The Blackrock 3 Partners Team
Blackrock 3 Partners maximize uptime during high severity IT incidents by assessing, training, evaluating and exercising incident response teams.
With deep global experience in Incident Management (Fire Department, Special Operations) and Critical Infrastructure (fiber networks, data centers, oil and gas, power systems), we combine a unique mix of expertise and ingenuity to maximize IT Uptime in your organization. We’ll show your team how to respond to IT emergencies more efficiently, more predictably and more confidently with strong incident leadership.
We’ve dramatically improved IT incident response teams around the world including NOC/EOC, site reliability, cybersecurity incident response, critical support, communications and executives.
Our customers are global cloud service providers, Fortune 500 Enterprises and Developers who incorporated IMS into their ITIL, DevOps, Agile, and Lean Practices.
We pioneered the use of IMS in IT Operations!
With deep global experience in Incident Management (Fire Department, Special Operations) and Critical Infrastructure (fiber networks, data centers, oil and gas, power systems), we combine a unique mix of expertise and ingenuity to maximize IT Uptime in your organization. We’ll show your team how to respond to IT emergencies more efficiently, more predictably and more confidently with strong incident leadership.
We’ve dramatically improved IT incident response teams around the world including NOC/EOC, site reliability, cybersecurity incident response, critical support, communications and executives.
Our customers are global cloud service providers, Fortune 500 Enterprises and Developers who incorporated IMS into their ITIL, DevOps, Agile, and Lean Practices.
We pioneered the use of IMS in IT Operations!
Rob Schnepp
Rob's emergency response career spans 30 years in international public safety as a Special Operations Fire Chief, Incident Commander, consultant and published author. Rob commanded numerous large-scale emergencies for the Alameda County (CA) Fire Department, protecting 500 square miles and two national laboratories in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Rob has responded on Unified Command/Incident Management Teams to high profile incidents including: 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack; oil spills in San Francisco Bay (Cosco Busan and Dubai Star); large propane gas explosions; campaign wildland fires and numerous large scale emergencies for the Alameda County (CA) Fire Department. Rob planned and directed Red Command at Urban Shield, the largest Homeland Security exercise in the United States. Rob has planned and directed full scale exercises for the Department of Defense in 12 countries.
Rob is on the curriculum development team and teaches Special Operations at the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy. Rob authored Hazardous Materials: Awareness and Operations and serves on the Fire Engineering magazine editorial advisory board, and the Fire Department Instructors Conference executive advisory board.
Rob has developed risk assessment, incident management and incident command training for Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, and US national laboratories.
Rob's emergency response career spans 30 years in international public safety as a Special Operations Fire Chief, Incident Commander, consultant and published author. Rob commanded numerous large-scale emergencies for the Alameda County (CA) Fire Department, protecting 500 square miles and two national laboratories in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Rob has responded on Unified Command/Incident Management Teams to high profile incidents including: 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack; oil spills in San Francisco Bay (Cosco Busan and Dubai Star); large propane gas explosions; campaign wildland fires and numerous large scale emergencies for the Alameda County (CA) Fire Department. Rob planned and directed Red Command at Urban Shield, the largest Homeland Security exercise in the United States. Rob has planned and directed full scale exercises for the Department of Defense in 12 countries.
Rob is on the curriculum development team and teaches Special Operations at the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy. Rob authored Hazardous Materials: Awareness and Operations and serves on the Fire Engineering magazine editorial advisory board, and the Fire Department Instructors Conference executive advisory board.
Rob has developed risk assessment, incident management and incident command training for Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, and US national laboratories.
Ron Vidal
Ron’s corporate career spans 35 years as a senior executive in critical infrastructure disciplines of metro/long haul/subsea fiber optic networks, data centers, oil & gas, power systems and capital markets. Previously, Ron was a senior executive at Level 3 Communication (operates 16,000 mile international metro, long haul and transoceanic fiber optic Tier 1 backbone network), UUNet Technologies (largest Tier 1 Internet Service Provider (ISP) when acquired by MFS), MFS Communications (operated 38 metro fiber networks in U.S. and Europe, acquired by Worldcom) and Kiewit Construction (3rd largest U.S. construction contractor).
