TUESDAY, MAY 12TH
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OSFM Instructor Indoctrination Course
Presenter: OSFM Staff
The Instructor Indoctrination Course introduces new instructors to the North Carolina Fire and Rescue Certification delivery system and instructor qualification process. Completion of this course is required before registering for Qualification Testing or Field-Delivered Qualifications.
The course covers applicable North Carolina statutes, regulatory agencies, and Fire and Rescue Commission policies and procedures. Participants will gain an understanding of North Carolina lesson plans and practical skills, instructor expectations, and common compliance issues through case studies. Eligible Instructor II participants will be qualified to serve as proctors upon completion.
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
OSFM School Director Course
Presenter: OSFM Staff
The School Directors Course provides an overview of the roles, responsibilities, and requirements specific to School Directors within the North Carolina Fire and Rescue Certification delivery system. This course is designed for individuals serving as, or preparing to serve as, School Directors for approved delivery agencies.
Participants will receive instruction on policies, procedures, and administrative responsibilities related to course delivery, documentation, compliance, and program oversight. The course emphasizes expectations unique to School Directors to ensure consistent, compliant, and effective delivery of certification programs across the state.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Command Like A Pirate (Tactical Fireground Leadership) | Classroom and Practical Exercises
Presenters: Robert J. Zoldos III, David Swain, Jim Cole, Jeff McMillen, Travis Melvin, Greg Cook
Learn to command a Fireground like Captain Blackbeard would have!
As with a Pirate Captain’s command systems, this course is based on the concepts of a C3A
(Command, Control, Communications and Accountability):
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The basic section includes proper communications models, foreground shortspeak, IDLH radio usage, fireground radio reporting, passing of command and the expectations of the interim incident commander.
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The advanced section includes the concepts of command, use of commands on the foreground, development and use of the command board, foreground shorthand, and the utilization of command exercises.
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The course will culminate by engaging students in exercises that will reinforce the lessons learned.
NOTE: The concepts presented in this course assume you have mastered the principles of the firefight.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Responding to Battery and Energy Storage Emergencies
Presenter: IAFF
This 8-hour course is specifically designed to equip fire fighters and emergency responders with the essential knowledge and skills needed to effectively respond to emergencies involving renewable energy and energy storage systems. As the use of solar panels, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems such as batteries becomes increasingly prevalent, understanding the unique hazards and challenges these technologies present is crucial. This course covers the fundamentals of these renewable energy systems, potential hazards, safety protocols, and emergency response strategies. Participants will engage in a blend of lectures and scenario-based exercises to gain practical experience in managing emergencies related to renewable energy and energy storage systems safely and efficiently.
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Inspector Con ED: Inspecting Occupancies Dispensing Flammable & Combustible Liquids and Repair Garages
Presenter: Mark Brown
Inspections at flammable liquid occupancies and repair garages directly impact firefighter and occupant safety when an incident occurs. This course challenges fire inspectors who are also firefighters to look beyond code compliance and evaluate these occupancies with operational safety in mind. Students will review fuel dispenser and tank installations, key NFPA requirements, and how inspection findings directly impact fireground tactics and firefighter safety. All topics are tied to occupancies regulated by the 2024 North Carolina Fire Code, and the course meets the NCOSFM 6-hour Fire Inspector Continuing Education requirement.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Instructor I/II Qualification & CFI Certification Testing
Presenter: OSFM Staff
Instructor I and Instructor II Qualification Testing is intended for candidates seeking Instructor I or Instructor II Qualification that requires written testing only. These written-only testing sessions are scheduled separately from Firefighter Qualification and Regional Written-Only Qualification Testing and have their own dates, times, and registration listings.
CFI Certification Testing is offered for candidates who have been approved by the CFI Board to sit for the examination. Only candidates with prior Board approval are eligible to register for this certification test.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
OSFM Written Qualification Testing
Presenter: OSFM Staff
These sessions are intended for candidates seeking instructor or program qualifications that require written testing only.
Available written-only qualification tests include Aircraft Rescue Firefighter; Driver Operator (Aerials, Pumps, Mobile Water Supply); Emergency Vehicle Driver; Fire and Life Safety Educator I, II, and III; Fire Officer I and II; Hazardous Materials Operations; Marine Firefighting for Land-Based Firefighters; and Rescue Officer.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13TH
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Looking Inward: Strengthening Your FD Through Honest Assessment & Shared Planning (Pt 1)
Presenter: Vernon Ward
This workshop invites fire service leaders to step back from day-to-day operations and take an honest look at how we plan, staff, and sustain our departments. It challenges traditional thinking in a positive way—encouraging departments to examine what’s working, what’s not, and how collaboration can make everyone stronger.
Participants will explore practical ways to reduce duplication, build trust, and plan together without losing their department’s identity or traditions. The goal is simple: to open minds, spark new ideas, and help departments shape their own future instead of waiting for it to be decided for them.
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Commanding Forged with Resilience (Pt 1)
Presenter: Lauran Franklin
An early traumatic experience in the fire service forged a great desire and passion to set and continually enforce high quality performance and expectations. Her main goal is to help firefighters understand not only the necessity, but the demand for preparation, competence, and performance for the most complex incidents at every level on the fire ground and in the fire house.
