Meet Our Team

Stephen M. Leyton

Founder and President
LinkedIn
Steve@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 102

Steve began his career in 1981 on the design/build side of the fire sprinkler industry and founded Protection Design in 1995 to focus on Architectural as well as Contractor clients. Affiliations include membership in NFPA, International Code Council (ICC), American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), California Fire Prevention Officers Northern and Southern Sections, and the San Diego Fire Protection Association. He is a principal member of the NFPA13 Technical Committee for Residential Sprinklers and Chairman of the NFPA14 Technical Committee for Standpipe systems. He also served as Chair of the installation committee for the California State Fire Marshal’s 2009 Residential Sprinkler Code Adoption Task Group and as Co-Chair of the ICC Ad-Hoc Committee on Residential Fire Sprinklers in 2005. Steve has worked on a wide range of residential, commercial/industrial, institutional and high-rise projects in the USA, Mexico and Asia.

Brent J. Kearny

Senior associate Director, Design and Project Manager
LinkedIn
Brent@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 109

Brent began drafting in AutoCad at age 14, and joined Protection Design in 2006. His professional growth in the fire protection industry encompasses all aspects of fire protection system design and project management, including 3D fire sprinkler system design and BIM coordination in Revit and Navisworks. His foresight and planning expertise help to guide clients to efficient and strategic solutions to code and design challenges. His extensive knowledge of the NFPA wet-pipe standards (13, 13D, 13R, 14, 20 and 24) lend themselves to projects in all formats and occupancies including large scale tenant improvements, medium and high density residential communities, educational, historical and institutional projects. Elevated to Design Manager in 2015, Brent has crafted an extraordinary working relationship with demanding jurisdictional authorities such as California Division of the State Architect (DSA) and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). Brent is also a key member of our On-Site Services team with special expertise in MIC and impairment remediation.

Tyler Cronk

Project Manager
LinkedIn
tyler@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 105

With a background in Architectural Engineering and an Associate’s Degree in Computer Aided Drafting & Design, Tyler brings extensive AutoCad and BIM modeling and coordination experience to the team. Since joining Protection Design in 2011 his fire protection career has encompassed experience with NFPA, CBC, CFC, UL, FM and ICC codes and standards. Also proficient in Revit, Inventor and Illustrator, Tyler has overseen projects under the jurisdiction of local fire authorities, California State Fire Marshal, California Division of the State Architect (DSA) and Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) and has worked on a range of projects including residential, commercial/industrial, institutional, high-rise and underground fire main site plans.

Dante Vallina M.

Senior Associate Director, Design and Project Manager
LinkedIn
Dante@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 106

After receiving his degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering from the Technical Institute of Tijuana, Dante spent 25 years in MEP engineering and contracting, including 11 years of heavy industrial projects and 3 years of intensive experience with hospital and healthcare facilities throughout Mexico. Since joining Protection Design in 2005, Dante has worked in drafting, layout, design and hydraulic modeling of water-based fire protection systems both in AutoCad and Revit. As a design technician and job captain his work experience includes industrial, educational, institutional and residential projects in the USA and Mexico.

Gilberto Garate

Design Technician
Gilberto@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 113

After graduating San Diego State in 2017, Gilberto continued his studies, shifting the focus to Computer Aided Design and Drafting with a specialty in Revit.  Having worked previously in residential construction, Gilberto has moved easily into fire protection system design, especially on multi-family and mixed us projects.   When he’s not laying out fire protection systems, Gilberto can be found tooling around San Diego on his Harley Davidson.

Miguel Heyer

Design Technician
Miguel@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 104

Miguel holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from ITESO University in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico and an associate’s certificate in Project Management from University of Barcelona’s on-line degree program. With over 5 years of experience in residential and mixed use architectural projects before moving to the USA, Miguel adds a comprehensive academic and work experience skill set to the Protection Design team. During his studies and career, Miguel has worked with AutoCad, ArchiCad, Revit, Cinema 4D, Illustrator and Sketchup. His perspective as a practiced architect adds measures of empathy for and perception of new building designs as they progress from schematic to design development phases, which contribute to PD&C’s effective and essential planning services on the onset of construction document work.

