News

Rochelle Park, NJ – August 31, 2026 – Clarion Events Fire & Rescue Group has promoted Lauren Ocoma to Senior Vice President, Events & Brand Strategy, for its Fire & Rescue Group. In her expanded role, Ocoma assumes broader leadership responsibility for FDIC International and for the continued development of the group's event and brand strategy. She continues to report to Eric Schlett, President of Clarion Events Fire & Rescue Group. 

Ocoma has spent the past eight years as FDIC International's marketing and strategy lead, a tenure defined by listening closely to the fire service and turning what she hears from customers, exhibitors, and attendees into decisions that move the event forward. Her broader career in event management, spanning multiple sectors and brands since 2006, has centered on the same principle: strategy should start with the customer. That approach has shaped an increasingly central role in the growth and evolution of FDIC International and the broader Fire & Rescue portfolio, bringing a strong strategic lens to the event's continued evolution while remaining true to its deep roots in the fire service. 

Her work has spanned new sponsorship and partnership concepts built around what customers need, the growth of FDIC's Summits business and specialized experiences, and the expanded event experience at Lucas Oil Stadium. She has also led audience acquisition strategy, including new group plans that make FDIC more cost-effective for departments seeking training, and has strengthened connections across the portfolio’s media, learning, and event brands. She has been instrumental in moving new ideas from concept to execution, bringing teams together around experiences that deliver meaningful value to attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and the broader fire and emergency services community. Among the most significant special programs she has led was FDIC International's 25th-anniversary tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. 

“Lauren has demonstrated an exceptional ability to see where the market and our customers are heading, develop a strategy around that opportunity, and then bring people together to turn that strategy into measurable results,” said Schlett. “She has an instinct for what our customers need before they've said it out loud, and that's what makes her one of my most trusted partners in leading this business. This promotion reflects both what she has accomplished and the confidence we have in her ability to take on significantly greater responsibility.” 

In her new role, Ocoma will focus on the overall strategy for FDIC International, the development of the event leadership team, strategic partnerships, and expanding Clarion Fire & Rescue's engagement with the fire and emergency services community beyond the annual event. Central to that work will be building deeper, more direct channels for customer feedback and insight, ensuring the voices of the fire service, exhibitors, and sponsors continue to shape every decision the team makes. That work will include initiatives surrounding FDIC's upcoming 100th anniversary, new symposia and training concepts, and the continued development of a more connected community outside the event. 

“FDIC has an extraordinary legacy, but our responsibility is to continue earning its relevance with every new generation of firefighters and emergency responders,” Ocoma said. “None of that happens without listening first. Our customers and this community tell us what they need, and my job is to make sure that feedback drives what we build next. We hold ourselves to the strictest standards, ensuring that our service to first responders matches the industry's tireless dedication to us all, while upholding our longstanding mission to Train and Inform the Fire & EMS Industry. I'm grateful for the opportunity to keep working alongside our team, advisors, customers, and the fire service to build on that legacy.” 

About FDIC International: 
FDIC International is the leading annual training event for 38,000+ fire and rescue professionals from around the world. FDIC offers world-class hands-on training and education from renowned instructors. The exhibit hall boasts over 850 exhibitors showcasing innovative products and services. The FDIC experience is more than your traditional trade show; it’s about celebrating camaraderie and coming together to learn and share experiences. For more information, visit  fdic.com. 

About Clarion Events Fire & Rescue Group: 
Through our industry-leading media, publications, education and events Clarion’s Fire & Rescue Group covers the latest developments and standards in training, apparatus and equipment for firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and those professionals serving in the Fire & EMS Industries. We at Clarion Fire & Rescue hold ourselves to the strictest of standards, ensuring that our service to the first responders equals the industry’s tireless service to us all while maintaining our long-standing mission to “Train and Inform the Fire & EMS Industry.” Find out more at  clarionfirerescue.com. 

For inquiries, please contact:  
Sarah Domzalski, Marketing Director 
sarah.domzalski@clarionevents.com