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
From Chalkdust to Thumbprints
Presenter: Wayne Jones
In From Chalkdust to Thumbprints, Captain Wayne “Uncle Wayne” Jones shares a deeply personal and practical look at the connection between instruction, leadership, and legacy in the fire service. Drawing from over three decades of experience and the lessons behind his books The Why Before the How, Step Up to the Chalkboard, and Leave Your Thumbprint, Jones challenges firefighters and instructors to rediscover their purpose, embrace mentorship, and lead with heart. Through powerful stories, candid reflection, and actionable discussion, participants will explore how teaching moments—both formal and spontaneous—shape not only skill but character. This session reminds us that true leadership is not about position or rank, but about the fingerprints we leave on others.
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Mastering Recruitment and Retention Using Technology
Presenter: Tracy Mosley
The IAFC National Volunteer Firefighter Geospatial Recruitment and Retention Toolkit was developed under support from FEMA using the SAFER grant, and is designed to help address the national shortage of firefighters. This Toolkit is a two-part tool. The first part helps fire departments address staffing crises and retain their current volunteer and career firefighters. By taking a Talent Accelerator self-assessment, you can evaluate your department against a workforce development maturity model. The maturity model will rank your fire department in four categories: Leadership, Workforce, Infrastructure, and Experience. This provides you with suggestions on how to retain your current staff.
The second part of the Toolkit is focused on recruitment. By taking the National Volunteer Firefighter Survey, you can compare your fire department to those in your state and others nationwide. The survey collects demographic information, including income levels, education levels, the language spoken at home, and access to transportation. With those demographics and percentages provided, it offers a breakdown of your community, helping you target your best recruitment locations and events to attend. Visit our Recruitment and Retention Toolkit to begin recruiting for your fire department. If you would like a one-on-one demonstration of the Toolkit, please email us at: ws@iafc.org to request an in-person or virtual walkthrough.
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Pulling Back the Curtain: The Realities of Being (& becoming) a Good Fire Chief (Repeat Session Being Offered at 3:30 PM)
Presenter: Matt Poole and Barrett Penny
Panelists: Trey Mayo, Tim Herman and Jacob Randell
Becoming a fire chief is often seen as the pinnacle of a fire service career — but the view from the top isn’t always what you expect. This two-hour session pulls back the curtain on the realities of leading a modern fire department, exploring the professional challenges, personal sacrifices, and rewarding moments that come with the title. Drawing from real-world experience, this session will go beyond theory to discuss what it truly means to be not just a fire chief, but a good fire chief — one who leads with integrity, vision, and heart.
Participants will also benefit from a dynamic panel discussion featuring three seasoned chiefs representing departments of different sizes — large, mid-sized, and small. Each will share candid insights from their tenure, offering diverse perspectives on leadership, community expectations, organizational culture, and the evolving role of today’s chief officer. Whether you’re an aspiring chief, a newly appointed one, or a veteran leader looking for perspective, this session promises an honest, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous look at the job few fully understand until they live it.
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
Building a Resilient Fire Service UAS Program
Presenter: Paul Rossi
Fire service leaders across North Carolina are increasingly turning to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to enhance situational awareness, improve responder safety, and streamline incident documentation. This session provides a practical roadmap for integrating drone operations into modern firefighting—covering structure, wildland, and hazardous-materials scenarios—while addressing the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape that governs public-safety flight operations. Attendees will be introduced to navigating federal regulations, managing FAA authorizations, and evaluating procurement risks tied to country-of-origin and cybersecurity concerns. Drawing on real-world lessons from municipal and regional fire departments, this session will help chiefs and program managers build sustainable, compliant, and future-ready UAS programs that improve operational effectiveness while minimizing legal and logistical risk.
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
NCSFA Firefighters' Relief Fund, A Complete Guide
Presenter: Barry A. Overman, Dan Berg
This workshop provides a complete overview of the purpose and intended use of the NC Firefighters' Relief Fund. Established in 1907, the fund was simply designed to assist firefighters, and that has not changed. The 2014 legislation changes allows fire departments to utilize the fund for more than was previously allowed. This session will expand on these uses and provide an opportunity for Q&A.
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
VFIS - Risk Pearls – Are You Prepared?
Presenter: Matthew Nolin
Emergency Services face major insurance risks from high-stake responses, staffing shortages, response demands, including extreme weather impacting operations, cybersecurity threats, regulatory shifts, complex ethical dilemmas, and operational expectations from citizens due to community growth and customer expectations. This leads to increased liabilities and higher premiums.
Some of the risks include:
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Workforce challenges
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Operational and systemic vulnerabilities
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Cybersecurity
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Regulatory and compliance concerns
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Environmental/external extreme weather events
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Civil liabilities
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Economic factors
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Looking Inward: Strengthening Your FD Through Honest Assessment & Shared Planning (Pt 2)
Presenter: Vernon Ward
This workshop invites fire service leaders to step back from day-to-day operations and take an honest look at how we plan, staff, and sustain our departments. It challenges traditional thinking in a positive way—encouraging departments to examine what’s working, what’s not, and how collaboration can make everyone stronger.
