Biographies
Christopher H. Assenheimer has been a member of Bergen
Engine Company Number One of the Carlstadt Fire Department for 30 years,
serving as Chief of Department in 2001. He is also a member of the Carlstadt
Fire Department Emergency Squad. Chris is the fifth generation Firefighter/
Fire Chief of his family. He is Past President of the Carlstadt Fire
Department and of its Exempt Firemen’s Association. Chris is also a member
of the Wallington Fire Department Emergency Squad, answering EMS calls as a
Certified Emergency Medical Technician and is a long time member of the
Wallington Fire Department Comic Team.
Chris is married to Lynn and is employed by the Borough
of Carlstadt as Tax Collector. He is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson
University, Edward Williams College and is a NJ Certified Fire Official/Fire
Inspector. Chris is a past panelist/presenter for BOCA, (Building Officials
and Code Administrators) and is a class auditor/instructor for Rutgers
University.
Assenheimer is an Honorary Executive Committeeman
representing Bergen County and a Life Member of the NJ State Exempt
Firemen’s Association where he is State Chairman of the Way’s and Mean’s and
Flag Committee. He is a Past President of the Exempt Firemen’s League of
Bergen and Passaic Counties, past Secretary and Life Member of the New
Jersey and New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association and is a member of the
Bergen County Fire Prevention Association and Bergen County Fire Chiefs
Association. He is also a member of the South Bergen Mutual Aid Fire Chiefs
Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the IAFC
Eastern Division. He is an Honorary Member of the NJ Metro Fire
Photographers Association.
Chris is a lifelong resident of Carlstadt where he is the
treasurer of Carlstadt’s School Picnic Committee and Secretary of the Berry
Lawn-Charlestown Cemetery Association, Inc. He is an avid Indy Car style
race fan and is also a fan of the New York Yankees baseball team.
"My
involvement with the NJ State Fire Chiefs is to help provide information to
New Jersey’s Firefighters, Officers and Chiefs, for the past, present and
future…to keep our brothers and sisters safe and informed".
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Glen M. Thorsen has served with distinction for over 28 years in
the volunteer fire service receiving various awards and commendations for
meritorious action. His service includes memberships with three New Jersey
Volunteer Fire Departments: New Milford Volunteer Fire Department (Bergen
County); Nutley Fire Department (Essex County), and the Fairfield Volunteer
Fire Department (Essex County). He is a Life Member of the NJ State Exempt
Firemen’s’ Association.
During his fire service, Glen has held just about every
administrative position. Additionally, he has served in every Line Officer
position. His active service culminated December 31, 2001 as Fairfield’s
Chief of Department.
Thorsen, an accountant and controller for an international
engineering firm, has three adult children, Christine, Shaun (a former
volunteer firefighter) and April. Glen makes his home in Marlton.
Glen considers his appointment as an honor and a privilege and vows to serve
the NJ State Fire Chiefs Association faithfully and with great pride,
respect and devotion to duty.
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A fire service veteran of over 40
years, Skip has served in many capacities in the Englishtown Fire Department
from Chief (1979 – 1982) to Director of the Training and Safety Division
(currently). He has also held the positions of county hazardous materials
team coordinator and Director of the Monmouth County Fire Academy.
Carr is
currently a member of the National Fire Protection Association Standards
Committees addressing Hazardous Materials Response (NFPA 472) and Technical
Rescue (NFPA 1670). Skip formerly served as a member of the Board of
Directors of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, and
chairman of its Hazardous Materials Committee. He has also served on the
Public Education Advisory Council of the NJ State Fire Safety Commission and
has been a member of the NJ Fire Chiefs Association for over 25 years.
Several
training manuals, published by ISFSI and AMEC were written by Skip along
with numerous articles in many popular trade magazines. He also
participated in the committee that developed the hazardous materials
training programs in conjunction with the NJ State Police Office of
Emergency Management.
Skip and his
wife Judy are both currently active in the Englishtown Fire Department,
operate three business’ – H. K. Carr & Associates, Inc. (a training and
consulting company), Carr Publishing & Distribution Company (an educational
materials provider) and 4th ALARM-RSC, Inc. (an emergency
response and safety equipment company).
Carr said,
“Although I have had the privilege of belonging to and serving on many fire
service committees and with several emergency response organizations, I
consider it a pleasure and an honor to serve as the Second Vice President of
the N J State Fire Chief’s Association.”
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Jere E. Cole, Jr. was born Brooklyn, NY. At the age of 7
Jere’s family moved to West Caldwell, NJ where he attended the Caldwell school system
graduating from James Caldwell High School in 1964. Upon graduation Jere enlisted in the
United States Air Force. He was awarded the Air Force Accommodation Medal during 4 years
of service in Vietnam.
Jere is a 29 year member of the West Caldwell Volunteer Fire
Department and was 1st Assistant Chief. He is Past President of the Fireman’s
Association and was State Secretary of the New Jersey State Exempt Fireman’s
Association. Jere sat on the Board of Managers to the Fireman’s Home in Boonton,
representing the volunteer fireman of Essex.
Cole is a member of a number of Irish American organizations,
including: Ancient Order of Hibernians Division #9 (past president and has served on the
State Board of the A.O.H executive committee), The Cryan Association, Friendly Sons of the
Shillelagh, Heritage Festival Ball, Vailsburg Irish American Association, Essex County
Emerald Society, Irish American Cultural Institute, and the Frank McGovern Association.
