From Plugging into Gen Z

Adjust your Lens: The leadership blind spots that keep us from seeing (and serving) clearly

 In emergency services, clarity saves lives. But what happens when our own internal "lenses" blur our ability to truly see others — and ourselves — clearly? This powerful and interactive session explores how unconscious bias shows up in subtle and not-so-subtle ways across hiring, development, decision-making, and team dynamics. 

This Might Be Awkward: Reall Skills for Saying What Needs to be Said

Let’s be real—feedback is uncomfortable. Whether it’s telling your coworker they keep

interrupting you, asking your partner to pitch in more, or explaining to a total stranger that they

cut the line, giving (and receiving) feedback can feel like walking a conversational tightrope.

And yet, when we avoid it, things don’t get better—they get weirder, colder, and more

resentful. But avoiding hard conversations doesn't make the tension go away—it just lets it

fester. 

Lead From Where You Stand: How Everyday Choices Create Culture, Spark Connection, and Bring Joy Back to the Work

In a field where lives can change in an instant, it’s easy to feel like you're constantly reacting — to calls, protocols, and pressures outside your control. But real leadership doesn’t require a title or a promotion. It starts with owning your impact — and recognizing that everyday choices, even small ones, can shape culture, spark connection, and bring joy back to the work.

Whether you're a career medic or a volunteer, brand new or decades in, this keynote challenges the belief that burnout, frustration, and turnover are just part of the job. Through real stories, science-backed insight, and a little humor, we’ll explore how showing up with intention and presence — even in the chaos — is one of the most powerful forms of leadership available.

What's Your Welcome: Recruiting and Attracting the Next Generation of First Responders

The creation of an inclusive environment is one of the most important factors for recruitment and retention. This interactive session will cause fire and EMS services to pause and reflect on their recruitment activities to attract the next generation of first responders and how to stand out as an employer of choice. Tangible strategies and activities will be shared that can be immediately applied to attract and retain your next generation responders. Hear directly from those currently seeking job opportunities on what they are looking for in their career search.

Plugging into Gen Z: Recruiting, Educating and Leading the Next Generation of First Responders

The creation of an inclusive environment is one of the most important factors for recruitment and retention. This presentation will help instructors, trainers and leaders to adjust learning activities and recruitment strategies to attract and retain our next generation of Fire/EMS responders. Learn from instructors, students and program administrators who have successfully implemented a Dual Enrollment Academy providing Fire/EMS education to high school students across Southeast Wisconsin. If you are an instructor, preceptor, officer or leader in your service, this presentation is sure to leave you with tangible strategies that can be implemented to attract and retain your next generation responders.

Plugging into People: Intentionally Cultivating Connection through Vulnerability, Trust and Feedback

If you strive to be a part of a high-performing organization, you must learn how to build connection with others. The basis of high performing teams comes down to an environment of psychological safety. Vulnerability-based trust helps to speed the process of trusting others and creating an environment safe to provide constructive feedback for growth.

Harnessing the Power of the Adolescent Brain: Adapting communication and engagement strategies to meet young adult learning preferences and needs

The adolescent brain remains a mystery to most adults but gaining a better understanding of the dynamic brain development and neuroplasticity of young mind creates unique opportunities for learning. Learn how to leverage these changes to support positive development and growth in our young adult learners. We will discuss how the adolescent brain is primed for risk-taking, social learning, and identity exploration, examining both the benefits and challenges of these traits. Attendees will leave equipped with practical approaches to harness the remarkable potential of the adolescent brain, ultimately fostering more engaged, adaptable, and self-aware young adult learners.

Leading by Example: Authentic Leadership in the Classroom and on the Streets

"You manage things. You lead people." Learn about the importance of authentic leadership in the classroom and on the streets and how taking a proactive, preventative approach can reduce time spent on student or employee issues and problems. The change from classroom management to classroom leadership develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills and aids in the development of leadership abilities of your students/recruits. Authentic leadership focuses on self-awareness, empathy, integrity, transparency, open communication, relationship building and positivity. Learn how to foster these skills and utilize them to develop others.