Participants will explore practical ways to reduce duplication, build trust, and plan together without losing their department’s identity or traditions. The goal is simple: to open minds, spark new ideas, and help departments shape their own future instead of waiting for it to be decided for them.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Commanding Forged with Resilience (Pt 2)
Presenter: Lauran Franklin
An early traumatic experience in the fire service forged a great desire and passion to set and continually enforce high quality performance and expectations. Her main goal is to help firefighters understand not only the necessity, but the demand for preparation, competence, and performance for the most complex incidents at every level on the fire ground and in the fire house.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
The Challenge of Command: Leadership Lessons from the Battle of Gettysburg
Presenter: Ray O'Brocki
The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest battle in the history of North America. The battle, literally, determined the outcome of the American Civil War. The stakes were high and the leaders on both sides were operating under tremendous stress, with limited information.
Today’s incident commanders also operate in a high stake's environment under conditions of stress. This course seeks to examine the leadership decisions made by the people executing the battle, from both sides, and to take from those decisions universal leadership principals that are still important today.
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Command Like A Pirate (Tactical Fireground Leadership) | Condensed Version of Tuesday's Session
Presenter: Robert J. Zoldos III
Learn to command a Fireground like Captain Blackbeard would have!
As with a Pirate Captain’s command systems, this course is based on the concepts of a C3A
(Command, Control, Communications and Accountability):
-
The basic section includes proper communications models, foreground shortspeak, IDLH radio usage, fireground radio reporting, passing of command and the expectations of the interim incident commander.
-
The advanced section includes the concepts of command, use of commands on the foreground, development and use of the command board, foreground shorthand, and the utilization of command exercises.
-
The course will culminate by engaging students in exercises that will reinforce the lessons learned.
NOTE: The concepts presented in this course assume you have mastered the principles of the firefight.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Having the Talk (Repeat Session Being Offered Friday at 8:30 AM)
Presenter: Trey Mayo, Willie Ratchford, Dr. Anthony Wade
This session is designed to help first- and second-level managers understand how to develop relationships and build crew/subordinate trust as the groundwork that makes difficult conversations less difficult. The following topics are covered: relationship capital, identifying and managing external stimuli, setting the stage and having uncomfortable conversations, leading opposing parties toward self-discovery, emotional intelligence and control, reading body language, and what to do after the conversation.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Pulling Back the Curtain: The Realities of Being (& becoming) a Good Fire Chief (Repeat Session)
Presenter: Matt Poole and Barrett Penny
Panelists: Trey Mayo, Tim Herman and Jacob Randell
Becoming a fire chief is often seen as the pinnacle of a fire service career — but the view from the top isn’t always what you expect. This two-hour session pulls back the curtain on the realities of leading a modern fire department, exploring the professional challenges, personal sacrifices, and rewarding moments that come with the title. Drawing from real-world experience, this session will go beyond theory to discuss what it truly means to be not just a fire chief, but a good fire chief — one who leads with integrity, vision, and heart.
Participants will also benefit from a dynamic panel discussion featuring three seasoned chiefs representing departments of different sizes — large, mid-sized, and small. Each will share candid insights from their tenure, offering diverse perspectives on leadership, community expectations, organizational culture, and the evolving role of today’s chief officer. Whether you’re an aspiring chief, a newly appointed one, or a veteran leader looking for perspective, this session promises an honest, thoughtful, and sometimes humorous look at the job few fully understand until they live it.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
A Fire Department’s Guide to Social Media Management
Presenter: TJ DeLuca, Scottie Harris
In today’s digital world, social media continues to present both valuable opportunities and serious challenges for the fire service. This course is specifically designed for Company Officers and Chief Officers seeking to better evaluate, manage, and respond to social media issues within their departments.
Participants will examine real-world scenarios and relevant case law, highlighting common mistakes and lessons learned from incidents across the fire service.
Key discussion topics include:
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Understanding First Amendment protections and how they apply to both volunteer and municipal employees
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Developing and implementing effective social media policies and best practices
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Preparing for and responding to encounters with First Amendment auditors, an increasingly common challenge for North Carolina’s fire and EMS agencies
Attendees will leave with practical guidance and resources to help their departments navigate the complex world of online communication while maintaining professionalism, compliance, and public trust.
Note: This class and its discussions are intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
THURSDAY, MAY 14TH
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Mission Driven Leadership (Repeat Session Being Offered at 1 PM)
Presenter: Alan Griffin
This course is designed to be a motivational discussion on leadership practices on and off the fire ground. This course will motivate officers to embrace the mission of the fire service and empower them to be stronger and more productive leaders. Today’s fire service leaders are facing challenges of reduced manpower, decreased morale and generational gaps between leadership and line staff.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Impact of Community Healthcare Team-Led Balance Exercises on Fall Prevention Among Elderly Patients
Presenter: Steve Johnson
Falls among the elderly population are a significant public health concern, often resulting in severe injuries, diminished quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. Research, conducted through the Skyland Fire Department Community Risk Reduction team, aimed to investigate the impact of falls prevention strategies in seniors aged 65 to 90. The study employs a PICO(T) framework to compare the outcomes of seniors with access to a Community Risk Reduction team offering falls prevention interventions against those without such access. Over a three-month period, qualitative and quantitative assessments evaluated changes in the participants' quality of life and the measurable effectiveness of these interventions in preventing falls. This presentation will provide insights into the methodology, outcomes, and practical implications for implementing similar programs in diverse communities through fire department community risk reduction and daily workflows.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
The Blueprint for a Better Station: Understanding Construction Delivery Methods
Presenter: Jim Bell
This session breaks down the most common delivery approaches used for public safety facilities — including Design-Bid-Build, Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), and Design-Build — and explains how each impacts cost, schedule, collaboration, and project quality. Attendees will learn how to legally and effectively select a method that best fits their department’s goals, ensuring their next fire station is delivered efficiently and built to serve for decades.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Drones as First Responder (DFR) in the Fire Service
Presenter: Matt Lawrence
This presentation will provide information on the value that Burlington Fire Department has experienced with the addition of their Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. Started in 2024 in partnership with the Burlington Police Department, this DFR program includes two rooftop drones that provide full coverage to the city's corporate limits. Flown by dedicated pilots, these DFR drones provide fire and police responders and commanders significant advantage and increased situational awareness on emergency scenes and have saved lives since their implementation.
