LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
FIRE DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2024
EVENT PROGRAM
INDUSTRY PARTNERS
LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
FIRE DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2024
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2024
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM REGISTRATION
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM WELCOME & SPONSOR PRESENTATIONS
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM EXHIBIT HALL HOURS
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM LIGHT BREAKFAST
8:45 AM - 10:00 AM
OPENING KEYNOTE: FIGHT FIRE AGGRESSIVELY, THEN PREVENT CANCER AGGRESSIVELY
Members of the fire service are largely aware of the increased incidence of cancer and cancer mortality in the fire service. Despite this fact, and despite the recent classification of occupational exposure as a firefighter as a Group 1 known human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the development and implementation of preventative interventions to reduce cancer risk among firefighters remains elusive. This session will identify knowledge and research gaps when it comes to cancer in the fire service and will discuss how to implement preventative interventions that are compatible with fire service public safety duties.
Speaker:
• Dr. Derek Urwin, Assistant Adjunct Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, UCLA, and Engineer, Truck & Engine 170, LACoFD
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM COFFEE BREAK
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM LEADERSHIP STYLES AND STRATEGIES
This session will cover different leadership styles and how they can be used effectively in the fire service. We’ll look at various approaches and discuss how each can improve team performance and handle challenges. By the end, you’ll know how to apply these styles to lead your team better in tough situations.
Speakers:
• Maurice Johnson, Fire Chief, El Dorado Hills Fire Department
• Michael Lozano, Assistant Chief, Metro Fire
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM LUNCH
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM RENEWED ENGAGEMENT WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS
This session will help show you how to lead an organization through a collaborative approach with a department-wide organizational skillset that will change how Fire/EMS and Administrative professionals collaborate. This will create a work culture that is measurably more productive and brings joy back into your office environment.
Speakers:
• Andy Lawler, Fire Chief, San Miguel Fire & Rescue
• Leah Harris, Administrative Officer/Finance Officer, San Miguel Fire & Rescue
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
This session will focus on the importance of ethical leadership in the fire service. We’ll explore common ethical dilemmas leaders face and discuss how to handle these issues with integrity. You’ll learn strategies for creating a culture of accountability and transparency, and how to lead by example in challenging situations. Through realworld examples and discussions, you’ll gain practical insights into maintaining high ethical standards and fostering trust within your team.
Speakers:
• Jenica Maldonado, Partner, AALRR
• Chris Tubbs, Fire Chief, Southern Marin Fire District
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM DESSERT BREAK
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
INSIDE THE CALIFORNIA FIRE AND RESCUE MUTUAL AID SYSTEM
An in depth look at the Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System including the system’s strengths, weaknesses, and efforts currently underway for improvement. Including one of the California Fire Services’ first Introductions to the Fire Asset Status Tracker (FAST) Application.
Speakers:
• Eric Walder, Fire Chief, Waterloo Moraga Fire Protection District
• Corey Zander, Assistant Chief, Cal OES Fire & Rescue
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM NETWORKING RECEPTION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM REGISTRATION
10:30 AM – 1:00 PM EXHIBIT HALL HOURS
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM LIGHT BREAKFAST
8:30 AM - 9:45 AM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION
This session will cover essential aspects of financial management in the fire service, including effective budgeting, strategic resource allocation, and financial planning. We will discuss how to optimize operational effectiveness and ensure long-term sustainability by making informed financial decisions. Participants will learn practical strategies for managing budgets, allocating resources efficiently, and implementing financial practices that support the goals of their fire districts. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, you’ll gain the skills needed to enhance your district’s financial health and operational performance.
Speaker:
• Richard Pearce, Fire Chief, Tiburon Fire Protection District
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM STATE FIRE OFFICIAL UPDATE
CAL FIRE – Office of the State Fire Marshal staff will give program updates on Fire Hazzard Severity Zone map updates, CWPM Grant updates, fire work disposal, State Fire Training, and more.
