Silverback Leadership

This week, we will be hosting a Q&A session with the chiefs - Terry Garrison, Nick Brunancini, John Vance, and Greg Timinsky, to answer questions submitted by B Shifter listeners. We understand that dealing with a non-progressive fire chief who denies outside training requests can be challenging, but we have some insights that can help you navigate through the resistance. We will be discussing strategies for personal growth and the systemic issues of departments that avoid progressive leadership. We will also be drawing parallels to the importance of continuous training. Our conversation will extend to the repercussions chiefs may face when they fail to adapt and nurture their department’s personnel.

This episode features Nick Brunacini, Josh Blum, Greg Timinsky and John Vance.

B Shifter Buckslip: No one listened to the workers better than Bruno. In this edition's Silverback Leadership column, 17 observations from the workers that Big Al collected through the years. Read it here: https://conta.cc/4a8M11Z

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This episode was recorded at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center in Phoenix,  Arizona  on May 9, 2024.

Somehow we misplaced this episode, but hallelujah- we found it! That means three more B Shifter's get a t-shirt!

We asked for questions for the chiefs and we received some good ones! This episode we discuss the paramilitary structure of fire departments, officers who push back on good radio communications and avoiding burnout.

Every question we use will get a Bruno OG IC T-Shirt.           

This episode features Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini and John Vance.

We want your helmet (for the AVB CTC)!

Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here.

Shop B Shifter here.

The Hazard Zone Conference is back.  Register here!

Please subscribe and share. Thank you for listening!

This is another round of Ask The Chiefs!

We asked for questions for the chiefs and we received some good ones! Every question we use will get a Bruno OG IC T-Shirt. This time around we discussed dealing with those who get their jobs back trough arbitration and keeping the passion for our jobs in leadership.

This episode features Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini and John Vance.

We want your helmet (for the AVB CTC)!

Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here.

Shop B Shifter here.

The Hazard Zone Conference is back.  Register here!

Please subscribe and share. Thank you for listening!

This episode was recored in Phoenix, AZ at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center.

Part 1 of 2

We asked for questions for the chiefs and we received some good ones! Every question we use will get a Bruno OG IC T-Shirt.

This episode features Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini and John Vance.

We want your helmet (for the AVB CTC)!

Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here.

Shop B Shifter here.

The Hazard Zone Conference is back. Register before April 1 and save $100! Register here!

Please subscribe and share. Thank you for listening!

This episode was recored in Phoenix, AZ at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center on March 18, 2023

Please subscribe!

Alan Brunacini left a lot of unpublished materials and programs that were in the progress of completion when he passed away. Terry Garrison and Nick Brunacini are putting all of those works together for a leadership program for the fire service using the "Brunacini model" of fire department leadership.

We talk about that and some of this leadership lessons that have been applied from what Bruno taught us such as second chance management, the difference between a political fire chief & a "firefighters" fire chief.

This episode features Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini and John Vance.

Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here.

Shop B Shifter here.

The Hazard Zone Conference is back. Register before April 1 and save $100! Register here!

Please subscribe and share. Thank you for listening!

This episode was recored in Phoenix, AZ at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center on January 26, 2023

Please subscribe!

It's Leadership Thursday so we gathered the chief's around the table to talk about stuff on the strategic level and tell a few light hearted stories too. It like having microphones at a support group for chief officers (and you are invited too!). This week we talk about ballistic protection for firefighters, alternative response and taking care of the safety of Firefighters while de-victimizing our customers.

This episode features Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini and John Vance.

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Shop B Shifter here. 

This episode was recored in Phoenix, AZ at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center. 

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We say a-hole in this episode a lot. So much so that instead of heavy editing we embraced it and let our unfiltered selves fly.

We cover continuing Bruno's work, retirement, "call fatigue", lessons learned as chiefs, how we should behave, second chances and  being nice. Is it nice to call 'em like we see 'em? You be the judge. Welcome to this B Shifter where we call an a-hole an a-hole. Thanks for listening!

This episode features Terry Garrison, Nick Brunacini and John Vance.

Sign up for the Hazard Zone Workshops  here.

Shop B Shifter here. 

This episode was recored in Phoenix, AZ at the Alan V. Brunacini Command Training Center. 

Please subscribe!

If you want light hearted (at times) serious fire service leader talk - we have it for you here!

This time Nick Brunacini, Pat Dale and John Vance  delve in to building a staff as a new Fire Chief. We get "off topic" a lot and may not even answer Nick's opening question at anytime during this podcast. Listen and see if we do?  If you like this and don't want to miss an episode, please subscribe!