This program will detail the program and provide the participants with a first-hand look at the information and advantages that drones can provide in the fire service.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Calculating Your Leadership
Presenter: Bryant Pitchford
Many calamities (physical and career-ending) are caused by leaders who opt to take the “easy wrong” versus the “hard right” when it comes to essential but unpopular decisions about accountability and safety. This two-hour presentation provides a path for attendees to gain insight into their personnel management strengths and weaknesses, outlines the long-term costs of the “easy wrong,” and provides a strategy to employ encouraging no qualms about the “hard right.”
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Zone-Based Evacuation Management
Presenter: Ken Kehmna
Traditional evacuation practices often rely on broad, manual processes that can delay critical notifications and place more people at risk than necessary. This presentation explores how zone-based evacuation management transforms emergency response by combining technology, data, and interagency coordination.
Attendees will learn how leveraging real-time inputs, such as weather, traffic, and fire perimeters, creates a common operating picture that accelerates decision-making and reduces community notification times by up to 90%. This session highlights how modern, all-hazard evacuation systems enhance public safety, improve communication clarity, and support efficient repopulation strategies.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Leadership Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned (Repeat Session Being Offered at 1 PM)
Presenter: Scott Alderman, Jamie Fulk
This class introduces several leadership mistakes we've made over the years. So why would we want to share those with you? The answer is simple: we've learned far more from our failures than from our successes, and we believe you can, too. We share personal stories about missteps in leadership and the lessons that came from them. What we share may seem simple, and it may not be groundbreaking. The hard part is having the courage and willingness to step out of your comfort zone and apply what you know or learn. We hope these stories and the lessons learned serve as both caution signs and guideposts. We hope they remind you that you're not alone when things go wrong. Most of all, we hope they encourage you to lead with humility, courage, and a desire to grow, even when it means owning your mistakes. Leadership isn't about never making a mistake. It's about learning to lead better because you did.
This class is based on the instructor's book titled "Leadership Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned." Copies of the book will be available for sale at the conference.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Performance Management Matters
Presenter: Joshua J Smith, Scott Monroe
Performance management is a critical component for any emergency services organization but is often not planned or implemented throughout departments appropriately. Current research suggests that while most career fire departments across the United States have a formal evaluation process in place guided by National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) standard 1021 or a generic system used by the governing body. These processes are often ineffective due to several notable conditions. Conditions include (1) a time-consuming process for the supervisor, (2) manager biases and no clear set objectives, and (3) dislike of the evaluation process from younger generations and women. Furthermore, most evaluations in fire services are ineffective because they have an inadequate system place and there is little to no training for the supervisors. By shifting the organizational mindset to include aspects of performance management, instead of performance evaluations, and by using a framework based on best practices in performance management that promotes fairness, focus, ethics, and measurement, while avoiding zero defects, departments can become high-functioning organizations with strong teams and top performing, talented personnel.
This engaging and interactive session will provide an overview of the current performance management trends, related scholarly research, common pitfalls of existing practices, and tools for success. Participants will learn how departments can use performance to improve employee performance in emergency services organizations.
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
NC Retirement Funds
Presenter: Representatives from FRWSPF and LGERS
This session will cover information about the Firefighters’ and Emergency workers pension fund. There will be a presentation and then breakout sessions to assists chiefs & admins with online reporting of TAD’s and to go over accounts.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Leadership Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned (Repeat Session)
Presenter: Scott Alderman, Jamie Fulk
This class introduces several leadership mistakes we've made over the years. So why would we want to share those with you? The answer is simple: we've learned far more from our failures than from our successes, and we believe you can, too. We share personal stories about missteps in leadership and the lessons that came from them. What we share may seem simple, and it may not be groundbreaking. The hard part is having the courage and willingness to step out of your comfort zone and apply what you know or learn. We hope these stories and the lessons learned serve as both caution signs and guideposts. We hope they remind you that you're not alone when things go wrong. Most of all, we hope they encourage you to lead with humility, courage, and a desire to grow, even when it means owning your mistakes. Leadership isn't about never making a mistake. It's about learning to lead better because you did.
This class is based on the instructor's book titled "Leadership Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned." Copies of the book will be available for sale at the conference.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Development of Johnston County Fire Protection Service District
Presenter: Chris Ellington, Ryan Parker, Travis Johnson, Johnston County Board of Commissioner Representatives, Johnston County Administration
A short presentation sharing the need, development and implementation of the Johnston County Fire Protection Service District (30 minutes) followed by a panel discussion with question and answer period. Topics include collaboration between fire departments and county government, abolishing individual service tax districts to create a single service tax district, apparatus replacement plans, policy development, capital planning and fire department budget submissions and prioritization.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Experience comes with time, everything else comes with effort!
