developed and launched the “Risk Watch” comprehensive school and community-based injury prevention program. This change essentially embraced the role of prevention not just within fi re, but the expanded all-hazards mission of the fi re service. In 2003, Meri-K had the opportunity to transition from the NFPA and become the President and CEO of the Washington, DC based Home Safety Council (HSC). At HSC, she continued her work with the fi re service and other disciplines such as public health to expand her reach and e ectiveness. I have worked and been friends with Meri-K for many years and can attest to the breadth and depth of her unique abilities. She is an excellent manager and leader; a talented fundraiser; an author, public speaker, visionary; and a multi-tasking machine. I can’t begin to list the organizations she has been part of or led, but they include the likes of “Safe USA” – “Solutions 2000” – “Beyond Solutions 2000” – the “Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition” – “Vision 2020” – “Community Risk Reduction” – and on and on. She has made appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, CNN Headline News, CBS This Morning, Dateline NBC, and all of the major TV, radio, and on-line outlets promoting fi re and life safety/injury prevention. Sher and I are close friends with Meri- K and she has been a blessing in our lives. It’s impossible to estimate the number of people who have been positively impacted by Meri-K, or the number of people who avoided injury or death as a result of her work, but it is a ton for sure. She is truly a woman who has made history in the fi re service and beyond. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt In 2003, Meri-K had the opportunity to transition from the NFPA and become the president and CEO of the Washington, DC.- based Home Safety Council (HSC). At HSC, she continued her work with the fire service and other disciplines such as public health to expand her reach and effectiveness. I have worked and been friends with Meri-K for many years and can attest to the breadth and depth of her unique abilities. She is an excellent manager and leader, a talented fundraiser, an author, public speaker, visionary, and a multi-tasking machine. I can’t begin to list the organizations she has been part of or led, but they include the likes of Safe USA, Solutions 2000, Beyond Solutions 2000, the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, Vision 20/20, Community Risk Reduction – and on and on. She has made appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, CNN Headline News, CBS This Morning, Dateline NBC, and all of the major TV, radio, and online outlets promoting fire and life-safety/injury prevention. Sher and I are close friends with Meri-K and she has been a blessing in our lives. It’s impossible to estimate the number of people who have been positively impacted by Meri-K Appy, or the number of people who avoided injury or death as a result of her work, but it is a ton for sure. She is truly a woman who has made history in the fire service and beyond.
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