Why We Do What We Do

Why We do what we do

by Andy Schwartz, Co-owner, Corporate Counsel, and Chief Procurement Officer

People. In a word, that’s the focus of all our work here at LION. People are why we do what we do, why we love what we do, and why we’ve endured as a family-owned business for generations.

We create industry-leading turnout gear, uniforms, training equipment, and care and maintenance programs so firefighters and other first responders are as prepared as possible and ready to do their jobs every day.

But our focus on people extends beyond our products and services. These past few months, the LION team has flown across the country to meet first responders, advocate for firefighters, honor the memory of the fallen, and pay tribute to our law enforcement officers.

Here’s what we’ve done:

FDIC

In mid-April, LION traveled to Indianapolis to attend FDIC 2024, one of the largest firefighter conferences in the world. Over 36,500 people attended the conference, and we were glad to meet so many of them, answer their questions, and ask them how LION can best serve them and their fire departments.

As usual, our LION team was in full force in our main exhibition area at the Indiana Convention Center, where we showcased our latest products (including the soon-to-launch American Honor helmet, RedZone Nomex Nano particulate-blocking hood, our V-Force boot and our new line of NFPA-certified uniforms, our state-of-the-art fire safety trailers, and our RedZone CO2 Clean technology.

We also spotlighted our helicopter and vehicle training props at The HEAT event that takes place outdoors.

These training props allow fire departments to combat live fires under controlled conditions, better preparing firefighters for when real-world emergencies occur.

If you were in town, we hoped you stopped by our booth! If not, catch us at FDIC next year from April 7-12, 2025.

Visiting Capitol Hill

LION also makes it a point to meet with our nation’s leaders and advocate for firefighters.

Some of the LION team and I flew to Washington, D.C. in late April for the Congressional Fire Services Institute’s (CFSI) 34th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner.

Throughout the week, we participated in CFSI’s Hill Days and met with members of Ohio’s congressional delegation. We urged them to fully fund the U.S. Fire Administration and reauthorize two critical grant programs: the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program (SAFER).

Both programs provide grants to paid and volunteer fire departments, allowing them to equip, hire, and train more firefighters.

In a time where we’re facing volunteer shortages across America, these grant programs are critical to ensuring fire departments are fully staffed and able to protect the people of their communities.

'Photo credit: CFSI 

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend

Most recently, my brother and LION CEO Steve Schwartz attended the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland, held May 4-5.

This annual event honors the memory of firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty during the previous year, and LION was proud to pay tribute to these fallen heroes and their families.

During the weekend, Steve was named to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s (NFFF) Advisory Committee. He was deeply honored to join the committee and looks forward to providing advice and input on the Foundation’s operations, as well as serving on issue-specific working groups.

Steve is dedicated to using his time on the Advisory Board to support the NFFF’s critical work and help expand its reach.

National Police Week

Finally, our company marked National Police Week from May 12-18. As we observed National Police Week, we paid tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication of law enforcement officers nationwide. We are honored to support our law enforcement customers as they continue to bravely face new and emerging threats and boldly protect and serve our communities. Thank you for ensuring our safety.

LION has been around since 1898, when my great-grandfather William Lapedes started selling dry goods to farmers out of a covered wagon. And though our products have changed, one thing hasn’t: People remain at the core of everything we do.

Thanks for reading,

Andy Schwartz, Co-owner, Corporate Counsel and Chief Procurement Officer, LION