Response Technologies Staff Members
Douglas E. Wolfe
Instructor / Educational Designer
Mr. Wolfe has spent twenty-eight of his thirty-two years in the fire service dealing with hazardous materials and specialized operations as a Technician/Paramedic. Douglas is the founder of Response Technologies Corporation and served in the capacity of Special Operations Coordinator for Sarasota County (FL) Fire Department. He has extensive training and experience in special operations, domestic security, instructional program delivery, instructional systems design (ISD/ADDIE) and exercise design. He brings to Response Technologies a history rich in training program development, delivery and administration. His credits range from the local to national level including the authorship of programs for various agencies such as state emergency management organizations, FEMA, the National Fire Academy, the FBI National Academy, the Department of Defense, the National Terrorism Preparedness Institute and NASA
James "Steve" Coffin
Instructor / Technical Specialist
During his thirty years in the fire service, Mr. Coffin has spent fifteen in hazardous materials and special operations as a Technician/Paramedic. Currently, James serves on the training committee for the Sarasota County (Florida) Fire Department Special Operations Team and is an adjunct faculty member at the National Fire Academy. With his extensive experience in the technical and tactical aspects of special operations, James is uniquely qualified to enable others to learn from his experience. Steve brings to Response Technologies an extensive history in training program development and delivery at both the local and national levels.Danial Bartle
Hazardous Materials Instructor / Clandestine Lab Specialist
Recently retired from Polk County Fire Rescue after 28 years Dan started in Hazmat response in 1989 eventually promoting to Battalion Chief of Special Operations. Dan specialized in an dultimately developed procedures for dismantling “one pot” methamphetamine labs. These procedures are being used by numerous Florida departments today Dan also served as an original member of the Tactical Hazmat Unit for a Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team. Before coming to Response Technologies Dan was employed for a private environmental response company where he served as the Decontamination Manager during a major FBI investigation in 2002. An instructor since 1992 in various topics Dan Joined Response Technologies Corporation in 2011 wher he instructs Hazmat Technician, Response to Clandestine Labs, and Rapid Identification and Risk Assessment among other programs. Dan has been married for 22 years with two children.Steve McCarthy
Hazardous Materials Instructor / Exercise Designer
Steve McCarthy served the Fire Service in Pinellas County, Florida for over 40 years. Serving with the Pinellas County HazMat and as its coordinator from 1984 he ultimately served as department Operations Chief until his retirement. Steve still works in the profession by instructing in St. Petersburg, FL and has been affiliated with Response Technologies since 2011.John W. Scott III
Hazardous Materials Instructor / Exercise Designer
John W. Scott III joined the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department in 1988, where he began as a firefighter assigned to Station 13. Over the years he also worked at Stations 31, 30, and 7 Hazmat Team. It was at this time he was introduced into the realm of Hazardous Materials Emergency Response and was assigned to research and resource. He transferred to the Fire Prevention Division earning promotions to Engineer, Lieutenant, and Captain.
Scott attended Florida Community College at Jacksonville and Columbia College of Missouri, where he completed studies in Computer Science Information. He has completed numerous courses in fire science, fire code and building code & inspections and seminars as well as holding several certifications in Hazardous Materials response, Emergency Management,
and Fire Code regulation and investigations. He’s also currently assigned to the Urban Search and Rescue Team (FLTF5) and the North Florida’s Incident Management Team as a Plans Manager. Scott retired as the Hazardous Material and Environmental Coordinator for the department where his primary duties are to provide a framework and continuity by which Extremely Hazardous Site and Hazardous Material and Environmental events are properly mitigated and regulated. This aide in the planning and emergency
response for the department and other agencies such as Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, City Regulatory, and other State agencies. Currently, he’s an Adjunct Instructor with Florida State College at Jacksonville Fire Academy, and Chief Operation Officer of HazPlan3 Hazardous Planning and Consulting.
Kenneth Treffinger
Program Developer / Instructor
Ken comes to Response Technologies with over 25 years of experience in the area of public service and currently serves as a Lieutenant / Paramedic with the Sarasota County (FL) Fire Department. His experience includes serving as a member of the Special Operations Team and as a department training and safety officer. Additional experience includes having served as a member of the Special Operations Peer Driven Quality Improvement Committee and the Department Training Committee. He brings to Response Technologies strong teaching backgrounds in the fields of hazardous materials, emergency medical services, and fire suppression. This experience includes well developed skills in the areas of EMS instruction at both BLS and ALS levels, 160 hour Hazardous Materials Technician, and in firefighting skills.Tom Berninger
Hazardous Materials Instructor
Tom has been employed for 22 years with Sarasota County Fire Department and currently serves as a Special Operations Lieutenant. He has 15 years experience in hazardous materials and special operations, holds an A.S. Degree in Fire Science and is a certified Florida Hazardous Materials Technician, Instructor II and EMT. Tom has also been a certified American Heart Association CPR Instructor for the last eight years, teaching CPR and AED classes both internally and externally. He has been with Response Technologies since 2009 where he is an adjunct instructor for the Hazardous Materials Technician Program and lead instructor in Offensive NG and LPG Leak Control.Frank DeFrancesco
Hazardous Materials Instructor / Exercise Designer
Frank DeFrancesco starting in the fire service in 1984 with the City of Largo (FL) Fire Department and spent 21 years with their Hazardous Materials Team and ultimately servved as team manager. In 2006 he moved to Hernando County Fire Rescue as Assistant Chief of Operations where he continued to develop and manage their hazardous materials team. Frank holds a Bachelors of Business Administration and has extensive training in hazardous materials, incident management and exercise design. He brings to Response Technologies over 29 years of hazardous materials instructional experience.Stephen Doyle
Hazardous Materials Instructor / Exercise Designer
Stephen Doyle has dedicated his life to the Fire Service and the protection of his peers and public. His service started in the South Portland Fire volunteer ranks at the age of 15 and progressed to his 4 years in the USAF as a crash-rescue technician, airborne rescue member, and instructor. During this time he served in Vietnam for 14 months doing those same jobs. Upon leaving the USAF he attended a community college majoring in Fire Science. He started his professional career in 1971 and retired as a Fire Officer from Portland Maine Fire Department with 26 years of creditable service where he instructed and helped organize personnel to address the hazardous materials problems of the area. He also was hired to assist the State Fire Administrator as his Hazardous Materials Specialist advising him and overseeing hazardous materials training and education statewide. Upon his retirement Steve was hired to be the County EMA Director at a time that hazardous materials response and planning was needed in the area. He also worked in the
command element at major fires, oil spills, and the decontamination of a cruise ship after a fire. His technical skills and education (M.S. Education) were instrumental in his helping to facilitate the forming and training of the RAID (CST) Teams of the National Guard. He has instructed and developed courses for the military, public/private response agencies, universities, and the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He continues to provide leadership to the South Portland Volunteer Fire Department where he has been the Captain for the past 39 years.
Athena Kavis
Marketing Director
Athena Kavis is a serial entrepreneur with over 3 years of experience as a CEO, web-designer, social media manager, and content creator. She started her first company, Swim Szn in 2016 and grew it from ground zero to making $25k in one month by month 5 from influencer marketing campaigns. In 2018, Athena decided to sell Swim Szn to pursue her passion for growing other businesses. Since then she has founded her marketing agency, Kavis Management Group (KMG), and CBD company, Meraki. Athena joined the Response Technologies team in June of 2018 and operates our social media campaigns, Facebook advertising, website and brand strategy.