Ron led technical and operational due diligence teams on over $19 billion of telecommunications and Internet Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) transactions, including the 5th largest transaction in history at its closing. Ron developed and communicated key financial messages during the sale of $14 billion of public equity, debt and convertible debt securities, across 10 international roadshows and 8 trading desks, and managed relationships with 21 sell-side research analysts and 25 of Level 3’s largest shareholders and bondholders. Ron presented at investment conferences sponsored by Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, UBS, Oppenheimer and others and at company sponsored investor & analyst days and has been quoted in Business Week, USA Today and numerous trade publications.
Ron led Level 3 Communications relief and recovery efforts in New York City after the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack. Ron also served on Mayor Dinkins New York City Task Force on Network Reliability.
Ron has advocated technology public policy to Members and staff of United States Congress, Commissioners and staff of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Commissioners and staff of the California, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York Public Utility Commissions (PUC), notably testifying before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet on E-911 and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) policy. Ron is a volunteer firefighter, and former Chair of the Emergency Preparedness Commission in Mill Valley, California and a technical peer reviewer for FEMA’s Assistance for Firefighter Grant (AFG) program.
Hear directly from Ron in the May 12 episode of our Blackrock 3 at the Firehouse podcast as he talks about the factors that led to such massive upheaval in the tech industry recently, and what he sees in the current landscape.
Ron’s corporate career spans 35 years as a senior executive in critical infrastructure disciplines of metro/long haul/subsea fiber optic networks, data centers, oil & gas, power systems and capital markets. Previously, Ron was a senior executive at Level 3 Communication (operates 16,000 mile international metro, long haul and transoceanic fiber optic Tier 1 backbone network), UUNet Technologies (largest Tier 1 Internet Service Provider (ISP) when acquired by MFS), MFS Communications (operated 38 metro fiber networks in U.S. and Europe, acquired by Worldcom) and Kiewit Construction (3rd largest U.S. construction contractor).
Ron led technical and operational due diligence teams on over $19 billion of telecommunications and Internet Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) transactions, including the 5th largest transaction in history at its closing. Ron developed and communicated key financial messages during the sale of $14 billion of public equity, debt and convertible debt securities, across 10 international roadshows and 8 trading desks, and managed relationships with 21 sell-side research analysts and 25 of Level 3’s largest shareholders and bondholders. Ron presented at investment conferences sponsored by Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, UBS, Oppenheimer and others and at company sponsored investor & analyst days and has been quoted in Business Week, USA Today and numerous trade publications.
Ron led Level 3 Communications relief and recovery efforts in New York City after the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack. Ron also served on Mayor Dinkins New York City Task Force on Network Reliability.
Ron has advocated technology public policy to Members and staff of United States Congress, Commissioners and staff of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Commissioners and staff of the California, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York Public Utility Commissions (PUC), notably testifying before the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet on E-911 and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) policy. Ron is a volunteer firefighter, and former Chair of the Emergency Preparedness Commission in Mill Valley, California and a technical peer reviewer for FEMA’s Assistance for Firefighter Grant (AFG) program.
Hear directly from Ron in the May 12 episode of our Blackrock 3 at the Firehouse podcast as he talks about the factors that led to such massive upheaval in the tech industry recently, and what he sees in the current landscape.
Chris Hawley
Chris’s emergency response career spans 30 years. Most recently, Chris’s team managed a Department of Defense (DoD) program that provides training and exercises for countering the threat spectrum of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high yield explosive (CBRNE) threats globally. The team conducted in-country assessments with Ministry level and U.S. Embassy personnel in major cities and ports of entry, develops a plan to deliver training and equipment to the host nation and designs and conducts progressive and escalating exercises for single nation Ministries to multiple nation, multiple day Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) events. Chris has conducted training and exercises in 40 countries.
Chris co-developed the FBI’s Hazardous Materials Operations training program, Hazardous Materials Technician Program and SWAT Tactical Operations training program, serving as course manager and instructor for many of their specialized assets. He also co-developed the Department of Justice Crime Scene Management program, and WMD Evidence Management course.
Chris also served as Deputy Administrator for the Emergency Management Division and Special Operations Coordinator for Hazardous Materials Response and Advanced Technical Rescue for Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department, the 5th largest U.S. fire department, that protects 610 square miles including the Port of Baltimore and Interstate 95.
Since 1995, Chris has served as the Conference Planning Chair for the International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference, which is the largest worldwide conference of its type and is sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Chris is a technical working group member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Hazardous Materials 472 standards committee, which is used worldwide and outlines the training requirements for hazardous materials and WMD response.