Speaker:
• Daniel Berlant, California State Fire Marshall
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM COFFEE BREAK
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
TEAM BUILDING AND MOTIVATION: BUILDING COHESIVE AND RESILIENT TEAMS, FOSTERING MORALE, AND MOTIVATING PERSONNEL FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE
Supervisor, Manager, Leader; The Basics of Being a Boss
Speaker:
• Mike Kraus, Fire Chief (ret.), City of Modesto Fire Department
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM LUNCH
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
ENHANCING WILDFIRE RESPONSE: THE ROLE OF WATCH DUTY IN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Exploring how Watch Duty is revolutionizing the way wildfire information is accessed and utilized. Originally developed as a free, user-friendly platform for everyday citizens, Watch Duty aggregates data from a multitude of sources, offering a comprehensive and real-time view of wildfire incidents. As our platform gained traction, we discovered its growing importance among first responders, who leverage it to enhance situational awareness and make informed decisions in the field. By providing a centralized hub for critical information, Watch Duty empowers responders to respond more effectively to wildfire threats. Building on our commitment to serve both communities and professionals, we have introduced Watch Duty Pro, a specialized version tailored to meet the unique needs of fire and emergency services. Join us to learn how Watch Duty continues to evolve, providing unparalleled support in wildfire response and management. Discover how this powerful tool can become an indispensable asset for your agency and help safeguard lives and property.
Speaker:
• Nick Russell, VP of Operations, Watch Duty
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
NAVIGATING FDAC: COMPREHENSIVE ASSOCIATION UPDATES
This session will provide an in-depth overview of the latest updates and developments from the Fire Districts Association of California (FDAC). Participants will gain insights into recent policy changes, upcoming initiatives, and key resources offered by the association. We will cover how these updates impact fire districts and explore strategies for effectively leveraging FDAC’s support and services. Through detailed presentations and Q&A sessions, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge needed to stay informed and make the most of the opportunities provided by FDAC.
Speaker:
• Steve Hall, Fire Chief (ret.)& Education Committee Chair, Central Fire Protection District
LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
FIRE DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2024
SPEAKER BIOS
Chief Daniel Berlant
In January 2023, Chief Berlant was designated by the Governor as Acting State Fire Marshal, in addition, continuing to function as the Deputy Director over Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation. In his position he oversees programs ranging from building and fire code development, state building fire inspections, fire protection licensing, wildfire prevention, pipeline safety, and firefighter training certification. He has worked for CAL FIRE in various roles since 2001 and been a part of the Office of the State Fire Marshal since 2016.
Mike Kraus began his California fire service career in 1979 as a Reserve Firefighter with the Clovis Fire Department. He retired, 33 years later, as the Fire Chief of the Modesto Regional Fire Authority. He gained a wide range of experiences and skills, such as: program and curriculum development, teaching, labor/management collaboration, elected-official relations, team-building, strategic planning, community risk assessment and deployment analysis, community relations, partnership-building, managing budgets, and supervisory/ management/ leadership skills.
Much of his tenure as Fire Chief was spent forging the Modesto Regional Fire Authority, a Joint Powers Authority, integrating a city fire department, a county agency, and an independent fire district. While the course was plagued by challenges, Mike believes it was the right thing to do; reducing duplication and improving efficiency. He gained real experience in the process and assembled a guidebook entitled, Regionalizing Fire Service Delivery Systems, Will it Work Here?
Chief Kraus’ tenure coincided with the worst economic times in the country since the Great Depression. As a result, he had to oversee an approximate 25% reduction of his departmental staffing. This unpleasant but necessary
process taught him the importance of looking for “out of the box” solutions that normally wouldn’t be considered. These difficult times also forced him to rely on, use, and hone, his supervisory, managerial, and leadership skills. This experience drove him to write the workbook, Supervisor, Manager, Leader; The Basics of Being a Boss
Today, as the sole proprietor of Mike Kraus Leadership, he spends his time helping individuals and organizations learn the lessons he had to learn from the school of hard knocks, through speaking, advising, teaching, and conducting workshops based upon his experiences and referenced in his writings.
Chief Maurice Johnson’s professional career began in 1989, and advanced to Assistant Chief at the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (Metro Fire). Throughout his 34 years in the Fire Service, Chief Johnson served in several command and executive level positions, including Air Operations Tactical Flight Officer, Battalion Chief, Director of Emergency Medical Services, Operations Shift Commander, Fire Marshal, Special Operations, and Governmental Affairs.
Chief Johnson has led the El Dorado Hills Fire Department for six years and serves on several local and State Boards and is currently the Area 3 North Director for CALCHIEFS. Vice Chair of the FIRESCOPE Board of Directors, and a Director at Large for Fire Districts Association of California.