Fernando Lozano

Design Technician
LinkedIn
Fernando@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 117

Fernando received his degree in Civil Engineering from UABC in Baja California, Mexico in 2017.   His study and work experience  include hydraulic modeling of water supply systems on EPANET software, pipe pressure capacity calculations and pressure loss calculations.  Also, Fernando has worked as a project engineer in roadway designs, modeling and design of highway geometry and drainage systems. With experience in AutoCAD, OPUS, EPANET & Revit, he joined in Protection Design & Consulting as a design technician in early 2019.

Ricardo Montez

Design Technician
LinkedIn
Ricardo@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 107

Ricardo earned his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California in 2016.  During his career he has worked in water and sewer infrastructure and geotechnical reporting and brings that experience and skill to the PD&C team.  Since joining Protection Design he has worked on design and modeling of water-based fire protection systems in both AutoCAD and Revit, on residential, commercial/industrial and institutional projects.   Ricardo’s civil engineering background make him the ideal project lead for site fire main system designs and fire flow modeling. 

Sergio A. Vallina

Design Technician
LinkedIn
Sergio@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 111

Sergio holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from UABC in Baja California, Mexico. Since he joined Protection Design in 2017, he’s been coordinating projects in both AutoCAD & Revit modeling, assisting with management and design of fire protection systems, including underground fire piping, sprinklers and piping layouts.  His expertise has grown to include hydraulic and seismic bracing calculations, system layouts, fire flow calculations and construction management.  Before moving to USA he worked as a Project and Construction Manager on residential, education and public infrastructure projects.   During his studies and career, Sergio has worked with AutoCAD, Revit, Lumion and OPUS 2010. 

Adam Rios

Accounting/Business Manager
Adam@protectiondesign.com T: 619 255 8964, ext: 100

Adam began his career in accounting and finance in 1998 at large legal practice in Central California.   Since that time, he has overseen accounting and administrative operations for a range of businesses including a full-service equine hospital, a civil engineering firm and an aerospace contractor.  His expertise in accounting and invoicing practices, as well as state, local and federal regulations have streamlined PD&C’s accounting payroll processes, HR, Audits and compliance.  In his spare time, he enjoys motorsports and spending with time with his family.

Stephen M. Leyton

Founder and President
T: 619 255 8964, ext 102
Steve began his career in 1981 on the design/build side of the fire sprinkler industry and founded Protection Design in 1995 to focus on Architectural as well as Contractor clients. Affiliations include membership in NFPA, International Code Council (ICC), American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), California Fire Prevention Officers Northern and Southern Sections, and the San Diego Fire Protection Association. He is a principal member of the NFPA13 Technical Committee for Residential Sprinklers and Chairman of the NFPA14 Technical Committee for Standpipe systems. He also served as Chair of the installation committee for the California State Fire Marshal’s 2009 Residential Sprinkler Code Adoption Task Group and as Co-Chair of the ICC Ad-Hoc Committee on Residential Fire Sprinklers in 2005. Steve has worked on a wide range of residential, commercial/industrial, institutional and high-rise projects in the USA, Mexico and Asia.

Brent J. Kearny

Senior associate Director, Design and Project Manager
T: 619 255 8964, ext 109
Brent began drafting in AutoCad at age 14, and joined Protection Design in 2006. His professional growth in the fire protection industry encompasses all aspects of fire protection system design and project management, including 3D fire sprinkler system design and BIM coordination in Revit and Navisworks. His foresight and planning expertise help to guide clients to efficient and strategic solutions to code and design challenges. His extensive knowledge of the NFPA wet-pipe standards (13, 13D, 13R, 14, 20 and 24) lend themselves to projects in all formats and occupancies including large scale tenant improvements, medium and high density residential communities, educational, historical and institutional projects. Elevated to Design Manager in 2015, Brent has crafted an extraordinary working relationship with demanding jurisdictional authorities such as California Division of the State Architect (DSA) and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). Brent is also a key member of our On-Site Services team with special expertise in MIC and impairment remediation.

