NIFAD
50th Anniversary - Annual Conference
June 20 to June 22, 2026, Park MGM, Las Vegas  

Scott Golly, PE, Vice President,
FBS Service Line Leader for Special Hazards,
Jensen Hughes

Scott Golly is a Vice President and the Fire and Building Safety, Service Line Leader for Special Hazards for Jensen Hughes and works as a subject matter expert, mentor, instructor, project manager, and industry advocate. Mr. Golly has experience in designing fire alarm and emergency communication systems, water-based fire suppression, gaseous suppression systems, conducting performance-based assessments, and preparing code and life safety evaluations for new and existing buildings. He oversees fire protection system installations, system failure investigations, and is serving as a technical expert for legal cases. Scott is a registered Fire Protection Engineer. He has manufacturer-specific fire alarm system training and knowledge for numerous brands of fire alarm systems. Mr. Golly sat on numerous cycles of the NFPA 72, SIG-IDS committee and currently is active on NFPA 1400. Mr. Golly has been, and continues to be, an active volunteer Fire Fighter for over 35 years with experience in Baltimore and Hartford counties in Maryland.

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION AND MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS

This presentation provides an overview of Emergency Communication and Mass Notification Systems (ECS/MNS) and their essential role in supporting life safety during fire and nonfire emergencies. It highlights how historical events and evolving threats have driven the development of modern emergency communication technologies and standards. The presentation will outline the key regulatory frameworks including NFPA 72, IBC/IFC, OSHA, and UL 2572 that govern when mass notification is required and how systems must perform. A central focus is the risk analysis process, which determines both the need for a system and the specific design requirements based on a facility’s hazards, occupancy, and operational characteristics.

The presentation emphasizes that effective mass notification depends on more than hardware; rather, it requires intelligible messaging, coordinated design, system testing, and alignment with an Emergency Response Plan.

This presentation will feature the following learning objectives:

• What types of requirements are available for MNS/ECS systems and designs?
• What is a Risk Analysis and Emergency Response Plan and how can it assist in system design?
• What should be considered when implementing an MNS/ECS?

Richard Roberts,
Senior Industry Affairs Manager,
Honeywell Fire Safety.

Mr. Roberts has over 35 years in the fire alarm and life safety markets that spans the installation, sales, and the development of products/systems. He is a member of thirten NFPA Technical Committees, several ICC Fire Code Action Committee (FCAC) Working Groups, and the Model Codes Committee of the National Assocation of State Fire Marshals (NASFM). Mr. Roberts serves on the Board of Directors for the Fire and Life Safety Section (FLSS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), The Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS), and is the Chair of the Safer Buildings Coaltion (SBC) Codes & Standards Committee as well as a member

Sneak Peak of the Key Changes to the 2027 ICC and NFPA Model Codes

Session Description: An informative 60 minute discussion that provides an overview of the new requirements in the International Code Council (ICC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) model codes for fuel-gas detection, in-building emergency responder communications (ERCES), carbon monoxide (CO) detection, detection for waste sorting/transfer operations, remote system access, smoke detection in sleeping lofts, audible notification in areas of occupied roofs, mass notification risk analysis requirement for other than Group E having a lockdown plan, and lithium ion battery energy storage systems (ESS).

Presentation Agenda:

• 2027 I-Code Changes: 
  International Fire Code (IFC)
  International Building Code (IBC)
  International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
• 2027 NFPA Codes Changes:
  NFPA 1, Fire Code
  NFPA 101, Life Safety Code

Brooks Adcock, Director of Product,
AI and Innovation at ServiceTrade.

With deep experience spanning Engineering, Product Management, and Data Systems, Brooks specializes in creating business data systems that unite siloed data, streamline manual processes, and help organizations make better decisions with the help of AI. His expertise in transforming complex data into actionable insights drives ServiceTrade's efforts to deliver powerful analytics solutions that enhance operational efficiency and strategic decision-making.

