If you’ve contacted Roco about rescue equipment recently, you’ve probably talked with Teresa Wilson. She talks with customers about their equipment needs and helps to make sure they get what they need, when they need it. She prepares quotes, processes purchase orders for sales and inventory, oversees shipping, and processes invoices once the order is shipped. Teresa handles all phone orders as well as website orders. She is responsible for updating product information in our accounting software and on the Roco website. In addition to managing our sales inventory, she also helps with inventory tracking for our training gear and CSRT services equipment.

Teresa joined Roco Rescue in 2015 as a member of our Equipment Sales and Service team. As she learned more about rescue gear and our internal processes, she took on more managerial responsibilities in 2017. Prior to joining Roco, Teresa spent much of her career in various administrative roles from the corporate setting to the construction industry. She lives in Central, which is just outside Baton Rouge. In her spare time, Teresa enjoys cooking and spending time with her children.

When asked about the most rewarding part of her job, Teresa says, “Knowing that I am helping others get the equipment they need in order to train and/or follow through on any rescues that may arise in their response area is most rewarding. Also, being able to work along side and learn from some of the best in the business who truly care and constantly strive to help others possibly save lives all in the name of safety.”

Teresa also believes in the company’s mission, which she describes as, “Roco strives to say up-to-date with all safety standards and OSHA regulations to provide top notch training, contracted standby rescue teams and equipment – while ensuring that safety is top priority for clients and employees.”

Mayumi Davis joined Roco Rescue in December 2014 as a member of the Account Services team. She got her start with Roco through a temporary agency but quickly became a full-time employee. Her duties and responsibilities with the company are many, but her primary focus is Roco’s CSRT Standby Rescue Division. Mayumi processes all CSRT invoicing and all personnel timesheets. Of course, this means a lot of exacting work, which Mayumi bravely faces each day.

Prior to joining Roco, Mayumi earned a BS degree in Accounting at LSU and worked at several local firms, including the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. She states, “I was extremely fortunate to be able to stay at home with my children until they reached school age. And that’s when I decided to re-enter the workforce.” This is when the temp agency led her to Roco Rescue.

When asked about her work experience, she adds, “It’s been wonderful working with Cindy and Sandra at Roco. I have learned to become a stronger accountant. Together, we can tackle any obstacle, working as a team!” According to Mayumi, the most rewarding part of her job is receiving positive feedback from CSRT personnel, colleagues and clients.

Mayumi lives in Prairieville, Louisiana, which is just south of Baton Rouge. She and her husband have been blessed with two children, Logan and Mia. They are a very active family, who love nature and the outdoors. They enjoy riding ATV’s on wooded trails, especially when the weather is nice. And, Mayumi will tell you – she loves to visit National Parks! She has visited Yosemite, Sequoia, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky and Big Bend national parks. Next on their family’s itinerary is the Everglades National Park in Florida.

Mayumi is a dedicated, loyal employee who always strives to do her best. When asked about the Roco mission, she stated, “Roco has a commitment to save lives around the planet through education and safety awareness. Roco strives to always be a positive contributor to our local community.”

Chief Instructor, Flight Medic, Firefighter, Task Force Leader, Traveling Man…Heath Petty has done it all. He is currently a full-time Chief Instructor for Roco’s tactical/military division as well as for the civilian side of Roco. In his unique position, Heath has had the opportunity to teach rescuers in both the civilian and military arenas. He can bridge the gap between these arenas and teach the concepts associated with each discipline in a way that is practical no matter what the mission.

Having taught hundreds of classes over the years, Heath has worked with rescue teams from across the nation – including specialized teams from all branches of the military, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. As part of his “tactical-side” duties, Heath also serves as the Facility Security Officer for Roco with DOD programs in association with a Department of Energy national site.

While working for the Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department, Heath first came to work for Roco in 1998 as a part-time CPR instructor at a major computer manufacturing facility. He later completed all levels of Roco rescue training, including Instructor Development, to become an instructor in addition to his CSRT on-site rescue service duties at the manufacturing facility. In 2005, he became a Chief Instructor and taught his first Roco tactical course the following year. He retired from the AFD after 20 years and became a full-time Roco employee in October 2015.

