About Us

Sam Fresina became president in September 2016. In this position, he is responsible for all functions related to the operation of NYSPFFA. He has also served as NYSPFFA's Secretary-Treasurer from 2010-2016 and executive vice president from 2004 to 2010.
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Sam began his firefighting career in the United States Air Force in 1985, where he served the country for two years stationed in England and two years at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, FL, where he helped protect highly sensitive and high-tech military equipment.
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Sam joined the City of Albany Fire Department in 1990. In 1992, he became the shop steward for Local 2007, the union representing the city’s fire fighters. Two years later, Sam became a trustee on the union’s executive board and became president of the local in 1997 until retiring in 2010. During his Albany FD career, Sam was instrumental in leading labor negotiations, helping to secure and maintain staff levels, health care benefits, and retirement benefits.
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Since 2001, Sam has also served as vice president of the Capital District affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Beginning in 2004, Sam has served as a field services representative for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), which represents NYSPFFA on important national issues.

Eddie Santiago was appointed by the NYSPFFA Executive Board to serve as Secretary / Treasurer of the New York State Professional Fire Fighters following the retirement of James McGowan in late 2024. Santiago's service began earlier this year. The responsibilities of the Secretary-Treasurer include maintaining accurate records of NYSPFFA membership and affiliates, documenting the proceedings of its executive board and biannual convention, overseeing all funds of the NYSPFFA, and making disbursements to cover all authorized business and organizational affairs.
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Santiago is a 30-year veteran of the Rochester Fire Department and has achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
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Prior to assuming his new role, Santiago served as First District Vice President representing 28 IAFF unions in the eight-county Western New York Region since 2023; and President of IAFF Local 1071, representing nearly 500 Rochester City Fire Fighters since 2015.

David Holleran was elected Executive Vice President in 2016. In this position, David is chairman of the Health and Safety Committee and oversees all health and safety initiatives.
David started his firefighting career in Binghamton in 1990. He became a paramedic in 1998 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2004 and then Captain in 2023. 
 
He is currently assigned to Engine 4 on the eastside of Binghamton. Since coming on the job in Binghamton he has been involved with his local, serving in various capacities. He served as Vice-President and then President of his Benevolent Association for eight years. For the last 10 years, he has served as President of his local.