Presenter: William Jackson
In a day and time in our fire service where all we hear is the criticism for promoting too fast or being "too young" for a position, this class will look at what leads to the need for these early promotions and highlight thought processes and problem recognition to help develop a process of overcoming the issues that come with being an officer. Those old salty guys who fed the horses have a lot to offer us and there is no sense in making the same mistake twice. However, experience comes with time and we can't rush time. So what do we do if we don't want to sit and wait for the experience?
In this class we will discuss the approaches and thought processes that may help us close that experience gap, we will discuss respecting the past while progressing to the future, and the efforts we should be making to effectively lead in the space we are in, while we are in it. This class will will look at the 40 year officer leading the 18 year old, the 21 year old leading the 20 year firefighter... and everything in between!
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Engagement and Relationships Matter
Presenter: Rick Davis
Fire service organizations often focus on budgets and equipment when planning for growth, but the real keys lie in engagement and relationships. This session explores how strong connections with elected officials, community stakeholders, and internal teams can transform limited resources into sustainable funding strategies. By prioritizing engagement and trust, fire chiefs can create a foundation for long-term success that benefits both their department and the communities they serve.
Drawing on real-world experience, including securing multiple fire tax increases and a multi-million-dollar state grant for fire department infrastructure, Retired Chief Rick Davis will share proven methods for building partnerships that drive strategic growth. Attendees will learn practical steps for stakeholder engagement, communication strategies that earn support, and how to turn collaboration into tangible results. Whether you lead a rural volunteer department or a city-based agency, this session offers actionable insights to help you break through barriers and achieve your vision.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Beyond Boundaries: A State & National Perspective on Fire Service Collaboration & Modernization
Presenter: Frank Blackley, Vernon Ward
This follow-up presentation to "Looking Inward, Planning Forward Together" will explore how fire departments across North Carolina and nationally are preparing for current and future service delivery. It aims to help leaders move beyond daily operations and think systemically about collaboration, modernization, and sustainability. The presentation will cover national trends, challenges, tools for assessing your organization, and how joint planning can enhance services.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Mission Driven Leadership (Repeat Session)
Presenter: Alan Griffin
This course is designed to be a motivational discussion on leadership practices on and off the fire ground. This course will motivate officers to embrace the mission of the fire service and empower them to be stronger and more productive leaders. Today’s fire service leaders are facing challenges of reduced manpower, decreased morale and generational gaps between leadership and line staff.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
VFIS - Human Resource Issues Affecting Emergency Services
Presenter: Deborah C. Jolly, Chantel Thompson, Keith Bost, Matthew Nolin
This workshop discusses employee/member mental health, i.e., PTSD, Burnout and Changing Landscape, Staffing Shortages, Recruitment & Retention, Workplace Violence/Harassment, Pay & Benefits, Managing Long/Irregular Shifts, Increased Call Volume Demands & Expectations, Limited Resources & Overall Liability Potential, Compliance Burdens, Social & Financial Insecurity of Providers, and Call Volume & Complexity, all affect Emergency Services Departments & Organizations.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Strategic Planning: Fact and Fiction
Presenter: David Farnum
Strategic Planning is critical to moving fire departments down a deliberate, thoughtful path. Without a plan for their organization, chief officers may find themselves reacting to constantly changing circumstances, as opposed to being well-prepared for the future. This session will provide chief officers an understanding of the importance of developing and implementing a strategic plan, as well as an understanding of practical application.
Learning Objectives:
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Describe the role strategic planning serves in the fire service.
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Identify the components of a comprehensive strategic plan
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Overcome challenges with implementing a strategic plan.
FRIDAY, MAY 15TH
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
The Power of the Why
Presenter: Chris Fenner
The Power of the Why is an inspiring and emotionally charged presentation designed to reignite purpose and pride within the fire service. Drawing on three decades of frontline experience, this session explores how understanding the “why” behind every task, drill, and decision transforms training into a mission-driven practice that saves lives, strengthens crews, and builds resilient leaders.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Beneath the White Helmet: Pressure, Purpose, and the Privilege to Lead (Repeat Session Being Offered at 1 PM)
Presenter: LeRoy Smith
Leadership in the fire service is earned in moments—on the fireground, in the firehouse, and in the quiet decisions no one sees. Drawing from the upcoming book Beneath the White Helmet, this presentation explores the real-world leadership lessons forged through decades of operational experience, cultural transformation, and high-pressure decision-making. From tactical discipline to ethical command presence, attendees will see what truly lies beneath the white helmet—and why leadership is a privilege, not a position.
Participants will learn how to:
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Apply the leadership tenets and decision models featured in Beneath the White Helmet to real-world operational and organizational challenges.
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Strengthen command presence through disciplined 360/361° situational awareness and decentralized decision-making.
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Build a mission-driven, high-trust culture that thrives under pressure.
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Identify and avoid common leadership pitfalls such as normalization of deviance, assumption-based decision-making, and tolerance of toxic behaviors.
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Lead with clarity, humility, and purpose—even when friendships, loyalty, and tough calls collide.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
AI in the Firehouse: Practical Tools for Every Rank (Repeat Session Being Offered at 1 PM)
Presenter: Nancy Miller
Artificial Intelligence is quickly becoming a powerful tool in the firefighter’s toolbox. Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can help chiefs, officers, and firefighters save time, streamline communication, and improve training, allowing everyone to stay focused on protecting lives and property. This workshop, AI in the Firehouse: Practical Tools for Every Rank, brings AI directly to the firehouse with real-world applications, from grant writing and policy development to drill creation, study guides, and clearer incident narratives.
