The Fire and Life Safety Professionals ® - Since 1911

CROKER FIRE & LIFE SAFETY INSTITUTE

Instructors

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KNOWLEDGEABLE.  EXPERIENCED.  PROFESSIONALS.

Croker Fire & Life Safety Institute instructors offer a diverse background with vast knowledge in both fire and non-fire related emergencies providing great understanding, insight and intellectual capacity.  With extensive practical awareness as first responders (including fire department and/or law enforcement) as well as extensive experience collaborating with security professionals, each of Croker’s instructors presents a unique and broad ranging perspective.

Croker instructors are also active in the assembling of fire and life safety (EAP) plans in addition to performing drills and training throughout New York City.  This further provides them with a comprehensive understanding of the evolving day-to-day concerns and complexities occurring at a building level.  These familiarities promote in-depth conversations throughout each class, relating course material to industry best practices, protocols and code compliance requirements.

 


MARK VALENTINO
Director of Educational Services

Mark Valentino has in excess of 20 years experience as a firefighter, five years in the capacity of Lieutenant. Additionally, he holds over 20 years of expertise as a consultant in the private sector where he continues to write and design Fire Safety and Emergency Action Plans. Among his many accomplishments, Valentino actively conducts fire safety, emergency action and evacuation related seminars, drills and training for high-rise buildings throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Mark Valentino selflessly responded to the World Trade Center tragedy.

 

 


MICHAEL HICKEY
Assistant Director of Educational Services

Michael Hickey is a professional with over 30 years of extensive fire and life safety experience. Hickey holds numerous New York State and Federal Government Certifications in relation to firematics, weapons of mass destruction / terrorism awareness and emergency operations. Additionally, he holds an A.A.S. degree in Fire Science Technology, a Bachelor of Arts in Emergency Management, a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.

 

 


RICHARD BLASI
Instructor

Richard Blasi is an experienced conductor of fire drills, having effectively trained numerous highly functional fire safety teams throughout New York City since 2014. Blasi served the NYPD from 1998 until 2003 when he became a member of the FDNY. Among his duties as Battalion Chief, he has supervised and coordinated tactical methodology in resolving emergency situations, coordinated fire prevention inspections, and directed the work of 150 firefighters engaged in extinguishing fires.

Blasi holds a Bachelor of Science degree from SUNY Oneonta.

 


VINCENT DOHERTY
Instructor

Vincent Doherty is a skilled life safety professional offering 35+ years of operational and instructional experience in emergency management, hazmat, terrorism, incident command, fire safety and first responder communications.  Doherty has served as a Commander/Captain of special units and Battalion Chief in the HazMat Battalion, Special Operations Command, for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) over a 25-year career.  While with the FDNY, Doherty worked as a Fire Service and Interagency Board liaison with the Department of Defense (DOD).  Doherty executed Recovery Operations for Special Operations Command Personnel during 9/11 Rescue/Recovery at Ground Zero and has served as an advisor to FDNY Senior Staff Chiefs on Hazmat, Terrorism and Incident Command System (ICS) issues.

Doherty’s career has provided him opportunities as a successful consultant, SME (Subject Matter Expert) and facilitator for numerous programs and projects for DHS and FEMA.  He has worked in professional capacities with Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Center for Naval Analysis (CNA), Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the Naval Postgraduate School, and professor of Homeland Security Management Institute at Long Island University.

Throughout his career, Doherty has demonstrated success in developing and delivering curriculum and training materials for various, national specialized courses.  He has also been selected to serve as subject matter expert, guest lecturer and Adjunct Professor of Emergency Management, Homeland Security and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) advanced degree graduate courses at multiple prominent universities (i.e.: Dartmouth, Georgetown University, Naval Postgraduate School, etc.).  He has represented the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School on a national level to state, local, tribal and private sector political and career executives.  In addition, Doherty launched and instructed courses within the FDNY and the National Fire Academy (NFA) Hazmat Technician programs and Emergency Response to Terrorism.

Vincent Doherty received a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s University and a Master of Arts degree (Security Studies: Homeland Security and Defense) from the Naval Postgraduate School.


