031 The Riser Report 2: Fire Sprinkler Advocacy, Training & Leadership at AFSA44

In this second installment of The Riser Report, we bring you fresh conversations straight from the AFSA44 convention floor — highlighting the advocates, educators, champions, and rising leaders shaping the future of the fire sprinkler industry.


We kick things off with Peg Paul of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, who shares insight into national residential sprinkler advocacy, education efforts, and the ongoing push to improve home fire safety across North America.


Next, we catch up with Dylan Whittaker of Summit — the AFSA43 National Apprenticeship Champion — to talk about his apprenticeship experience, the path to becoming a top competitor, and what the next generation of sprinkler fitters is bringing to the industry.


We then connect with Rob Stewart, Director of Training at Fire Tech Productions, who dives into the evolving world of fire protection training, online learning, and the skill-building required to support a fast-changing industry.


Finally, Madison Wolf, VP & Regional Sales Representative at Victaulic, joins us to discuss her career journey, leadership in the industry, and what it means to be named the AFSA44 “Joe Heinrich Young Professional of the Year.”


Fast, focused, and recorded live on the expo floor, The Riser Report 2 delivers the conversations driving today’s fire sprinkler industry forward.


Peg Paul – Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (www.homefiresprinkler.org)
Dylan Whittaker – Summit Fire & Security, AFSA43 Apprenticeship Champion (www.summitfiresecurity.com)
Rob Stewart – Fire Tech Productions (learning.firetech.com)
Madison Wolf – Victaulic & AFSA44 Young Professional of the Year (www.victaulic.com)


AFSA’s Hands-On NFPA 25 Workshops take inspection, testing, and maintenance training beyond the classroom—giving fire protection professionals the opportunity to work directly with live systems in a controlled, real-world environment.


Each workshop is designed to build confidence, skill, and understanding of the NFPA 25 standard:

• 💧 NFPA 25 Essentials Workshop – Master the core inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements for water-based fire protection syst

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