Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table

Battalion Chief Rob Fisher of Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue and c0-founder of Young Officers on Fire talks about the importance of building relationships in the fire service. He emphasizes to young firefighters to know the trade before learning the tricks, and for young officers to learn how to communicate well in all aspects. Chief Fisher emphasizes the following: Pick up the phone and tal...

Former global director of the Walt Disney Company and former City of Woodinville fire commissioner Ben May talks about knowing yourself and taking care of yourself first and then you will be able to help others. Ben emphasizes the importance of community risk reduction as that is the future of the fire service. Much like the Walt Disney philosophy in providing customer service that is second to no...

Deputy Chief Michael Despain of Redmond (Wa.) Fire Dept. talks about building community trust, remembering exactly who the customers are and who the service providers are. Chief dives into organizational steps to DEI work, how culture change is slow, but baby steps are key and how putting time and money behind important work must be a priority. Your test as a leader, a company officer, and a chief...

City of Issaquah, Washington Mayor Mary Lou Pauly offers perspectives on authenticity in being a leader. Be humble, do research, be patient, rely on your team and listen intentionally when serving others to truly hear people's needs. To be authentic, you must put yourself out there, expose yourself, take chances, being ok to say you don't know and never assume you know someone else's perspective....

Manny Romero of Seattle Fire Dept talks about recruit prep and fire prep programs that help prepare recruits for drill school. He touches on the adult learning environment, raising the floor and giving more opportunity to their candidates to be successful. Manny also talks about 3 primary components to a sound health & wellness program for firefighters which are: Aerobic capacity, joint mobili...

Captain Benjamin Martin of Henrico County Division of Fire, Virginia talks about followership being more important than leadership. Leaders must have the ability to demonstrate being a good follower in order to be a good leader. Leaders must thrive to explain the why and the why not in a decentralized format to offer the big picture in interacting with each other on the fire ground and in the fire...

Division Chief Mark Sawdon of King County Medic One shares a personal story regarding sleep, mental health and emotional trauma as it relates to the job and the importance of self-awareness and recognition of self-change. He talks about listening to our peers, spouses and family members regarding behavioral and emotional changes that are happening to us. Mark suggests creating relationships with p...

Police Lieutenant (ret.) Eric Rosoff, founded the Career Survival Group and has been helping save careers since 2006. His team has coined the term, "You can lose your life on the fire ground, but you can lose your career in the fire house." Eric emphasizes the importance of understanding your department’s code of conduct, administrative and the in-the-station expectations just as you would the ope...

Fire Chief (ret.) Rick Lasky of Lewisville, Texas Fire Department, author of best selling books "Pride & Ownership" and "5 Alarm Leadership," emphasizes that leaders must always strive to be better, continuously hone their craft, keep learning, keep training, pick the greatest firefighters and officers to emulate and never forget that it is all about your people! Passion drives success, ego an...

Deputy Chief (ret.) Frank Viscuso of Kearny, Fire Dept., New Jersey, author of Amazon Best Sellers "Step up and Lead," and "Step up your Teamwork," emphasizes that anything is possible, nothing is out of reach, and that you don't need anyone's permission to make your dreams happen. Leaders will not reach their potential unless you get uncomfortable and fail along the way. Leaders must have difficu...

Captain Jon Goins w/ Seattle Fire Dept. encourages all firefighters to get involved early and staying involved to learn and to grow. Leaders must work toward being someone worthy of being followed and looked up to, and always remember why we are here. Leaders must be competent, consistent and fair, and it's a leaders job to teach and to mentor.

Fire Chief (ret.) Jeff Clark of Eastside Fire & Rescue talks about being present and engaged early and often throughout your entire career. He suggests entering in dialogue and always ask questions. Chief Clark talks about how leaders must be willing to listen, admit when they are wrong, and be humble enough to change their opinion or decision on the fly if needed. He adds that leaders from al...

Clinical Psychologist Dr. Kira Mauseth unpacks many of the behavioral issues with first responders. She talks about what peer support teams could do, the importance of setting boundaries and knowing when a peer supporter should be looking to listen vs looking to fix. Dr. Mauseth asks everyone the rhetorical question: How much time and hours are you spending in restorative care and recovery vs. esc...

Battalion Chief Brett Loomis w/ Corvalis Fire Department and Trainfirefighters.com , talks 50,000 shades of leadership. He talks about putting yourself out there and making mistakes as they ultimately help you grow. Chief Loomis emphasizes the importance of being of significance to others over being successful of self.

Retired Captain Dan Willis from La Mesa Police Department in San Diego, California talks emotional survival with first responders. Captain Willis authored the book Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responders Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Mind and Heart,” which is a required reading at the FBI National Academy. Captain talks youth leadership in the community, as well as leading during...

"Comfort is the Enemy to Growth," as quoted by Lt. Aaron Fields with Seattle Fire Dept. in his speech at FDIC 2017 upon accepting the "Instructor of the Year" Award. Aaron fields is the founder of "Nozzle Forward," and he unpacks how there is no such thing as informal leadership, in that all kinds of leadership is formal regardless of rank, and that organizations must have leaders at every single...

Fire Chief Harold Scoggins of Seattle Fire Department helps us unpack the work and how to have conversations around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Fire Service. He discusses the importance of building relationships at all ranks. To become a great leader, he suggests one keeps an open mind, keeps learning, becomes educated, stays curious, is very courageous, and always looks for new ways to...

Assistant Chief Kris Larson of Los Angeles City Fire Department helps us navigate around diversity, equity and inclusion in the fire service and being an authentic leader. She helps us unpack the importance of equity, recruitment, hiring, diversity in the workforce and creating an environment that is psychologically safe for everyone to thrive.

Deputy Chief Aaron Tyerman of Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority talks about becoming exceptional at what you do by surrounding yourself with exceptional people. He talks vulnerable leadership, generational leadership, as well as staying infinitely curious in this profession and with people to grow as a leader.

Battalion Chief (ret.) Anthony Kastros of Metro Fire, California discusses the leadership pandemic in the modern-day fire service. He discusses the current leadership gap and the growing need to build more leaders organically. He talks about how taking initiative and setting the example are the keys to bridging this much needed gap of leadership.

Fire Chief Greg Tryon with Central Valley Fire District in Belgrade, Montana talks about the concept of leadership of self and how deliberate practice of self-awareness and regulation of your own thoughts, actions and behaviors will help you grow and become an effective leader. He also discsusses the importance of having difficult conversations, early and often.

Division Chief Andrew (Andy) Tait of King County Medic One talks about his journey into leadership and the many missed opportunities; likely because his constant negativity and pessimism limited true potential - ultimately damaging relationships. A raw admission of Andy's career development and leadership failures and how he turned things around. What NOT to do as an emerging leader.

Assistant Fire Chief Pete Brummel of East Jefferson Fire & Rescue discusses the importance of humility and focusing on the mission. He recommends always leaning forward and walking through doors of opportunities. The greatest leaders are the greatest listeners!

Deputy Fire Chief Bill Mack of East Pierce Fire & Rescue talks all things leadership in the fire service! He suggests how being uncomfortable leads to growth and opportunity. Competing each day to be 1% better is the key to sustainable growth and leadership. He also talks about the differences between and the importance of understanding alignment vs agreement in decision-making.