Check out the Agenda

Speakers and Topics Subject to Change

Monday, October 19, 2026
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
 
Colorado Fire Commission
 
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Pre-Conference Workshops
CFTOA - Training Officer Workshop - (FREE)
 
11:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Pre-Conference Workshops
Forged to Lead - Fire Chief Forum ($45)
Jeremy Young, Frederick-Firestone Fire District
Alec Oughton, Aurora Fire Rescue
Randy Royal, Colorado Springs Fire Dept
Jason Caughey, Laramie County Fire Authority
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Pre-Conference Workshops
First-Arriving Company Officer Strategy & Tactics - How We Make Sound Decisions to Set Up the Scene for Success ($35)
David Carpenter, Adams County Fire
Lane Walter, Denver Fire Department
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
 
CFTOA Membership Meeting
 
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
 
Rocky Mountain Accreditation & Credentialing Meeting
 
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
 
CSFC Wildland Fire Section Meeting
 
 
CSFC Health and Safety Section Meeting
 
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
 
CSFC Volunteer & Combination Chiefs Section Meeting
 
 
Fire Marshals Association of Colorado (FMAC) Annual Meeting
 
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
ALL LEAD + FMS
Leading Through Crisis: FBI Lessons for Fire Service Leaders
John Iannarelli, FBIJohn
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM
 
Colorado State Fire Chiefs Annual Membership Meeting
 
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
 
Colorado Firefighter Heart, Cancer & Behavioral Health Benefits Trust Meeting
 
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Networking Events
Fire Leadership Challenge Welcome Reception
 
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
 
Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors
 
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
 
Exhibit Hall Open
 
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Keynote Session
Opening Welcome & Keynote: Cornerstones of Leadership for Real World Success  – On and Off the Fireground
Frank Leeb
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Networking Events
Networking Break with Exhibitors
 
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
LEAD Series - Company Officer
Learning Without Burning, The Art of Vicarious Learning
Clint Fey, West Metro Fire Rescue
LEAD Series - Chief Officer
Executive Presence: Is That Really a Thing and Why Should I Care?
Stephen Ingalls, Catalyzer
Fire Marshal Symposium
Complaint Process Case Study: What Worked? What Didn't? How Do We Fix It?
Bryan Kendall, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
LEAD Series - Company Officer
Moral Resilience Workshop: Unpacking Moral Distress, Discussing Mitigation strategies, and Building Resilience
Rachel Topazian, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Gianna Morales, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
LEAD Series - Chief Officer
BUILT TO LAST: A Tactical Approach to Firefighter Performance, Purpose, and Longevity
Kory Pearn, CRACKYL Media, Inc.
Fire Marshal Symposium
Wildfire Prepared, the Next Step in a Wildfire Resilient Colorado
Mark Novak, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Networking Events
Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
 
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Keynote Session
FIRETalks
Kasey Beal, Golden Fire Department
Robert Weisbaum, Crested Butte Fire Protection District
Oren Bersagel-Briese, Castle Rock Fire Department
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
 
Networking Break with Exhibitors
 
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
LEAD Series - Company Officer
Scene Integrity: Preservation and Destruction
Todd Hedglin, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
LEAD Series - Chief Officer
Chiefs Against Everything and the Trap of a CAVE Mentality
Brian Schaeffer, Columbia, MO Fire Department
Fire Marshal Symposium
Emerging Trends Roundtable
Sarah Carter, International Code Council
Kara Gerczynski, Elizabeth Fire Protection District
Alec Oughton, Aurora Fire Rescue
Sandra Friedrichsen, Windsor Severance Fire Rescue
Steven Parker, Arvada Fire Protection District
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
LEAD Series - Company Officer
'Good Enough' Leaders Are Good Enough!
Garry Briese, Colorado State Fire Chiefs
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Networking Events
Exhibit Hall Reception & Drawing
 
Thursday, October 22, 2026
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
 
Networking Breakfast with Exhibitors
 
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Keynote Session
DFPC Awards & Keynote: Leaders Must Have a Bold Vision — and a Plan
Dan Munsey, San Bernardino County Fire Department (CA)
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
LEAD Series - Company Officer
Common Occupancy, Uncommon Response: Preparing Firefighters for What's Not in the SOPs
Frank Leeb
LEAD Series - Chief Officer
Budgeting in Uncertain Times
Jim Pauley, Brighton Fire Rescue District
Fire Marshal Symposium
Artificial Intelligence for the Fire Marshal's Office: Practical Applications, Real-World Solutions
Dr. Ben Stone, EFO, CFO, CTO, CEMSO, MiFire-E., Center for Public Safety Excellence
DFPC Hosted
Strengthening Colorado’s Fire Service: Understanding Needs, Finding Solutions
Lisa Pine, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
Vaughn Jones, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control
TJ Steck, Elizabeth Fire Rescue
Jess Solze, Hugo Fire Protection District
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM
LEAD Series - Company Officer
More Than Politics: Understanding the Decisions That Shape Your Department
 
LEAD Series - Chief Officer
Correcting Course: Strategies for Navigating Firehouse Discipline
Ken Watkins, Colorado State Fire Chiefs
Fire Marshal Symposium
Code Adoption and Legal Aspects
Emily Powell, Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC
DFPC Hosted
COTAK: A Free Real-time Location Service for Colorado First Responders
Brad Schmidt, COTAK
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
 
Lunch with Exhibitors
 
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
LEAD Series - Chief Officer + Company Officer
How We Respond to ASHER Events: Beyond Rescue Task Force
Alec Oughton, Aurora Fire Rescue
Travis Norton, National Tactical Officers Association
DFPC Hosted
Code Adoption in Colorado: Who Decides What Keeps Us Safe?
Christopher Brunette, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control
1:45 PM - 3:30 PM
Fire Marshal Symposium
The Right of Entry – Rights Risks, and Best Practice
Sam Light, Cirsa
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
DFPC Hosted
Strengthening Colorado’s Fire Service: Understanding Needs, Finding Solutions (Clone)
Lisa Pine, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
Vaughn Jones, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control
TJ Steck, Elizabeth Fire Rescue
Jess Solze, Hugo Fire Protection District
2:45 PM - 4:45 PM
LEAD Series - Chief Officer + Company Officer
Operational Readiness Begins with Leadership: Building a Safe, Healthy, and Sustainable Fire Service powered by CRACKYL Magazine
Manny Almaguer, Denver Fire Department
Dr. Sara Metz, Code-4 Counseling
Paul Walton, Firefighters for Plant Medicine
René Macias, City and County of Denver Department of Public Safety
Ryan Provencher, Firefighter Peak Performance | CRACKYL Magazine
Kory Pearn, CRACKYL Media, Inc.
MaKenzie Tiegs, CRACKYL Media, Inc.
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM
Fire Marshal Symposium
Coming Soon
 
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Networking Events
Networking Reception at the Keystone Adventure Center
 
Friday, October 23, 2026
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
 
Breakfast
 
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM
LEAD Series - Company Officer
The Resilient Firefighter is Built, Not Treated
Jeremy Young, Frederick-Firestone Fire District
Sammy Freyta, Frederick Firestone Fire Protection District
LEAD Series - Chief Officer
Preparing and Recruiting Executive Level Chief Staff
Brycen Garrison, Brighton Fire Rescue District
Fire Marshal Symposium
Budgeting Through the Lens of NFPA 1730: Using Data to Justify Resources
Sandra Friedrichsen, Windsor Severance Fire Rescue
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Keynote Session
Closing Keynote: It's Your Ship – Achieving Breakthrough Performance
Mike Abrashoff