Attendee Information
Thank you to all those who participated and made the 2024 NAEFO Annual Conference a success! As soon as details are finalized for the 2025 NAEFO Annual Conference they will be made available here.
The National Association of Emergency and Fire Officials (NAEFO) annual conference provides board-level leadership education from the nation’s leading experts. In addition to the education program, network with other officials of emergency services organizations and vendors to solve today’s toughest challenges.
During NAEFO’s Annual Conference, NAEFO’s annual membership meeting is held to conduct business, hear reports, and elect NAEFO officers (click here to read about the current officers and members of the NAEFO Board of Directors).
Become A Member
District Board of Emergency Services: $250
Associate Membership: $100
Former Emergency Services Official Membership: $50
For more information regarding NAEFO membership, please visit the official NAEFO Membership page.
Become A Member
District Board of Emergency Services: $250
Associate Membership: $100
Former Emergency Services Official Membership: $50
For more information regarding NAEFO membership, please visit the official NAEFO Membership page.
2024 Conference Agenda
Monday, September 16
8:00 - 8:30 AM
Registration & Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00 AM
Coffee, Networking & Welcome
9:00 - 10:30 AM
Roberts Rules Made Simple
Do you support a board (or boards) that are supposed to be using Robert’s Rules of Order? You won’t want to miss this informative and fun webinar presented by professional speaker and creator of www.RobertsRulesMadeSimple.com, Susan Leahy. Your meetings are your organization’s best team-building tool, but if your board members do not understand the fundamentals of Robert’s Rules, then you are going to end up wasting valuable time and money. This training will leave you with a simple yet powerful roadmap that you can share with your boards to help them run better more productive meetings. Get ready to add quick tips and simple techniques to your toolbox that will help you as you support board members to create and support healthy board dynamics.
Susan Leahy, MA, CSP
10:30 - 10:50 AM
Break
10:50 AM - 12:00 PM
An EMS Leader’s Guide to Retention Through Injury Prevention
In the good old days, Emergency Care Providers were like superheroes, using nothing more than a bedsheet cape and their cleverness to lift, carry, transfer, and restrain patients. While it may have done the trick, it unfortunately resulted in patient handling being the most common cause of injury according to the CDC and NIOSH. With the nationwide EMS labor shortage and 48% of providers suffering from chronic back pain, preventing the leading causes of injury and retaining valuable personnel is more crucial than ever. This class will identify three systemic mistakes that are the underlying causes of patient handling related pain and injury suffered by too many providers. Participants of the course will learn three scientifically proven techniques that will keep personnel injury-free and support long, thriving careers as superheroes. Are you ready to elevate your department’s patient handling game?
Rick Binder, AEMT
12:00 - 1:30 PM
Lunch On Your Own
1:30 - 2:45 PM
The Importance of DEI Policies for Emergency Services, Fire, and Ambulance Districts
We believe the American Fire, EMS, and ambulance services are multicultural and multi-racial. Reality demonstrates these services consist of mainly white men, some women, and people of color. Some lawsuits are related to operational issues, but most of the litigation in fire, EMS, and Ambulance services focuses primarily on discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against people of color and women. People issues are the main focus of litigation. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Training, love it or not, is an essential factor in leveling the respect and knowledge playing field for all employees of your organization. These programs and similar programs teach us how to respect our employees’ differences, create an improved and safe working space, and hopefully reduce personnel conflict. These programs are invaluable to organizations seeking to recruit and retain providers and may improve your chances of successfully competing for grants and other funding sources, including levies and bonds. This presentation is designed to inform audience members about the benefits of DEI or other similar training involving your employees and discuss how these programs improve employee and organizational relationships.
John Murphy, JD, PA-C, EFO
2:45 - 3:15 PM
Break
3:15 - 4:45 PM
Diving into Federal Issues for Fire & Ambulance Service
Join Cole Arreola-Karr, NAEFO Executive Director, for a deeper dive into the current environment around federal funding for the upcoming federal fiscal year, how the debate impacts emergency services districts, pending federal legislation and what’s on the horizon for new laws and significant regulations. This presentation highlights how you can put your advocacy tools to work, and how select federally-sourced programs can be leveraged in your communities.
Cole Arreola-Karr, Executive Director, National Association of Emergency & Fire Officials
4:45 - 5:00 PM
First Day Closing Remarks
Immediately Following Closing Remarks
Welcome Reception
Tuesday, September 17
8:00 - 8:30 AM
Breakfast Provided and Meet & Greet
8:30 - 9:45 AM
Engaging at the Federal and State Levels: What It Means to Have Your Voice Heard
Our nation’s fire service is represented in Washington, DC by multiple organizations representing the interest of career and volunteer personnel, fire chiefs, fire marshals, arson investigators, instructors, the fire service industry, codes and standards organizations and the fire service industry. But what about a voice in Washington, DC speaking on behalf of the leaders of fire districts? A voice that can contribute to discussions on issues facing the entire spectrum of fire and emergency response AND a voice that can speak on distinct concerns of fire district leaders. The same can be said at the state level and the need to have a voice advocating on behalf of fire districts. Together, Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute, and Garry Briese, Executive Director of the Colorado Fire Chiefs Association, have over 65 years of experience advocating for the fire service at the state and federal levels. Their presentation will focus on what fire district leaders can achieve by working together to transform NAEFO into a truly national organization.
Garry Briese, Executive Director, Colorado Fire Chiefs Association
9:45 - 9:50 AM
Break
9:50 - 10:50 AM
Special District Socialites: How to Combat Rumors and Protect Your Reputation
Discover effective strategies for managing your district’s reputation and combating false rumors. This presentation will offer methods for proactive communication and fact-sharing, ensuring your district remains the trusted source of information in the community. Attendees will leave with a rumor response framework and next actions to stay proactive with their reputation.
Mac Clemmens, CEO, Streamline
10:50 - 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Strategizing and Prioritizing Your Federal Grant and Earmark Approach: Navigating Landscapes for Fire Districts and Emergency Managers
Chris Wagoner, The Ferguson Group