The 24/48
A typical first responder shift is 24 hours on, and 48 hours off. This opens the door for many first responders to run businesses in their off time. We're here to explore first responder-owned businesses, interview owners about how they did it, and share their success with the first responder community and beyond. Follow us (or we’ll keep sending you pictures of really bright lights at 3 a.m.): Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiVizLEDs/ (Warning: may cause spontaneous dancing in high-visibility vests) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hivizledlighting (We invented the “blinding transition” trend) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hivizledlighting/ (Warning: may cause your phone to request sunglasses) X: https://x.com/hivizleds (We promise not to blind you… much) YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@HiVizLEDS ((Hit the bell or we’ll ring it with a 150dB siren at 4 a.m.) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiviz-led-lighting/ (Where we pretend to be serious adults for 2.5 seconds) Ready to ascend to a higher plane of brightness? Click these or forever live in the dimness you clearly deserve: FireTech: https://hivizleds.com (The mothership of bright ideas) HiViz Lighting: https://hivizlighting.com (Same brightness, different flavor of awesome) Stay lit, legends. 🔥💡
Episodes
Andy Bozzo, co-founder of Tablet Command, shares his journey from firefighter to tech entrepreneur. Tablet Command is a software company that provides incident management, response notification, and situational awareness tools for public safety agencies across the United States and Canada.
Connect with Tablet Command: https://www.tabletcommand.com/
Follow us (or we’ll keep sending you pictures of really bright lights at 3 a.m.):
Brian Kelly has been a firefighter for over 20 years. When COVID-19 hit and he found himself with more downtime, he discovered a new passion: sharing his love of food and cooking over social media. What started as a hobby making cooking videos on TikTok has now turned into a thriving business and side hustle for this entrepreneurial first responder.
Connect with East Coast Kelly’s: https://linktr.ee/eastcoastkellys
Follow us (or we’l...
Russell had been working as a firefighter for over 13 years when the idea for his business was sparked. It all started when his captain gifted the crew some hose koozies.
Connect with West Broad Apparel: https://www.westbroadapparel.com/
Follow us (or we’ll keep sending you pictures of really bright lights at 3 a.m.):
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiVizLEDs/ (Warning: may cause spontaneous dancing in high-visibility vests)
- Ti...
Trevor Williams has lived an extraordinary life. Born in Virginia to missionary parents, his family moved to Africa when he was just 4years old. Living in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), Williams experienced the dangers of civil unrest firsthand during the Rwandan genocide. His family later moved to Haiti to continue their missionary work, where Williams witnessed government upheaval and violence.
After evacuating to ...
Lee Jones has firefighting in his blood. Growing up, he immersed himself in the local volunteer fire department where his father served. He got his EMT certification and went through the fire academy while still in high school. At age 18, Jones began pulling shifts at his local department and found his passion fighting fires across the Chicago mutual aid box alarm system.
Connect with 10-8 Technologies: https://www.108-technologies...
Jonathan Tate had an idea sparked by a phrase he kepthearing on the fireground - "slow your response, it's just food on thestove." This led to the realization that the food firefighters are eating is negatively impacting their health.
Connect with Food on the Stove: https://foodonthestove.org/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodonthestovedc/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodonthestovedc
James Wessel's journey in the fire service began in 1995 when he saw a volunteer firefighter respond to a car accident with a flashing dash light. He was mesmerized by the light and asked the firefighter how he could get one. The firefighter told him that he had to join the fire department, so James did just to get the dash light.
Connect with Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus:
Aaron's journey started early on; he recounts memories of playing with his father's little Kubota tractor and backhoe in the backyard. “I was 6 or 7 years old. I would get home from school, grab the keys, and go dig ahole,” he fondly recalls. His early exposure to heavy machinery laid the foundation for his future career.
Connect with Aaron:
https://www.facebook.com/martingradingexcavating
Follow us (or we’ll...
Colin Whittington has a unique background that led him to start his business, Recruiting Heroes. He served for 8 years as a deputy sheriff in Virginia, but eventually felt it was time to transition out of law enforcement.
