Pyrotechnic Innovations, also widely known as Pyro Innovations, was founded by Mike Tockstein in 2002, and is dedicated to providing a means of entering into the field of pyrotechnics, to communicate the cutting edge standards in pyrotechnics, and all associated training. This is accomplished through field exercises and our extensive Fireworks Training pages, which include tons of information, with step by step video explanations you won't find anywhere else, on the methods used to set up a professional fireworks display.

Pyrotechnic Innovations formally partnered with Pyro Spectaculars in 2013 to provide Pyro Spectaculars exclusive access to the personnel and training resources of Pyrotechnic Innovations.

Everyone associated with Pyro Innovations gets cutting edge training and experience with the setup and firing of professional fireworks displays. We are particularly fond of using video for training and to give the public insight on what its like to put on a professional fireworks display.

Pyrotechnic Innovations is not a fireworks display company, but a crew of professional pyrotechnicians who adhere to the highest standards possible. We are constantly training new fireworks crew that come through our website; however, only the few that have been with us for a long time, are dedicated, have done an outstanding job, plan to work for us for the foreseeable future, and have gone above and beyond in some way are listed here.

We have been interviewed and featured in numerous television, internet, and newspaper articles. Our pictures and videos have appeared in television productions, plays, school textbooks, and been used to support our troops overseas on military bases and ships. We receive emails from people all over the world. Feel free to contact us with anything you would like see added to our fireworks web site!

Michael A. Tockstein
Licensed Pyrotechnician Since: 2001
Other Qualifications:
- Electrical Engineer in the Aerospace Industry
- Solar Energy Consultant for Residential and Commercial Solar Installations
- M.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering from USC
- B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering w/ Minor in Applied Mathematics from CSULB

After having worked for fireworks display company Pyro Spectaculars for a couple years, Mike started the Pyrotechnic Innovations website originally to post pictures and videos of his fireworks displays and help recruit new people for his fireworks crew.

Over the years, the website gained in popularity and started to generate so many new people, that he was constantly having to provide training at every one of his shows. After shooting many training videos and spending hours in front of the computer, in 2007, Mike published the Fireworks Training section of the website. He then started requiring all new people to read through all the training pages before working their first show, which ended up cutting down the training time in the field by a factor of ten. The fireworks training pages were a huge success in helping to streamline training so many people. In addition, many other pyrotechnic operators started using the fireworks training pages to add to their knowledge bank, and train their crew.

In 2013, Pyrotechnic Innovations officially partnered with Pyro Spectaculars to provide the extensive personnel resources of the site in addition to a formalized training program.

Throughout his fireworks career, Mike has done many newspaper, magazine, and online interviews on his career in pyrotechnics. He has also done pyrotechnic related work for television, such as for Discovery Channel's show "Mythbusters," on multiple occasions. On two occasions, he produced and provided fireworks videos for our overseas troops to watch on the 4th of July.

Check out Mike's upcoming fireworks displays.

Ed Osdale
Licensed Pyrotechnician Since: 2010
Part of Our Fireworks Crew Since:2008
Other Qualifications:
- Great Cook! Pyro's have to eat too!

Ed's dedication and willingness to go out of his way for someone or the good of the team, makes him a welcome part of the crew and a great friend.

Check out Ed's upcoming fireworks displays.

Shawn Kennington
Licensed Pyrotechnician Since: 2010
Part of Our Fireworks Crew Since:2008
Other Qualifications:
- Career as an RF engineer in the satellite broadcasting industry
- Great Cook! Pyro's have to eat too! Gives Ed a run for his money!

During his years apprenticing for his license, Shawn worked more than 80 shows! Shawn's hard work always makes for a speedy setup.

Check out Shawn's upcoming fireworks displays.

David Canchola
Licensed Pyrotechnician Since: 2013
Part of Our Fireworks Crew Since:2009
Other Qualifications:
- B.S. Degree in Environmental and Occupational Health from CSUN
- Professional Media and Television Producer in the Entertainment Industry
- Camera Operator, Technician, and Editor
- Professional Photographer
- Small Business Owner
- Registered and Licensed Environmental Health and Safety Specialist
- Certified Hazardous Materials Specialist

David has been assisting in the production of some of our latest fireworks videos and has proven to be a great asset on our crew.

Tesa Hartsuyker
Licensed Pyrotechnician Since: 2012
On Our Fireworks Crew Since: 2009

Known as the "Pink Pyro," Tesa has been a very reliable and a hard working member of our fireworks crew since 2009.

All of her pyro tools including her hard hat are pink! She even has a custom built pyroinnovations.com one-shot firing system with a pink continuity light!

William Rennison
Part of Our Fireworks Crew Since:2006
Other Qualifications:
- Small Business Owner
- Naval Special Warfare

Will's ability to scale anything has come in handy to secure pyrotechnics in hard to reach places.

Robbie Burchett
Part of Our Fireworks Crew Since: 2001
Other Qualifications:
- Home Audio/Video System Specialist
- B.S. Degree in Business
- A.S. Degree in Computer Information Systems

Rob has been a faithful seasonal member of our crew since we began back in 2001 and has helped to assemble some of our electronic firing system projects.