Investing in Your Fire Department Volunteers

Today’s volunteers serve many roles in fire and EMS agencies, helping provide essential services in a challenging and stressful time for our country. Providing resources and support to your department’s volunteers while showing them the value of their efforts is critical to keeping them active. This webinar, presented by Chief Bill Gardner (Ret.), senior director of fire products at ESO, and Division Chief Ron Roy of Wenatchee, WA, will discuss how to re-invest in your volunteers to keep them motivated, involved, and healthy to grow the success of your department. 

About the Speakers

Chief Bill Gardner (Ret.)
Senior Director, Fire Products, ESO

Chief Gardner has more than 35 years of Fire and EMS experience. Most recently, he was the Chief of the Leander Fire Department, retiring in February 2019 and holding that role since 2010. He was instrumental in helping the fire department grow and scale in one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Chief Gardner has worked in various sized agencies from all volunteer to metro-size departments and has numerous recognitions for his service at the local, state and national levels.

He holds Master Fire Firefighter Certification, Investigators Certification, Instructor Certifications, CFO and CFE and served as the President of the Texas State Firefighters and Fire Marshals’ Association. Gardner currently serves as a Senior Advisor for Leander Fire Department, an instructor and Advisory Board Member to TEEX Annual School Programs and an instructor in Chief Development Program, presenting at numerous state and national conferences. He also holds several degrees and certifications in fire administration, fire technology, EMS and emergency management from a variety of organizations, including Texas Tech University, the Center for Public Safety Excellence and the National Fire Academy.

Ron Roy, Owner, Volunteer Division Chief, Douglas County Fire District #2 
Owner, On Target Preparedness, LLC

Ron is currently a Volunteer Division Chief at Douglas County Fire District #2 in East Wenatchee, Washington. He started his volunteer career in 1973 and became a WSFFA board member in 2002. Ron is one of two Washington Directors at the National Volunteer Fire Council, representing Washington volunteer firefighters on the national level. 

Ron lives, works, and volunteers where he was born and raised in Eastern Washington.