Through a live, hands-on “Prompt Lab,” participants will work through role-based scenarios on their own devices and leave with practical skills they can use immediately. Each attendee will also build a simple “AI Action Plan” to take back to their department. By showing how AI can reduce workload, strengthen communication, and support better training, this session ensures every participant—from chief to rookie—walks away with tools that make the firehouse smarter, faster, and more effective.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Training Officer Panel Discussion
Presenters: Jason Edwards, Brian Wade (The panel will consist of four to five total panelists representing NCOSFM, volunteer departments, combination departments, and municipal agencies to ensure a broad and well-rounded discussion.)
This session brings together a diverse panel of Training Officers from across North Carolina—including NCOSFM staff, volunteer departments, combination departments, and municipal agencies—to discuss practical, effective strategies for building and sustaining strong training programs. Panelists will share real-world approaches, resources, and lessons learned from their own organizations, offering attendees a wide view of how training needs and challenges vary across department types.
A key focus of this discussion will be how departments can maximize training efforts to meet or exceed ISO requirements. Attendees will gain insight into documentation practices, drills that carry the most weight, creative solutions for limited-staff environments, and opportunities for regional collaboration. This session is designed for chiefs, company officers, training officers, and anyone looking to strengthen their department’s training culture and improve overall readiness.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Leadership Lessons From The Titanic
Presenter: Matt Arnold
Leadership is a process. There is not one right or wrong way to do it. The best chance we have for success is to learn from the lessons taught by others. There are opportunities for this all around us. We have all heard of the Titanic, but did you know there are many lessons on leadership embedded in its story? Even though its story begins over a century ago, there are things we can learn that are practical to today's fire service and our current leadership challenges.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Fire Service Training: Building the Effective Plan
Presenter: Paul Watlington
The class is designed for company officers and department leaders that are tasked with developing training for their department and crews. Fire service training is vital to supplementing the real-world experience. All aspects of the service require attention from the nozzle to the command post. This class will provide attendees with information on how to develop and administer effective training from annual programs to company training in the firehouse. The information provided is vetted by NFPA, ISO, OSHA and best practices. Discussion will include many aspects in fire service training including capability assessments, plan building, classroom and hands-on ideas and tips, evaluations, and drills. Although a "quality vs. quantity" approach will be taken, there will also be information on how to utilize LMS systems to get the best out of training as well as ensuring the completion of ISO required hours. Although this class seems more fit for officer level ranks, all fire service members that are interested in training can gain a lot from the ideas, background and implementation of the training ideas and techniques that will be covered in this class.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
NFPA Updates
Presenter: Sheryl Tricocci
Hear the latest updates from NFPA on issues facing the life safety community across the country and around the globe.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
This Could Happen to You, Be Prepared
Presenter: Len Needham
Taking over as Chief at the age of 22 with six years of experience in the fire service and moving Bahama from a one station to three station volunteer department, to a six person paid staff with many volunteers and an ISO rating of class 4. Experiencing a suicide of one of our young members to and explosion (video to show) in a mutual aid fire with two other members of our department in 1995 to sending one of those members on a call September 6, 1996 that turned into a LODD. I have many life experiences that can help the seasoned Chief to the up and coming chief officers prepare for a successful career. If this was not enough we had an engine roll with four members on board. Seat belts work as they all walked away from this rollover with miner injuries.
I feel like we all need to be prepared for the unexpected things that can happen in our departments the best we can. I feel sharing my experiences can be a lot of help to others if the unexpected happens in there department.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Having the Talk (Repeat Session)
Presenter: Trey Mayo, Willie Ratchford, Dr. Anthony Wade
This session is designed to help first- and second-level managers understand how to develop relationships and build crew/subordinate trust as the groundwork that makes difficult conversations less difficult. The following topics are covered: relationship capital, identifying and managing external stimuli, setting the stage and having uncomfortable conversations, leading opposing parties toward self-discovery, emotional intelligence and control, reading body language, and what to do after the conversation.
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Scattered, Smothered, and Covered: Leadership Lessons from the House That Never Closes
Presenter: Terence M Sheehy
In fire and EMS, the lights never go out—and neither can leadership. Modeled after the 24/7 culture of Waffle House, this session explores how consistency, teamwork, and adaptability keep operations running when the heat is on. From managing late-night crises to building shift-to-shift cohesion, participants will learn what it takes to lead effectively in an organization that never closes its doors.
Using humor, storytelling, and practical application, Deputy Chief Terence Sheehy connects lessons from the restaurant floor to the firehouse bay. Attendees will discover how to maintain morale across shifts, empower personnel to make smart decisions under pressure, and lead from the floor instead of the office. Whether you oversee a station, a battalion, or an entire system, you’ll walk away with actionable strategies to strengthen your culture, sustain your people, and keep the mission cooking—no matter the hour.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Beneath the White Helmet: Pressure, Purpose, and the Privilege to Lead (Repeat Session)
Presenter: LeRoy Smith
Leadership in the fire service is earned in moments—on the fireground, in the firehouse, and in the quiet decisions no one sees. Drawing from the upcoming book Beneath the White Helmet, this presentation explores the real-world leadership lessons forged through decades of operational experience, cultural transformation, and high-pressure decision-making. From tactical discipline to ethical command presence, attendees will see what truly lies beneath the white helmet—and why leadership is a privilege, not a position.
