Ryan Gallagher is a father, a husband, and a firefighter. He is a member of the City of Burlington Peer Support program and has helped raise more than $80,000 for charities in his community. He attends the Professional Addiction Studies program at McMaster University with the goal to better recognize and understand people’s struggles so he can give them better support, on the job and in his everyday life.

He has had his own struggles — He lost his father when he was 16 and used alcohol to help him cope. Through his own journey, he discovered the importance of opening up about his problems and how speaking with many people around him that are dealing with similar struggles can go a long way in helping one overcome life’s challenges and become a stronger person.

Ryan produces and hosts the Mental Edge Lifestyle Podcast that offers honest conversations about mental health. Episodes feature those that have overcome mental health issues sharing their stories and experts from around the world discussing subjects like addiction, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), financial stress, the mind-body connection, and the importance of sleep and fitness. The goal of the podcast is to give the tools and resources required to maintain a healthy mind and body to allow people to operate at peak performance for whatever life demands of them.

https://mentaledge.ca/

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Dena Ali is a Captain with the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department where she has worked her way up the ranks. She previously served as a police officer for five years. Ali has a degree from North Carolina State University and an MPA from the University of North Carolina—Pembroke, where her research focused on firefighter suicide. As a graduate student, she was awarded the 2018 MPA student of the year. She has also received several awards throughout her career. One that she is most proud of is the NC Office of State Fire Marshal Honor, Courage, and Valor award that she earned in 2018 for her steadfast effort to bring awareness to firefighter mental health through her vulnerability. Dena is an advocate of awareness, education, and understanding of mental health disorders and suicidality. She speaks locally and nationally on these topics and is a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor. She has written several articles on topics such as suicide prevention, peer support, wellness, and post-traumatic stress. Dena is the founder and director of North Carolina Peer Support where she helped to develop their statewide curriculum. She is also a founding member of the Carolina Brotherhood, a group of cyclists/firefighters in North Carolina who honour the fallen and their families annually.

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Mahlon Joined the Navy in 2003 as a Hospital Corpsman stationed at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda MD. He received orders to Iraq where he was assigned to 18th Battalion 7th Brigade Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq. Located in the city of Fallujah on March 2005, he was the only medical provider for this battalion. After 6 months, he returned home and finished off the remainder of his contract at The Basic School in Quantico VA discharging Feb. 2010.

Transitioning back to civilian life isn’t easy and he was no exception. He reached points in his life where suicide became an option. His wife tried to understand but was left with no other option but to threaten to kick him out. He was lost between who I use to be and what I had become. He found a combat support group in Fredericksburg VA and after a few months, he accepted a full-time job as a Veteran Peer Specialist for the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program (VWWP). Over the course of 5 years, he worked with Veterans from all eras to provide them with various resources through local, state, and/or non-profit organizations. Through this he was able to find his purpose again. The group became largest support group in the state. Mahlon trained other Peer Specialists and helped organize their support groups to include the programs first Family Support Group.

Responsible for hundreds of square miles tracking veterans down, he worked with local law enforcement, Community Services Boards, VFW’s, American Legions, local churches, and Congressman Rob Wittman and Governor Bob McDonnell on Veteran related issues throughout the state.

After completing his EMT training he landed his career job with Fauquier County in January of 2017. He currently leads their Peer Support Team.

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Rob Backer is an 18-year veteran of the fire service, having served with Thornton Fire Department in Thornton, Colorado since 2004. He is currently the Captain of Engine 76, protecting the city’s northeast side. He has been delivering The Art of Reading Smoke and The Art of the First Due for Dave Dodson since 2016. His writing has been published in Fire Engineering and various fire service blogs and training sites. He also currently serves as the secretary for Thornton Professional Firefighters Local 2376. He is supported by his beautiful wife and 3 children, 2 of whom he coaches in flag football.

