Founding Contributor
NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a lieutenant in charge of training for Piscataway Fire District #2 in New Jersey. With over 20 years of service, Nick is a NJ State Fire Instructor, an advocate for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and an international speaker. Nick has shared his message to the fire service speaking on many firefighting related topics at many state and national conferences such as FIREHOUSE and has been a guest on many fire service podcasts such as "5-Alarm Task Force", "Firefighter Success" & "Crew1stCulture".
In addition, Nick is the founder of The Firehouse Tribune, co-host of "Station Talk Podcast" and the host of "The 5-Tool Firefighter Podcast". Nick has authored two books, "The 5-Tool Firefighter" and "The 5- Tool Firefighter Tactical Workbook" and is published in Firefighter Nation.
Outside of the fire service, Nick has been guest speaker at Hillsborough County College in Florida where he mentors and speaks to students about life after college and how to excel in the professional world. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting along with certifications as a nutrition coach and battle ropes instructor.
Lead Contributor
TOM MARCHIANO is a dedicated fire service professional with 21 years of experience. Currently, he serves as the Chief of the Chester Fire Department in Chester, NY, and is an active member of the Technical Rescue Team in his county. With 15 years of experience as a 911 dispatcher, Tom is well-versed in emergency response.
He holds Fire Instructor certification at both the National and New York State levels, reflecting his commitment to training and leadership. Tom is passionate about helping first responders enhance their skills and grow both personally and professionally. Recently, he returned to school to pursue a degree in Emergency Management & Homeland Security and created a leadership presentation aimed at guiding firefighters into officer positions.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Tom enjoys supporting his favorite sports teams, including the New Jersey Devils, Dallas Cowboys, Syracuse Orange, and New York Yankees. He values time spent with family and friends and loves visiting locations near the water.
Contributor
E.J. HENNINGER has been designing building systems for more than 20 years. He is currently a Senior Engineering Operations Manager working with a team to deliver plumbing and fire protection designs for a wide range of projects.
He has also been a volunteer firefighter for more than 10 years. He has served as the Captain at a rural Fire & Rescue Company having an active role in the training program.
E.J. actively supports the fight against cancer through the International Association of Fire Chiefs and an annual Firefighter Relay Challenge.
He is happily married to his beautiful wife of more than 25 years and has three wonderful sons.
Contributor
DAVID WIKLANSKI is a Firefighter/EMT for the New Brunswick (NJ) Fire Department. He is a NJ certified Fire Instructor level II, an EMT Instructor and State of New Jersey Advocate for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation. He has a Master’s degree in Behavioral Sciences from Kean University where he is on faculty with the Psychology Department. He authored the book Suicide Bombers: Understanding Suicide Terrorism from a Cultural and Memetic Perspective. He is the owner of Alpha Omega Training Solutions. http://www.alphaomegatrainingsolutions.com/
David is also an advocate, speaker and educator on mental health with a focus on emergency services mental health and shares way to connect responders with the available resources to not only survive, but thrive in their careers. https://www.davidwiklanski.com/
Contributor & Social Media Administrator
SEAN WALSH is an EMT with North Stelton Fire Company EMS Division in Piscataway NJ for the last 9 years. He is also a Public Safety Telecommunicator with a county based agency in NJ for the last 4 years. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at Thomas Edison State College (NJ) in 2013.
Contributor
NICHOLAS WITCZAK is the 2nd Assistant Chief of Brookside Engine Co. 1 and volunteer EMT for the Mendham Township First Aid Squad. Additionally he serves as the Mendham Borough OEM Coordinator. Nick has served in a multitude of departments and positions over the last 8 years including Past Captain of Morristown Ambulance Squad, volunteer firefighter/EMT in combination fire departments including the Wallingford and Allingtown Connecticut fire departments. He has wealth of experience working and volunteering in emergency medical services including municipal, commercial, fire based EMS and 911 fire dispatching. He currently holds a B.S. in Fire Administration from the University of New Haven. Nick works full time in the fire protection industry specializing in safety, sales and project management. He works part time as the NJ Client Development Coordinator for Emergency Resource Management.
Outside of his emergency services background, he enjoys spending time with friends, playing golf, watching football and hockey.
Contributor
NICK BASKERVILLE Nick has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 18 years of fire service time, with 15 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had
the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and as one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance. Nick is one of the many trainers for Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) to offer awareness and prevention training about cancer in the fire service. Nick has the honor of being one of the many contributors for The Firehouse Tribune.
Nick is also a member of the public speaking organization Toastmasters. He holds an Advanced
Competent Bronze (ACB) certification. He also tells personal narrative stories that have been featured
on shows for The Moth, Better Said Than Done, and Storyfest Short Slam. Follow more about storytelling
and public speaking for purpose at Story Telling On Purpose (www.stop365.wordpress.com)
Dorie Griggs (via LinkedIn Profile)
After a career in various public relations and marketing positions in college and professional sports and the hospitality industry, Dorie L. Griggs attended Columbia Theological Seminary, where she earned her Master of Divinity degree in 2002.
During her final year at Columbia, Dorie developed a model of chaplaincy for journalists who cover traumatic events. She has served as a volunteer with the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, an organization founded by Dr. Frank Ochberg, MD. She is the Chaplain for the Roswell, GA Fire Department.
Her background in traumatic stress studies as well as being a Level II graduate of the Jeff Justice Comedy Workshoppe has helped her in her role as mother to 3 children: Nelson, a 2011 graduate of The Citadel, who recently left the Army as a captain in the U.S. Army, and is now working in Dallas, TX; Taylor the family comedian and bartender; and Chelle (pronounced Shelley) the actress of the family. Dorie is married to Stanley Leary, a freelance photographer.
For more about Dorie, visit https://dorielgriggs.com/about/