Participants will learn how to:
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Apply the leadership tenets and decision models featured in Beneath the White Helmet to real-world operational and organizational challenges.
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Strengthen command presence through disciplined 360/361° situational awareness and decentralized decision-making.
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Build a mission-driven, high-trust culture that thrives under pressure.
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Identify and avoid common leadership pitfalls such as normalization of deviance, assumption-based decision-making, and tolerance of toxic behaviors.
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Lead with clarity, humility, and purpose—even when friendships, loyalty, and tough calls collide.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Transitional Fire Service Leadership (Pt 1)
Presenter: Peter Blaich
In my presentation, "Defining Transitional Fire Service Leadership," I will explore critical frameworks that shape effective leadership within the fire service. Central to this discussion will be the Fire Service Leadership Triangle, a model that emphasizes the importance of training, teamwork, and mentorship as foundational elements for developing strong leaders. Attendees will learn how to utilize this triangle to foster a cohesive, resilient team environment that can adapt to the evolving challenges faced by modern fire services. Through interactive examples and discussions, I intend to illustrate the significance of cultivating leadership qualities that not only enhance individual performance but also contribute to the overall success of the organization.
Additionally, I will delve into the application of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) to address interpersonal and operational conflicts within the fire service. Understanding different conflict styles is essential for leaders to navigate the complexities of team dynamics and ensure effective communication. I will also emphasize the need for unwavering preparation in response to uncommon incidents, highlighting strategies to proactively train and equip teams for unexpected challenges. By the end of the session, participants will have gained valuable insights and practical tools to enhance their leadership capabilities and improve their unit’s readiness for any situation.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
How to Leverage IAFF Resources
Presenter: Scott Mullins
Topics will include:
• Training
• Grants
• Education
• Political Assistance
• Medical Monitoring
• GIS
• Peer Support
• CPSE Accreditation
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
NC DOI: Leading the Way in Risk Reduction 2026
Presenter: Corey Mercer
Discover how the NC Department of Insurance (DOI) is shaping the future of public safety and insurance!
In 2025, DOI launched the Risk Reduction Division, a bold initiative designed to make communities safer, reduce fire-related losses, and lower insurance costs statewide. This class will take you inside DOI’s statewide Community Risk Reduction strategy, showing how the Department partners with the fire service to prevent injuries, improve emergency preparedness, and strengthen resilience.
What You’ll Learn:
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How DOI’s Risk Reduction Division is building a statewide network for safety and prevention.
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How DOI serves as a voice for the fire service, expanding life safety education, grant programs, and community outreach.
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The direct connection between risk reduction and lower insurance rates for consumers.
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Other critical DOI services: Agent Services, Criminal Investigations, and Bail Bonding Regulations.
Why Attend? This is your chance to see how DOI leads the charge in protecting lives, property, and lowering costs—through innovation, education, and collaboration with public safety agencies across North Carolina.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Accreditation Consortium
Presenter: David Farnum, Graham McManus
Accredited agencies and credentialed professionals have found that banding together to form regional consortiums is an effective networking opportunity The consortium’s goal is to support agencies that are interested in pursuing accreditation, from the initial interest to maintaining accreditation with educational opportunities, real-world problem solving, mock site visits, and mentoring. A secondary goal is to support individuals achieve professional credentialing with education, mentors and application review.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
NC DPS EM Responder Assistance Initiative
Presenter: Bill Burns and Lindsay Allotey
Built for the Heat: Stress, Burnout, and Staying Functional
This presentation will provide an overview of stress first aid strategies and approaches to strengthen psychological readiness and recovery. Participants will explore how stress impacts performance, relationships, and overall well-being, while gaining practical tools to recognize early warning signs of burnout, compassion fatigue, and cumulative stress. The presentation will highlight mental health resources available to support first responders and promote long-term resilience. Additionally, it will offer guidance on strengthening a wellness culture within the firehouse through peer support, leadership engagement, and open communication. Special attention will be given to the unique pressures of command staff roles, including the increased responsibility, limited opportunities for peer-level support, and the need to carry difficult decisions while maintaining steady leadership.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
TransAmerica: The Power of Pooled 401(k) Plans and Why Departments Are Making the Move
Presenters: Greg Schonauer, Katie Henderson, Carl Brandret
Our presentation will be about Pooled Employer Plans and how they can be advantageous to Fire Departments. Knowing when to retire is a personal decision with many moving parts. Learn about how, where, and how much to save for retirement. Learn the in's and out's of kickstarting your goals with information about account types and ways to calculate dollar amounts for your end goal.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
AI in the Firehouse: Practical Tools for Every Rank (Repeat Session)
Presenter: Nancy Miller
Artificial Intelligence is quickly becoming a powerful tool in the firefighter’s toolbox. Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can help chiefs, officers, and firefighters save time, streamline communication, and improve training, allowing everyone to stay focused on protecting lives and property. This workshop, AI in the Firehouse: Practical Tools for Every Rank, brings AI directly to the firehouse with real-world applications, from grant writing and policy development to drill creation, study guides, and clearer incident narratives. Through a live, hands-on “Prompt Lab,” participants will work through role-based scenarios on their own devices and leave with practical skills they can use immediately. Each attendee will also build a simple “AI Action Plan” to take back to their department. By showing how AI can reduce workload, strengthen communication, and support better training, this session ensures every participant—from chief to rookie—walks away with tools that make the firehouse smarter, faster, and more effective.
