Journeyman Fire conference
JANUARY 19TH, 2OTH, 21ST 2019
ROBINSON-OLSSON CIVIC AUDITORIUM
WEST POINT, VIRGINIA
JANUARY 19TH, 2OTH, 21ST 2019
ROBINSON-OLSSON CIVIC AUDITORIUM
WEST POINT, VIRGINIA
Every firefighter should strive to be a journeyman. We all start out as apprentices and are on a road to improving our knowledge base. Good firefighters know there is no mastery of our craft. Firefighting is a perishable skill and we should always be striving to improve our skills. Based out of West Point, VA, the Journeyman Fire Conference has a focus on tried and true fireground skills. We are dedicated to keeping the blue collar nature of the fire service alive. All proceeds go to the Central Virginia Burn Camp and The Evans-Haynes Burn Center.
0800hrs: A Tribute to Brad Clark
0830hrs: Cody Trestrail, Portland Fire
1230hrs: Lunch: Mission BBQ
1315hrs: Nick Martin, Salisbury Fire
1515hrs: Chris Tobin, St. Louis Fire
0745hrs: Keynote- Brian Bastinelli
0830hrs: Ray McCormack, FDNY
1230hrs: Lunch: Chick-Fil-A
1315hrs: Grant Schwalbe, Estero Fire
1515hrs: Mike Torres, Chicago FD
0800hrs: Intro of the day-Bobby Matthews
0830hrs: Shawn Donovan, Boston Fire
1030hrs: Mike Dowling, PGFD
1215hrs: Chick-Fil-A
1315hrs: Bill Schnaekel, Fairfax Co. Fire
1515hrs: Chris Smith, DCFD
Class: Urban Mindset in the Suburban Fire Department
Christopher Smith (Chris) is a Sergeant in the District of Columbia Fire Department currently assigned to Rescue 3 in the Anacostia section of Southeast Washington. During his 18 year career with D.C. he has been assigned to Engine Company 26, Truck Company 4, and Rescue 1. Chris began his journey in the fire service in 1988 as a volunteer with the Falmouth Volunteer Fire Department. While there he rose through the ranks to become Fire Chief in 2002, a position he would hold for 12 years.
Class: A Front Row Seat to the Greatest Show on Earth
Mike Dowling has been a member of the Public Safety Community Since 1992. He has served in a wide variety of agencies serving in the role of FF, EMT/Medic, and 9-1-1 Dispatcher. In 2003 he joined the Career Fire Service with a large County Fire Department in the Greater Washington D.C. area. He was Promoted to Lieutenant in 2010. He resides in Pennsylvania with his Wife and 4 Children
Class: Embracing The Barriers, Applying Common Sense To Strategies And Tactics
Born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, Bill is a fifth generation firefighter who has had eight other relatives in the fire service since 1898. He served as a volunteer for six years prior to getting hired in 1998 by the Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue Department, one hundred years after his great-great grandfather had joined the service.
Class: The Combat Ready Engine
Nick Martin began serving in 1994 and presently is a battalion chief with the City of Salisbury, North Carolina. He served previously as a lieutenant with the District of Columbia Fire Department and a battalion chief with the City of Columbia, South Carolina and is also a long-time member of the Kentland Volunteer Fire Department. Nick is a Fire Engineering author, FDIC HOT & classroom presenter, and recently served as a technical panel member for the UL Fire Attack Study.
Class: Passion, The Job, and You
Michael Torres is a 17 year veteran of the fire service. Mike is a firefighter paramedic with the Chicago Fire Department (Tower Ladder 34). He also serves as a candidate instructor at the Quinn Fire Academy. Mike is a captain and training officer for the Hometown, Illinois Fire Protection District.
Class: Laddering with a Purpose
Shawn Donovan is a 16 year member of Boston fire. He has spent that time on engines, trucks and a heavy rescue and was and adjunct instructor at Boston’s fire academy. Shawn is a lieutenant on Ladder 4.
Class: The Forgotten Engine Company Culture
Jordan Hood is a 14 year student of the fire service. Currently assigned to Engine Company 805 in Capitol Heights (Prince George's County), Maryland. He holds an Associate's Degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University, in addition to multiple local and state level certifications throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. He's a Pennsylvania State Fire Academy adjunct instructor, focusing on the basics and aggressive ways of the fire service.