Chief Hall has worked in the fire service for over 30 years, with 18 years of experience holding Fire Chief and Chief Officer positions. During his tenure he has implemented several fire, community risk reduction, emergency management, and special operations programs.
Chief Hall has extensive experience in developing strategic, master, and emergency plans, as well as developing and implementing shared-services, agency reorganization, and functional consolidations.
Chief Hall is a Chief Fire Officer Designee (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, holds Executive Fire Officer Designation (EFO) through the National Fire Academy; has a Master’s degree in Executive Fire Leadership and Emergency Preparedness from Grand Canyon University, Arizona; a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Studies from California State University Long
Beach, CA, and an Associate degree in Fire Science –Modesto Junior College, Modesto, CA. He is a certified Emergency Management Specialist – Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California and has extensive training in leadership, command, strategic planning, and emergency management.
Chief Hall’s professional experience includes serving as Fire Chief – Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County (2016 – 2020); Assistant Fire Chief – Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County (2015 – 2016); Fire Chief / Emergency Manager – City of Patterson & West Stanislaus FPD (20102015); Division Chief/Fire Marshal – City of Patterson / West Stanislaus FPD (2001-2010)
Leah Harris Administrative Officer/ Finance Officer Leah Harris started her career in public service in 2008 as a Staff Services Analyst with CAL FIRE in the Finance Office. In 2012, she received her B.S. Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and a minor in Accountancy from National University. She is currently completing the Master of Public Administration program with National University which will help her advance her skills and continue to support her District in evaluating the effectiveness of public administration strategies. Administrative Officer/Finance Officer Harris is responsible for the management and coordination of diverse and complex administrative services and oversees budgetary, fiscal, personnel/payroll, human resources and contract management and is the head of the Administrative Services Division.
Chief Andy Lawler was appointed to the position of Fire Chief for San Miguel Fire and Rescue, in San Diego, February 2, 2024. He has been fortunate to work as a Division Chief of Administration and Operations before his selection. Prior to that he served several years as an operational Battalion Chief in a busy Battalion. His career started with San Miguel in 1999, climbing through each rank. He gained experience as a private paramedic in the City of San Diego, a Firefighter/ Paramedic with CAL FIRE Riverside, as well as working with a reservation fire department. His career has been heavily focused on training as a lead instructor in multiple academies, as well as an instructor in the community college system.
As a newer Fire Chief, he believes in fostering relationships with administrative staff, union leadership and floor personnel. He is also placing a renewed focus on fostering community and political partnerships. One of the greatest lessons he has learned as someone that rose through the ranks, is that moving into administrative position(s) for Firefighters, can pose challenges. He believes these relationships should not be neglected and is our job as Fire Service Leaders to learn to empower and integrate with our Administrative Professionals. He is very excited to be a part of this discussion.
Michael D. Lozano, Assistant Chief at Metro Fire, has served as an Assistant Chief for over nine years, accumulating 22 years at Metro Fire and over 30 years of overall service experience. Throughout his career, he has taken on various operational, command, and executive roles, including Battalion Chief, Air Operations Program Manager, Shift Commander, Fire Marshal, Director of Training Health and Safety, and Special Operations Operator. Additionally, he has fulfilled vital leadership positions such as Incident Management Team (type III) Incident Commander and Operations Section Chief. With extensive experience at local, state, and national levels, Chief Lozano is recognized as an executive officer. He holds a B.A. in Public Safety Administration from Grand Canyon University.
Jenica Maldonado has represented public agencies in labor and employment and government law matters for 15 years. Her practice focuses on providing advice and counsel to cities, counties, and special districts, including several Northern California Fire Districts, regarding all aspects of labor and employment law and government law to matters, in collective bargaining and labor relations, advising on and conducting workplace investigations, and in arbitrations and administrative proceedings. Jenica also has substantial litigation experience. Prior to join Atkinson Andelson as a Partner in their Public Labor and Employment Practice Group, she served for seven years as a Deputy City Attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office on both the Labor Team and Ethics and Elections Team. She was recognized by the Daily Journal legal publication as a Top Labor & Employment Attorney in California in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Richard Pearce has more than 40 years of Fire and EMS experience that includes rural, suburban and metropolitan delivery systems in both the public and private sectors.
Richard has served as the Fire Chief of the Tiburon Fire Protection District for 20 years. He is committed to exceptional stewardship, responsible local governance and fiscal responsibility.
