The following article was originally printed on July 31, 20015 in Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Redefining What it Means to be a Silicon Valley City Advertising Supplement on page 12 .

Tell the average person that Fremont’s ‘secret weapon’ for business development is its Fire Marshal and you probably get a quizzical look. But tell a manufacturer, and you immediately get an enthusiastic nod. Companies engaging in R&D or manufacturing face numerous regulations related to safety–everything from fire code-compliant buildings to properly managing hazardous material inventories. Whether it’s a new company moving into the City or an existing company scaling its operation, interaction with the Fire Department is often a critical path for these projects. In Fremont, Fire Marshal Jay Swardenski uses his unparalleled knowledge of environmental science to balance his duties as a regulator with his opportunity to advance economic growth for his community. But don’t take our word for it–hear it from these folks first-hand.

“Jay Swardenski’s knowledge of building codes and technical manufacturing has enabled us to accelerate our retrofit and upgrades to our building in Fremont. His leadership continues to foster a collaborative relationship between the City of Fremont and SolarCity.”

—Terrence Behrens, Senior Director of Global Facilities, SolarCity

“Throughout the design and construction of our new Headquarters project, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jay on various fire code compliance issues. His responsiveness, affability and patience made my job so much easier. You will not meet a more knowledgeable or personable fire marshal than our City’s very own Jay Swardenski.”

—Ruth Chao, General Affairs Manager, Delta Products Corporation