Class: Establishing An Aggressive Search Culture
Grant Schwalbe has been a firefighter since 1994. He currently works for Estero Fire Rescue (Fort Myers, FL) as a Lieutenant/Paramedic on Engine 43. He is an Instructor for When Things Go Bad, Inc. and for Fort Myers Fire Academy. Grant has taught at various conferences including FDIC, The Orlando Fire Conference, Firemanship PDX, Wichita HOT, Fort Lauderdale Fire Expo and Fire Rescue East. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC HOT program “Residential Search-Making the Grab”. His areas of passion include Search, Engine Company Ops, Firefighter Survival, and RIT. Grant is a proud member of FL Gulf Coast FOOLS
Class: Searching For THEM: Why We Go Inside
Cody started his Fire Service career in 1995 at a small combination department in WA State. He followed his dream and hard work paid off and he was hired by the FDNY, working on Ladder 119 in Brooklyn, then becoming a member of the special operations command (SOC), assigned to Squad 1 in Brooklyn. He left the FDNY to put his family first and now works back in his home town for Portland Fire & Rescue, assigned to Engine 31.
Class: Dare To Save- The Aggressive Interior Attack.
St. Louis Fire Dept. Rescue Squad 2. 7yrs experience. Chris doesn’t like bios.
Next Friday the 15th of June at 10am we will announce our speaker list. We almost have the entire line up set, just working on a few more people you guys will love. Kiel Samsing will be doing the Keynote to kick off our conference and there will be some daily intro speakers.
We firmly believe that we should never forget the victims of the incidents we respond to. This craft will always be about them. In the spirit of this we would like to announce we are donating all proceeds to the Central Virginia Burn Camp and the Evans-Haynes Burn Center.
We are proud to announce we will be hosting this event at the 400 seat Robinson-Olsson Civic Auditorium in West Point, VA
The dream is becoming a reality! COMING JANUARY 19TH, 20TH, AND 21ST WE ARE PLEASE TO ANNOUNCE TO FIRST ANNUAL JOURNEYMAN FIRE CONFERENCE hosted by the West Point Volunteer Fire Department.
1030 Thompson Avenue
West Point, Va 23181
By Car:
From I-95 take I-64 East to Exit 220. You will follow VA-33 East towards West Point. Make a left onto Main street, then a right onto Thompson Avenue. Directions are the same from both East and West bound on I-64. Parking is available on site.
If you are traveling by car and would be interested in ride sharing let us know and we can try to find someone to pair you up with.
Air Travel:
Book your air travel to Richmond International Airport (RIC). It is a 30 minute drive to West Point from RIC. Other options include Newport News Intl (PHF) located about 40 minutes from West Point, and Norfolk International (ORF) located about an hour from West Point.
If you have any questions about the line up, lodging, location, or sponsorship opportunities please send us a message.
For those of you that have registered there are multiple lodging options in the area, but the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Williamsburg is the best option. They offer suites that accommodate 4-6 people with very reasonable prices. This is the hotel we recommend you try to stay at. Holiday Inn Club Vacations Williamsburg Resort features spacious 1 and 2 bedroom villas with a living room and in-unit washer/dryer. Prepare meals in fully equipped kitchen with cookware, tableware, and dining table included. Plus, Wi-Fi and parking are free for all guests! For a more luxurious stay upgrade to an exclusive Signature Collection 1 or 2 bedroom villa.
Address: 200 English Garden Way, Williamsburg, VA 23188
Phone: (757) 941-1540 https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnclubvacations/hotels/us/en/williamsburg/wbgcv/hoteldetail
Other options are listen below.
Class: Engine Operations in the Modern Fire Environment
Ray McCormack is a Lieutenant and thirty seven year veteran of the FDNY, Fire Department of New York. He is a panel member for both the UL Fire Stream Attack Study and Coordinated Fire Attack Study. He delivered the Keynote "True Values of a Firefighter" at FDIC in 2009. He was the co creator of Urban Firefighter Magazine. He lectures on tactics, leadership and culture in the American Fire Service. Ray can be contacted via E-mail at Firenymen@aol.com and Twitter @LtRayMack