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Melodie Kolmetz, MPAS, PA-C, EMT-P, CP-C, is a physician assistant and paramedic in the Rochester, New York area. She has been an EMS provider for over 30 years and a PA for over 25 years. She attended the Rochester Institute of Technology PA program where she received her BS in Physician Assistant Studies, Monroe Community College where she received an AAS in Paramedicine, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she received a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies with a Concentration in Education. She is currently a doctoral student in the Curriculum, Instruction and Science of Learning Program at the University at Buffalo. She works as a physician assistant in geriatrics and occupational health and as adjunct faculty in Emergency Medical Services at Monroe Community College. She serves as a New York State Certified Instructor Coordinator and EMS Regional Faculty Member.

Gary Krichbaum is the managing director for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the deputy incident commander for the NFFF Memorial Weekend. He is a retired assistant fire chief from the Prince George’s County (Maryland) Fire/EMS Department. Krichbaum holds a master’s degree in emergency and disaster management and is a certified Chief Fire Officer from the Center for Public Safety Excellence

Mark Brady has served as a contract instructor for the FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) since 2012, facilitating PIO courses including Public Information Basics, All Hazards-Position Specific PIO, Advanced PIO and Integrated Emergency Management courses. Brady also serves as a spokesperson and PIO for the Yvorra Leadership Development Foundation (YLD), a nonprofit organization providing monetary awards and scholarships to members of the fire/EMS service and the military. Brady previously worked for the Prince George’s County (Maryland) Fire/EMS Department for 40 years, acting as the department’s chief spokesperson and PIO for 27 of those years. Brady continues to serve as the PIO for the Branchville Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad in College Park, Maryland, where he is a Life Member. Connect with Brady on Twitter.

Rudy Ruiz, MBA, EFO, CFO, is the co-lead for the IAFC’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program (iDELP). Chief Ruiz began his fire service career in 1991 and recently retired as the fire chief in Perrysburg, Ohio. Ruiz is a “first class” graduate of the Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI). He earned his MBA in public administration, completed the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO), and was designated through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO). Ruiz has served as chair of the Professional Development Committee for the IAFC and has been a guest speaker for several national conferences.

For more than 30 years, Ted Aroesty has been a volunteer for the Brighton Fire Department, serving as chief from 2003 to 2005. For the past 15-plus years, Aroesty has also served as executive director, responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations of the Brighton Fire District, working in conjunction with the fire chief to ensure that every aspect of their fire and EMS response is ready to meet the needs of the community.

Tim Sendelbach is fire chief for Loveland Fire Rescue Authority. Sendelbach previously served as vice president/chief of public safety operations for Bobit Business Media, the parent company of iFIRE International. He also served as the editor-in-chief and conference director for Firehouse, overseeing the content and editorial direction of Firehouse Magazine, Firehouse.com, Firehouse Expo, Firehouse World and related products. Sendelbach is a past-president of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI). He has served as an assistant fire chief with the Kingman (Arizona) Fire Department, the North Las Vegas (Nevada) Fire Department and Missouri City (Texas) Fire & Rescue Services, and as the chief of training for Savannah (Georgia) Fire & Emergency Services.

Keith Stakes is a member of the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FSRI). As a fire protection engineer, Stakes studies the effectiveness of fire service tactics as well as advances in firefighter safety and fireground operations. He has a bachelor’s degree as well as a master’s degree in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland. Stakes has over 13 years of fire service experience as a firefighter and officer with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Maryland, where he currently holds the rank of battalion chief. He continues to serve on the NFPA Technical Committee for Fire Service Training and is a member of the NFPA, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Phil Stittleburg joined the volunteer fire service in 1972 and has been chief of the La Farge (Wisconsin) Fire Department since 1977. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the NFPA, and the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), USA Branch. He also serves on the board of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).

Sarah Calams, who previously served as associate editor of FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com, is the senior editor of Police1.com and Corrections1.com. In addition to her regular editing duties, Sarah delves deep into the people and issues that make up the public safety industry to bring insights and lessons learned to first responders everywhere.

Sarah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in news/editorial journalism at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Have a story idea you’d like to discuss? Send Sarah an email or reach out on LinkedIn.

Victor Stagnaro is the CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF).