Phoschek

Technical Service Representatives - U.S.

Lou Gildemeister

Northern Rockies Region 1, Rocky Mountain Region 2, Northwest Region 6, Eastern Region 9, Alaska Region 10
Phone: 206-999-4292
E-mail: Lou.Gildemeister@icl-pplp.com

Lou is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.S. degree in Forest Management. He has been involved in forest and fire management programs for his entire professional career. He has worked for the U.S. Forest Service and State of Montana Dept. of Natural Resources, Western Fire Equipment Company, and Cascade Fire Equipment Company. He has held various positions, including timber cruiser, fire fighter, forest ranger, fire protection officer, area land manager and fire equipment salesman. Lou has been involved in wildfire and aviation operations in Canada, South America, Australia and the United States.

Don Cockrum

Southern: Region 8
Phone: 909-615-0077
E-mail: Donald.Cockrum@icl-pplp.com

Don went to work for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in 1964 as a Seasonal Firefighter. He promoted to Forest Fire Truck Driver in 1965. Don entered the U.S. Army in 1966, serving 19 months in Vietnam and was discharged in 1968. Don returned to CDF in 1969 and promoted through the ranks, working in the following positions: Fire Apparatus Engineer, Heavy Equipment Operator, Fire Captain, and as Fire Captain Specialist (Prevention) where he was appointed as a State Peace Officer in March 1981. He then promoted to Field Battalion Chief in 1983 and then transferred to the Battalion Chief Air Attack Officer at Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base in 1986. He served as the Air Attack Officer until his retirement in 1999.

Jim McCarter

Southwest Region 3
Phone: 909-675-6673
E-mail: James.McCarter@icl-pplp.com

Jim McCarter started with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in 1969 and retired after 33 years. Jim came up the ranks as seasonal firefighter, Fireman, Fire Apparatus Engineer, Crew Captain and Captain. During his years in the CDF Jim worked on type one, two and three fire engines and also truck companies (85' snorkels and 100' ladder trucks). Through the CDF contracts with several counties and cities to provide fire protection, Jim gained his training and knowledge on municipal firefighting.

Jim spent the majority of his career in wildland fire fighting, assigned to type 3 engines, 17 man fire crews and 15 years in the air program. He was assigned to Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base where he filled the position of Helitack Captain, Air base Manager, and dedicated Air Tactical Group Supervisor. Jim also filled every ICS position in the air program and was assigned to the cadre as an instructor from Helibase Manager to Air Operations Director.

Tom Ralls

California Region 5
Phone: 909-983-0772
E-mail: Tom.Ralls@icl-pplp.com

Tom retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 1989 after 33 years as a Fire Management Specialist. All of his career was in California on 4 National Forests. His last six years were spent in San Diego on the Cleveland NF as Deputy Fire Management Officer. He was responsible for managing budgets, airtanker and helicopter contracts along with prescribed burning programs.

For two years, Tom worked seasonally for Monsanto installing airtanker bases and assisting on portable operations. In 1992 he became a Technical Service Representative and has worked on all phases of the retardant program. Some of these areas include design, construction, training, mixing, trouble shooting and managing portable operations. Some of his assignments have taken him to Indonesia and Australia.

Guy Clancy

Portable Operations Manager U.S.
Northwestern Area Manager: Region 1, 2, & 6
Phone: 208-765-8380
E-mail: Guy.Clancy@icl-pplp.com

Guy graduated from Eastern Washington University and joined the Phos-Chek team in 2002. His primary role as the Portable Operations Manager covers the Western United States with portable retardant base deployments for wildland firefighting. He also manages our Region 1, 2, and 6 full service bases with any support and needs. Guy has spent the last 5 years iin field operations installing and revamping retardant bases in the Western U.S. and Canada. Special project coordination of permanent and semi-permanent bases with the U.S. Forest Service Williams Gateway, AZ and Cal Fire 10 Tanker Air Carrier base in Victorville, CA.

Bernie Post

Technical Service Representative: Region 2 (Colorado & Wyoming)
Phone: 970-222-8698

Bernie is a graduate of Colorado State University with a B.S. degree in Forest and Range Management. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 3 years and then worked for the Colorado State Forest Service for the next 30 years. His responsibilities included supervisor of the fire vehicle development and maintenance program, supervisor of the State's prescribed burn program, supervisor of the State's single engine tanker program, and Operations Section Chief with the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Type I Team. For the last two years Bernie has worked seasonally for ICL as a Technical Representative.