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2025 Fire Officer & Training Officer Schools

Committee: Education

Contact: Dale Specken, Chair – [email protected]

2024 Mission:
The mission of the Education Committee is to enhance the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association’s (MSFCA) membership by providing high quality and current educational workshops at the annual conference and by promoting additional educational opportunities.

2024 Report: 
We are excited to be in Duluth for another MSFCA Conference. For 2024.We once again have a vast variety class session that we hope will meet everyone’s needs. The DECC provides many quality classrooms spaces so that we can provide quality training for all our members. One of the many goals of the Education Committee is to bring quality instructor and education topics to all members of the association.

The Education Committee is made up of members throughout the State of Minnesota and meets just three times annually, the rest of the work required to successfully present an educational opportunity for Fire Chiefs is completed electronically throughout the year by our various sub-committees. The Education Committee is determined to bring in quality instruction for all members within our organization. 

Education Committee Goals:

  1. Understand that every Chief is important to the MSFCA; therefore, we must listen to and consider the needs of the state when establishing the various educational opportunities.

  2. Determine what the timely topics currently are and then locate the most highly regarded experts to present them to the membership.

  3. Recognize that it is vital to keep the conference affordable for all Chief Officers and therefore work with-in the allotted budget.

  4. Bring quality training and speakers to all MSFCA members and conference attendees. 

 The Education Committee is—by design—very flexible and welcoming. Every year, some committee members retire or leave the committee for greener pastures; however, due to the structure in place, we are able to blend new members into the system very easily. Let this fact be an offer for you to join our committee.

We are always open for suggestions on any training or speakers that you would like us to add for future Conferences.

The Education Committee is also responsible for putting on the Fire Officer Schools in Alexandrea and Duluth. We encourage you and any of your officer or command staff to attend these events. These schools are meant for new and upcoming officers. Join us in Alexandrea on February 1-2, 2025 and in Duluth March 15-16, 2025.

2024 Education Committee Members

  • Chair: Dale Specken, Hopkins

  • Vice Chair: Judy Thill, Fire Chief, Inver Grove Heights

  • David Brosnahan, State Fire Marshal Division

  • Daniel Buchholz, State Fire Marshal Division

  • Scott Carriveau, Firefighter, Maple Lake

  • Kim Cox, Captain, Eden Prairie

  • Mike Dobesh, Fire Chief, Richfield

  • Ross Hoernemann, Captain, Hugo

  • Tim Holmes, Fire Chief, Brainerd

  • Jeremy Hutchison, Battalion Chief, Cloquet

  • John Kreuser, State Fire Marshal Division

  • Chip Lohmiller, Crosslake

  • Curt Mackey, Fire Chief, Excelsior

  • John Rhode, Captain, St. Bonifacius

  • Ulie Seal, Fire Chief, Bloomington

  • Hugo Searle, Fire Chief, Eagan

The MSFCA is your Association, if you want change, get involved. We did!

Education Committee File Library