Alan Styles- 35 years of combination experience. Fire Chief of Dalton Township Fire Department in Michigan. Cadre member with Build Your Culture LLC. When I asked Alan to come on and talk shop he was hesitant at first. He didn’t understand why I asked him. When you hear Alan talk the mindset he has towards the fire service is what most Firefighters want to hear coming from their respective Chief’s. As Alan states he is definitely a “Unorthodox” Fire Chief but isn’t bothered by the opinions of others. Alan’s message revolves around accountability, EGO, family, Brotherhood & servant leadership. What I would like for the listeners to understand is at the end of the day YOU have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself with what you accomplished are you ok with every decision that was made? If not what are you going to do to better yourself and those around you? Alan didn’t hold anything back. It was raw & honest and frankly we need more of this within the fire service.

IG: papachief1

38 years of career experience. Retired Battalion Chief with Wichita Fire Department. Sid didn’t grow up wanting to be a Firefighter. He was a college student at the time that needed money and luckily for him had a buddy who was a Firefighter that asked him if he ever thought about joining the fire service. Sid thought about it applied and got on his first attempt. Once he was in as he states “It was the best thing in the world that ever happened.” From various individuals I’ve talked to they all describe Sid as a Firefighter’s Chief. A man who held standards and wanted everyone within his battalion to uphold and value those standards. Believing in servant leadership. I truly hope the listeners can tune and hone in on the gems and nuggets Sid speaks within this interview. I throughly enjoyed our conversation and hope you all do as well.

IG: sidnewby

5 years of career experience. A Firefighter/Paramedic with a department located on the Southwest coast of Florida. Initially Hannah wanted to go into the medical field but after a year in she discovered that the current path she was on wasn’t it. She had some friends within the service who set her up to do a ride along with one of the departments near her. As Hannah states after the 8 hours she fell in love with the fire service and did everything she needed to set her self up for success. With that said every individual journey is never the same. We must choose what we feel is right within ourselves to make us happy. And I truly hope the listeners tune into the gems Hannah drops as she shares her story. As always none of this would be possible without the fantastic guests who agree to come on and talk shop. Hannah is certainly one of them and with the mindset she has I have no doubt she will definitely reach plateaus she never thought could be possible.

IG: hannah_riederich

6 years of career experience. A backstep Firefighter on Ladder 42 at a central Florida department who has been through adversity within his life. But with a strong loving support system and his faith he was able to upright his ship into the right direction. This episode is slightly different from the others. Kyle comes on to talk shop about his fire service experience and about a decision he made in his life along with the aftermath. A decision that I believe a good number of Firefighters can relate to. Actions have CONSEQUENCES and may have a LASTING impact on the rest of your life. There is no RESET,UNDO or EDIT button. YOU are the only person RESPONSIBLE for your actions. You are free to CHOOSE whatever action you want to take, but are NOT free from the CONSEQUENCES. The best thing you can do is accept that a mistake was made and take full accountability and learn from it through growth and maturity. Hopefully others can see your sincerity and determination to correct it and offer you a second chance. If you do get one, take advantage of it because it’s a gift and it may be something better than you had before.

IG: piv_631

16 years of combination experience. Firefighter 2 on Tower 18 with Charlotte Fire Department. Cadre member with Truck Company Ops. Chad was always aware of the fire service but it wasn’t exactly what he wanted to be. Like many young adults his career aspirations wasn’t narrowed down to one field. It wasn’t until he was in college that the notion started to come alive of the fire service and with that he packed up his things moved back home and enrolled in classes that pertained to fire. Eventually getting on a volunteer organization and after a few years began applying to career Departments. Chad is all in when it comes to the job and anything related to Truck work. I want the listeners to tune in when Chad talks about his experience, the mentors he surrounds himself with along with his fire service journey and where he is today.

IG: chad_zerfoss

20 years of career experience. Fire Chief with the City Of Stockton Fire Department in California. Bryan was actually in the legal field and didn’t have aspirations of becoming a Firefighter but felt like he wanted to do more with his life. His sister was a paramedic and mentioned the fire service. And with that notion Bryan became more curious and began to look into what exactly he needed to do to get his foot in the door. Once he stepped inside he fell in love with service and being able to give back to the community. Bryan’s mindset and how he views the fire service should be the reason anyone in this profession strives to become Fire Chief. The fire service has these type’s Chief’s around the country but we need more of them. Fire Chief’s who actually care about their employees, their well being, training, education, performance and overall remembering what it’s like to be a tail board Fireman. Yet humble enough to remember the organization isn’t just about them and allowing Firefighters to be just that…..Firefighters plain and simple.

19 years of career experience. Tillerman on Truck 21 with DeKalb County Fire Rescue. Becoming a Firefighter wasn’t on William’s mind. It wasn’t until high school where he began to think more and more of the fire service. When he was sure he obtained his EMT and began applying and testing everywhere he could until DeKalb contacted him for a position. William isn’t perfect and tries every single day to not only perfect his skills at Firefighting but also within himself and in life. And that’s where I truly hope the listeners can pickup a few gems being dropped in the conversation.

53 years of combination experience 2nd generation Firefighter. Retired Lieutenant with the FDNY and current Deputy Fire Chief with Christiana Fire Department in Delaware. Bob always knew he wanted to be a Firefighter. He tested everywhere he could to make sure it would come to fruition. He wanted to go big so being a Northerner FDNY was the cream of the crop. Bob was able to obtain so many experiences through the many fires he was able to go to. Our discussions ranged from forcible entry, being internet fire famous all the way to how Christiana does things and I throughly enjoyed every minute of it. I hope the listeners tuning in can pick up a few gems Bob was putting down.

IG: bobpress3 & thefirefloor

19 years of combination experience, 3rd generation Firefighter. Captain on Engine 210 with North Charleston Fire Department. Chad started out as a volunteer with a few friends. Over time that transitioned to seeking out for a career position. Chad tested everywhere he could. It wasn’t until a friend reached out and told him about an opportunity down South where he packed up and went. Although Chad was getting some serious experience he just wasn’t being fulfilled and wanted to fill a void he had within himself. A door became a jar to North Charleston and with that Chad made the decision to fully open it on his own. Once he did and came aboard he knew exactly this was where he wanted to stay.

IG: opfc104

35 years of combination experience. Fire Chief of Beaver Lane Fire-Rescue in Marshville NC. Creator, owner & operator of Premier Extrication. Toot didn’t have that instant desire to become a Firefighter. It took him several years to decide to apply with Beaver Lane. But once he got on he did any and everything he could to be the best version of himself. Aspirations of going career was a goal Toot set but in life everything we do and experience happens for a reason. Sometimes we don’t have a choice, but an opportunity presented itself to Toot he took it and as the phrase goes “Look what God did.” If you know Toot you know he’s all in when it comes extrication and I truly hope the listeners can tune into some solid nuggets being dropped.

IG: premiereextrication