Simon advocates for advancements in Hazmat safety and policy. At the end of the day, Captain Simon is a self-proclaimed "NERD." 

CPT Mike Thompson serves as the science officer for the Wisconsin National Guard's 54th Civil Support Team. He leads analytical operations during CBRNe responses, working closely with local, state, and federal partners to characterize unknown substances and assess potential threats. He holds a Bachelor's in Human Biology and Master of Public Health and has completed extensive CBRNe and analytical laboratory training through the U.S. Army and National Guard Bureau. 

In 2002, I began working for the U.S Customs Service in Chicago, screening passengers and freight for narcotics, unreported currency, non-proliferation and anti-terrorism. In 2012, I began my career with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, assigned to working mail theft, mail fraud, bank fraud and identity theft in Chicago. Three years later, I volunteered to join the Dangerous Mail Investigations program, screening packages leaking unknown liquids, powders, suspicious items (ticking/vibrating) as well as responding to eccentric/threatening mailings. In addition, I've assisted on many high profile screening events including both Republican/Democratic National Conventions, U.S. Open, Ryder Cup, BMW Championships, NBA All-Star game and more. 

Special Agent Bomb Technician Hazardous Evidence Response Team Assistant Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordinator 

My name is Will Yackel. I have been a member of the Madison Fire Department for 18 years. I was a paramedic for 6 years, have been a Lieutenant for the last 6 years and have been a member of the Hazardous Incident Team for almost 4 years. 

Mason Shields serves as the HazMat Coordinator at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH). He has worked with the Wisconsin State Asset HazMat teams for the past five years. He also serves as a senior chemist with the Wisconsin Chemical Emergency Response (CER) Laboratory which is part of the Laboratory Response Network for Chemical Threats (LRN-C).

Jeff Schott is currently the Fire Chief and Emergency Manager for the City of La Crosse Fire Department in southwestern Wisconsin. He has been a 20-year member of a regional hazmat team, including team leader for 8 of years. With 26 years of experience in emergency response, he has faced a wide array of challenging incidents and diverse training experiences. Sharing those experiences and collaborating with his colleagues at WAHMR has always been an enjoyable and productive time. He looks forward to presenting and facilitating classes in both effective hazmat team leadership and tactical incident command tactics. 

Meshel Lange has served with the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) since 2009 and currently manages the Chemical Emergency Response (CER) Laboratory, a multidisciplinary program supporting public health preparedness and emergency response across clinical, environmental, and occupational domains. Under her leadership, the CER Laboratory has expanded statewide capabilities in chemical threat response, field detection technologies, and responder engagement. In addition to her public service role, Meshel is the Principal Instructor for Professional Response Operations LLC, where she develops specialized training and applied learning resources to strengthen hazardous materials response capacity among emergency responders and technical programs nationwide. This outside professional activity is reviewed and approved in accordance with University of Wisconsin conflict-of-interest and outside activities policies. Meshel’s work reflects a long-standing commitment to advancing scientific rigor, interagency collaboration, and competency-based training for those on the front lines of chemical emergency response. 

I have been in the fire service for 27 years. I recently retired as a Lieutenant/Engine Paramedic from the City of Janesville – Fire Department. I was a member of the Rock County Hazmat beginning in 2006 and took over the role as Assistant Team leader in 2020. 

Luther has worked for the Radiation Protection Section at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for ten years with a background in nuclear engineering and the U.S. Navy. Currently he’s a part of the Radiological Emergency Preparedness program as a scenario planner, evaluator and trainer. Luther coordinates with federal, state, and local partners to prepare and execute large-scale exercises every year while providing training on emergency response to radioactive and nuclear hazards at both large- and small-scale. 

Tim Ferretti is an EV/AFV cleanup contractor and safety consultant for the scrap Industrial demolition, and automotive recycling industries. A former Marine with Hazmat and electronics training Tim transitioned to the scrap and auto recycling safety field in 2010. Throughout his career Tim has been developing safe procedures for, and training salvage yards on, how to dismantle Propane, Hybrid, Electric, CNG, and LNG vehicles as each new model is released. After expanding into the industrial demolition industry Tim was trained and certified as a HAZWOPER Supervisor then HazMat Tech. Tim has most recently begun instructing HazMat level classes as a subject matter expert in both electric and alternative fueled vehicle systems.

Special Agent Piontek joined the FBI in 2005 after spending eight years as a police officer. SA Piontek has worked Violent Crime, Fugitives, Counter-IED, and Counter Terrorism matters in the Seattle, Chicago, and Milwaukee field offices. He is a graduate of the FBI Hazardous Devices School and is currently the Special Agent Bomb Technician Coordinator and Stabilization Team Leader for the State of Wisconsin. SA Piontek is a Medic in the FBI’s Operational Medicine Program, an FBI Evidence Response Team member, and a HazMat Technician on the FBI Hazardous Evidence Response Team. SA Piontek has responded to multiple explosives incidents and crime scenes and has been an instructor for the FBI’s National Improvised Explosives Fundamentals course, Improvised Explosive Threats Course, Post Blast Investigation School, Manual Techniques IED Defeat course, and Intermediate Electronics Course in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Central and South America.

Aaron Bolstad is currently the Training Chief for the La Crosse Fire Department and a Lead Hazmat Instructor for the REACT Center. He has been a 20-year member of a regional hazmat team with 26 years of emergency response experience. He has been on a myriad of calls from train derailments to meth labs and is looking forward to sharing as much of the knowledge he has gained from experiences (good and bad) in the field to assist the next generation of hazmat leaders.

Hi, I’m Mike Howell. I’ve been with Madison Fire for 16 years. I’ve been a lieutenant for the last two and joined the HAZMAT team about a year ago. Before that, I spent most of my time on the SCUBA team and our Tactical EMS team.

Eric is an EPA Region 5 Federal On-Scene Coordinator based in Cleveland, OH and responds to hazardous substances releases, oil spills, and other emergencies. With 20 years of experience in pollution response and emergency management, Eric has a diversity of skills to minimize and mitigate the impacts of some of the most nationally significant incidents, including leading EPA's response to the East Palestine Train Derailment. Eric holds an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Management.

Hello, I'm hunter Clare and currently serve as the Division Chief of Training and Operations for the Peoria Fire Medical Department in Arizona. I have been in the fire service since 2003, and have served at all levels and am a special operations paramedic. I teach within our regional consortium for the Phoenix CAD system and all around the country for the IAFF. I was a founding member of our Hazmat team in Peoria back in 2007, and served on our executive board in all areas including president. I'm most known around the country for being the captain in charge of the Surprise AZ BESS explosion on April 19th 2019, which isn't the calling card i wanted. I love the fire service and look forward to meeting you all and answering any questions I can, our members safety is the most important thing to me.