Instructor: Anthony Kelleher

In an era where the fire service is being tested from every angle—recruitment and retention challenges, shifting cultural values, generational divides, and increasing operational demands—leaders at every level must rise with quiet strength and purpose-driven action. “Forge the Future: Quiet Strength, Lasting Legacy” is a compelling and reflective 3-hour lecture designed for current and aspiring firefighters, officers, and chiefs who are ready to invest in the future of their departments—and themselves. 

This class challenges attendees to explore what it truly means to build a winning fire department—not just through tactics and tools, but through people, mentorship, values, and culture. Drawing on over three decades of frontline, supervisory, and executive-level experience, the instructor shares hard-earned lessons, pivotal mistakes, and transformational moments that shaped a leadership journey grounded in humility, accountability, and action. 

Participants will walk through a roadmap for: 

-Mentoring and coaching the next generation: understanding Gen Z mindsets, creating buy-in without ego, and fostering resilience.

-Building and sustaining culture: from the kitchen table to the command post—how to reinforce the right values, day in and day out. 

-Recruiting and retaining differently: what’s working (and failing) across the country, and how to build places people want to stay. 

-Creating self-reflective leaders: tools and habits to stay grounded, avoid burnout, and lead with clarity—even in chaos.

-Forging a legacy worth inheriting: how to leave the department better than you found it, no matter your rank or role. 

This is not a rah-rah session. It’s a deep, honest, and motivating conversation about what the fire service needs—and what you can actually do to meet that need. Whether you’re a seasoned chief, a newly promoted officer, or a firefighter ready to lead by example, this session will challenge and equip you to hold the line today and forge the fire service of tomorrow.

Instructor Name: Joseph R. Polenzani 

For fire officers, split-second choices can mean the difference between safety and danger, success and setback. However, decision-making is both an art and a science. This class is designed for firefighters and officers looking to elevate their leadership skills and hone their ability to navigate the complexities of both emergency response scenarios and day-to-day personnel issues.

 Throughout this session, participants will delve into a range of topics essential to effective management and decision-making. Utilizing real-world case studies, we will discuss how to apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations. Discussions will center on prioritizing objectives under pressure, communicating clearly amidst chaos, and adapting strategies to dynamic environments. Participants will emerge with a heightened understanding of leadership in crisis situations, equipped with the tools to make informed decisions swiftly and decisively. This class isn't just about learning; it's about preparing you to lead confidently when careers, lives, and property are on the line. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 1. Understand and utilize the appropriate decision-making models and techniques. 

2. Recognize common decision-making biases and how to avoid them. 

3. Describe the differences between discretionary and non-discretionary time situations. 

4. Understand the benefits and challenges of group decision-making processes. 

5. Evaluate the effectiveness of a chosen course of action. Like many other organizations, my midsize suburban career department has struggled with officer development. In 2021, I worked with a cadre of five fire officers to develop our first week-long company officer academy, with the goal of addressing this deficiency. Although our officers are required to hold state Fire Officer I and Instructor I certifications prior to promotion, we recognized that there was a noticeable lack of “soft skills,” including interpersonal dynamics, communication, and decision-making. Our officers had a solid understanding of firefighting tactics and departmental policies, they just lacked the tools (and confidence) to apply them effectively. As we developed and refined the curriculum for what has now become an annual event, open to members of our department and other organizations, we have focused less on education and more on implementation, with decision-making being a key component of both tactical and interpersonal success. 

This class is designed for incident commanders, company officers, and firefighters who wish to be more effective, both on and off the fireground. Although we typically think of decision-making as an officer’s job, the truth is that the decisions made by personal at all levels affect an organization, especially in the areas of safety, morale, and customer service. The ability to make quick and effective decisions is a career-long pursuit, that relies on a comprehensive knowledge of firefighting tactics and techniques (the art) and an understanding of the most effective ways to apply it (the science). The bad news is, there’s no secret or trick to making good decisions under pressure. The good news is, there are ways to practice or prepare for most situations, and these exercises reinforce the need for strong foundational training among our personnel.

Instructor Names: TJ & Sarah Prieur

What happens after the mayday—on the job and in your own life? First responders are trained to react to emergencies, but what about the silent maydays we face within ourselves? “Embers Within” explores the powerful parallels between battling external fires and navigating the internal ones that threaten our emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. 

Drawing from his personal journey as a RIT team firefighter in the aftermath of a line-of-duty death, TJ shares the raw realities of trauma, resilience, and rebuilding. Using foundational firefighter knowledge, participants will uncover the lessons hidden in fire behavior, size-up, and mayday procedures—applying these same tools to recognize the warning signs of internal collapse, identify entry points for healing and growth, and take steps to extinguish what no longer serves. 

Through compelling stories of navigating loss, enduring the grueling challenges of Ironman races and ultra-marathons, and discovering strength in choosing to do hard things, this session illuminates the embers of resilience that remain after every fire. 

In the second half of the workshop, TJ is joined by his wife, Sarah—a powerful voice who brings an essential and deeply personal perspective as the wife of a firefighter who has endured tremendous loss and trauma. Sarah shares the inverse lens—the often-unspoken reality of the family members who carry the emotional weight of the job in their own way. She offers insight into what it’s like to stand beside someone who has walked through fire—literally and emotionally—and how that affects the home, the marriage, and the children. 

Together, TJ and Sarah lead a grounded, intentional process to help you plan your week and structure your day with clarity and purpose. You’ll learn how to move from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, how to use a planner to stay aligned with your goals, and how to set intentions that support both individual and family well-being. This isn’t just about productivity—it’s about building a life that supports love, stability, and connection even in the face of chaos. 

Sarah also shares tools and practices for keeping the family unit grounded, including how to keep your kids connected, resilient, and emotionally aware as they grow up in a home touched by the reality of the fire service. From routines that anchor the household, to honest conversations that build emotional intelligence, this session will help you stay present and strong—even in the hardest seasons. You’ll walk away with the mindset, structure, and emotional tools to rebuild not just after the mayday—but to rise into a new life full of love, happiness, joy, and prosperity. Together, we’ll explore how challenges can become catalysts for deeper connection and how we can create a legacy of strength and presence—at work and at home.

Instructor Name: Nick Esposito

Class description: Our program works to fill the gaps that so many firefighters and fire officers have in their aerial operator training. This lecture takes a firefighter centered approach which works to develop their mindset to be better prepared to perform under the stress of real life. This program also gives officers and Incident Commanders a better understanding of what the operator is working through, to allow them to give the officer / commander the results they need. We discuss operational expectations, fire scene realities, and the strengths and weaknesses of their aerial. At the end of this program, we will equip students with the tools needed to allow them to immediately go out and increase their aerial apparatus positioning abilities on the fireground.