The International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) held its 2007 Executive Board election at the 74th Annual IFSTA Validation Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 10, 2007. Three incumbent members of the Executive Board were reelected to their positions. They are:
Dennis Compton, Fire Chief (Ret.) Mesa (AZ) Fire Department
Frank Cotton, Battalion Chief, Memphis (TN) Fire Department
Wes Kitchel, Captain, Santa Rosa (CA) Fire Department
Also reappointed to the Executive Board for an additional three-year term was Chief David Daniels of the Renton, Washington Fire Department. Chief Daniels represents the IAFC Safety, Health, and Survival Section on the IFSTA board.
One new member was elected to serve on the IFSTA Executive Board. Fire Chief Stephen Ashbrock of the Madeira & Indian Hills Joint Fire Department in Cincinnati, Ohio rejoins the Executive Board after previously serving two terms from 1998 to 2004. He began his fire service career as a firefighter-paramedic with the Reading, Ohio Fire Department in 1978. He promoted through the ranks to eventually serve as Chief of that department before moving to Madeira & Indian Hills in 1999. Steve holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Cincinnati and is also a graduate of the NFA Executive Fire Officer program. He has served on numerous regional and state fire service committees in Ohio. During his years of service to IFSTA he has participated as a member of numerous manual validation committees, including both the 4th and 5th editions of the Essentials of Fire Fighting committee. The IFSTA Executive Board welcomes Steve back to the Board.
At this meeting the IFSTA Executive Board also voted unanimously to reappoint Connecticut State Fire Administrator Jeff Morrissette to serve a second three-year term as Chair of the IFSTA Executive Board. Jeff is a long-time IFSTA participant and has served multiple elected terms on the IFSTA Executive Board.
Formed by a group of state fire training directors in 1934, IFSTA’s mission is to develop and validate high-quality training materials for the fire service. Since their inception, IFSTA has worked with Fire Protection Publications (FPP) at Oklahoma State University (OSU) to produce and distribute these materials following their approval by the assigned IFSTA committee. FPP is an auxiliary enterprise of the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology at OSU in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Don Davis Named 2007 Marvin Austin Award Winner
Retired Fire Protection Publications (FPP) Graphic Production Manager Don E. Davis was presented the Marvin Austin Distinguished Leadership Award at the 74th Annual International Fire service Training Association (IFSTA) Validation Conference held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Marvin Austin Distinguished Leadership Award is presented by the staff of Fire Protection Publications in recognition of individuals who have shown outstanding contributions to the IFSTA Validation Conference and process. It is not awarded every year, but only when the staff feels that the need is warranted. The Marvin Austin Distinguished Leadership Award may be awarded to any IFSTA participant who is not currently an employee of Fire Protection Publications or within FPP’s chain of command in the OSU system.
Don retired from FPP on January 2, 2007 following 27 years of exemplary service to the organization. He served as the Graphic Production Manager for his entire career at FPP. He was personally responsible for taking IFSTA/FPP and their publications from the days of phototypesetting and hand-drawn illustrations to the modern process of computerized design. Also among his many accomplishments was his effort to design the current logos that are used by both IFSTA and FPP. This ensures that Don’s influence remains stamped on everything the organization does in the future. Don served as the chief photographer documenting IFSTA validation conferences for all 27 years of his employment and he was also responsible for many of the printed materials that were critical to the conference’s success. Don has been awarded Emeritus Member status by IFSTA, ensuring that he will always be an invited guest to all future IFSTA conferences.
Billy Goldfeder Awarded 2007 IFSTA Everett E. Hudiburg Award
Each year the Executive Board of the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) selects one person who has made significant contributions to the training of firefighters to receive the Everett E. Hudiburg Memorial Award. Through the years some of the nation’s most notable fire service leaders have been honored with this award. In keeping with this tradition, the IFSTA Executive Board is pleased to announce that the 2007 edition of this award was presented to Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder at the opening ceremonies of the 2007 IFSTA Validation Conference held on July 8, 2007 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Billy began his fire service career in 1973 with the Manhasset-Lakeville F.D., in Long Island, N.Y. Since then he has served in a number of fire departments, including terms as Fire Chief in Ohio, Virginia and Florida. He currently serves as Deputy Fire Chief of the Loveland-Symmes FD in southwestern Ohio. In 2001, Chief Goldfeder was honored with an appointment of Honorary Battalion Chief of FDNY.
Billy is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program. He has served as a member or chair of numerous fire service organizations including, the International Association of Fire Chiefs VCOS Section, the Board of Directors of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, and the Board of Directors of the 9/11 Widows, Victims and Families Association. He serves as an Associate/Contributing Editor for Fire Engineering, Firehouse, Fire Rescue and several state and regional fire magazines, as well as WithTheCommand.com, Firehouse.com and he is a member of the FETN Advisory Board.
Billy has received numerous previous awards, including the Loveland-Symmes FD Departmental Award of Excellence in 2003, the Dana Hannon Training Award for 2004, the I.S.F.S.I. Fire Instructor of The Year Award for 2004 and an I.A.F.C. Presidential Award for 2005. Billy is a popular speaker and educator on the fire service seminar circuit and his passionate presentations have influenced tens of thousands of firefighters.
In presenting this award to Billy, the IFSTA Executive Board recognizes Billy’s tireless efforts as an advocate for firefighter safety and fire service education. It is doubtful that anyone in the American fire service spends as much energy on this cause as does Billy Goldfeder. His passion and accomplishments in these areas makes him a deserving candidate for this recognition.