Chris has authored the following textbooks: Hazardous Materials Incidents (3rd Edition); Hazardous Materials Air Monitoring & Detection Devices (2nd Edition); Hazardous Materials Response & Operations; and Co-Authored Special Operations: For Terrorism and Hazmat Crimes. These texts have been adopted in WMD programs in the FBI, Secret Service, Department of Defense Emergency Response Training program and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. A number of states use these textbooks as part of their mandatory training programs for all emergency responders. In addition to writing numerous articles in trade magazines, Chris is also an Editorial Board member for HazMat Responder World Magazine.
Chris serves as a technical consultant to numerous manufacturers for product, services and new technology development in the fields of air monitoring, hazardous materials and terrorism response. Chris conducts threat assessments and on-site building vulnerability assessments for protection against terrorism threats and attacks. In addition to those listed above, Chris has developed, or participated and delivered training programs for US Marines Chemical & Biological Response Force, National Security Agency, U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy, and various state and local police agencies. In addition he has provided training and consultation to more than 50 companies and cities, some of the companies include DuPont, Allied Signal, Honeywell, Northrup Grumman, Smiths Detection, Thermo Scientific, Battelle, SAIC, and a number of military assets. He has provided training for cities in 43 states.
Chris’s emergency response career spans 30 years. Most recently, Chris’s team managed a Department of Defense (DoD) program that provides training and exercises for countering the threat spectrum of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high yield explosive (CBRNE) threats globally. The team conducted in-country assessments with Ministry level and U.S. Embassy personnel in major cities and ports of entry, develops a plan to deliver training and equipment to the host nation and designs and conducts progressive and escalating exercises for single nation Ministries to multiple nation, multiple day Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) events. Chris has conducted training and exercises in 40 countries.
Chris co-developed the FBI’s Hazardous Materials Operations training program, Hazardous Materials Technician Program and SWAT Tactical Operations training program, serving as course manager and instructor for many of their specialized assets. He also co-developed the Department of Justice Crime Scene Management program, and WMD Evidence Management course.
Chris also served as Deputy Administrator for the Emergency Management Division and Special Operations Coordinator for Hazardous Materials Response and Advanced Technical Rescue for Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department, the 5th largest U.S. fire department, that protects 610 square miles including the Port of Baltimore and Interstate 95.
Since 1995, Chris has served as the Conference Planning Chair for the International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference, which is the largest worldwide conference of its type and is sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). Chris is a technical working group member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Hazardous Materials 472 standards committee, which is used worldwide and outlines the training requirements for hazardous materials and WMD response.
Chris has authored the following textbooks: Hazardous Materials Incidents (3rd Edition); Hazardous Materials Air Monitoring & Detection Devices (2nd Edition); Hazardous Materials Response & Operations; and Co-Authored Special Operations: For Terrorism and Hazmat Crimes. These texts have been adopted in WMD programs in the FBI, Secret Service, Department of Defense Emergency Response Training program and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. A number of states use these textbooks as part of their mandatory training programs for all emergency responders. In addition to writing numerous articles in trade magazines, Chris is also an Editorial Board member for HazMat Responder World Magazine.
Chris serves as a technical consultant to numerous manufacturers for product, services and new technology development in the fields of air monitoring, hazardous materials and terrorism response. Chris conducts threat assessments and on-site building vulnerability assessments for protection against terrorism threats and attacks. In addition to those listed above, Chris has developed, or participated and delivered training programs for US Marines Chemical & Biological Response Force, National Security Agency, U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy, and various state and local police agencies. In addition he has provided training and consultation to more than 50 companies and cities, some of the companies include DuPont, Allied Signal, Honeywell, Northrup Grumman, Smiths Detection, Thermo Scientific, Battelle, SAIC, and a number of military assets. He has provided training for cities in 43 states.