During Heath’s 20 years with the Albuquerque Fire Department, he served as a Lieutenant on an Engine company and spent part of his career with AFD’s Heavy Rescue Station. He was also a member of the New Mexico Task Force 1, FEMA USAR team. As part of this team, he responded as a Rescue Squad Specialist to the Pentagon following the 9/11 attacks. He then responded as Rescue Squad Leader to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005. The NMTF-1 was credited with rescuing numerous civilians trapped in flood waters during these deployments on the Gulf coast.

In 2009, Heath enlisted in the New Mexico Army National Guard and was assigned as a Flight Medic on a UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter, call sign DUSTOFF. He later deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). From 2011-2012, he responded to more than 200 MEDEVAC combat missions in hostile environments and received numerous awards and citations. He was medically retired from the US Army in 2019.

When asked what’s the most rewarding part of his job, Heath replied, “Working with people who are willing to put their lives on the line every day for someone else. And to see the look of satisfaction when they learn a new set of skills to better perform these lifesaving duties.” Roco’s mission aligns perfectly, Heath adds, “Our mission at Roco is to provide exceptional, up-to-date and time critical training and consulting to individuals and teams whose mission is saving lives. This could be rescuing a person from a dangerous situation or moving personnel into potentially dangerous situations, such as EOD events.”

Now, for the traveling part, Heath loves to roam the country cruising in his van. While he’s currently “parked” in Omaha, Nebraska, you never know where he’s off to next. Heath loves adventure – from mountain biking to spending time with his two amazing daughters. He’s definitely a proud dad.

Sandra Eisworth currently serves as accountant for Roco Rescue. As such, she is involved in all financial and accounting matters for Roco, from managing payables, receivables and invoicing, to payroll, accounting, tax reporting, and handling insurance matters.

Sandra joined Roco in 1990 and was the company’s very first full-time employee. From the beginning, Sandra has worn many hats, handling all accounting functions as well as being involved in inventory and sales. As the company grew, her role evolved so that she was able to narrow her focus to accounting matters. For three decades now, Sandra has been a critical part of Roco’s tremendous growth and success. “It’s amazing how large the company has grown since I started here,” she says.

Sandra holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Louisiana State University. Prior to joining Roco Rescue, she worked in public accounting. Although she enjoyed her work, she decided that long-term she wanted to be more intimately involved in helping grow a small or medium-sized business. When she learned about Roco Rescue in early 1990, she decided that this was the opportunity she’d been seeking. Sandra soon became in-house accountant for Roco and was also involved in other aspects of running the business, from managing inventory to interfacing with employees, contractors, and customers.

Sandra’s role has evolved since joining the company, especially as it has grown. Although she now focuses more closely on accounting and finances, her tasks are still fairly diverse. “My tasks really vary day-to-day,” she says, “from fielding requests for information, reporting to outside agencies, handling employment verifications, dealing with insurance, invoicing, and managing compensation for our contractors.”

Sandra enjoys the diverse nature of this work. “Different things come up each day, so it’s interesting to see what I may end up working on during the day,” she says. But by far what she enjoys most is her co-workers at Roco Rescue. “What I love most is the people,” she says. “I enjoy getting to work with everyone here at Roco Rescue, from the employees to the customers.” Sandra attributes her tremendous job satisfaction to the quality of people at Roco, and the culture that’s been created by CEO Kay Goodwyn.

“She has been so wonderful to work for all these years,” Sandra says. “She’s very supportive of all of us, and you can tell she truly cares. This is not just a company to her. She cares about the employees, she cares about the customers – she’s just a very humble, honest, and smart businesswoman.”

Sandra resides just outside of Baton Rouge in the small Louisiana town of Central. Outside of her work with Roco, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling. Sandra is also a “Great Aunt,” and one of her very favorite things is spending time with her niece’s two young boys – they are truly the light of her life!

