Protection Development, Incorporated

PDI is a Texas Registered Engineering Firm
(Firm Number F-2816), licensed under the authority
of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE).
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PDI Founder and Principal Fire Protection Engineer Participates in USA Fire Chiefs Delegation to Poland

October 11, 2016 by adminPDIfsite

San Antonio, Texas
October 11, 2016

Robert C. Andrews, Jr., P.E., Protection Development, Incorporated (PDI) Founder and Principal Fire Protection Engineer, just returned to San Antonio from a ten-day study visit to Poland.

The trip was organized within the USA – Poland INFIRENET (International Fire & Rescue Network) Project and co-sponsored by the Institution of Fire Engineers United States of America Branch and the Main School of Fire Service in Poland.

Andrews was one of six delegates representing the United States.  While in Poland, Andrews made a formal presentation at a Polish – American Seminar at the Main School of Fire Service in Warsaw.  His topic, Use of the ICS system and Mutual Aid in Catastrophic Events, was well received by the 150 senior fire officers and emergency management professionals who attended from throughout Poland. 

For more information see: https://www.sgsp.edu.pl/en/news/study-visit-from-usa-90.html

Bob Andrews presents at The Main School for Fire Service in Warsaw, Poland on September 29, 2016
Bob Andrews (third from right) accepts an Appreciation Plaque from The Main School for Fire Service in Warsaw, Poland, along with the other members of the USA delegation
Robert C. Andrews, Jr., P.E., M.Sc., FIFireE, PMSFPE, EFO, CFO (Ret.)

PDI Founder and Principal Fire Protection Engineer Participates in USA Fire Chiefs Delegation to Poland (PDF Version)

Filed Under: BAG Press Release, PDI News, PDI Press Release

Five Minutes with Bob Andrews, CEO of the Bob Andrews Group

July 17, 2014 by adminPDIfsite

Jul 17, 2014, 6:00am CDT UPDATED: Jul 17, 2014, 10:35am CDT

Sanford Nowlin
Reporter-San Antonio Business Journal
Email |  Google+ |  Twitter | Facebook

Bob Andrews, the CEO of the Bob Andrews Group, says South Texas communities face challenges in fire protection and safety as they deal with Eagle Ford Shale growth.

San Antonio-based Bob Andrews Group, an entity that provides fire-protection services for public- and private-sector clients, has expanded recently to keep pace with the rocketing growth in domestic oil-and-gas production. While some of the company’s new ventures are focused on the shipping and storage of oil, it also has beefed up staff to help South Texas businesses and communities deal with building and development challenges brought on by the exploding Eagle Ford Shale.

We asked founder and CEO Bob Andrews to discuss permitting and safety issues faced by South Texas municipalities and to outline his company’s recent growth.

Q: Fire protection and code issues have become significant in South Texas communities dealing with brisk growth from the Eagle Ford Shale. Is that an opportunity Bob Andrews Group is exploring?

A: The Bob Andrews Group provides a unique combination of both emergency response and fire protection engineering services which can be greatly beneficial to those companies and those communities that are having to deal with the rapid growth in the Eagle Ford. We provide municipalities with engineering, plans review and code compliance support. Municipalities are often unable to grow their staffs fast enough to keep up with private sector growth. In order for Texas and other states experiencing major energy-related growth to expand safely, we must make sure that all new construction meets the applicable fire- and life-safety codes. A major part of keeping our communities safe is in the plans review and permitting process.

Protection Development Inc., one of the Bob Andrews Group companies, is unique in that we have the proven experience in working with municipalities, as an outside resource, to help them through this growth period. For our private sector clients, making sure that their construction packages, when submitted for review, are complete and meet all code requirements allows their project to proceed through the system as fast as possible. We also routinely conduct technical analyses, often required by regulatory agencies in the region. Specifically, in the city of San Antonio, there is a cutting edge program that fast-tracks projects reviewed and certified by our fire protection engineers. In summary, it’s not just about growth, but rather, responsible growth. We are proud to be doing our part to make sure that safety is an integral part of making America energy independent.

Q: I understand that PDI has done some recent hiring. Talk a little about that.

A: PDI is a fire protection engineering firm located in San Antonio that provides fire protection design and code review services throughout Texas. PDI Fire, as we are known locally, recently hired personnel in the fire protection design, permitting and codes-review departments to make sure that we are able to maintain our high level of customer service during what is a major growth period for us. Our growth is in a large part directly related to the overall economic growth affecting San Antonio, the Eagle Ford and the rest of Texas.

Yung Wei Tang, P.E., has been promoted to fire Protection engineer – modeling specialist. Yung Wei has a master’s degree in fire protection engineering and will be helping our clients with complicated projects. He brings special experience in smoke-control modeling and other specialized computer-modeling techniques. Yung provides our clients with considerable talent in the analysis of complex fire protection problems and systems.

We have added Robert Waxler to our engineering department. Robert was recruited from the Austin Fire Department where he worked in the fire prevention office and performed building and fire plans review. Robert has a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio and has considerable experience in the design review of fire protection systems.