Beyond the Hype: Practical, Profitable Ways Fire Contractors Are Using AI Today
Session Description: Artificial intelligence doesn’t need to be futuristic to be useful. In fact, in fire protection, the most valuable applications of AI are the least flashy, the ones that quietly remove repetitive work, reduce errors, and help people make better decisions faster. This session cuts through the buzzwords and fear-based narratives around AI to focus on real, present-day use cases already delivering value for contractors. Using straightforward, real-world examples, the session shows how contractors are applying AI to reduce manual follow-up, improve the clarity of field documentation, and catch issues early—before they create customer confusion or compliance exposure.
Learning Objectives:
● Distinguish between AI hype and genuinely useful applications for fire protection contractor operations.
● Identify workflows where automation improves speed and consistency without sacrificing judgment.
● Learn how to evaluate AI tools based on outcomes

And ... NIFAD VERTICAL MARKET DISCUSSION PANEL

In celebration of NIFAD’s Anniversary and 50 years of collaboration, the board has assembled a 90-minute vertical market discussion panel of ESD’s,
AHJ Members, and Engineers that are willing to share their expertise with members. 

Scott Golly is a Vice President and the Fire and Building Safety, Service Line Leader for Special Hazards for Jensen Hughes and works as a subject matter expert, mentor, instructor, project manager, and industry advocate. Mr. Golly has experience in designing fire alarm and emergency communication systems, water-based fire suppression, gaseous suppression systems, conducting performance-based assessments, and preparing code and life safety evaluations for new and existing buildings. He oversees fire protection system installations, system failure investigations, and is serving as a technical expert for legal cases. Scott is a registered Fire Protection Engineer. He has manufacturer-specific fire alarm system training and knowledge for numerous brands of fire alarm systems. Mr. Golly sat on numerous cycles of the NFPA 72, SIG-IDS committee and currently is active on NFPA 1400. 

James Rainer, Director Fire & Life Safety, University Fire Marshal, Texas A&M
(University Campus)
James serves as Director of Fire and Life Safety and University Fire Marshal for Texas A&M. As Director, his duties include overseeing the Fire and Life Safety (FLS) programs. As Fire Marshal, James responsibilities include all aspects of a campus fire safety program including coordinating plan review for all new construction and facility remodels, inspections, permitting all pyrotechnics, flame effects, and prescribed burns, assisting in the coordination of athletic and other special events on campus, overseeing fire safety education, as well as serving as the liaison between Texas A&M and our local fire departments and the State Fire Marshal’s Office. 

James is also Treasurer for The Center for Campus Fire Safety, Inc.

Lee Kaiser PE, VP Engineering & Training, Orr Protection
(Data Centers, Telco)
Lee Kaiser is Vice President of Engineering and Training for ORR Protection—a national fire protection contractor focusing on mission critical facilities. Lee is a professional engineer in both fire protection and mechanical engineering with licenses in several states. He leads the system design and technical training functions for ORR Protection. He is the immediate past-chair of NFPA 75 Technical Committee on Electronic Computer Systems, a principal member of NFPA 200, 418, and 915. He is chair of the Fire Suppression Systems Association Technical Committee and on the FSSA Board of Directors. Lee is from Louisville, Kentucky.

Lee recently participated in an article published in the Feb. 2026 NFPA Journal on the boom in data centers.
"Fast, Furious, Immense" ...The race to cash in on artificial intelligence has triggered a data center building boom that is quickly becoming the largest infrastructure effort of our time. Now, an army of safety professionals is working to understand these complex, sprawling facilities, even as the systems inside continue to evolve."  See ARTICLE

Cliff McFalls, Key Accounts Healthcare Manager, Midwest Alarm Services
(Healthcare/Hospitals)


Cliff is responsible for developing the MWA healthcare team with a focus on meeting hospitals stringent standards encompassing fire, sprinkler, extinguishers, e-lights, doors & dampers. 

He has worked closely with building reports to provide exacting documentation to meet and exceed Joint Commission and CMS guidelines.

Steven Joseph, Director of Industry Affairs, Nexus Alarm & Suppression
(Power Generation)

Steven Joseph is Director of Industry Affairs for Nexus Alarm & Suppression, a national fire protection design-build contractor specializing in critical infrastructure. With more than 30 years of experience in fire protection, Steven has focused on advancing fire detection and life safety technologies for critical and energy infrastructure. Steven specializes in advanced detection technologies and has contributed to the development of codes, standards, and industry practices related to very early warning detection systems. He previously served on several National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committees, including NFPA 72 Chapter 17, NFPA 318, NFPA 805, and NFPA 76, and currently serves on the board of the Northwest Automatic Fire Alarm Association (AFAA).

  Warehouses (TB Announced)