FIREFIGHTER SUCCESS PODCAST

Corley Moore is currently a Battalion Chief at the Moore Fire Department in Oklahoma. He is the founder of Firehouse Vigilance, which is dedicated to the never-ending fight against complacency.  He is also the author of Challenge Your Leadership, a book of action designed to push every firefighter to be the best version of themselves.  Lastly, he is the host of the Weekly Scrap, a live web show where he interviews the “movers and shakers” of the fire service.

Learn more at FirehouseVigilance.com

Blake Stinnett is a firefighter/paramedic for Sandy Springs Fire in Atlanta, Georgia. His  passions include faith, family, training, teaching, and fitness. He is the founder and director of Next Rung, a non-profit organization that helps first responders tackle mental health issues by providing real avenues for help. These include professional counseling, professional treatment for addiction and substance abuse, and a help line that is available 7 days a week. As you can tell, Blake is a firefighter who genuinely wants to help other firefighters succeed and that’s why I wanted to make sure that you heard his message of hope.

Learn more at NextRung.org.

Jarrod Sergi is a captain and a proud member of Norfolk Fire-Rescue in Virginia. He is also the author of No-nonsense Leadership: A Realistic Approach for the Company Officer. Prior to working for Norfolk, he served 6 years in the U.S. Navy on-board the U.S.S. Iwo Jima. He is an instructor with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs and Real Fire Training LLC, where he focuses on Engine and Ladder Company Operations. Jarrod is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. He shares his leadership message across the country at fire conferences and fire departments.

Tiger Schmittendorf is Vice President of Strategic Recruitment & Retention Services for First Arriving, a full-service marketing team supporting the public safety community.

He served the Erie County Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Services in Buffalo, New York for more than 20 years before retiring as deputy fire coordinator in 2018. There he was responsible for the recruitment, training, and operations of the county’s 97 fire departments and 6,000+ firefighters.

Chief Schmittendorf is the author of the ever popular "From the Xbox to the Box Alarm - Connecting Today's Firefighters" and "Call to Duty - a Recruiter Boot Camp;" and he created a recruitment effort that doubled his own fire department’s membership which helped net thousands of new volunteers countywide. 

Learn more at TigerSchmittendorf.com

Captain Larry Conley has over 28 years on the City of St. Louis Fire Department. He is the president and lead instructor of Leadership Development Concepts, LLC. He and his brother David share their GLUE message nationally at organizations and fire departments, and he is a perennial presenter at FDIC International. He is heavily involved with the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, and currently serves on the committee for curriculum development with the Training Officers Credentialing Program. He is also deeply involved in serving his community through various organizations, including being the Director for the Midwest Children’s Burn Camp. Last but not least, Larry is the host of The Larry Conley Radio Show, which is part of the Fire Engineering Talk Radio network, and can be heard on Monday nights.

Learn more at GlueNationLDC.com 

Eric Wheaton is a second-generation fireman for Winter Park Fire Department (FL) and is currently assigned as a Lieutenant on Truck 61. Eric has spent the majority of his 14-year career on the Truck Company and serves on the Winter Park Fire Department Technical Rescue Team. 

He is the Owner of VentEnterSearch, LLC. Eric is an instructor for the Truck Company Operations and Special Operations programs at Valencia College's Central Florida Fire Institute and has taught at many fire conferences across the country, including FDIC International’s Hands On Training. He holds an associate degree in Fire Science and is an advisory board member on the UL-FSRI Size-up and Search & Rescue Study. 

Learn more: VentEnterSearch.com

Andy Starnes currently serves as a Battalion Chief in a large career department in North Carolina. He is a fire service website contributor on the topics of thermal imaging, fire behavior, leadership, behavioral health, and faith-based devotions.

Andy is the founder of Insight Training LLC, which is internationally recognized for thermal imaging training and education. He also serves as the Deputy Chief for Kill The Flashover Burns Division, and holds a Level II Thermography Certification, consults & teaches in the areas of Tactical Thermal Imaging.

Learn more: InsightTrainingLLC.com

John Spera is an 18-year veteran of the fire service and is currently a firefighter-paramedic with South Metro Fire in Colorado. He is the founder of the incredibly popular Fit to Fight Fire movement, the co-author of Mindset, and host of the Fit to Fight Fire: Lead Yourself Podcast. He is a national instructor who loves to share his message on firefighter training, leadership, fitness, and mindset.

Learn more: FitToFightFire.com

Frank Viscuso is a retired Deputy Chief who served in the town of Kearny, New Jersey. He is the author of the bestselling books: Step Up and Lead, Step Up Your Teamwork, and The Mentor. He is an international keynote speaker where he shares his passion for leadership, teambuilding, and customer service to a wide variety of audiences: both within the fire service and beyond.

In this episode, Jim Moss and Frank Viscuso define success, and discuss key qualities of successful firefighters and leaders, essential qualities of successful teams, why teams fail, informal and formal leadership, failure, and more.

Learn more at: FrankViscuso.com  

Mark vonAppen is a captain and has been a member of the Palo Alto Fire Department (CA) since 1998. Through the Fully Involved movement and The Big 4, he has inspired countless firefighters to improve themselves and become the "rogues" of the fire service. He has been published in Fire Engineering, Fire Service Warrior, and many more. He shares his message internationally at fire departments and fire conferences, including FDIC International.