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Building Readiness Together: A Panel on Modern Fire Station Design and Construction
Presenter: Jim Bell, Jimmy Edwards
This educational session is designed for fire service leaders who are planning, managing, or overseeing the development of new fire facilities. It provides a detailed look at the design and construction of the new fire station — a project guided by operational priorities, firefighter health and safety, and long-term community service needs.
Attendees will learn how the project team collaborated closely with department leadership to create a station that enhances response capabilities, improves workflow efficiency, and supports modern apparatus and equipment. The session will highlight key design considerations such as station zoning for hot–warm–cold contamination control, gender-inclusive living quarters, and rapid-response circulation paths.
The presentation also addresses critical decision points including site selection, budget alignment, and choosing materials and systems that ensure durability and sustainability. Real-world lessons learned will be shared to help other departments streamline their own station projects, avoid common pitfalls, and advocate effectively for facilities that meet both operational and firefighter wellness goals.
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Orienting – Retooling the Front Seat Rider’s Brain to Take Intentional Action to Resolving Crises
Presenter: Bryant Pitchford
Orienting – Retooling the Front Seat Rider’s Brain to Take Intentional Action to Resolving Crises – NIOSH cites five major recurring factors in firefighter fatalities. This program explores a sixth factor, “orienting,” as a significant element that is a major contributor to calamity and disaster. Drilling down specifically into the process of “orienting” from OODA Loops, this delivery takes attendees to a new concept of developing skills to dominate risk and accomplishing goals and objectives that fulfill traditional firefighting mission completion.
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Transitional Fire Service Leadership (Pt 2)
Presenter: Peter Blaich
In my presentation, "Defining Transitional Fire Service Leadership," I will explore critical frameworks that shape effective leadership within the fire service. Central to this discussion will be the Fire Service Leadership Triangle, a model that emphasizes the importance of training, teamwork, and mentorship as foundational elements for developing strong leaders. Attendees will learn how to utilize this triangle to foster a cohesive, resilient team environment that can adapt to the evolving challenges faced by modern fire services. Through interactive examples and discussions, I intend to illustrate the significance of cultivating leadership qualities that not only enhance individual performance but also contribute to the overall success of the organization.
Additionally, I will delve into the application of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) to address interpersonal and operational conflicts within the fire service. Understanding different conflict styles is essential for leaders to navigate the complexities of team dynamics and ensure effective communication. I will also emphasize the need for unwavering preparation in response to uncommon incidents, highlighting strategies to proactively train and equip teams for unexpected challenges. By the end of the session, participants will have gained valuable insights and practical tools to enhance their leadership capabilities and improve their unit’s readiness for any situation.
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Leading While Carrying: Supporting Others Without Losing Yourself
Presenter: Terence M Sheehy
Leadership in the fire service is not just about strategy, assignments, or checklists — it’s about carrying the emotional and operational weight that comes with being the person everyone looks to in difficult moments. Company officers and chiefs routinely shoulder personnel issues, operational risk, decision fatigue, and the quiet pressure of being the stabilizing force for their crews. Leading While Carrying explores the unseen burden leaders bear and provides practical, sustainable tools to manage that weight without sacrificing effectiveness, clarity, or presence.
Through relatable examples from the fireground, the station, and the administrative world, this session offers leaders a candid look at the toll the job takes and how to remain steady when the load is heavy. Participants will learn strategies to maintain composure during complex situations, support their people without absorbing every problem, and lead in a way that preserves their capacity, credibility, and resilience. This is a session designed to strengthen the leaders who spend every day strengthening others.
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Musical Notes of Leadership
Presenter: Christopher Jett
Who doesn't love attending a concert with your favorite musician, band, etc.? The sights, sounds, good times, memories, and of course, the overpriced merchandise and concessions. But have you ever been jamming out mid-concert and had several leadership lessons hit you like an 808 drum? I did during several shows over the past few years and actually remember most of them. So get ready to tap your toes, bob your head, chair dance and sing along to some music industry inspired leadership lessons.
2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
It Can't Happen To Us
Presenter: Thomas "Tom" Kelly
As Fire Chiefs we are highly educated how to fight fire, pop the door, do effective CPR, present to 5 and 6 year olds fire safety, and finally how to test a smoke detector. We train our new members and future leaders to the highest standards possible of a very dangerous job. We stand in front of City and County Officials as well as Non-Profit Board of Directors defending our needs and decisions already made. We have days where staff pushes to the edge and we have days all we want to do is sing the praises of the phenomenal works. We make decisions that will effect a young firefighters career by not selecting them for that promotion. Yet why can't we prepare ourselves for LODD and make decisions after the dust settles.
This presentation will be the journey of our fire department as we had a LODD from a training event. This LODD also effected one of retired military members who died a few weeks later. The presentation will be a timeline of the training event, the notification of the incident, the agencies involved to help and the agencies involved with the investigation, the hardship with the family accepting what happened, the trauma that I have endured throughout the investigations and memorials honoring our LODD, and what is happening 6 months later. This LODD occurred before we even addressed the first year of Hurricane Helene's destruction to our community. Thank you for your consideration, respectfully Chief Thomas J. Kelly.