2026 Conference Program

This session is designed to inspire, equip, and empower women in the fire service to take their seat at the table—not just as participants but as influential leaders. Drawing from more than two decades of frontline experience as a paramedic and senior leader in one of the nation's busiest fire departments, the instructor will share strategies for navigating a male-dominated profession with confidence, creating programs that make an impact, and becoming a voice that shapes culture and change from within. Attendees will learn practical tools for recruiting women, creating inclusive training environments, and launching outreach programs that inspire the next generation. We'll explore the unique barriers women face—both physical and psychological—and how fire departments can build supportive frameworks that foster success from application to academy. Attendees will learn how to establish program that empower women from the ground up—covering logistics, partnerships, curriculum design, and marketing—to create community-based initiatives that spark interest, build confidence, and lay the foundation for future success in the fire service.