CCFS’ Chief Justin Daniels Headlines Special SBC Event in New Mexico

Posted on August 21, 2019
UNM event was a pilot for series of special seminars

The University of New Mexico, on Monday, August 12th, hosted a very special installment in the Safer Buildings Coalition In-Building Public Safety Seminar series.

A special Higher-Ed focused version of our regular seminars, this event was a collaboration between the Safer Buildings Coalition, the Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) and the University of New Mexico. The New Mexico seminar served as a pilot for a planned series of similar higher-ed focused events around the country that would include the Coalition and the Center for Campus Fire Safety.

The day’s presenters. From left to right: Justin Daniels, CCFS: John Foley, SBC; Eric Toenjes, Graybar & Mark Reynolds, UNM.

Mark Reynolds, Associate Director of IT and Voice for UNM, spearheaded this effort.

"The joint Safer Buildings Coalition/Center For Campus Fire Safety/UNM event was a great success. It was one of the best presentations on life safety, code compliance requirements I have attended. Our event brought together key public safety, IT, facilities, and other UNM staff, as well as key vendors to the University and local Public Safety and Code enforcement staff from around New Mexico. It was a pleasure collaborating with SBC and CCFS, and I look forward to continuing working together to educate the public about these important issues.” Reynolds says.

Chief Justin Daniels presenting to a packed room.

Chief Justin Daniels, President of the CCFS and Fire Marshal for the University of Oklahoma, who delivered the keynote at the University of New Mexico, explained why this event was so important to his organization and to him personally:

“This pilot event at the University of New Mexico was an opportunity for Safer Buildings Coalition and the Center for Campus Fire Safety to work together, highlighting our partnership to make buildings safer for ALL first responders.”

“Our message today was heard by university officials, first responders, Authorities Having Jurisdiction, and technology experts. In-building emergency responder radio communication is critical and code-required. Having all stakeholders in one room highlights the importance of these systems and allows us to begin discussions about installing these systems not only in new buildings but existing ones as well."

“As the fire marshal of a major university and President for the Center for Campus Fire Safety, my top priority is the safety of our students, staff, faculty and guests, but also for the fire, police, and EMS folks that respond to incidents on our campus every day. The Center for Campus Fire Safety is proud to partner with Safer Buildings Coalition to bring this very important seminar to stakeholders at the University of New Mexico and I look forward to presenting this seminar at other institutions of higher education in the future.”

The Coalition gratefully acknowledges sponsorship of the event provided by Key Sponsor Graybar, and Exhibit Sponsors Anritsu and Honeywell.

Graybar’s Eric Toenjes

Details for upcoming events in the Safer Buildings Higher-ED / CCFS series, including member sponsorship opportunities, will be announced shortly. Members may contact us to indicate interest in participating by sending a note via https://www.saferbuildings.org/contact-us

The Center for Campus Fire Safety is the voice of over 4000 campus fire & life safety officials. CCFSC is a non-profit, membership based, organization devoted to reducing the loss of life from fire at our nation's campuses. CCFS serves as the focal point for the efforts of a number of organizations and also as a clearinghouse for information relating to campus fire and life safety.