CHAMPAIGN, IL December 31, 2011. The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) announces three new Regional Representatives to oversee Cornerstone-funded training.
Tim Bragg of Mattoon has been appointed as IFSI’s southern Region Representative. Bragg, who has been an IFSI field instructor since 2006, will be responsible for 24 counties in southern Illinois. He retired as Assistant Chief of the Mattoon Fire Department, where he served for 28 years.
Jim Vaughn of Bloomington has been appointed as IFSI’s central Region Representative. Vaughn, who has been part of IFSI’s part-time fire fighting support and instructional staff since 1998, will be responsible for 14 counties in central Illinois. He is a 21-year veteran of the fire service and currently serves as Captain and Shift Commander on the Normal Fire Department. Jim also serves as a team leader for the MABAS 41 Technical Rescue Team. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science.
Richard Stack has been appointed to serve as IFSI’s Chicago-Metro Regional Representative. Stack is a 16-year veteran of the fire service and currently serves on the Chicago Fire Department. He has been a member of IFSI’s field staff since 2006. In his new role, Richard will oversee training activities in seven counties surrounding Chicago.
Each new representative will coordinate Cornerstone-funded training and will act as liaison for departments in his respective area.
Bragg, Vaughn and Stack join Ray Palczynksi who serves as the Northwest Regional Representative, John Nichols of the southeast region, Greg Fisher who represents the east central area of Illinois and Randy Schlichter who serves five counties in the northeast corner of the state.
Besides their responsibilities of coordinating Cornerstone-funded training, each regional representative is available to meet and speak at department and association meetings. Contact information is on the IFSI web site at www.fsi.illinois.edu under the Cornerstone Program tab.
Cornerstone-funded training provides fundamental hands-on training at no-cost to local fire departments. More than $550,000 is available in FY2012 for the seven regions and comes from a designated portion of Illinois’ Fire Prevention Fund.
About The Illinois Fire Service Institute
The Illinois Fire Service Institute is the statutory fire academy for the state of Illinois.
In addition to training provided at the Champaign campus, the Institute offers DHS grant-approved technical rescue, HAZMAT and NIMS training, hands-on fire officer training, online classes and conducts training throughout the state at Regional Training Centers and local fire stations.
The mission of the Illinois Fire Service Institute is to help firefighters do their work through training, education, information and research.
For more information about the Institute, call 217-333-8921.