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Jay Bonnifield is a firefighter with the Everett Fire Department in Everett Washington, assigned to the tailboard of Engine 5 in south/central Everett. Jay has been a firefighter for 12 years, starting in suburban communities to the north of Everett prior to getting hired with EFD. Jay teaches engine company operations for the Snohomish County Fire Training Academy, along with West Coast Fire Training, and has been involved with teaching engine operations and fire behaviour at many local academies and colleges. Jay is a husband to an incredible wife and a father of 3 awesome kids.

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Jarrod Sergi is a 20-year member of the fire service. He started his career in the US Navy serving as a Damage Control-man where he was responsible for all shipboard firefighting operations and the training of ships crew.  After his time in the Navy, he was selected to join the ranks of Norfolk Fire-Rescue in Norfolk VA where he has been for the last 15 years. Currently, he serves as the Captain of Engine Company 1 in the heart of downtown Norfolk. During his time with Norfolk, he has also served as a ladder company officer as well as completed a tour in the training division. Here he was responsible for the coordination of several Fire Academy’s and the development and implementation of several department-wide and regional training programs. Along with this, he is also an instructor for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs focusing on MAYDAY and strategy/tactics and high rise operations.  Jarrod is also an instructor for Real Fire Training LLC where he provides training on Engine and Ladder Company Operations, as well as Firefighter Survival. He is A contributor to several fire service publications and has spoken at multiple conferences and fire departments across the country.  He recently released his book No nonsense leadership. A realistic approach for the company officer. Most notably he is the founder of Trial by Fire, whose mission is to advance the fire service through strong leadership, accountability, and training. It is his mission to make every firefighter bleed passion for their profession. He is committed to holding himself to a high standard and will work hard to inspire others around him to do the same.

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A 16-year veteran of the fire service, Zapp holds the rank of Lieutenant at a suburban Chicago Fire Protection District and operates FireSQFitness, a coaching business dedicated to the physical and mental health and wellness of firefighters worldwide. She is honored to have the opportunity to help Firefighters live their best lives.

Holding a master’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, she is also credentialed as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Precision Nutrition Level 1 Coach and a CISSN through the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Her proudest career accolade was being selected as a member of the Illinois Firefighter Peer Support Team where she counsels and supports her fellow firefighters statewide. She was recently named to an Illinois Senate task force focused on mitigating first responder suicide.

Zapp is an adjunct faculty at the University of Denver in the graduate program for Sports Coaching and is a proud member of the panel of experts that recently reviewed and revised the TSAC Practitioner Course for the NSCA. She is also a highly sought-after public speaker and podcast guest appearing on a dozen podcasts in the last year.

www.firerescuewellness.org

infoe@firerescuewellness.org

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Jake Hoffman is a Private with the Toledo (OH) Fire Department where he is assigned to Rescue Squad 7, one of the city's two heavy rescue companies. He has also spent time detailed to the Special Operations and Training Bureaus. Jake is a co-owner of Squad 5 Fire Training and is an instructor for Take the Door Training. He works as a HAZMAT Specialist with FEMA Ohio Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue and served as a technical panel member for the UL Fire Attack/Victim Survivability study.

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Scott Chisholm is a career first responder; professional firefighter for the past 27 years and former land-based (6 years) and air paramedic (10 years).

Scott is also a photographer, storyteller, and CEO and founder of the Collateral Damage project. The Collateral Damage project started as a series of compelling portraits that will be part of a book and gallery exhibitions of those who have lost loved ones and friends to suicide;

Scott lost his father to suicide at the age of seventeen. The Collateral Damage project has evolved into a movement that combines the power of lived experience with academics, research, and evidence-based learning and practice.

Scott is a passionate and enthusiastic public speaker who has traveled throughout Canada and the USA with the hopes of bringing about curriculum, policy and legislative changes while advocating for education and training on suicide and mental health and bringing about awareness that can save lives. Scott strongly believes in empowering others.