With more than 30 years’ experience, Sandra looks forward to continuing to work for Roco and to further its mission by providing exemplary service. “I want to increase my knowledge, learn, and grow, to be more productive and efficient, and to improve my communication skills.” She sees Roco’s continued mission as one of excellence…by providing the best equipment and exceptional training and highest level of customer service, while treating its valued customers sincerely, with respect, honor, and dignity.

Brad Warr has been with Roco since 2003 and brings over two decades of expertise to our technical rescue training programs. From rope and confined space rescue to trench rescue and structural collapse, Brad’s extensive experience allows him to teach with both confidence and real-world insight. Known for his passionate teaching style and unmatched technical depth, Brad is as committed to the learning experience of each student as he is to Roco’s rigorous standards. 

Before joining Roco, Brad began his firefighting career in 1998 with the Nampa Fire Department in Idaho. He quickly rose through the ranks to become a Captain, and during his tenure, he led the department’s Heavy & Technical Rescue Team, guiding and mentoring other firefighters in complex rescue techniques. Prior to his work in firefighting, Brad also served as an Emergency Response Technician for a large manufacturing facility in Boise, Idaho. In that role, he handled tasks, including OSHA compliance, emergency medical response, and hazardous materials management. 

These days, Brad’s role at Roco has expanded beyond instruction to include curriculum development and video content creation. His background makes him a natural fit for public speaking, and he frequently represents Roco at conferences and trade shows, where he shares his expertise and insights with the rescue and safety community. As a key player on our marketing team, Brad actively helps get the word out about Roco, contributing his technical knowledge, vision, and years of field experience to make sure our messaging is as impactful as our training. 

Outside of his work at Roco, Brad lives in Boise with his wife and is the proud father of five grown sons. When he’s not on the job, you’ll often find Brad outdoors hunting or tackling Idaho’s rugged terrain on his mountain bike, including winter rides through the snow on his fat-tire bike. Brad’s dedication to rescue and training, both on and off the clock, continues to set an inspiring example. 

Troy Gardner teaches a wide variety of technical rescue courses in his role as a Chief Instructor – a position he’s held since 2008. He is qualified in multiple areas including rope rescue, confined space, trench rescue, structural collapse, vehicle extrication and hazmat. He teaches primarily industrial and municipal courses and recently began helping lead Roco’s Instructor Development Course.

Troy’s work as a firefighter with the Bossier City Fire Department in northwestern Louisiana introduced him to technical rescue back in the mid-1990s, when he was selected as one of the original team members for the special operations rescue team. As a member of that team, he routinely volunteered to offer any assistance in training sessions when it came to rope rescue or confined space skills. He also served as the department’s Safety Officer for four years. He retired from the fire department in 2017 after a 25-year career. For the last 11 years of his career as a firefighter, Troy worked concurrently as a Roco Rescue Chief Instructor during his off-shifts and on vacation time.

Prior to joining the fire service, Troy served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a 9-month tour in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm/Shield.

Troy is from Bossier City, Louisiana, and in his free time he loves to be outdoors. A few of his favorite activities are skiing, golfing, hunting, and going to the lake with friends. He and his wife love going to any beach that will allow them to scuba dive. They also love travelling to new places and are both motorcycle enthusiasts who love to be together on the open road on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

In his role as Chief Instructor, Terry leads training courses throughout the United States in confined space, high angle, structural collapse, tactical, trench, and fall protection rescue. Terry’s instructional skill-set draws on his experience in law enforcement, fire protection, and the U.S. Air Force.

Terry is currently the Fire Chief with the South Salt Lake City Fire Department. Additionally, he is a sworn law enforcement officer for the State of Utah and has served as a tactical medic on the South Salt Lake City Police Department’s SWAT Team. He was also a cross-deputized federal marshal and has served on the Joint Criminal Apprehension Team as a task force officer and team medic. Terry has been teaching rescue training courses for Roco Rescue since 2000, and he plans to work full-time for Roco Rescue once he retires from the fire department.