Tyler Cronk

Project Manager
T: 619 255 8964, ext 105
With a background in Architectural Engineering and an Associate’s Degree in Computer Aided Drafting & Design, Tyler brings extensive AutoCad and BIM modeling and coordination experience to the team. Since joining Protection Design in 2011 his fire protection career has encompassed experience with NFPA, CBC, CFC, UL, FM and ICC codes and standards. Also proficient in Revit, Inventor and Illustrator, Tyler has overseen projects under the jurisdiction of local fire authorities, California State Fire Marshal, California Division of the State Architect (DSA) and Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) and has worked on a range of projects including residential, commercial/industrial, institutional, high-rise and underground fire main site plans.

Dante Vallina M.

Senior Associate Director, Design and Project Manager
T: 619 255 8964, ext 106
After receiving his degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering from the Technical Institute of Tijuana, Dante spent 25 years in MEP engineering and contracting, including 11 years of heavy industrial projects and 3 years of intensive experience with hospital and healthcare facilities throughout Mexico. Since joining Protection Design in 2005, Dante has worked in drafting, layout, design and hydraulic modeling of water-based fire protection systems both in AutoCad and Revit. As a design technician and job captain his work experience includes industrial, educational, institutional and residential projects in the USA and Mexico.

Gilberto Garate

Design Technician
T: 619 255 8964, ext 113
After graduating San Diego State in 2017, Gilberto continued his studies, shifting the focus to Computer Aided Design and Drafting with a specialty in Revit.  Having worked previously in residential construction, Gilberto has moved easily into fire protection system design, especially on multi-family and mixed us projects.   When he’s not laying out fire protection systems, Gilberto can be found tooling around San Diego on his Harley Davidson.

Miguel Heyer

Design Technician
T: 619 255 8964, ext 104
Miguel holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from ITESO University in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico and an associate’s certificate in Project Management from University of Barcelona’s on-line degree program. With over 5 years of experience in residential and mixed use architectural projects before moving to the USA, Miguel adds a comprehensive academic and work experience skill set to the Protection Design team. During his studies and career, Miguel has worked with AutoCad, ArchiCad, Revit, Cinema 4D, Illustrator and Sketchup. His perspective as a practiced architect adds measures of empathy for and perception of new building designs as they progress from schematic to design development phases, which contribute to PD&C’s effective and essential planning services on the onset of construction document work.

Fernando Lozano

Design Technician
T: 619 255 8964, ext 117
Fernando received his degree in Civil Engineering from UABC in Baja California, Mexico in 2017.   His study and work experience  include hydraulic modeling of water supply systems on EPANET software, pipe pressure capacity calculations and pressure loss calculations.  Also, Fernando has worked as a project engineer in roadway designs, modeling and design of highway geometry and drainage systems. With experience in AutoCAD, OPUS, EPANET & Revit, he joined in Protection Design & Consulting as a design technician in early 2019.

Ricardo Montez

Design Technician
T: 619 255 8964, ext 107
Ricardo earned his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California in 2016.  During his career he has worked in water and sewer infrastructure and geotechnical reporting and brings that experience and skill to the PD&C team.  Since joining Protection Design he has worked on design and modeling of water-based fire protection systems in both AutoCAD and Revit, on residential, commercial/industrial and institutional projects.   Ricardo’s civil engineering background make him the ideal project lead for site fire main system designs and fire flow modeling. 

Sergio A. Vallina

Design Technician
T: 619 255 8964, ext 111
Sergio holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from UABC in Baja California, Mexico. Since he joined Protection Design in 2017, he’s been coordinating projects in both AutoCAD & Revit modeling, assisting with management and design of fire protection systems, including underground fire piping, sprinklers and piping layouts.  His expertise has grown to include hydraulic and seismic bracing calculations, system layouts, fire flow calculations and construction management.  Before moving to USA he worked as a Project and Construction Manager on residential, education and public infrastructure projects.   During his studies and career, Sergio has worked with AutoCAD, Revit, Lumion and OPUS 2010. 

Adam Rios

Accounting/Business Manager
T: 619 255 8964, ext 100
Adam began his career in accounting and finance in 1998 at large legal practice in Central California.   Since that time, he has overseen accounting and administrative operations for a range of businesses including a full-service equine hospital, a civil engineering firm and an aerospace contractor.  His expertise in accounting and invoicing practices, as well as state, local and federal regulations have streamlined PD&C’s accounting payroll processes, HR, Audits and compliance.  In his spare time, he enjoys motorsports and spending with time with his family.