Administrative & Instructional Staff
Ashley Vidal, Director of Operations
Ashley’s career spans 10 years in NYC (the 5 boroughs), Philadelphia, and across Texas, during which time she worked on the front lines as well as in program development and management. Her work was focused on the intersections of homelessness, those living with chronic health conditions, mental health struggles, and the LGBTQIA+ community. She has worked in multiple settings including emergency shelter, transitional, and permanent housing, where she collaborated and crafted grant proposals to support and expand those programs. Ashley has advocated on the city and state levels in NY state, as well as in D.C., regarding protecting and expanding life saving programs, and services focused on education, awareness and addressing stigma around LGBTQIA+ folks, those living with HIV, Hep C, and experiencing homelessness. Ashley was also in management at a social enterprise based in Texas, where she developed outreach strategies for nonprofit partnerships, and designed fundraising companies.
Ashley’s career spans 10 years in NYC (the 5 boroughs), Philadelphia, and across Texas, during which time she worked on the front lines as well as in program development and management. Her work was focused on the intersections of homelessness, those living with chronic health conditions, mental health struggles, and the LGBTQIA+ community. She has worked in multiple settings including emergency shelter, transitional, and permanent housing, where she collaborated and crafted grant proposals to support and expand those programs. Ashley has advocated on the city and state levels in NY state, as well as in D.C., regarding protecting and expanding life saving programs, and services focused on education, awareness and addressing stigma around LGBTQIA+ folks, those living with HIV, Hep C, and experiencing homelessness. Ashley was also in management at a social enterprise based in Texas, where she developed outreach strategies for nonprofit partnerships, and designed fundraising companies.
Andy Graham, Director of Instructional Content / Instructor
Andy has 43 years experience as a firefighter and paramedic. His technical rescue experience includes critical incident response involving high angle, water, confined space, trench and structural collapse, as well as serving as the liaison between government agencies and private enterprise. Andy has been the Duty Chief and liaison between Fire & Medical teams and outside law enforcement for large scale public events, and has lead multiple large burn operations using the same Incident Command System taught here. He is the Chair of the regional mountain rescue team where he regularly works with Dept. of Emergency Management, state and local law enforcement, US Park Service, Coast Guard, and Navy helicopter resources. He was among the first boots on the ground in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, and spent months in parts of Asia and Latin America helping establish incident response systems, providing training and technical support, and serving as a liaison between emergency services, politicians and the media. Andy currently consults with media production companies to ensure set safety. In his spare time, he practices clear communications and reporting from the cockpit of a small airplane.
Andy has 43 years experience as a firefighter and paramedic. His technical rescue experience includes critical incident response involving high angle, water, confined space, trench and structural collapse, as well as serving as the liaison between government agencies and private enterprise. Andy has been the Duty Chief and liaison between Fire & Medical teams and outside law enforcement for large scale public events, and has lead multiple large burn operations using the same Incident Command System taught here. He is the Chair of the regional mountain rescue team where he regularly works with Dept. of Emergency Management, state and local law enforcement, US Park Service, Coast Guard, and Navy helicopter resources. He was among the first boots on the ground in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake, and spent months in parts of Asia and Latin America helping establish incident response systems, providing training and technical support, and serving as a liaison between emergency services, politicians and the media. Andy currently consults with media production companies to ensure set safety. In his spare time, he practices clear communications and reporting from the cockpit of a small airplane.
Richard Brooks, Instructor
Chief Brooks recently retired as Chief of Emergency Services for Cecil County, Maryland. Richard served for 25 years with the Baltimore County Fire Department. Through his career he held many positions including Instructor, PIO, Haz Mat Administrator, and EMS Shift Commander, retiring in 2004 as Commander of Hazardous Materials. From 2004-2007 Richard was a defense contractor for CSC serving as a Senior National Security Analyst assigned to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, on the International Counter-Proliferation Program. This program is focused on the reduction of illegal materials being transported across international borders. He served as Team leader and exercise manager for numerous programs, as well as multi-national exercises on the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Richard has been a member of the volunteer fire service in Maryland since 1973. Over the years, Richard has been the recipient of numerous awards and decorations including the Baltimore County Fire Department Medal of Honor.
Chief Brooks recently retired as Chief of Emergency Services for Cecil County, Maryland. Richard served for 25 years with the Baltimore County Fire Department. Through his career he held many positions including Instructor, PIO, Haz Mat Administrator, and EMS Shift Commander, retiring in 2004 as Commander of Hazardous Materials. From 2004-2007 Richard was a defense contractor for CSC serving as a Senior National Security Analyst assigned to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, on the International Counter-Proliferation Program. This program is focused on the reduction of illegal materials being transported across international borders. He served as Team leader and exercise manager for numerous programs, as well as multi-national exercises on the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Richard has been a member of the volunteer fire service in Maryland since 1973. Over the years, Richard has been the recipient of numerous awards and decorations including the Baltimore County Fire Department Medal of Honor.