Throughout his career, Terry has been recognized for his outstanding service as both a firefighter and a law enforcement officer. He received the United States Marshal Service Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award as well as the South Salt Lake Fire Officer of the Year Award and South Salt Lake Firefighter of the Year Award. He is a member of the Utah Fire Chiefs Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Firefighters, and the International Association of Arson Investigators. Terry is a certified rescue technician in the areas of structural collapse, confined space, rope, and trench rescue. He also is certified in emergency response hazardous materials awareness and operations and is a HAZMAT Technician. He is a POST Firearm Instructor and an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and holds an MPA in Emergency Management. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife and two grown children.

Bobby Kauer (more commonly known as “B.K.”) has two highly visible roles at Roco – one in services and one in training. In services, he manages a growing portfolio of business for Roco’s Contracted Safety and Rescue Teams (CSRT) for the Northeast. In this role, he interfaces with customers to assess jobs and coordinates with his team of experienced rescuers to staff jobs all over the Northeast. In his role as Chief Instructor, B.K. teaches on a wide variety of topics including rope rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, and fall protection. His students are primarily industrial rescue teams and municipal first responders.

B.K. began working for Roco Rescue in 2004, when he joined on a part-time basis as an Instructor. His roots in technical rescue originate from his 22-year career with New York City’s Department of Corrections, where he was on the Emergency Services Unit (ESU). In that role, he trained alongside NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit, and later was an ESU Instructor. He was a first responder at Ground Zero on 9/11 and for 4 months afterwards did search and recovery work.

B.K. was born and raised on Long Island, in New York, and currently lives upstate in Orange County, New York. He is a captain with his local volunteer fire department. When he can get away for a few hours, he is likely to be found playing golf. He also loves being with his family – he and his wife have two daughters, Kayla and Kiana, and 2 grandkids.

Eddie Chapa has two complimentary roles: he is a Chief Instructor, teaching primarily industrial teams and drawing on his deep experience in the oil and gas environment. Simultaneously, he is also a key member of our industrial business development team. When he’s not traveling across the country teaching industrial training courses in fall protection, confined space rescue, rope and high angle rescue, and trench rescue, he is drawing on his past experience in industry to help meet the needs of plant managers and identify solutions that help keep industrial teams safe and up-to-speed on their training.

Eddie started his career as a Paratrooper in the U.S. Army before transitioning to work as Operations Lead for BP Offshore in Houston, Texas. In that role he trained and led a 15-member fire brigade and rescue team. He first encountered Roco Rescue during his time at BP while he was conducting research on the best emergency response rescue training programs. Eddie and his BP colleagues trained with Roco Rescue in 2002 and, just over one year later, Eddie joined Roco Rescue as a part-time instructor. He became a full-time Roco Rescue employee in 2015 when he retired from BP.

In addition to his expertise in a wide variety of technical rescue disciplines, Eddie has also completed training in MEM (Major Emergencies Management) and Helicopter Underwater Escape training. He resides just outside of Houston, Texas, with his wife and three children.

As Director of CSRT (Contracted Safety and Rescue Team) Logistics, Devin is in charge of fleet and equipment management for Roco’s standby rescue services division. This includes planning for all jobs to cover the technical equipment needs, trucks, trailers, boats and other specialized personal protection equipment for the crews. Devin is responsible for inventory control and equipment maintenance to ensure that all gear is operational and ready to go. He also represents Roco Rescue at industry events and trade shows, and when the need arises he fills in as on-site Crew Chief on standby rescue jobs. He has worked with Roco Rescue’s Services Teams since 2006.

Devin started his career in rescue as a volunteer firefighter in Zachary, Louisiana. He joined Roco Rescue on a referral from his twin brother, Denver, and worked in a part-time capacity until 2006, at which point he joined the company full-time.

Aside from being a certified first responder, Devin is a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS). He and his family reside just outside of Baton Rouge, not far from where he was born and raised. Devin, like his brother, was a standout wrestler in high school. Today, he enjoys offshore fishing and hunting with his brothers, and spending time with his wife and young son.