In this episode, our host is joined by a prominent figure in the fire protection industry, Matt Bass. Matt is a respected influencer who’s been deeply involved in various fire protection communities, particularly on platforms like Facebook. He’s an admin for several fire protection groups, making him a valuable source of information and insights.
In this discussion, we’ll dive into Matt’s journey within the fire protection sector, how he got started, and his perspective on the industry’s trajectory. The conversation will cover a wide range of topics, including exchanging knowledge and expertise between field technicians, office personnel, designers, and engineers.
0:02 – Intro
1:25 – Looking Up Everywhere You Go
3:40 – Who is Matt Bass?
3:57 – A Great Mentor
8:26 – The Importance of Giving Back
9:51 – My Trusty NFPA 25 Handbook
10:45 – YouTube Videos
12:28 – NFPA 25 Inspectors Group
14:57 – Open Feedback
15:42 – Hey, There’s Bob Caputo!
16:23 – Not to Name Drop but Tracy Demy, Ralph Bliss, Tom Parish
17:15 – “Just When I Thought I Was Out…”
17:49 – Need a Job in Antarctica?
20:22 – A Love of Helping People
21:50 – Make a Group Anywhere
23:36 – It’s Global
24:44 – Need Photos of a Specific Sprinkler Head Deficiency?
25:58 – Sarcasm & Snark: We Love to Roast Each Other
26:46 – Our Industry Works Hard and Plays Hard
28:24- Lots of Consolidation in Fire Protection
31:19 – The Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders Trying to be one Team
32:06 – People Starting Their Small Businesses
33:33 – The Age Gap: Younger People Need to Step Up
35:09 – The Experienced People Need to Teach the Next Gen the Details
36:13 – Learn Everything You Possibly Can
37:36 – Quick Response Round!
37:50 – Coolest New Product in Fire Protection
38:06 – Flex Heads!
39:48 – Favorite “Star Wars” Movie?
40:30 – “Return of the Jedi”
40:57 – A Bar? Nope, A Toy Store
41:44- Favorite Dry Pipe Valve?
42:06 – Don’t Over-Engineer Every
44:17 – Wrapping Up
45:07 – Where to Find Matt, aka. Maddie
47:45 – Money isn’t Everything
48:36 – Helping Someone is Worth More Than Dollars
48:59 – Until Next Time