In 2013-2014 he was the primary facilitator for the initiative “The Life Promotion Project”, which is an Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy that focused on creating positive change through photography that targeted 96 First Nations communities.

He has been recognized for his work at local, regional and national levels. He received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention; was the recipient of the Arnold Devlin Community Award from the Ontario Association for Suicide Prevention for Outstanding Contributions to Suicide Prevention and was awarded the Prestigious Champions of Mental Health Award by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health in 2012.

In 2017 Scott was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and from this, his journey of healing has created another layer in his lived experience story.

Scott is a firm believer in the power of story and has committed his life to using art and storytelling as a vehicle to create proactive dialogue and social change on mental health, suicide, and wellness.

http://leftbehindbysuicide.org/

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Marc Aloan is a Captain with the West Columbia Fire Department and creator of The Fire Inside blog. He has been a member of the fire service for 16 years, both volunteer and career, and is an active instructor/presenter. Marc has taught at Firehouse World, Firehouse Expo, and numerous state and local conferences. His writing has been published in Fire Engineering, The Firemanship Journal, and the Fire Department Training Network newsletter. He is also a veteran of the U.S Air Force and holds a B.S. in Fire Protection Administration from Eastern Kentucky University.

https://www.thefireinsidepage.com/

@thefireinsidepage

#thefireinsidepage

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Nathan has been a firefighter with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services in British Columbia's Lower mainland since 2011 and was a volunteer firefighter for 3 years prior, on Vancouver Island. He has been a member of an Internationally deploy-able, Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team since December 2015. He saw the need for advanced RIT training to be provided to firefighters across B.C. and began designing props that could be transported to any location. After a couple of years of designing, building, and course preparation Prepare4 was ready to provide its first course in 2015. Since the start of Prepare4 the focus has been on firefighter survival and rescue techniques. Prepare4 has since expanded its programs to further its passion for providing quality fire service training across BC. They enjoy working with departments to create a more professional, efficient and safer fire service. Prepare4 has had the privilege of teaching volunteers, Paid on-call and Career firefighters, officers, and chiefs in many of their different programs. They have traveled from the west coast of Vancouver Island to the Base of the Rockies everywhere in-between working with great departments and their members all along the way.

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It is crucial to learn at least some of the deep history of our service. Not only does it give us a window into the struggles and efforts of the giants before us, whose shoulders we stand upon, but it also shows us the progression that has always been driven by the necessity of innovation.

As technology opens up the ability to manifest possibilities into realities at greater and greater speeds, industries including ours can become inundated with tools to choose from. It can be a good problem to have but it can be equally as challenging for innovators and end-users to be brought together to the benefit of the people we serve.

In this episode, we get to hear the story of Eau Claire, Wisconsin Fire Captain Jeff Dykes, who conceptualized Northern Star and how he is working to see it become part of our norm.

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There are many experiences that will slip your memory but being hired as a Firefighter isn’t one of them. It’s a powerful and unique experience that stands the test of time. Earning that moment can often be a struggle, but it’s also an opportunity to begin a growth mindset that will serve you both in your life and in the service. There isn’t one path, there are many and that’s both encouraging and frustrating because it’s not a sure thing. If it was called Fire-Easy everyone would be doing it. My guests this episode give you a glimpse into two different journeys that landed them in the same recruit class. It’s a contrast and comparison that hopefully also resonates the shared lines that run within each of them, and perhaps within you. I’m very pleased to bring you, Anthony Burch and DJ Tudino.

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Andy MacDonald served with the City of Brampton Fire and Emergency Services for over 37 years, starting as a Volunteer Fire Fighter in 1977. After graduating from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Science degree, he began his career as a professional Fire Fighter in 1979.  Andy rose through the ranks in Brampton.  He was appointed Assistant Deputy in 1999, Deputy in 2003 and Fire Chief in January 2008.

