Getting Fire Life Safety Regulations Done – A Practical Playbook

Tuesday, February 17 | 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

This session dives into the real-world process of advancing legislative and regulatory change to support Fire Life Safety standards. From building stakeholder coalitions and crafting effective policy language to implementing certification programs and securing market share, you’ll learn what it takes to make FLS a reality in your jurisdiction. 

Speakers:

Shasta Erickson
Miller Bonded, Inc.

Shasta Erickson is President of Miller Bonded Inc., a New Mexico-based mechanical contractor. Over the past 20+ years, she has grown with the company, starting as an entry-level project assistant and advancing through various leadership roles to become president. Her experience spans project operations, accounting, and extensive industry involvement, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing today’s mechanical contractors.

Shasta is a current member of the SMACNA/SMART Best Practices Committee which was instrumental in putting together this Partners in Progress Conference. Matters that serve to unite our contractors and our labor partners are of paramount importance to Shasta, and she finds all efforts focused on this to be especially rewarding.

Ronda Gilliland-Lopez
SMACNA of New Mexico

Ronda Gilliland-Lopez serves as the Executive Director of the Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors Association of New Mexico, Mechanical Contractors Association of New Mexico and Administrator of the MCA of NM Workers’ Compensation Self Insured Fund.

Ronda currently serves on the ACE Leadership High School, an Albuquerque charter school, thatpromotes Architecture, Construction and Engineering.  Ronda overlooks the committee for the Heavy Metal Summer Experience for New Mexico.  She is also a Board appointee of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on the New Mexico Mutual Insurance Company, as well as she has been appointed as Chairperson of the Independent Medical Exam Committee for Workers’ Compensation Administration of New Mexico.  She participates on the Executive level of the JATC for MCA of NM and SMACNA of NM, and the Health & Welfare, Pension Trusts.

Tony Kocurek
Energy Balance and Integration, LLC

Tony Kocurek was born and raised in New Mexico and graduated Cibola High School in Albuquerque, NM in 1979. He attended the University of New Mexico, Mechanical Engineering Student from 1979 to 1981 before being employed with Energy Balance Inc. from March of 1982 to 2007. During that time, he was in a Sheet Metal Worker Apprenticeship where he had on-the-job training for the same company, before graduating to Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker in July of 1987. In 2008 he went on to purchase the company.
Additionally, Tony has been a TAB Field Supervisor since 1994, and was NEBB Supervisor Certified in 1996. He graduated University of Phoenix May 2001 with a BSBA Business. Tony was TABB Supervisor Certified in 2003, has been a member of Sheet Metal Workers Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee since 2006, and serves as Co-Chair of the NM Local 49 JATC. Tony was also a NEMIC Trustee between 2008 and 2022, an ICB Trustee in 2022, and has served in all offices and positions at the NM SMACNA Chapter in addition to serving on the National SMACNA Board of Trustees, and as National SMACNA President between 2022 and 2023. Tony was inducted to the TAB Hall of Fame in 2025.


Isaiah Zemke
Business Manager, SMART Local Union 49

Isaiah Zemke serves as the Business Manager – Financial Secretary Treasurer of SMART Local 49. A proud sheet metal worker, he completed his apprenticeship with Local 49 and has since held nearly every leadership role, including Trustee, Executive Board Member, Organizer, Business Representative, and serves as Lobbyist. He also represents labor as a commissioner on the New Mexico Construction Industries Division and the New Mexico Occupational Safety and Health Commission.