About Us
Bill Elder
Founder and Managing Director
Bill Elder has over twenty years of safety and technical rescue experience and is a third generation U.S. Air Force veteran. He took his first rope rescue course in 2005 and was immediately hooked. Since then, he has attended, taught, and supervised countless hours of technical rescue training and operations.
Some of Bill's credentials include NFPA 1006 technician level certificates in Rope, Confined Space, Tower, and Surface Water Rescue, SPRAT Level 1 Rope Access Technician, TCIA Level 1 Tree Climber Specialist, BCSP Safety Trained Supervisor, and IBSC Certified Wilderness Paramedic.
Bill has presented safety and rescue topics at several conferences, including the New York State Technical Rescue Conference, CODE EMS Conference, Board of Certified Safety Professionals Global Learning Summit, and more.
He earned a Master of Science in Emergency Services Management and Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University.
In 2021, Bill was accepted into the Institute of Search and Technical Rescue at the Grade of Member (MInSTR).
ETRS Staff
Our team has over three hundred combined years of experience and hold a great number of professional certifications. Most importantly, we leave our egos at the door. We don't arrive at your organization to show you how much we know. We come to your organization to help you achieve your full potential.
Pictured from Left to Right: John-Paul Shirley, Tyler Kline, Dave Gallagher, Jameson Wendell, Rob Griffith, Steve McDonald, Chuck McCarthy, Mike Schwarz, Bill Elder, and Kim Linette (Owner, TrailBlazer Forestry Services LLC)
Not Pictured: Mike Coogan, Steve Ginder, Jim Maxwell, Jesiah Newsome, Dan Saunders, Pete Savarese