Timothy P Butters, Instructor
Timothy Butters has over 45 years of emergency operations/management experience with federal, state, local governments, and the private sector. He is a past committee chair for the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and served as Operations and Finance Section Chief with the National Capital Region Type III Incident Management Team. Butters has deployed to support local emergency management operations for Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, wildfires, and presidential inaugurations. He recently served as Logistics Section Chief for the Arlington County, Virginia COVID-19 Response program. Prior to that he was regional coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and administrator for a program in Washington DC established to prevent the use of radioactive dispersal devices or improvised nuclear devices as WMD. He worked with 28 state and local public safety agencies as well as senior federal, state, and local government agency executives and elected officials. Mr. Butters has also held senior positions with organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the federal regulatory agency responsible for the safety and oversight of transportation of hazardous materials, the City of Fairfax Fire Department, Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and United States Fire Administration/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mr. Butters holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from James Madison University.
Timothy Butters has over 45 years of emergency operations/management experience with federal, state, local governments, and the private sector. He is a past committee chair for the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and served as Operations and Finance Section Chief with the National Capital Region Type III Incident Management Team. Butters has deployed to support local emergency management operations for Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, wildfires, and presidential inaugurations. He recently served as Logistics Section Chief for the Arlington County, Virginia COVID-19 Response program. Prior to that he was regional coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and administrator for a program in Washington DC established to prevent the use of radioactive dispersal devices or improvised nuclear devices as WMD. He worked with 28 state and local public safety agencies as well as senior federal, state, and local government agency executives and elected officials. Mr. Butters has also held senior positions with organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration, the federal regulatory agency responsible for the safety and oversight of transportation of hazardous materials, the City of Fairfax Fire Department, Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and United States Fire Administration/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mr. Butters holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from James Madison University.
Rick Edinger, Instructor
Rick has worked in public safety services for more than 48 years. He has served as a firefighter, medic, telecommunications dispatcher, hazmat responder and chief fire officer assigned to fire suppression, EMS, emergency communications and emergency management roles in several states. Chief Edinger currently serves as chairperson of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Committee for Hazardous Materials / WMD Response. He retired in 2018 as Deputy Chief of Emergency Operations from Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services (CFEMS), a metro-sized, all-hazards, emergency response organization in central Virginia. Chief Edinger holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science Technology from Columbia Southern University and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. He also holds a number of certifications in incident management disciplines and has deployed to state and national level incidents. His areas of expertise include incident and organizational management, organizational safety, and risk avoidance.
Rebecca Graham, Instructor / Webmaster
Rebecca has a Masters in Organization Development and broad experience in project management, marketing, and design. She is a believer in the power of effective communications. Rebecca has spent the past two decades helping businesses and public service organizations better connect with their stakeholders. She has worked with Blackrock 3 in multiple capacities since 2016, including as a facilitator for incident management training, and leading the design, implementation and continuous improvement of websites underpinning the company's online and hybrid training models. When not in front of the computer, you can find her on the oars of a whitewater raft or in the cockpit of an airplane.
Rebecca has a Masters in Organization Development and broad experience in project management, marketing, and design. She is a believer in the power of effective communications. Rebecca has spent the past two decades helping businesses and public service organizations better connect with their stakeholders. She has worked with Blackrock 3 in multiple capacities since 2016, including as a facilitator for incident management training, and leading the design, implementation and continuous improvement of websites underpinning the company's online and hybrid training models. When not in front of the computer, you can find her on the oars of a whitewater raft or in the cockpit of an airplane.
Candi Heslep, Instructor
Based in Chicago, Candi has worked in the corporate world for over 20 years in many roles including consultant, Certified Data Analyst, IT Auditor, Internal Audit - Special Investigations, IT Program and Project Manager, Vendor Risk Manager and IT Procurement Manager. Training has always been a passion. Candi has lead many classroom trainings and presented at professional conferences. In her previous role in the international banking industry, she worked with Blackrock 3 as part of a corporate Resilience initiative. Candi proved herself as a stand-out among IT professionals, excelling in incident command and championing the integration of the incident response system into the IT world. With her deep understanding of corporate IT, and her background in training delivery, Blackrock 3 is delighted to have Candi on board as part of our instructional staff.
