- Terese Floren, WFS Cofounder and Executive Director, retires after 25 years of service.
EMMITSBURG, Md., September 15, 2007 — The outcome of a joint meeting, sponsored by The National Fire Academy between the boards of trustees of Women in the Fire Service (WFS) and Women Chief Fire Officers (WCFO) was the merger of the two organizations to form the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services.
In a joint statement, WFS President, Cheryl Horvath, and WCFO President, Laurie Mooney, said: “The timing could not have been more conducive to our merger, WFS has just celebrated its 25th anniversary and WCFO its 10th. Our coming together allows us to combine resources and focus our energy and momentum. The expansion of the mission of both organizations will engage more women, strengthen partnerships, and more effectively advocate for the continued advancement of women in fire and emergency services.”
Floren, who cofounded Women in the Fire Service in 1982, left firefighting in 1989 to work full time for the organization. One of the country’s first women career firefighters,Floren has written extensively on gender equity issues in the fire service. She was co-author and editor of The Changing Face of the Fire Service (produced under contract to the U.S. Fire Administration / FEMA and published by them in 1993) and of Many Faces, One Purpose and Many Women Strong, also produced under contract to USFA/FEMA.
A search will be launched for a new executive director of The International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services.