Leadership

Matthew Allen has been working in the fire protection engineering industry since 2009. Matt has performed fire suppression and fire alarm systems design, water supply evaluations, fire protection system evaluations, fire protection feasibility studies, due diligence surveys, building condition assessments, construction management quality assurance, and cost estimating. He is adept at implementing design standards utilizing NFPA, FM, UL, IFC, IBC, P100 and/or UFC requirements.

Matt Connolly earned both a Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute before starting his career in the fire protection industry in 2012. Since joining HGI in 2014 as a fire protection engineering consultant, he has become a licensed professional engineer in multiple states, and currently serves as an Associate and Project Manager. Beyond his role at HGI, Matt contributes to the NFPA 12/12A/2001 Technical Committee on Gaseous Fire Extinguishing Systems. He is also IFSAC-certified as a firefighter and previously volunteered with the Town of Peshtigo Fire Department in Wisconsin.

Tina Dannaker has been working in the fire protection engineering industry since 1999, with emphasis in design and construction administration, property loss control, commissioning, code research, hazardous materials analysis, and performance-based design solutions. She has extensive experience reviewing alternate means and methods, such as fire-modeling and other components of performance-based design, to achieve equivalent levels of safety in buildings. Tina has expertise in various structures including industrial, residential, institutional, medical, high-rise buildings, large assembly, and high-piled storage facilities, as well as hazardous and explosive materials and flammable liquid facilities. She has designed fire protection systems, including fire alarms and sprinkler systems with the necessary water supply, and has managed specifications, drawings, and narratives across all phases of construction. Tina has been heavily involved in hazardous materials assessments, code studies, life safety evaluations, as well as master planning, and has conducted site surveys to evaluate existing systems, their relationship to proposed systems, and to identify potential problems. She is well versed in Building and Fire Codes, NFPA Codes and Standards and insurance standards such as FM Global Data Sheets.

Grant Gebhardt has been working in the fire protection engineering industry since 2014. Grant specializes in fire suppression design, fire alarm system design, and hazardous material storage for industrial and distribution clients. He generates performance-based design solutions for complex building and code conflicts. He designs mass notification systems, conducts water supply evaluations, reviews fire protection feasibility studies, conducts existing building assessments, facilitates construction management quality assurance, and produces high piled storage plans. Grant is a Project Manager of HGI’s Northeast design and construction administrative team and regularly interacts with a wide range of industrial and storage clients. Grant provides added value to each project he contributes to by learning who the client is and what is important to them. His relationships with his team and his clients reflect his passion for the practice of fire protection engineering.

Matt Guilfoyle has been working in the fire protection engineering industry since 2012. He is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, with his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering. He currently leads the Performance-Based Design (“PBD”) Team at Harrington Group. He and his team are keenly interested in finding creative solutions to both fire protection and code related challenges in the built environment. He is skilled in many areas of fire protection with a focus on PBD, computer modeling tools, full-scale testing, and discussing/presenting alternative methods of design and construction to the authority having jurisdiction.

Daniel Lampke has been working in the fire protection engineering industry since 2010, successfully completing a wide range of project types for a diverse client base across the United States. He is an expert in fire suppression, fire alarm/occupant notification systems, smoke control system design and commissioning, industrial fire protection, and egress modeling. Dan has a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client and project. His experience spans various industries, allowing him to approach challenges with a well-rounded perspective, combining practicality with creative problem-solving.

Rob McFeaters began working in the fire protection engineering industry in 2011, in the areas of fire and explosion engineering and process safety. Rob leads HGI’s Industrial Process Safety group, which focuses on special hazards such as combustible dusts, flammable/reactive chemical processing and storage, explosion risk and mitigation, and facility siting. His emphasis is on providing clients with technical solutions that provide the most efficient process design while keeping employees and property protected.

Benjamin Randle has been a dedicated professional in fire protection engineering since 1996. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection and Safety Technology from Oklahoma State University, along with an Engineering Technician Certification in Water-Based Systems Layout from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). His expertise covers a broad range of areas, including building and fire code analysis, fire sprinkler system design, fire pumps and water supply systems, fire detection and notification systems, and high-piled combustible storage solutions.