Based in Chicago, Candi has worked in the corporate world for over 20 years in many roles including consultant, Certified Data Analyst, IT Auditor, Internal Audit - Special Investigations, IT Program and Project Manager, Vendor Risk Manager and IT Procurement Manager. Training has always been a passion. Candi has lead many classroom trainings and presented at professional conferences. In her previous role in the international banking industry, she worked with Blackrock 3 as part of a corporate Resilience initiative. Candi proved herself as a stand-out among IT professionals, excelling in incident command and championing the integration of the incident response system into the IT world. With her deep understanding of corporate IT, and her background in training delivery, Blackrock 3 is delighted to have Candi on board as part of our instructional staff.
Melissa Irish, Instructor
Melissa has over 30 years of experience in public safety through both the fire service and the military reserves. Her fire experience includes serving with a municipal department as a Firefighter, Lieutenant, Fire Investigator, and Captain. Notable responsibilities include program management for Wildland Firefighting, Hazardous Materials, Health and Wellness, and Firefighter Respiratory Protection. Melissa has been a business advisor assisting several nonprofits both in forming their corporations and obtaining their 501(c)(3) status through the Internal Revenue Service. Additionally, Melissa has legislative advocacy experience in public policy and holds multiple degrees in both business and law.
Melissa has over 30 years of experience in public safety through both the fire service and the military reserves. Her fire experience includes serving with a municipal department as a Firefighter, Lieutenant, Fire Investigator, and Captain. Notable responsibilities include program management for Wildland Firefighting, Hazardous Materials, Health and Wellness, and Firefighter Respiratory Protection. Melissa has been a business advisor assisting several nonprofits both in forming their corporations and obtaining their 501(c)(3) status through the Internal Revenue Service. Additionally, Melissa has legislative advocacy experience in public policy and holds multiple degrees in both business and law.
Amber Vidal, Director of Analytics
Amber has a Bachelors degree in the sciences, and a love of data collection and analysis. Their background includes positions with The Evergreen State College, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and Elements Material Technology, a global testing company where their work included analysis for various compliance metrics within the aerospace industry. Amber brings their passion for analytics to Blackrock 3 Partners. Combining their scientific and statistical background, they apply their keen eye to collecting and analyzing all of the participant data from Blackrock 3’s OnLINE Academy. Their eyes light up when they open Excel, and they continue to enjoy organizing thousands of data points enabling Blackrock 3 to improve service to its customers. Amber has also teamed up with their Blackrock 3 colleagues to launch and promote Blackrock 3 at the Firehouse, Blackrock 3’s podcast available on Spotify and at blackrock3.com/firehouse.
Amber has a Bachelors degree in the sciences, and a love of data collection and analysis. Their background includes positions with The Evergreen State College, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and Elements Material Technology, a global testing company where their work included analysis for various compliance metrics within the aerospace industry. Amber brings their passion for analytics to Blackrock 3 Partners. Combining their scientific and statistical background, they apply their keen eye to collecting and analyzing all of the participant data from Blackrock 3’s OnLINE Academy. Their eyes light up when they open Excel, and they continue to enjoy organizing thousands of data points enabling Blackrock 3 to improve service to its customers. Amber has also teamed up with their Blackrock 3 colleagues to launch and promote Blackrock 3 at the Firehouse, Blackrock 3’s podcast available on Spotify and at blackrock3.com/firehouse.
Tom Welch, Grant Specialist
Tom Welch has 30 years of public safety experience. Following consolidation between City of Mill Valley and the Southern Marin Fire Protection District in 2021, Chief Welch served as the Deputy Chief of Operations and Training for the Southern Marin Fire Protection District. Prior, Tom was with the Mill Valley Fire Department serving at various ranks including Fire Chief, Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal, Fire Captain and Engineer Paramedic.
Tom Welch has 30 years of public safety experience. Following consolidation between City of Mill Valley and the Southern Marin Fire Protection District in 2021, Chief Welch served as the Deputy Chief of Operations and Training for the Southern Marin Fire Protection District. Prior, Tom was with the Mill Valley Fire Department serving at various ranks including Fire Chief, Battalion Chief/Fire Marshal, Fire Captain and Engineer Paramedic.