MICHAEL GILMARTIN
Instructor

Michael Gilmartin Jr. shares with Croker clients more than 20 years as a member of the NYPD, retiring as a Lieutenant.  He also possesses 18 years of leadership experience in facilities management and engineering with an in-depth background in fire and life safety.  Over this time period, Gilmartin has held leadership positions in engineering for some of New York City’s premier cultural and healthcare institutions including Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Morgan Library and Museum, Bellevue Hospital, St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital and Teachers College at Columbia University.

In addition to a multitude of professional certifications, Gilmartin holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from St. Francis College, has served with the United States Marine Corps Reserve, is a credentialed United States Coast Guard Merchant Mariner and a member of the NYPD Honor Legion.


ROBERT IMBORNONI
Instructor

Bob Imbornoni is a security and life safety professional with over 35 years of experience responding to emergencies of all types. His diverse background includes, but is not limited to, threat and risk assessment, strategic planning, emergency preparedness, crisis response, emergency operations center management, business continuity as well as resiliency and regulatory compliance.  Robert Imbornoni has been a volunteer firefighter, NYC paramedic and previously served as the Chief Response Officer of the American Red Cross (ARC) in Greater New York, which is the busiest ARC chapter in the United States. Imbornoni was also a lieutenant and 20-year veteran of the NYPD, where among the roles he served was Emergency Management Liaison where he coordinated planning and response operations between the NYPD (51,000 employees) and the NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM). In such capacity, he planned, coordinated and evaluated 20+ emergency response exercises per year, including large, interagency tests (many financed by the Office of Homeland Security) involving 1000+ personnel to test the city’s ability to respond to a terrorist incident involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).  Additionally, Bob has instructed many of these areas during his career and in the School of Business as an adjunct Instructor for Mercy College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, as well as numerous professional certificates.


DONALD MARRA
Instructor

Donald Marra is a seasoned Fire Service Professional with more than 35 years of experience as a Firefighter, Fire Service Instructor and Code Enforcement Pre-Plan Official. Marra provides a unique background of endorsed career success including an extensive list of fire service honors, credentials, training and front-line experience.

Marra holds the title of Second Deputy Chief Instructor at the Fire Service Academy of Nassau County providing all new firefighters with both curriculum instruction and field evolutions. He has assisted with the Cadets Explorer Program instructing community teenagers in basic firefighting skills. He is also the Fire Protection Coordinator for the Sayville Fire District where, as a Certified NYS Code Enforcement Official, he performs fire safety inspections on buildings and structures within the fire district.

Marra is a repeat recipient of the Bronze Medal of Valor from the Hempstead Fire Department and the Nassau County Fire Commission as well as receiving a Life Saving Award and a Commendation of Firematic Excellence.

 


TOM MCNAMARA
Instructor

Tom McNamara is an accomplished instructor with a varied professional background. Having served as both an NYPD officer and FDNY firefighter, McNamara possesses numerous life safety certifications. In addition, he has experience as a Fire, Life Safety and Security Supervisor and a Fire Safety Director, as well as having served as Chief of a New Jersey Fire Department. Tom McNamara holds degrees from Wagner College and Brookdale University and has attended the NYC Police Academy, NYC Fire Academy, Monmouth County Fire Academy and John Jay College.

 

 


MARIANNE MONAHAN
Instructor

Marianne Monahan began her 21-year career with the FDNY as one of 41 women sworn in as the NYC’s first female firefighters.  Retiring at the rank of Captain, Monahan’s diverse experience allowed her to serve as consultant to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) as well as Instructor of newly promoted Lieutenants at Fire Line Supervisor’s Training Program where she taught various topics such as educational methodology, building construction and arson.

Before becoming a firefighter, Marianne Monahan was a special education teacher for the City of New York, a career to which she briefly returned before joining with Croker nearly a decade ago.  Monahan holds an Master’s Degree in Special Education from Brooklyn College.

 


BRUCE SILAS
Instructor

Bruce Silas has three decades of experience with the FDNY, of which 17 years were at the rank of Lieutenant.  Among his experience, Silas was a Right-to-Know Officer and a Building Inspection Coordinator.  Bruce Silas has been providing Fire and Life Safety instruction for the past 14 years.  His background includes being a licensed NYC teacher and an Instructor at the NYC Fire Academy.  In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Hunter College and a Master of Science degree in Education from Queens College.

 

 


 

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If you would like Croker to provide your team with a private class or instruct them in a particular area in order to obtain an FDNY Certificate of Fitness not listed, please contact our office for more information.

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