Safety Committee

The safety committee meets quarterly to review our group losses and to discuss ways that our members can reduce the frequency and severity of claims. Periodic mailings and e-blasts are sent out to the group members to bring their attention to problem areas and to help them implement changes to control these claims. The more we control our claims, the better chance for continued dividends to be paid to our group members.

BARBARA MARZEAN

Barbara Marzean is the President of VFIS of Texas / WinStar Insurance Group and the ESO Group Administrator.  VFIS of Texas / WinStar Insurance Group is the leading insurer of emergency service organizations in the state of Texas.  Barbara started her insurance career in 1974 with Consolidated Insurance Agency in Austin.  She joined VFIS of Texas / WinStar Insurance Group in 1985 as a commercial account manager.  Today, she is the President and is responsible for the overall operations and management of the agency.  Barbara holds the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation.  She is active in the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas, currently serving as Co-Chairperson of the Firefighter of the Year/EMS Responder of the Year Committee.  Barbara has also served on the Executive Board of the Texas  Line of Duty Task Force and the SFFMA Golf Committee.

FRED WINDISCH

Fred Windisch EFO CFO is the Fire Chief of the Ponderosa FD located north of Houston Texas.  He began his volunteer firefighter career in 1972 in Illinois and moved to Ponderosa's district in 1975 and was appointed as the first career Fire Chief in 2004. The Ponderosa FD (ISO 3) is a combination agency serving 47,000 citizens and over 1,000 businesses in a 13 square mile area of unincorporated Harris County.   He is retired from Shell Oil Company's research division after 30 years where he served the final 13 years in the Health, Safety and Environment department also as the facility's fire brigade Fire Chief.  Chief Windisch is certified by SFFMA as a Master Firefighter and Level II Instructor and by the Commission as an Advanced Firefighter and Intermediate Instructor.  He is also certified by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress as Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Hazmat Awareness and Hazmat Operations and he is an Emergency Medical Technician.  Chief Windisch is a founding member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer & Combination Officers Section and he served on the IAFC board of directors for 11 years.  He also co-authored a book entitled, A Leadership Guide for Combination Fire Departments available at Jones & Bartlett Publishing.

CHRIS BARRON

Chris Barron currently serves as the Fire Chief of the Travis County Emergency Services District #5/Manchaca Fire/Rescue department located just south of Austin, Texas.  In 2019, Chief Barron retired from the State Firefighters’ and Fire Marshals’ Association where he served almost 15years as the Executive Director.  He was responsible for the administration and oversight of the 23,000 member organization representing first responders in Texas and central and south America. While serving as Executive Director, he was responsible for several initiatives benefiting Texas first responders including the wildfire fund and Hurricane Harvie relief programs, authoring and successfully awarded three Department of Homeland Security SAFER grants and oversight of the construction of the new headquarters building.  Chief Barron has worked diligently in the fire service for over 29 years to increase service delivery performances in the local area and around the state.  In 2019, Chief Barron started his own consulting company to assist emergency services across the nation on their challenges, improving performance and recruitment/retention efforts.  The focus of his business is to assist fire departments facing challenging times with staffing, volunteer workforce reductions, organizational changes, and leadership challenges.  He is also working with departments on performing fire department assessments of services, funding resources, and developing marketing and strategic plans. Chief Barron has received numerous leadership and organizational awards for his leadership including the John Buckman Leadership Award, the IAFC/VCOS Recruitment/Retention Award and in 2014, he was awarded the International Association of Fire Chiefs Chief of the Year Award amongst a nationwide group of colleagues. Chief Barron holds numerous fire certifications, and a Bachelor’s and  Master’s degree in  Business Administration.

ROY MERCER

Roy Mercer is an emergency services Instructor for VFIS of Texas / WinStar Insurance Group.  Roy holds an Associate of Fire Technology degree and a Bachelor’s in Business Management from LeTourneau University.  He has been active in emergency services for over 42 years.  He has operated as a Safety/Training Officer for the City of Rosenberg Fire Department, Safety Director for Richmond State School, Business Manager for Fulshear VFD, and retired from the City of Sugar Land Fire Department as Battalion Chief/Professional Development.  Roy has assisted in the development of the State Firefighter’s and Fire Marshals’ Fire Chief Development Program, coordinated the Fort Bend County Eastside Hazardous Material Regional Response Team, and holds state certification as a Master Firefighter, Advance Inspector, Aircraft Rescue Firefighter, Master Instructor Level III, Driver/Operator, Fire Officer IV, Haz-Mat Technician, Aerial Apparatus, and Emergency Medical Technician.  Roy has also served as a member of San Jac’s All-Hazards Incident Management Team and deployed on numerous situations throughout the state of Texas. Lastly, he serves as Adjunct Instructor and has developed curriculum and programs for the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).

DAVE SNAVELY

Dave Snavely is the Director of Strategic Operations for LifeNet EMS.  Dave is responsible for business development, risk management, and staff development across the LifeNet footprint. This includes operational and financial analyses supporting special projects for the senior management team. 
Dave’s early experience included corporate accounting and personal/commercial banking. As a prior director of operations, general manager, and director of finance for LifeNet, Dave has lateral system expertise.  He has led LifeNet's entry into other markets, including the merging of two previous competitors into a single unified service.  Dave served as both a ground and flight paramedic before advancing to management roles. He has worked in management for both for-profit and not-for-profit ambulance companies. He has maintained an active paramedic license for over 38 years.
Dave is a former president of the Northeast Texas Regional Advisory Council, a part of the statewide trauma network. He is a past president of the Texarkana Oaklawn Rotary Club.  As a certified Development Dimensions International (DDI) course facilitator, Dave has conducted management training courses for LifeNet and for external partners.