As a Past President and Board Member of Fire District’s Association of California (FDAC), he is focused on collaboration with federal, state, and local officials on the difficult issues facing Fire Districts across the state, the betterment of firefighter health & safety, enhanced service delivery, legislation and ultimately, the long-term success of the Fire Service.
Richard has an A/S in fire science, bachelors in vocation education and a master’s degree in business administration.
Nick Russell brings over 15 years of operational management experience to his role as Vice President of Operations at Watch Duty. His career spans complex, 24/7 operational environments underpinned by a lifelong passion for radio and technology.
Transitioning from a decade in the agricultural sector, Nick’s final year in the industry was marked by his volunteer service at Watch Duty. This experience led him to join the organization full-time in August 2023. With a deep-seated interest in wildfire information dissemination, Nick has been instrumental in developing the Echo hardware radio system. This innovative solution reflects his commitment to enhancing wildfire reporting and response capabilities, leveraging his extensive knowledge in the field.
Christian Tubbs is currently the Fire Chief of the Southern Marin Fire Protection District (CA) a Director At Large with FDAC, and Past President of the California Fire Chiefs Association. Chief Tubbs began his fire service journey in 1978, serving primarily with the Mercer Island (WA) Fire Department. Chief Tubbs also spent nineteen years with Washington Task Force One (WATF-1), one of 28 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams, and deployed to the Oklahoma City Bombing and Hurricane Katrina. Chief Tubbs has a
Master of Science Degree from Grand Canyon University and a Master of Arts Degree from the Naval Post Graduate School. His NPS thesis was titled, “Conditions of Democratic Erosion: Has US Democracy Reached a Tipping Point?”. Chief Tubbs is also a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program and earned his certificates in Public Policy and Public Leadership. Chief Tubbs is also an Accredited Fire Chief through CPSE and the State of California, and a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.
Derek Urwin, PhD is an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at UCLA, an engineer with the Los Angeles County Fire Department assigned to Fire Station 170 in the city of Inglewood, and member of IAFF Local 1014. He currently chairs the FIRESCOPE Cancer Prevention Subcommittee, serves as Chief Science Advisor at the IAFF, and works collaboratively with academic researchers on the Firefighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS) to quantify firefighters’ carcinogenic exposures and the associated biological effects. Dr. Urwin recently received research grants to establish the California Firefighter Cancer Research Study, a collaborative research effort across the cancer control continuum at UCLA and the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer that aims to reduce cancer risk for California firefighters.
Chief Eric Walder has been a member of the California Fire Service for 32 years, Chief Walder has held the ranks of Volunteer Firefighter, Reserve Firefighter, Firefighter, Engineer, Engineer Paramedic, Captain, Battalion Chief, Division Chief, Deputy Chief and was promoted to Fire Chief in December of 2015 of the South Placer Fire District. In 2021 he was hired as the Fire Chief of the Waterloo Morada Fire District.
Chief Walder has been the California Office of Emergency Services Region IV Coordinator managing a 12 County response to the Master Mutual Aid system since 2017. Additionally, Chief Walder is active with many state and local fire service organizations including the Fire Districts Association of California serving as President, FIRESCOPE Operations Team Member, and the President of the San Joaquin County Fire Chiefs Association.
Corey Zander has been a member of the fire service for over 30 years. He began his career in 1992 with the Auburn City Fire Department in Auburn, California. There he served as a volunteer firefighter for three years before becoming a permanent member of the department and quickly climbing through the ranks to Division Chief. Here Corey earned several years of experience with responding to, mitigating, and commanding all risk incidents and gained a vast knowledge of both wildland and structural firefighting. As a Division Chief his responsibilities consisted primarily of Operations and Administration, which required daily attention as well as long term planning of program operations and procedures. Additionally, he was instrumental in developing and coordinating an integrated program among all fire agencies in Western Placer County, which became a key component to the Western Placer County Fire Chiefs Automatic Response Plan. In 2016 Chief Zander transitioned to the California Governors Office of Emergency Services as a Assistant Chief in Region IV where he has been instrumental in moving the California Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System into the 20th century with developing and implementing the Statewide Google sheet statusing and resource tracking systems. He is at the forefront of taking these efforts to the next level with the Fire Asset Status Tracker (FAST) application.
LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
FIRE DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA
SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2024
THANK YOU TO OUR EXHIBITORS!
YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS!