Our Team

Bill Elder is the Founder and Managing Director of Elder Technical Rescue Services LLC. He has 18 years of experience in the safety and technical rescue fields, and has served in a wide variety of industries, including, public safety, construction, pharmaceuticals, and the energy industry (fossil fuel, hydroelectric, and nuclear power plants).

Bill is a third generation U.S. Air Force veteran. He earned an M.S. in Emergency Services Management and Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University. He has obtained a large number of professional safety and rescue certifications, and he aggressively pursues opportunities for continuing education.

Rob Griffith has been with the company since 2018, making him the "senior man" here at Elder Technical Rescue Services LLC. He is also happy to be the man in the logo. He has 14 years of experience and is trained to the technician level in eight disciplines of technical rescue. Rob works as a full-time driver assigned to a busy heavy rescue unit in Maryland.


Steve has 18 years of experience and is trained to the technician level in six disciplines of technical rescue. He is also one of our PA Fish and Boat Commission instructors. Steve is a full-time Lieutenant in a busy fire department in Berks County and also serves in the Air National Guard.

Dave Gallagher has 24 years of experience and is a confined space, structural collapse, trench, and vehicle rescue technician. He is a full-time Captain in a busy fire department in Delaware County, PA where he is also involved with the county urban search and rescue team.

John-Paul Shirley has 16 years of experience and is a confined space, rope, trench, vehicle, and structural collapse rescue technician. He is a full-time Deputy Chief in a busy fire department in Delaware County, PA where he is also involved with the county hazardous materials team.

Jameson Wendell has 27 years of experience in the safety and emergency services career fields. His experience spans the public safety, nuclear, petrochemical, oil and gas, shipyard, and pharmaceutical industries. He currently works full-time as a safety professional and volunteers as a firefighter and safety officer on a county hazardous materials response team.

Mike has 15 years of experience and is a confined space, elevator, ice, swiftwater, and vehicle rescue technician. Mike is a full-time firefighter/paramedic and a member of his department's swiftwater rescue team in Delaware County, PA.

Tyler has 8 years of experience and is a confined space, rope, and vehicle rescue technician. Tyler is full-time firefighter in New Castle County, DE and a volunteer fire officer in Berks County, PA.

Pete Savarese has 27 years of experience and is trained to the technician level in eight disciplines of technical rescue. He works full-time on a busy heavy rescue unit in southeastern Pennsylvania where he is also involved with his state's federal US&R team.

Mike Schwarz has 26 years of experience and is a swiftwater, ice, and vehicle rescue technician. He is certified to instruct all of the PA Fish and Boat Commission water rescue programs. Mike works full-time in the telecommunications career field and volunteers as a firefighter in Montgomery County, PA where he has a leadership role with their swiftwater rescue team.

Andy Eberz has 15 years of experience and is a swiftwater, ice, structural collapse, and vehicle rescue technician. He is also certified to instruct the full PA Fish and Boat Commission water rescue program. He works full-time in the information technology career field, serves on a county urban search and rescue team, and volunteers as a firefighter in Montgomery County, PA.

Jim Maxwell has 25 years of experience and is a confined space, structural collapse, trench, and vehicle rescue technician. He is a full-time firefighter in a busy fire department in Delaware County, PA where he is also involved with the county urban search and rescue team.

Jesiah Newsome has 11 years of experience and is a confined space, rope, and vehicle rescue technician. He is a full-time firefighter in a busy fire department and a volunteer fire officer in his hometown in Berks County, PA.