Advanced Consulting Solutions Group

James Taylor

Principal & CEO

P.E.

Co-founder, Principal, and CEO of ACS Group, bringing over 16 years of fire protection engineering experience to complex, high-risk projects nationwide. He leads many of the practice's most technically challenging assignments, specializing in fire protection system design and review, commissioning, building and fire code consulting, and analysis of industrial processes and hazardous materials. His diverse portfolio includes work across alternative power vehicle facilities, casinos, hospitality, healthcare, government, and industrial sectors. Before founding ACS Group, James gained national and international experience in Macau SAR, Chicago, and Atlanta, including leading the commissioning team for the MGM Cotai resort opening in Macau, China. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, an M.S. in Fire Protection Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and an MBA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As CEO, James drives strategic growth and technical excellence while empowering his team to deliver innovative, code-compliant solutions for safer built environments.

David Neschke

Principal

Co-founder and Principal with over 24 years in the Fire Protection field. He first started in the industry when he joined the United States Navy in 1994, where his training involved the inspection, testing and maintenance of shipboard firefighting systems. In 1999, he joined Fire Protection Management (FPM) and continued to conduct inspections and testing of fire and life safety systems in the built environment. When FPM was absorbed by Rolf Jensen and Associates, David expanded his knowledge base to include code consulting and system design. Now as a Principal at ACS Group, he utilizes his years of training and business degree to help build and run the practice.

Gage Weilert

Principal

Principal overseeing the ACS Group Austin, Texas office and associated Texas operations, business development, and client relations. Gage has extensive experience in analysis of industrial processes and hazardous materials, design and commissioning of fire protection systems, alternate means and methods, and life safety code consulting. An expert communicator, collaborator, and leader, Gage strives for excellence in all professional endeavors.

Tanner Burke

VP of Engineering

P.E.

VP of Engineering at ACS Group, recognized for leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to innovation. He has played a key role in the growth of the Austin and Boston offices by leading cross-functional teams and delivering impactful solutions. Tanner brings over 10 years of hands-on experience in fire protection engineering to his leadership role. His educational foundation includes a Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which he has built upon through extensive real-world application and professional practice. In his VP role, Tanner oversees complex operations and strategic planning while collaborating with developers, architects, contractors, and regulatory authorities to deliver innovative solutions across diverse building types.

Sean Miller

Regional Director - West

CFPS

Regional Director - West with over 14 years of experience as a fire protection and life safety consultant, specializing in system design, consulting, and code compliance. He has worked across various sectors including Industrial, Data Centers, Higher Education, Life Sciences, Mixed-use, and Healthcare. His international and domestic experience allows him to integrate safety measures seamlessly from pre-design to the Certificate of Occupancy, ensuring projects meet the highest standards of safety and compliance. As a Regional Director, Sean brings extensive research, leadership, and strategic positioning experience to the team, serving as a trusted advisor in fire protection and life safety for both small and large-scale projects.

Mark Del Rosario

Chief Financial Officer

CPA

Chief Financial Officer at ACS Group driving financial strategy and operational excellence. With over 18 years of experience in healthcare and professional services, his expertise in financial reporting, process optimization, and systems integration is extensive. He has successfully streamlined operations through strategic implementations, directly supporting the expansion of ACS Group across multiple markets. Mark obtained his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Loyola Marymount University and is a licensed CPA in the state of Nevada.

Tony Callaway

Director of Code Compliance

Director of Code Compliance for ACS Group with over 27 years of combined experience in fire and law enforcement. Tony has dedicated his career to public safety, primarily in the role of Fire Marshal. His most notable position was as the Chief of the Travis County Fire Marshal's office, where he managed multiple divisions, including fire/building code, fire and explosion investigations, fire education and outreach, special events, and wildfire prevention, until his retirement from the public sector. Tony brings a wide range of professional fire protection expertise to assist in project compliance, ensuring clients' buildings are up to code and have a protection plan in place.

Drew Perduk

Regional Director - Texas

P.E.

Regional Director of Texas for ACS Group, leading operational success across Austin and Dallas, overseeing workload coordination, training, recruiting, technical oversight of deliverables, and assisting in business development efforts. Drew has built extensive experience in facility assessments, fire suppression and alarm design, code compliance, and commissioning work. He brings a wide range of experience in fire protection engineering, with a detail-oriented approach to complex system design and commissioning. Drew holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, as well as a Professional Engineering license in multiple US states and an NCEES Model Law Engineer (MLE) designation for reciprocity nationwide.

Jon Bernal

Fire Protection Consultant

NICET Level II

Fire Protection Consultant in Las Vegas with extensive experience from across the country, including roles as a fire protection engineer near Washington, DC, a licensed fire alarm technician in NYC, a volunteer firefighter, and an owner's representative for the US government. Jon holds a NICET Level 2 Fire Alarm Certification and has led technical teams on major projects, designing systems for colleges, hotels, casinos, and energy storage facilities. He serves as an SFPE DFW mentor to emerging fire protection professionals and is an active AIA Las Vegas member.

Mark Mecham

Senior Fire Protection Engineer

P.E.

Senior Fire Protection Engineer with extensive experience in code consulting in the Las Vegas office. His career spans numerous major hospitality and mixed-use developments throughout Las Vegas, where he has been instrumental in fire protection reports, master egress plans, and complex smoke control commissioning efforts. He oversaw construction inspection services for the landmark City Center Las Vegas project and has served as Engineering Manager for smoke control testing services.

Moises Velasquez

Fire Protection Associate

Fire Protection Associate in the Dallas-Fort Worth office with a strong background in life safety design and review, fire alarm systems, and fire suppression systems. Moises has contributed to projects spanning commercial, hazmat storage, healthcare, hospitality, residential, and manufacturing sectors. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from The University of Texas at Dallas.

Cole Nolting

Fire Protection Associate

Fire Protection Associate in the Austin office with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology. Cole assists the team under the supervision of a Professional Engineer to ensure on-time deliverables and client satisfaction, with experience writing technical reports on commercials, schools, and apartments.

Emily Sharp

Fire Protection Associate

Fire Protection Associate in the Las Vegas office with more than 4 years of experience in the fire protection and construction industry. Her experience includes design and manufacturing consulting, field engineering, and hands-on work with firestop systems and structural engineering software. She holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.