Student Of The Game Fire Podcast

Mark Combs- 30 years of combination experience. Battalion Chief in the 9th Battalion on B-Shift with Dallas Fire/Rescue.Kevin Jordan- 15 years of career experience. A Command Tech also with Dallas Fire Rescue who works right along side Mark Combs.A strong relationship can be bonded through the integration of work and faith by approaching your work and interactions with others from a biblical perspective. Both Mark and Kevin live out their faith at work by building meaningful relationships, fostering a supportive workplace & having trust through communication. Actions most certainly speak louder than words. Both men agree on letting your actions shine as a light to others by demonstrating good character and a strong work ethic. There were so many gems and nuggets being preached on this interview it was too hard to just pick one. Do yourself a favor and tune into this episode as you surely won’t regret it.

32 years of combination experience. 1st Firefighter in his family to go career. Retired from Fairfax Fire/Rescue with 20 years as a Firefighter from Bailey’s Crossroads station 10. Firefighter, former Fire Chief and life member with Kentland Volunteer Fire Department, former Ops Chief with Clearwater Fire Department in Florida & currently Fire Apparatus Manager/ Assistant Chief with Prince George’s County. Ricky gained a ton of experience while being a volunteer member in Prince George but it wasn’t until a mentor in his life told him what good is all that experience and knowledge if your not willing to share it to others? After that discussion that’s when things began to evolve for Ricky. Having valuable experience and knowledge is beneficial, but its true worth is realized when shared with others, fostering growth, innovation, and collective progress. Without sharing, knowledge can become stagnant, and opportunities for learning and improvement are missed. Sharing knowledge not only benefits others but also deepens the sharer's understanding and strengthens relationships. IG: rickyrileytt

17 years of combination experience 2nd generation Firefighter. A Captain on Engine 18 with Caldwell Fire Department in Idaho, President with Treasure Valley Fools & creator of March Mayhem Fire Conference. Gino got his start as a reserve FF for Sacramento City with the dream goal of becoming a Firefighter with Cal Fire. Once he was eligible Gino began applying anywhere he could to get a full-time career position. That prayer was answered when he got hired with Sacramento. But Gino began to realize he wasn’t truly being fulfilled being just a number in such a large department and started seeking other avenues. Gino adds that there are no ill feelings towards his former organization but sometimes you as the individual need to find a place where you feel like you can make a difference and leaving a positive mark within the service.IG: mr.triple_g

22 years of combination experience. A retired Division Chief Of Training with Winter Park FD. Creator, founder & OG of Vent Enter Search, connoisseur of anything related to truck work. Growing up Jimm wanted to become a pilot in the armed forces but in life not everything is guaranteed to play out the way we would like. Jimm found the next thing best thing and for him it was the fire service. Once Jimm got his foot in the door it was all gas and no brakes. Surrounding himself with individuals who were into the job and climbing up the ranks along the way. I hope the listeners can find value in this conversation I had with Jimm when it comes to taking care of yourself and remembering that your FAMILY matters. IG: jimm.walsh

30 years of combination experience. A Battalion Chief in the 1st Battalion for Anne Arundel County Fire on B-Shift. Brandon was attending college for an engineering degree when his living situation on campus wasn’t desirable. He turned to the local county Fire Department live-in program which allowed him to attend classes but also ended up being the best decision he made for his career. It was nothing for him and other individuals to run over 2000 incidents a year which most certainly has its positives when it comes to gaining experience. Soon after Brandon knew he wanted to go career and got hired on Anne Arundel. Climbing through the ranks now as Battalion Chief one of the best statements I’ve heard was Brandon state “As a leader he wants to be tactically proficient enough where his decision making would be trusted.”

39 years of combination experience. A Battalion Chief on B shift with the Indianapolis Fire Department. Doctorate of management in organizational leadership. I wanted Candice to come on and share her story of how and why she got into the fire service but also wanted her to preach on Organizational leadership challenges and issues within departments across the nation and she did not disappoint. Often, problems aren't solely the fault of one individual, but rather indicators of flaws in the organization's systems or processes. A "blame culture" focuses on who to blame rather than what went wrong and how to fix it. When employees fear repercussions for admitting mistakes or taking risks, they may be less likely to collaborate, share ideas, and take ownership of their actions. Instead of focusing on assigning blame, organizations should prioritize learning from mistakes and identifying ways to improve. I would like to encourage all crews to listen to this interview, together if possible. Absorb the information being said, process it then ask yourself if you fit into this category.

19 years of combination experience. A Captain with Buckhannon Fire-Rescue in West Virginia. Cadre member with Insight Fire Training and adjunct instructor for West Virginia University extension. Like many others I’ve been fortunate to interview Firefighting wasn’t on Joey’s radar. While in college and being apart of a community service group the fire service came into the picture and Joey went for it starting out as a volunteer and then transitioning to a career Firefighter within a year. During his career Joey sought out the information he needed to be the best version of himself and for the fire service which unbeknownst to him led him down a path towards TIC’s and the rest is history. I hope the conversations had between Joey and I can resonate with the listeners.IG: baxajl

35 years of career experience. Recently retired in May as Deputy Chief of Operations for Oklahoma City fire department. Growing up Mike didn’t have aspirations of being a Firefighter. It wasn’t until a friend of Mike began describing and explaining what the job entailed which got his friend into the profession with Mike following suit. Once he was in it was game over. Mike was fortunate to get a crew that showed him the true meaning of brotherhood and being a Firefighter. A bond of unity, mutual support, and care. It's a sense of shared purpose, trust, and loyalty, where individuals treat each other with the same warmth and respect as they would their own family. Mike hit several damn good positions on leadership, aggressiveness & our own mental health.

Dr. Dave Mather- A retired Commander with 38 years of law enforcement experience 22 of those active. Owner and operator of What’s-a-Mather consulting where he goes around the world teaching organizations on deliberate leadership, culture change & public safety consulting. Dave has worked with more than 400 agencies around the world supporting public safety and the communities they serve. Yes you heard & read that right with law enforcement. Dave came highly recommended from Ricky “Esco” Escolero who told me I had to get him on and talk anything and everything leadership. Dave did not disappoint and hit so many targets when it came to leadership and organizations that I’m sure any Firefighter listening will be able to relate to. Realizing it's acceptable to incorporate outside instruction in a learning environment, such as a guest speaker, can be a positive step for enhancing employee engagement and providing diverse learning experiences. This shift can foster a more holistic and enjoyable learning environment for the organization. LinkedIn: Dave Mather

Josh Watt- 6 years of combination experience. A Engineer with Converse Fire Department in Texas on Ladder 172. Josh never wanted to be a Firefighter. He was approached by a few who asked him a couple questions which he responded no to but as they kept prying they found one that intrigued him and got Josh to say yes to. The definition of Opportunity is a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. Those circumstances within Josh’s life has got him to where he is today and I truly want the listeners to hear some great truth bombs on various topics Josh and I discussed. Being the best version of yourself is great but for Josh he wants to make sure first and foremost that he is a great father and husband to his family. IG: saywatt_1227