Chief MacDonald continued his personal/professional development throughout his career.  Andy holds Queen’s IRC Certificates in Labour Relations, Advanced Labour Relations, and Organization Development Fundamentals, and he participated in the program on negotiations at the Harvard Law School. Andy also studied at York University and the Ontario Fire College.  Since 2001, Andy has spent a large portion of his vacation time as a facilitator at the Queen’s University Industrial Relations Centre, teaching in the Labour Relations field.

Chief MacDonald retired from Brampton Fire in June of 2014.  On August 1st of that same year he was appointed the Director of Fire Management Studies at the Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.  Andy oversaw the development of two major initiatives, the Executive Certificate in Fire Services Management and a 2-year Fire Service Foundations Diploma.  Under Andy’s guidance, the University of Guelph/Humber accepted the first four Fire Service students into a pilot Applied Arts Degree in Public Safety Management in September 2015.

With the Humber Programs “in the can”, Andy moved on to the City of Guelph where he worked under contract for 2-years as the General Manager of Emergency Services.  In that role, Andy was responsible for the Guelph Fire Department and the Guelph/Wellington Paramedic Services.

Andy spends his time these days working as a consultant as the Principal Partner of the Anderin Group.  One of his clients is Homewood Health where Andy is a consultant to the 1st Responder Community.  His work sees Andy speaking about Operational Stress Injuries and 1st Responder Mental Health on the national stage.

Throughout his life, Andy took on a number of projects outside of his professional responsibilities.  In 1997, he conceived of the idea of constructing a stand-alone center for fire and life safety education.  Dedicating 7-years of his life to the project; he saw Brampton’s award-winning Fire/Life Education Centre open in 2003.  In 1985 he rappelled off the CN Tower to raise money for a Toronto burn unit, earning him a spot in the Guinness Book of Records.  He is currently on the National Advisory Board for Camp F.A.C.E.S and is on the Conference Board of the Canadian Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

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No stranger to goals, setbacks, missteps or success, Amber has fostered, nurtured and honoured the voice within her that says, you need to do this, and found a way.

An accomplished hockey player, an established instructor, and coach, the most decorated female in the sport of Firefit and the Combat Challenge and recently named Top Trainer on the Dr. Oz Show, she is a prime example of not letting yourself or anyone else give you no for an answer.

 http://www.fitbyfire.com/

@fitbyfire

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Mike is a Captain assigned to a Special Operations Team in one of the largest cities in Canada. Mike brings 20 years of operational rescue and command experience through his heavy involvement in technical rope, confined space, vehicle and trench rescue teams. 
He has also has been a clinically active paramedic for over two decades and has worked part time as a Critical Care Flight Paramedic on the helicopters in Toronto for the past 15 years. Being a flight medic has exposed him to many complex and prolonged rescue incidents including heavy vehicle, trench, collapse, and machine entrapment. Being involved in these incidents has taught him the importance of tact, discretion, and diplomacy while dealing with allied agencies in a super high-stress environment. 
His passion for learning Auto Extrication has had him compete at a world level on his city’s extrication team. These competitions have taught him skills for Rescue but more so about being a member of a high functioning group and sharing and learning from others around the globe. While being a member and a coach he has won multiple individual and team awards including two world championships.
As a fire service instructor Mike has taught for many agencies and colleges in North America and truly believes in ongoing education is vital to being a competent rescue worker.

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Work-life balance is equal parts corporate adopted catchphrase and prophetic tenet and we are awash in a confusing eddy of snake-oil peddlers and genuine healers as we seek the relief of a promised land we can't see. 
Getting to this place of peace and contentment is a journey of trial and error, success and setback and requires self-awareness, reflection, faith, and perseverance, all as our lives speed along. 
Rob has been a survivor and a warrior within his own life to reach his place of peace and contentment. He walks the road and holds to a moral compass that continues to hold his course true. 
With 21 years in the service and experience in firefighting, union, and administration he is perfectly positioned to speak to how we can each work to achieve our own definition of health and balance.

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