Connect with Colin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinwhittington/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/recruiting-heroes-llc/
Follow us (or we’ll keep sending you pictures of really bright lights at 3 a.m...
Ricky Riley’s journey in the fire service began back in1979 when he became a junior firefighter in Ocean City, Maryland. With a career spanning over four decades, Ricky has become a well-respected figure in the firefighting community. His story is not just one of service and dedication but also of entrepreneurial spirit, leading to the creation of a thriving training company, Traditions Training.
Follow us (or we’ll keep sending you...
Joe Caughey is a passionate firefighter and entrepreneur with a unique background in both fields.
Follow Joe Caughey! https://www.linkedin.com/in/joecaughey/
Follow us (or we’ll keep sending you pictures of really bright lights at 3 a.m.):
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiVizLEDs/ (Warning: may cause spontaneous dancing in high-visibility vests)
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hivizledlighting (We invented the “blinding trans...
Wayne Stevens has had two stints in the fire service, and two in business. With a 30-year career in the fire service and coming from a family with a history of firefighting, Wayne quickly rose through the ranks and eventually became the deputy fire chief in Richmond, British Columbia.
He retired from the fire service and transitioned into the world of business, starting as a fire truck salesman for an E-One dealership in Colorado....
With over 20 years of experience in the fire service, Luke Geleynse leverages his firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by firefighters to design practical solutions with his company, Motis Fire Rescue. In 2013, Luke co-founded Modus with family member Paul Terpstra. The duo began by creating a tool belt designed for comfort and easy access to essential firefighting tools.
Follow Motis Fire Rescue https://motisfirerescue.com/
Mark Sallada is a passionate entrepreneur, police offer, and firefighter with a deep understanding of the emergency services industry. He is the owner of multiple businesses, including 911 Rapid Response, Vengeant Apparatus, Homeland Outfitters, and more, all of which cater to the diverse needs of first responders and public safety professionals.
Follow 911 Rapid Response/Vengeant Apparatus
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/...
Travis Matthews is the founder and owner of Light the Way, specializing in outfitting emergency vehicles with state-of-the-art equipment. They focus on smaller vehicles and refurbishing bigger trucks.
Follow Light the Way NC!
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LighttheWayNC/
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LighttheWayNC/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/LighttheWayNC/
· TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lightthe...
The heat of firefighting meets the smoky goodness of authentic barbecue at Ben's Backdraft Barbecue, founded by firefighter Ben Hooper.
Follow Ben’s Backdraft BBQ
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bensbackdraftbarbecue
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bensbackdraftbbq1/
Follow us (or we’ll keep sending you pictures of really bright lights at 3 a.m.):
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiVizLEDs/ (Warning: ma...
Axe and Awl Leatherworks is a family-owned business founded by Spencer and Courtney Tetrault in the heart of Waynesville, North Carolina. With a rich history in the fire service and nursing professions, Spencer & Courtney have combined their passion for craftsmanship with a dedication to creating durable leather goods for both fire and non-fire customers.
Follow Axe and Awl Leatherworks: https://axeandawlleatherworks.com/
Lenwood Brown III is a full-time firefighter with a passion for art and graphic design. He is the owner of Notorious Fire Company, which specializes in creating stickers and other products for the firefighting community.
Follow Notorious Fire Company: https://notoriousfire.com/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notoriousfire
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/notoriousfireco
· TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notoriousfir...
Follow us (or we’ll keep sending you pictures of really bright lights at 3 a.m.):
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiVizLEDs/ (Warning: may cause spontaneous dancing in high-visibility vests)
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hivizledlighting (We invented the “blinding transition” trend)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hivizledlighting/ (Warning: may cause your phone to request sunglasses)
- X: https://x.com/hivizleds (We promi...
Luke Schneider, founder of Fire Department Coffee, shares his journey from serving in the navy and as a firefighter to starting a coffee company.
Follow Fire Department Coffee: https://www.firedeptcoffee.com/
· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firedeptcoffee/
· Twitter: https://twitter.com/firedeptcoffee
· TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@firedeptcoffee
· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firedeptcoffee/
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