Shout-outs – FDIC Wrap-up Part I

One thing is for sure, we had a blast at FDIC and we know so many who were there did as well. Once again, we were busy as can be…We do our best to make time to say hi and get a photo taken. Thanks for the stories, the coins we traded, the patches, and the Brotherhood. We enjoyed hanging out at the Brotherhood Bash, NFFF’s Stop, Drop, Rock N Roll, and the party we threw “INDY on Fire”…and YES, we did make it out to a couple of other bars for some late night shenanigan’s including our normal digs at the very tiny bar on the corner that we swear is not a strip joint, the Wild Beaver.

The photos included in this post can also be found here. This is just the first of 1500 photos from our photographer Matthew Schimmel (Leatherhead Photography). At the very bottom is 5 videos of the pipes and drums from INDY on Fire

I have so many shout-outs to make, so I will start there. If you are not included, I hope to make amends on future posts about FDIC.

Shout-out to “The Entourage” – Preston Wiley and Jarrett Harlow (Valley of the FOOLS), and Jared Lindholm head up the crew. The rest of the crew includes our photographer Matthew Schimmel (Leatherhead Photography on FB) Kevin Thompson (social media). Yes, me…a social media guru actually has a social media guy at FDIC. TJ Giles, a great friend and Brother from Oak Ridge, TN is our ghost…we never know where he is but he always shows up when we need him! The Entourage actually is a group of Brothers and Sisters that help us out when we need it. The ones above have been with us in the past and help out more than we can ever thank them for. Mike & Amanda, Chris, Andy, and Donna (Willies wife) made a special trip up just for INDY on Fire and helped out tremendously. I can’t leave out fellow VOTF Brother Steven Burke – thanks for everything.

Matthew and Kevin are good friends from KZOO FOOLS. More KZOO FOOLS helped out at INDY on Fire…including Jed Wild. The crew from the Brew City FOOLS came to our aid at INDY on Fire as well and we hope they join us again next year.

Dave Statter, thanks for the continued friendship and support. I may never like you, but I will always love you! Thanks for emceeing INDY on Fire!

Bob Gard, my cohort at Engine Co. Apparel, was a huge help and ran the business on his own since I was kept busy. Bob and Tim Kron kept the merchandise selling at INDY on Fire along with Jed Wild and help from others listed above. Seth Major, our lead designer at ECA, it was great seeing you and meeting you in person. Great job guys!

The Firefighter Wife team helped out in planning parts of INDY on Fire and we appreciate their friendship and support. Lori and Dan Mercer are a stand-up couple who remind me a lot of my wife and I. These wives get it…and we couldn’t do it without them.

Mark VonAppen of Fully Involved, Isaac Frazier of Tactical Advantage Training, Justin Schorr (The Happy Medic) – it was great to see you again, Matt Hinkle of Box Alarm Training, Bobby Eugene (not his real name) from Memphis, The Renegade Pipes & Drums, Zach and crew from MN8 FoxFire, Steve at AWOGS, Matt at Identifire, Lance and Summer at Glove Crafters, Samantha & Samantha and David, and rest of the crew at MSA we had the pleasure of meeting, Danielle Celii, BC Warren Cersley, Jack Wilson – sorry I hurt your feelings, the guys at Brothers Helping Brothers, Scott Symonds at Next Generation Leadership, the crew at FitFighter, Niki Razor at Firefighter Turnout Bag (FFTOB.com), Clayton at Crosstitched, Darrell and Candace at Fireman Up, Nick at Fativan, the crew at HexArmor, Fully Involved Leatherworks, Jodi Monroe at Firefighter Art, and more!

Scott, Randi, and Mychal Sharf, it is always great seeing you guys. Bumping into you all reminds me of being near my family. Thanks for being great people and great parents. Thanks for sharing Mychal’s smile with the Brotherhood.

Daryl Adams, Ashlei, Andrea and the rest of the team at Spartan. We appreciate the opportunity to show you what we are all about and have you as a proud sponsor of INDY on Fire. Gary, we missed you and will see you there next year!

Rob and Jami Schield of Fire Cam, thanks for the humor and friendship. We look forward to having you sponsor INDY on Fire again next year.

Rob, Frank, Nora, Mike at Black Diamond including the lovely Mary and Claudia, thanks for keeping us in tow at FDIC and your belief in what we are all about. We appreciate the friendship, sponsoring INDY on Fire, having us in your booth, and introducing us to Captain Keith Colburn of The Wizard (Deadliest Catch).

Scott, Grant, Katy, Mark, the team from Denmark and everyone else at Viking Life-Saving Equipment for having us in your booth and sponsoring INDY on Fire. Your gear is impressive, your friendship is appreciated. We look forward to working with you more in the future. Our wives loved the gifts, and we loved sharing the uniqueness of thinking of them while we were away.

Todd, Amy, Kimberly, Mallory, and the rest of the crew at TECGEN PPE. We appreciate your belief in us and our continued success together. Thanks for sponsoring INDY on Fire and having us in your booth.

Stuart and Collin with Titan by Hainsworth, it is always a pleasure to chat and share a laugh. Thanks for the sponsorship and cheers to doing more in the future.

Ben and Guillaume and the rest of the crew at Demers Ambulances. You guys might understand our abilities the best. Who else would understand to ask two firefighters to show off the unique innovations in quality craftsmanship of an ambulance? We get it.

Dave and Chris (soon to be a tv personality) from 1st Arriving Network. These are the guys who put on the event last year. Thanks for sponsoring the event this year.

Nicole, Shaun, Angel, and the rest of the Phenix Fire Helmets Family. Thanks for producing such a great lid!

And of course, thanks to Andrew Catron and Willie Wines Jr.

Andrew, you have so much potential and are doing great things. Your friendship is refreshing…your willingness not to punch me when I do my spot-on impersonation of you is impressive.

Willie, what can I say…I don’t know where we are going…but we are making good time! Love ya Brother.

Damn, after name-dropping like that, I hope I didn’t leave anyone out!