OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Pete Laake Jr.
President
Pete Laake, the current President and third-generation of leadership of FESCO Emergency Sales (FESCO), briefly had a baseball career with the Texas Rangers organization. Though he worked part-time and weekends while in high school and college, Pete got his full-time start with FESCO in 1992. Pete learned the ins and outs of the company on both the service side and the sales side by progressively mastering each position that became available. He was a Service Manager for six years before moving to the challenges of the Sales Department, eventually earning Salesperson of the Year for both FESCO and for Horton Emergency Vehicles multiple years in a row.
Even with his busy schedule and demanding positions, Pete still makes time to keep his family a priority. He frequently coaches his children’s sports teams, is an avid golfer, and enjoys spending free time with his wife and children at their home in Howard County, Maryland.
Peter W. Laake Sr.
Vice President (former President)
Peter Laake Sr. (“Senior”) has spent his entire career in the fire service industry. Back in the 80s, he assumed the reigns of FESCO leadership from his father, FESCO’s founder Walter “Ed” Laake.
Senior started his college education at NC State University before family and work brought him back closer to home. He later earned his accounting degree from the University of Maryland, College Park while selling Seagrave Fire Apparatus throughout the region. He successfully navigated the company through tough economic times and the end of the Seagrave-FESCO relationship.
In the early-90s, both his sons joined the business and FESCO moved from its longtime home in Landover, MD to Elkridge, MD where it still resides. FESCO reached new levels of success by focusing on ambulance sales and is now the dealership standard representing multiple brands of Fire & EMS vehicles. Senior has ceded leadership control to his son, Pete, and is now happy to be winding down a successful lifelong career to spend more time with his seven grandchildren.
Senior enjoys watching sports and loves the challenge of a craps table. He has been a long-time resident of Kensington, MD with his wife and has his eyes set on a retirement home on the Delaware shore sometime soon.
Steve Laake
Vice President
Steve Laake serves as Vice President for FESCO and is another third-generation family member. Previously, he held the titles of Project Manager and General Manager; and he has overseen a wide variety of duties including marketing, used vehicle sales, human resources, payroll and benefits, facility management and the launch and development of FESCO’s graphics department.
Steve earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance from Loyola’s Sellinger School of Business. He is an avid rugby enthusiast and played for Loyola University Maryland and was twice named to the US All-American Team. Post-college, he continued to play domestically and abroad. Most recently, he coached rugby at the United States Naval Academy and the University of Maryland.
Steve lives in Rockville, MD with his wife and two children. In his spare time, he can be found in his garage gym fighting the ravages of old age and enjoying a cold beverage afterwards. He is a partner in additional business ventures including Cava Group, Inc. and the Arlington Cinema, Inc.
Doug DeLawter
Vice President, Finance & HR
Doug DeLawter is the Vice President of Finance and Human Resources.
Doug grew up in Montgomery County, MD, but is a fan of the hated Dallas Cowboys. Doug resides in Eldersburg, MD and is married with two children, his boy/girl twins. Doug is an active member of the US Tennis Association and plays doubles and mixed team double year-round. He also likes to golf and ski.
Most weekends are spent with his kids’ sports activities. When the schedule clears, Doug likes to pack up the family to travel to the beach or mountains.
Rick Breed
General Manager
Rick Breed currently serves as FESCO’s Sales Manager, and oversees New Delivery and Sales Support Teams. Rick joined FESCO in 2006 to oversee our Graphics Department. He previously was an IT professional with the US Department of Agriculture where he received the USDA Excellence in IT Award. Rick was raised in Northern Virginia, attended Virginia Tech, and is a past member of Loudoun County Volunteer Rescue Squad for 12 years prior to moving to Maryland.
He now resides in Fulton, MD with his wife, two cats and Shelby the Super Corgi. A former Eagle Scout, Rick enjoys spending time outdoors and is also a member of his local strength training club, Forever Strong.
Austin Foertschbeck
Service Manager
Austin joined the FESCO team shortly after high school in 2015 as a Service Advisor. He worked closely with the Service Manager and Operations Manager to learn how we provide service and maintenance equal to the extremely high quality of the vehicles we sell. In time, he was promoted to the role of Assistant Service Manager as he actively helped to manage and improve our service operation.
In 2020, Austin earned the title of Service Manager and is now leading our Service Team in the repair and maintenance of our customers’ vehicles. Austin has held several positions within the Frederick County Volunteer Fire Department and won various awards during his 10 years of service. He lives in Frederick County, MD with his wife and enjoys playing golf and spending time with family and friends.
Jay Seward
Service Manager
In 2020, Jay Seward assumed the role of Service Manager of the Richmond Service Center located in Ashland, Virginia. He ensures that every truck serviced at that location has been thoroughly inspected and meets with FESCO’s high quality standards. Jay is fully knowledgeable and experienced with emergency service vehicles having spent his entire life in the industry.
Jay Seward joined FESCO in 2018 as a Service Technician and immediately became an integral part of the team. Jay, a trained machinist since 1992, is also trained in hydraulics, fabrication, remounts and specialty builds. His years’ of experience includes being a service manager / technician doing ambulance and fire apparatus repair, remounts, body and paint work. Jay holds EVT and Machinist certifications, and has had manufacturer training from Horton, Spartan, Seagrave Aerialscope, and American LaFrance.
Jay shares his off time with his wife, son and daughter and enjoys working on vintage motorcycles and old Honda cars.
Lisa Resch
Office Manager
Lisa Resch joined FESCO in 2004 and serves as our Office Manager overseeing all Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivables daily management. She also processes the tags and titles to get our customers’ vehicles on the road and in service. She is the senior member of our administrative team and demonstrates a consistent and exemplary contribution to FESCO.
Lisa hails from Baltimore and is married with two children and one grandchild. When not spending time with her grandson, Lisa enjoys camping and motorcycle touring.
Brendan Link
Marketing Manager
Brendan is our Marketing Manager and uses his certifications in Adobe along with his passion for graphic design, photography, and videography to lead our creative marketing strategy for FESCO.
Brendan earned a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication from the Honors College at Salisbury University and currently resides in Baltimore County, Maryland with his puppy Tucker. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing videogames with friends, and trying to win his fantasy football leagues. On most weekends, Brendan can be found screaming at the TV while watching the Ravens, Orioles, and Capitals.
Andy Burger
Graphics Coordinator
Andy is in charge of FESCO’s Graphics Department, working with clients to ensure that each vehicle leaving our facility is finished to the customer’s custom specification. Andy was previously a Lead Designer & Production Manager overseeing the design and install of custom vehicle wraps and commercial signage. He has a degree in illustration and considers himself a halfway decent painter when he has the free time and motivation to do it.
Andy was born, raised, and currently resides in Columbia, MD with his wife. He spends his time playing video games, watching football, and is a Ravens fan for life.