Pat Dale sits in for the vacationing Terry Garrison. Pat is an accomplished Fire Chief and Blue Card Lead Instructor.

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Thank you for listening! 

If you want light hearted serious fire service leader talk - we have it here for you!

This time Nick Brunacini, Terry Garrison and John Vance delve in to labor relations, particularly the Chief - Union relationship. We hit on some other stuff too. If you like this and don't want to miss an episode, please subscribe!

Mayday Management Workshops are open! Sign up here.

Also, if you are looking for a shirt, book or other B Shifter item, please visit the B Shifter Store!

In 2007, Terry Garrison retired from the Phoenix Fire Department after serving more than 30 years. Working for Alan Brunacini and reaching the level of assistant chief of operations helped shape Terry’s consistent values: firefighter safety and customer service. After a long weekend of retirement, Terry served as the fire chief of the Oceanside (Calif.) Fire Department, where he worked for almost three years. Terry then moved to Texas, where he served as the chief of the Houston Fire Department for more than five years. Currently, Terry is the fire chief in Glendale, Ariz., where he was born and raised. Terry has traveled throughout the world teaching fire command. He has a master’s degree in education and attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Terry and his wife, Annette, live in Phoenix.

Nick Brunacini joined the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD) in 1980. He served seven years as a firefighter on different engine companies before promoting to captain and working nine years on a ladder company. Nick served as a battalion chief for five years, and in 2001, he was promoted to shift commander. He then spent the next five years developing and teaching the Blue Card curriculum at the PFD’s Command Training Center. His last assignment with the PFD was south shift commander; he retired from the department in 2009. Nick is the author of “B-Shifter—A Firefighter’s Memoir.” He also co-wrote “Command Safety.”

John Vance started as a Fire Explorer in 1982 and has been involved in fire department and/or municipal service ever since. He has been the Fire Chief of the Minnetonka, Minnesota Fire Department since August of 2013. Prior to that he spent nearly 12 years as a chief officer with the Harris Township Fire Department and the Clay Fire Territory in South Bend Indiana. He holds a bachelor degree in Fire Service Management from Southern Illinois University, a certificate in Executive Management from the University of Notre Dame and is an accredited Chief Officer from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. John has been a Blue Card Lead Instructor since its inception since 2008 and leads by the mantra of “Be Safe, Be Effective and Be Nice”.

Got a question or comment for us? Email here!

Production Assistance from Katie Brunacini 

We are talking culture. How to capture it, improve  it and make it authentic.

In 2007, Terry Garrison retired from the Phoenix Fire Department after serving more than 30 years. Working for Alan Brunacini and reaching the level of assistant chief of operations helped shape Terry’s consistent values: firefighter safety and customer service. After a long weekend of retirement, Terry served as the fire chief of the Oceanside (Calif.) Fire Department, where he worked for almost three years. Terry then moved to Texas, where he served as the chief of the Houston Fire Department for more than five years. Currently, Terry is the fire chief in Glendale, Ariz., where he was born and raised. Terry has traveled throughout the world teaching fire command. He has a master’s degree in education and attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Terry and his wife, Annette, live in Phoenix.

Nick Brunacini joined the Phoenix Fire Department (PFD) in 1980. He served seven years as a firefighter on different engine companies before promoting to captain and working nine years on a ladder company. Nick served as a battalion chief for five years, and in 2001, he was promoted to shift commander. He then spent the next five years developing and teaching the Blue Card curriculum at the PFD’s Command Training Center. His last assignment with the PFD was south shift commander; he retired from the department in 2009. Nick is the author of “B-Shifter—A Firefighter’s Memoir.” He also co-wrote “Command Safety.”

John Vance started as a Fire Explorer in 1982 and has been involved in fire department and/or municipal service ever since. He has been the Fire Chief of the Minnetonka, Minnesota Fire Department since August of 2013. Prior to that he spent nearly 12 years as a chief officer with the Harris Township Fire Department and the Clay Fire Territory in South Bend Indiana. He holds a bachelor degree in Fire Service Management from Southern Illinois University, a certificate in Executive Management from the University of Notre Dame and is an accredited Chief Officer from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. John has been a Blue Card Lead Instructor since its inception since 2008 and leads by the mantra of “Be Safe, Be Effective and Be Nice”.

Got a question or comment for us? Email here!

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Published: Feb. 07, 2022 @ 7PM Edit

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