Emmitsburg, MD - Over the past 14 years Chief Denny Compton has been a member of the Board of Directors of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). For more than 11 of those years he has served as the Chairman. At a recent NFFF board meeting, Chief Compton announced that he is stepping down as the Board Chairman effective August 18, 2019.
Under Chief Compton’s leadership the NFFF has seen unprecedented growth in programs for our families, a deeper involvement in the reduction of firefighter line-of-duty deaths, and the overall professionalism and stature of the organization. “I have depended on Denny’s counsel and friendship in leading this organization for over a decade,” said Chief Ron Siarnicki, NFFF Executive Director. “Though he is leaving the organization, the legacy he leaves will have a longstanding impact on the organization for generations.” Referring to his work with the Foundation as a “labor of love”, Chief Compton thanked the NFFF Board, Advisory Committee, Staff and Volunteers for the honor of serving alongside them.
Upon Chief Compton’s announcement, the board acted to select a new Chairman. By unanimous vote, Mr. Troy Markel was elected to take over as the Board Chairman.
Mr. Markel first joined the Foundation as an Advisory Committee Member in 2006, becoming a member of the Board in 2012. Mr. Markel most recently served as the Board Secretary and the Chair of the Finance and Fundraising Committee. Troy is also a former board member of the First Responder Center for Excellence, an affiliate organization of the NFFF.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to pass my leadership responsibilities along to such a capable and dedicated member of the board,” said Chief Denny Compton. “As a cherished member of the fire service and a talented executive, Troy has a proven record of commitment to the Foundation and service to America’s Fallen Firefighters and their families.”
Mr. Markel is the President of VFIS, a subsidiary of Glatfelter Insurance Group in York, Pennsylvania. He joined VFIS in 1990 as a Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) Sales Executive. Shortly afterwards, he quickly learned each of the programs within VFIS, including the property & casualty and accident & sickness programs. In 1998, he became a Regional Vice President. His responsibilities included managing twenty-nine states within the VFIS program aimed at insuring and providing risk management solutions for emergency service organizations throughout the United States and Canada.
“I am honored to be selected as the Board Chairman and humbled by the confidence placed upon me by my fellow board members,” said Troy Markel. “I want to thank Chief Compton for his many years of dedicated leadership and all he’s done in service to the organization.”
About the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation:
The United States Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide effort to honor and remember America's fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the nonprofit Foundation has developed and expanded programs to honor fallen fire heroes, assist their families in rebuilding their lives, and reduce firefighter deaths and injuries. For more information on the NFFF and its programs, click here.
www.firehero.org.
