FDIC Conference Director Diane Rothschild recently spoke with Assistant Chief Brian Zaitz, Kirkwood (MO) Fire Department, who is keynoting on “Three-Sided Success” at the FDIC 2023 Opening Ceremony Day 2, about the whole FDIC International “experience.”
Diane Rothschild: How did you get into instructing in general?
Brian Zaitz: My instruction started like many–at my local fire academy. I was hired as a recruit instructor early in my career and assisted with delivery of the county Firefighter I and II programs. I progressed to a lead instructor and later a live-fire instructor. I immediately enjoyed the opportunity to share my experiences as well as shape the next generation of the fire service. I have always valued the opportunity to instruct, recognizing that instruction is a two-way street. As an instructor, you have been given someone’s time and attention and must be prepared to provide top-quality education and training.
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- Keys to Success for Today’s Company Officer
- Teaching the Generations
- How to Achieve Success When Short Staffed
DR: What sets your experience at FDIC International apart from attending other conferences?
BZ: The FDIC is like no other conference in the world. It provides the highest level of fire service training and education, the largest equipment exposition, and the best industry networking. The biggest difference between FDIC and other conferences is that while FDIC may only be a week long, the energy that the conference provides lasts an entire year. Attendees will constantly refer back to their FDIC experiences, instructors will reminisce about their class, and everyone is always looking forward to April the following year to head back for the “annual pilgrimage” to the best fire service conference.
DR: What was your reaction to being selected as a speaker at the Opening Ceremony?
BZ: I remember being on the Fire Engineering Hump Day Hangout when Chief Bobby Halton said I would be doing a keynote for FDIC 2023. I was in total shock, so much so I called him two hours later saying, “Ha ha, funny joke about FDIC.” He said, “Nope, it is yours, so get to work.” I am honored and humbled to be asked to present at the Opening Ceremony.
DR: What do you think is the most pressing issue facing the fire service today and why?
BZ: The fire service is a constantly evolving industry. That said, I think one of the toughest challenges we are facing is maintaining a highly engaged workforce. We are finding fewer candidates for positions, as many are looking at the tech industry and other areas for jobs. I believe we need to get back to showing why we are important, what it means to be a firefighter, and why it is still the best job in the world.
DR: What is your “takeaway” from a week at FDIC International?
BZ: The biggest takeaway from FDIC is that this is the greatest job in the world! FDIC is the opportunity to be around 35,000 other firefighters that are as into the job as you are. It is a full week of learning, both in and out of the classroom. The educational experiences are second to none with conversations about tactics, construction, and apparatus transcending the classroom and going into the wee hours of the night for many. It is truly an all-encompassing fire service week.
DR: Who are your FDIC International role models and why?
BZ: My two biggest FDIC role models are the “Two Franks”–Frank Ricci and Frank Viscuso. Both are incredible instructors, authors, and “Big Names” in the fire service. Both are able to command a room as an instructor and both have powerful, impactful messages. As a new instructor at FDIC, I looked up to both of these gentlemen, watching as they presented, taking cues on how to improve. With that, both are probably two of the nicest, most humble, genuine guys in the fire service. I remember talking to Frank Ricci after his class at FDIC a few years back. He told me the only way to get better was to get out there. He encouraged me to write and put my message onto paper. I met Frank Viscuso a couple of years ago through a mutual friend. He could not have been nicer and more helpful, offering to talk and provide insight to assist me in becoming a better instructor and fire officer. These two guys took the time to talk, help, and guide a new instructor, and they truly epitomize what FDIC is all about: instructor development and guidance. Frank Ricci and Frank Viscuso are two of the best. I still look up to them to this day and am lucky to call them both friends.
DR: What advice do you have for first-time attendees?
BZ: My advice to any first-time attendee is to ENGAGE! FDIC is an incredible experience with so many opportunities both in and out of the classroom. Challenge yourself to take a tough H.O.T. class, stop the authors of the books you are reading and get their perspective on why they wrote what they did, stay after class to chat with your instructor, and go out at night to one of the many social events. Engage in all that FDIC offers. It is truly a full-conference experience. As a first-time attendee, you do not want to regret missing out.
Opening Ceremony Day 2, Thursday, April 27
Featured Speaker:
Assistant Chief Brian Zaitz, Kirkwood (MO) Fire Department
“Three-Sided Success”
Success comes in many forms and does not correlate to a promotion or rank. Success comes to those who work hard but, more importantly, to those who find balance. In the fire service, we can easily find ourselves out of balance, losing focus, and becoming stressed and exhausted. The key to balance is focus, focusing on what is important for success: physical skills, mental fortitude, and emotional well-being. These three keys, in balance, provide the foundation for a long, impactful career and a healthy home life.
Bio: Brian Zaitz is a 22-year veteran of the fire service and assistant chief of operations and training for the Kirkwood (MO) Fire Department. He is a safety officer for FEMA US&R’s Missouri Task Force 1. He is the first vice president of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, president of the St. Louis County Training Officers Association, a Fire Service Advisory Board member for Detectogether, and a commission member for the State of Missouri Fire Safety and Education commission. He is an advisory board member of Fire Engineering and a workshop instructor for the FDIC. He has several degrees including a master of science degree in human resource development. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer program and holds credentials as a Chief Fire Officer and Chief Training Officer.