David Emler has returned to PDI to manage our permitting department. This department assists building owners, architects, contractors and developers through the sometimes-complicated permitting process. This not only helps our clients, but also helps governmental entities keep up with their growing demands. We do this by ensuring that permitting package submittals are both accurate and complete, reducing the number of resubmitted packages. The result is an expedited review/permitting process for all parties.

Q: The Bob Andrews Group did a recent reorganization. What prompted that?

A: The reorganization affects personnel in both PDI and the Bob Andrews Group.

First, John R. Cochrane, P.E., has returned to full-time status with PDI. John was one of the founding members of PDI back in 1985 and was serving as the President of PDI when he was activated as a Navy Captain after 9-11. He took a leave of absence from PDI to lead the port security efforts for Navy installations throughout the Puget Sound. After his Navy duty, John remained with PDI as a consulting principal fire protection engineer, specializing in major project work as well as legal consulting. John is managing this major growth phase as the senior vice president and general manager of PDI. John brings over 40 years of firefighting and fire protection engineering experience along with his lifelong personal relationships throughout our industry, not only in the San Antonio area but nationwide.

Second, we have added to Sam Goldwater’s responsibilities. Sam, as senior vice president of the Bob Andrews Group, has also been assigned the position of senior vice president – business development of PDI and assigned the duties of senior fire protection consultant. Similar to John Cochrane, Sam also has over 40 years of fire protection experience and has specific experience working with fire departments and government agencies. He is helping local governments, especially those jurisdictions in the Eagle Ford, deal with the operational and governmental compliance challenges that are arising from our regional growth. Sam has worked with fire departments coast-to-coast, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Chicago, helping them improve operationally – in many cases by introducing new technologies.

Filed Under: BAG Press Release, PDI Press Release

PDI Welcomes David Emler and Announces Expansion of Services

October 14, 2013 by MEmler

Protection Development, Incorporated (PDI) is pleased to announce the addition of David Emler to our team as Permitting Services Manager. David, a graduate of Angelo State University, has over 10 years of experience in permitting commercial construction in San Antonio. Additionally, he is certified by the International Code Council as a Building Plans Examiner and as a National Standard Building Contractor. David is highly skilled in building and fire codes and has a long-standing relationship with the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and surrounding municipalities.

David will lead this growing part of our business and, with his experience at a local architectural firm, will expand our services to include:

  • Assistance with Preparing Special Inspections Documentation
  • Construction Inspection Issues
  • Unified Development Code Consulting
  • International Energy Conservation Code

As the Permitting Services Manager, David plans to expand PDI’s permitting service areas to several additional municipalities currently served by our engineering group.

Contact David Emler via email to demler@pdifire.com or by calling 210.828.7533.

Download a printable copy:  PDI Welcomes David Emler and Announces Expansion of Services

Filed Under: BAG Press Release, PDI Press Release

ANOTHER NEW COMPANY FOR THE BOB ANDREWS GROUP

April 24, 2013 by MEmler

BAG BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Samuel O. Goldwater
The Bob Andrews Group, LLC announces the launching of BAG Business Development.

BAG-BD is a consulting firm taking advantage of the Group’s experience in starting and growing business in the field of fire protection. Headed up by Sam Goldwater, Vice President of the Bob Andrews Group and 40 year veteran in the field of fire protection, BAG Business Development will help start-up companies and legacy fire protection companies grow to their true full potential and to the expectations of their owners and investors. The Bob Andrews Group has several thriving companies, most of which are in some sector of fire protection. Within the Group are companies ranging from Fire Protection Engineering to Fire Equipment to Emergency Response. Some companies are services related, some are equipment related, and some are people driven.

Grow your business with BAG-BD

Starting and growing businesses in fire protection is part art, part science, and part engineering. Whether it’s starting a distributorship, a manufacturing company, or a consulting / rep firm, BAG knows how to get it going and keep it going. If your organization has reached a plateau and is looking to grow, BAG knows how to do it. With over a hundred years of experience in the field of fire protection, BAG-BD’s business professionals can support you in sales and marketing, accounting and administration, and operations and engineering. Not only do we know how to support each of these important corporate areas, but we understand how they are connected and interact with each other.

We’re not consultants who just went to school and read up on the subjects. We have lived the actual process of starting companies and growing them. We have our own companies and we have consulted with some of the best companies in the industry; sometimes heavily involved and sometimes just tweaking the details to make them more profitable, or sometimes just helping land that one big project.

If you are new to the industry, or if you are trying to create your own sales staff, or develop distribution, or if your sales have outpaced your infrastructure, BAG can help make you more successful – faster.

For more information, contact Sam Goldwater at (210) 547-2400 or via email to sogoldwater@bobandrewsgroup.com

Filed Under: BAG Press Release Tagged With: Bob Andrews, Bob Andrews Group, business development, Sam Goldwater, startup companies

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