Fire Chiefs Leadership Seminar

Fire Chiefs’ Welcome Reception

Breakfast On Your Own

7:00–8:30 a.m.

Registration Open

Fire Chiefs Dept. Opening Remarks and Business Meeting

8:15-8:30 a.m.        

Using a Coaching Mindset to Increase Fire Team Performance

8:30-9:45 a.m.     

What if the elements that make directive leadership work during an incident are stifling your fire team’s growth and development when applied to day-to-day management? Incident commanders must be able to direct their teams with maximum clarity and efficiency. And yet, this same approach when applied outside of a crisis can impede learning and create dependency. Effective public safety leadership requires the ability to pivot between a command-and-control style to an approach grounded in a coaching mindset. During this interactive session you will learn how to utilize coaching techniques to unlock peak performance across all levels of your organization. Once embedded in your leadership style and the department’s culture, the cascading effects of a coaching mindset will free up your top leaders to focus on an even higher vision.

Moderator:
Alexander Hamilton, President, Fire Chiefs Department and Fire Chief, Oxnard

Speakers:
Jennifer Coyle, President, North Star Consulting, Inc.

Visit with Sponsors 

9:45-10:15 a.m.   

Visit with several vendors offering products and services to benefit you and your city. Coffee, tea, and water will be available.    

EMS Updates from Across the State

10:15-11:25 a.m.        

Receive an update on key EMS issues happening across the state. Updates will include a focus on legislation, APOT, EMSA Strategic Plan, EMS Commission, Community Paramedicine, ambulance RFP processes, IGT/GEMT status, and other hot topics.

Moderator and Speaker:
Dan Stefano, Fire Chief, Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue

Speakers:
Kurt Henke, Principal/Managing Partner, AP Triton, LLC
Kristin Thompson, EMS Division Chief, Newport Beach

Short Break

11:25-11:35 a.m.        

Cal Cities Legislative Update

11:35 a.m.-noon         

Receive a rapid-fire update on the most important bills to city fire departments importance of the relationship. Then, learn how the League of California Cities can be a resource for you in the future.

Moderator:
Alexander Hamilton, President, Fire Chiefs Department and Fire Chief, Oxnard

Speakers:
Elisa Arcidiacono, Legislative Affairs, Lobbyist, League of California Cities
Meghan McKelvey, Manager, Department and Member Services, League of California Cities
Russell Noack, President/Managing Partner, Public Policy Advocates, LLC

Networking Luncheon

noon-1:00 p.m.        

Difficult Conversations: Way to Bypass Conflict

1:15 -2:15 p.m.       

Issues and complaints are often escalated through the chain of command or a grievance process that could have otherwise been avoided. Had these problems been addressed through a direct conversation with a supervisor or colleague, then attorneys, union representatives, and administration need not get involved. However, many employees are at a loss on how to handle workplace conflict, and jump directly to more extreme measures. Two attorneys from Oppenheimer Investigations Group will discuss different communication techniques utilizing role play and case studies.

Moderator:
David Spencer, Fire Chief, Auburn City Fire Department

Speakers:
Christina Ro-Connolly, Partner, Oppenheimer Investigations Group LLP
Zaneta Seidel, Attorney Investigator/Partner, Oppenheimer Investigations Group LLP

Visit with Sponsors

2:15 -2:30 p.m.        

Visit with several vendors offering products and services to benefit you and your city. Coffee, tea, and water will be available.

Behavioral Health and the Fire Service

2:30-3:45 p.m.   

Receive an update on current and emerging behavioral trends for the fire service.

Moderator:
Alexander Hamilton, President, Fire Chiefs Department and Fire Chief, Oxnard

Speakers:
Kevin Greene, EMS/Health & Safety Director, California Professional Firefighters
Dr. Stephen Odom, PhD, First Responder Wellness, Shift Wellness, & The Counseling Team
Ryan Sharma, Associate Professor, Director of Clinical Training, California Lutheran University

Visit with Sponsors

3:45-4:00 p.m.       

Visit with several vendors offering products and services to benefit you and your city. Coffee, tea, and water will be available.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Effective Tools for Succession Management

4:00-5:15 p.m.   

Does your organization struggle with recruiting a diverse workforce? Do you have a succession management plan? Have you embraced and does your agency practice diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)? Discover answers to why and how DEI can be utilized to enable your organization to be more attractive to qualified applicants and to retain the talent you already have. Hear fire service leaders’ experiences with these topics, including what has worked for them and what has fallen short.

Moderator:
Kurt Latipow, Retired Fire Chief, AP Triton, LLC

Speakers:
Pat Lynch, Senior Associate, AP Triton, LLC
Curtis Jacobson, Fire Chief, Fremont
Marianna Marysheva, City Manager, Livermore

Joint Networking Reception

5:15-6:30 p.m.

After a full day of education, relax and enjoy some light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments while networking with your colleagues. This will be a joint reception with attendees of the City Clerks New Law and Elections Seminar and the Fire Chiefs Leadership Seminar.

Breakfast Buffet

See Change Clearly: Building Resilient Fire Department Teams

8:30-9:45 a.m.   

Bestselling author and former local government executive will help you reenergize and align your department. You will learn how to leverage the experiences of the last two years to create a path of connection, impact, and excellence. After the session, you will be equipped with new and innovative tools to refuel empty tanks, build a high performing team, and harness personal and professional resilience.

Moderator:
Alexander Hamilton, President, Fire Chiefs Department and Fire Chief, Oxnard

Speaker:
Jacob Green, President/CEO, Jacob Green and Associates

Break

9:45-10:00 a.m.        

Key Ingredients to Working With Your City Manager

10:00-11:15 a.m.        

A key component to the success of a fire department and fire chief, is working with the city manager. What essential ingredients in that important relationship are needed to maximize building support at a community level? What components contribute to a healthy partnership? Hear from a panel of city managers and fire chiefs as they discuss their experience and recommendations related to this important working relationship.

Moderator:
Jeff Boyles, Immediate Past President, Fire Chiefs Department and Fire Chief, Newport Beach

Speakers:
Kerri Donis, Fire Chief, Fresno
John Gillison, City Manager, Rancho Cucamonga
Gaudenz Panholzer, Fire Chief, Monterey Fire Department
Nat Rojanasathira, Assistant City Manager, Monterey

Concluding Remarks and Adjourn

11:15-11:30 a.m.     

Speaker:
Alexander Hamilton, President, Fire Chiefs Department and Fire Chief, Oxnard

• Creating Resilient and Brain-Healthy Fire Departments
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity In the Fire Service: Navigating And Implementing Strategies For Chiefs
• Recruiting, Hiring, and Promoting the Right People for Your Agency
• The Set-Up Of Successful Leadership 2.0
• Understanding the Legislative Process - Dolfie