Jere is the General Chairman of the Newark Saint Patrick’s Day Parade committee. He
was the General Chairman of the 30th Annual New Jersey Irish Festival in June of 2000 and
is presently the 1st Vice President of the Giblin Association.
Jere is currently employed as a Detective in the
Essex County Sheriff’s Department. He and his wife Margie, who works as a secretary
for the New Jersey Education Association, have been married 30 years. Daughter Dawn works
for the Essex County Clerk’s Office in Newark and Daughter Kelly is a mathematics
teacher at St. Vincent Martyr School in Madison, NJ.
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Jean A. Wypler was elected to represent the Northern District. He has been a member of
the West Caldwell Fire Department for 36 years and was Chief for two years. Jean retired
after 26 years as a police officer in West Caldwell.
Wypler is a Past President of the NJ Chapter of the International Association of Arson
Investigators and also a Life Member of the Chapter. He was previously Chair of the State
Fire Chiefs’ Arson Committee.
Jean has been married to his wife Nina for 40 years and they have two children;
daughter Jackie and son Jean, II.
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Carl Christensen joined
the Board of Trustees representing the Central district in 2002. Carl was
Chief of Iselin Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 in 1969. He has been President and
Secretary of the Iselin Colonia Exempt Firemen’s Association and is
Secretary of the Iselin Firemen’s Relief Association. He is also a member of
the Board of Fire Commissioners.
Christensen is serving as
Executive Committeeman from Middlesex County, has served as Manager to the
New Jersey Firemen’s Home, and served three years as Vice President of the
NJ State Firemen’s Association. He was also Secretary and President of the
NJ State Exempt Firemen’s Association. Carl is a life member of the NJ
Volunteer Fire Chiefs’ Association.
Carl’s wife is
Betsy and they have four children; Charles, Bruce, Eric, and Bethany. They
have ten grandchildren. Carl is a retired Master Plumber. In addition to
remaining active in firematic organizations, he enjoys traveling and
camping.
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George Cox joined Haddon Fire Company No. 1, Haddonfield, in 1961. He was Chief of
Department for seven years; retiring in 1989. He continues as a volunteer firefighter. He
is Secretary of the Haddonfield Exempt Firemen’s Association and Deputy Coordinator
in the Haddonfield OEM.
Chief Cox is a life member of the IAFC. He continues as a member of the Camden County
Fire Chief’s Association and is a life member of the Camden County Firemen’s
Association.
George and his wife Carol Anne, are the parents of three adult children and have seven
grandchildren.
George continues his active service as a Camden County Fire Coordinator and a member of
the County ISAT Team.
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Ken Byrnes
joined Jackson Volunteer Fire Co. # 1 in 1976. He served in all
administrative positions and firematic positions up to Captain through
1990. In 1990 Ken was appointed to Jackson Fire District 3; serving as
Deputy Chief since 2000.
Chief Byrnes
holds certificates as Fire Instructor Level II, Fire Official/Inspector, and
is licensed as Fire Inspector, Fire Sub-code Official. He is a member of
the International Association of Fire Chiefs
Ken earned an
Associates Degree in Fire Science at Ocean County College and is working
toward a Bachelors Degree at Jersey City University.
Byrnes is married to Effie and they have two
daughters, Mary and Tricia.
Ken says he is
looking forward to working as an officer with the members of the NJ State
Fire Chiefs.
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Bill
Doherty has been a volunteer fireman in Florence Township for more than 50
years. He was its President several times in that 50 years. Bill was also
the President of the First Aid Squad in Florence Township. In addition he
served as President of the Florence Township Exempt Firemen's Association
and Vice President of the Florence Township Firemen's Relief Association.
On a
wider scale, Doherty was President of the Burlington Exempt Firemen's
Association, President of the Burlington County Firemen's Association, and a
member of the Legislative Committee of the New Jersey Firemen's Association.
Bill
is a Past President of the New Jersey State Exempt Firemen's Association. He
established the Firemen's Brigade at Griffin Pipe Products and was its Chief
of for 10 years.
Bill and his
wife, Marge, originally retired to Florida
but have since returned
to New Jersey and now live in Browns Mills.
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Trustee Robert J. Cordes
Robert J. Cordes was elected to a 3-year term as Trustee from the from the
Northern Section of the State at the annual meeting in Wildwood in 2007.
Cordes was Chief of the Secaucus Fire Department in 2001 and 2002. Prior
to that he served terms as Deputy Chief and Battalion Chief. Bob is a
member of Rescue 1 – Engine 2 and is also the Company Treasurer.
He retired after 30 years of service as a Mechanic for the
United Parcel
Service. In retirement he is a school bus driver for the Secaucus Board of
Education. And, Recycling Inspector for the Town of Secaucus.
Cordes has been active in many other firematic organizations, including:
-
Secaucus Exempt Firemen’s Association;
Treasurer and Past President
-
NJ Volunteer Fire Chief’s Association
-
New
Jersey/New York’s Firemen Association
-
Exempt
Firemen’s League of Bergen and Passaic Counties
-
South Bergen County Chief’s Mutual Aid
Association (Zone 1), Active Member
-
NJ State Exempt Firemen’s Ass'n,
Life Member, Ways and Means Committee
-
NJ State Firemen’s Association, Life
Member
-
International Association of Fire
Chiefs, Member
Bob and his wife Margaret have three married
children; Jennifer, Kevin, and Michele and one grandchild; Anthony.
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