PDI RAIL - Key Persons
David Emler has been actively involved in the A/E/C community in San Antonio for over fifteen years. He began his career with PDI in 1998 performing fire flow tests and conducting building and fire code reviews. Through these experiences, he built a relationship with the City of San Antonio and began assisting clients with the permitting process. In 2004, he began working for an architectural firm and used this experience to gain experience in Unified Development Code issues and expand his knowledge of permitting outside the City of San Antonio. Mr. Emler, returning to PDI in late 2013, has taken charge of PDI's permitting and code consulting services focusing on client relationships, geographically expanding our reach, and increasing our value to the project team. He regularly participates in San Antonio Real Estate Council's Development Process Task Force to stay informed of the City of San Antonio's procedures and, as a consultant, to recommend improvements to the overall process. Mr. Emler's clients rely heavily on his relationship with the City of San Antonio, as well as his knowledge of building and fire codes.
Mr. Emler has a thorough understanding of the intricate relationship between the code provisions and how seemingly minor design changes can affect the overall life safety of a structure. He has performed countless code reviews using Uniform and International Codes as well as NFPA standards. Mr. Emler regularly compares the provisions of the IBC/IFC and NFPA 101 to determine the appropriate level of compliance for facilities. He also has experience in developing variances through alternative materials and methods requests. Mr. Emler has the ability to review project plans and documents and provide direct, substantive guidance to the project team while focusing on the Owner's project goals.
As a project manager, he is responsive and dedicated to the successful completion of each project. Mr. Emler is exceptionally skilled at managing multiple deadlines and consultants. He understands the workings of a design team and believes that regular and clear communication is the key to success. He is hands-on with each of the projects under his supervision and diligently maintains each project schedule and budget.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the President for Special Projects
Job Titles:
- Senior Fire Protection Engineer
- Vice President - Engineering
Job Titles:
- As Contracts Administrator
- Vice President - Administration
Misty Emler has varied responsibilities within PDI and has an understanding of all aspects of our services. She is the Corporate Secretary and functions on management levels related to administrative support, financial activities, and contracting. Ms. Emler is responsible for supporting corporate management in daily operations of PDI as well as preparing contracts and proposals for projects. She provides logistical administrative support and consultation on items such as insurance coverage, contracts, payment invoicing, and PDI and sub-contractor proposal coordination review and evaluation as necessary.
As Contracts Administrator, Misty Emler is responsible for compiling all the technical specifications produced into one final document that is formatted, and does not conflict with any client-specific requirements. Ms. Emler also prepares the front-end checklist, table of contents, and other documents required for bidding with the help of the engineering and technical staff.
Job Titles:
- Protection Engineers, Chief
Robert C. Andrews, Jr. founded Protection Development, Incorporated, (PDI) in 1985 and currently serves as its President and CEO. Mr. Andrews is a Texas Registered Professional Engineer (fire protection branch specialty), a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers (UK), and a Professional Member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (USA). He has been practicing fire protection engineering for over thirty-five years and has specialized in the fire safe design of very complicated and unusual projects. He has been a member of the National Fire Protection Association for 37 years and is currently a member of the Fire Service Section. He is a lifetime (30 year) member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Mr. Andrews is a 2008 graduate of the Railway Management Program at Michigan State University. In 2009, he expanded his commitment to the rail / transit consulting industry by launching a new, dedicated PDI division, PDI Rail Solutions aimed specifically at that market.
Highly unusual amongst fire protection engineers, Chief Andrews was an active member of the fire service for 40 years, having joined his local volunteer fire company in suburban Philadelphia on his sixteenth birthday. His fire service experience includes serving with the East Whiteland Volunteer Association (PA), the College Park Volunteer Fire Department (MD), the Phoenix Fire Department (AZ), Marathon Oil Company (OH), Celanese Chemical Company (TX), the Refinery Terminal Fire Company (TX) and Industrial Emergency Services. He was one of the first Emergency Medical Technicians in the United States having received his Pennsylvania and National Registry EMT licenses in 1975. In addition to his fire service credentials, Mr. Andrews has been a Licensed Texas Peace Officer for over twenty-six years and currently holds Master Peace Officer and Instructor certifications. He is an internationally recognized police dog trainer.
Mr. Andrews earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1980 and a Master of Science Degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University in 2002. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program and received the 1990 Outstanding Research Award for his paper that discussed the feasibility of applying the Incident Command System to incidents in the refining and petrochemical industry. He was one of the first industrial fire chiefs to earn the prestigious Chief Fire Officer Designation in 2003 and is an internationally recognized author and speaker having delivered emergency response, industrial firefighting, and railroad fire-safety presentations in the United States, Jamaica, France, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland, and Germany.