2026 Annual Conference Agenda
Communication, Collaboration, Cultivation April 13-16, 2026 | Waco Convention Center, Waco, TX
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Pre-Conference Session
9:30 – 11:30 am
TFCA, TIFMAS, TFS Stakeholder Annual Meeting
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Lunch on your Own
1:00 - 3:00 pm
TFCA Board of Directors Meeting
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Pre Conference Early Registration
Sponsored by: Motorola Solutions Inc.
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Pre Conference Session (Included in registration fee )
Sponsored by: AG|CM | First Due
3:00 - 6:00 pm
Regular Attendee Registration and Hospitaltiy
Registration Counter Sponsored by Motorola Solutions Inc. | Registration Hospitality Sponsored by Key Construction
6:30 - 10:30 pm
Welcome Dinner and Casino Night
Sponsored by Siddons-Martin Emergency Group
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Registration
Registration Counter Sponsored by Motorola Solutions Inc.
7:00 - 8:00 am
Breakfast
Sponsored by School of EMS
8:00 - 8:15 am
Opening Session - City of Waco
8:15 - 9:30 am
Keynote Session - Leading the Best of the Best!
John Butler - Fire Chief, Fairfax County, Virginia
Sponsored by BRW Architects
9:30 - 9:45 am
Morning Break
Sponsored by Komatsu Architecture
9:45 am - 10:45 pm
Breakout Sessions
Texas Room 113Repeated Session
Perceptions, Pitfalls, and Policies: Social Media and the Fire Service
Rachel Neutzler - Director of Communication, Lake Travis Fire Rescue
Sponsored by Axon Education
Texas Room 114Repeated Session
TCFP NFPA 1850 Update
Rick Wallace - Division Chief Compliance, Texas Commission on Fire Protection
Sponsored by 1st Response Clinic
Texas Room 116Repeated Session
The Shift to 24/72
Chris Biggerstaff - Fire Chief, Plano Fire-Rescue
Sponsored by BRYCER
Texas Room 117Repeated Session
People Problems in the Workplace: "What we have here is a failure to communicate."
Michael McCall - Founder, Protection For All (PFA) Consulting
Sponsored by Angel Armor
10:45 - 11:00 am
Mid-Morning Break
Sponsored by Kitchell
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
Texas Room 113
Texas Fire Chief Best Practices
Niel Howard - Director Texas Fire Chief Best Practices Program, Texas Fire Chief Best Practices
Sponsored by Axon Education
Texas Room 114
Using AI to Work Smarter: How Fire Chiefs Can Simplify Strategic Planning, Policy Writing, and Everyday Leadership Tasks
Kyle McAfee - Fire Chief, Selma Fire Department
Sponsored by 1st Response Clinic
Texas Room 116
Leadership 1: A Masterclass in Leadership Mental Wellness
Jason Corthell - Division Chief - CEO, Harris County Emergency Services District 13 - Ironclad Wellness
Sponsored by BRYCER
Texas Room 117
Do You Have Enough Firefighters
Ruy Lozano - Fire Chief, New Braunfels Fire Department
Sponsored by Angel Armor
12:15 - 1:30 pm
Lunch and Business Meeting
1:45 - 2:45 pm
Breakout Sessions
Texas Room 113Repeated Session
Perceptions, Pitfalls, and Policies: Social Media and the Fire Service
Rachel Neutzler - Director of Communication, Lake Travis Fire Rescue
Sponsored by Axon Education
Texas Room 114Repeated Session
TCFP NFPA 1850 Update
Rick Wallace - Division Chief Compliance, Texas Commission on Fire Protection
Sponsored by 1st Response Clinic
Texas Room 116Repeated Session
The Shift to 24/72
Chris Biggerstaff - Fire Chief, Plano Fire-Rescue
Sponsored by BRYCER
Texas Room 117Repeated Session
People Problems in the Workplace: "What we have here is a failure to communicate."
Michael McCall - Founder, Protection For All (PFA) Consulting
Sponsored by Angel Armor
2:45 - 3:00 pm
Afternoon Break
Sponsored by SLI Group, Inc.
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
Texas Room 113
Why Would Anyone Want to Be Led by You?
Keith Hopkins - Fire Chief, Mesquite Fire Department
Sponsored by Axon Education
Texas Room 114
The ROI of Readiness: Eight Years of Proven Returns from Investing in Firefighter Health
Vanessa Frost-Piedrahita - Health & Fitness Coordinator, Travis County Emergency Services District #2
Sponsored by 1st Response Clinic
Texas Room 116
Building a Culture of Awareness and Preparedness: Success in Texas
Dustin Dunn - Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, Lake Travis Fire Rescue
Sponsored by BRYCER
Texas Room 117
Building Smart: Budgeting Strategies for Your Next Fire Station
Derek Bird - Director of Operations Central Texas, AG|CM
Sponsored by Angel Armor
4:00 - 6:30 pm
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening/President's Reception
Exhibit Hall Sponsored by Johnson Controls | President’s Reception Sponsored by SEH
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Dinner on your Own
8:30 - 11:00 pm
Hospitality Suite
Sponsored by Blauer Manufacturing
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Registration
Sponsored by: Motorola Solutions Inc.
7:00 - 8:00 am
Breakfast
Sponsored by Crossland Construction Company
8:00 - 8:45 am
General Session - "Hot" Topics
Ken Prillaman - Founder and Principle, Five Trumpets Advisors
Sponsored by Casco Industries, Inc.
9:00 - 10:00 am
Breakout Sessions
Texas Room 113
One Job One Standard: How Aerobic Capacity Standards in NFPA 1580 Affect Operational Staffing and What You Can Do To Mitigate Risk
Mike Conner - CEO, Front Line Mobile Health
Sponsored by Axon Education
Texas Room 114
Building Financial Strength in First Responder Families
Nick Daugherty - Retired Sergeant / CEO, FinancialCop
Sponsored by 1st Response Clinic
Texas Room 116Repeated Session
Fire Departments and the State Fire Marshal's Office
Chuck Allen - Assistant State Fire Marshal, State Fire Marshal's Office
Sponsored by BRYCER
Texas Room 117Repeated Session
Hidden Talent, Shared Wisdom: Unlocking the Power of Peer-Led Development in the Fire Service
Daniel Anderson - Deputy Chief - Professional Standards, Cy-Fair Fire Department
Sponsored by Angel Armor
10:00 - 11:30 am
Dedicated Exhibit Hall Time
Exhibit Hall Sponsored by Johnson Controls
11:30 am - 12:45 pm
Awards Lunch
Sponsored by Tersus Solutions
12:45 - 1:15 pm
Exhibit Hall Break
Exhibit Hall Sponsored by Johnson Controls
1:15 - 2:15 pm
Breakout Sessions
Texas Room 113Repeated Session
Building an Effective Leadership Training Program for Newly Promoted Officers: Why It’s No Longer Optional, and How to Get Started
Mike Clements - Assistant Chief, Cy-Fair Fire Department
Sponsored by Axon Education
Texas Room 114
Site Feasibility and Budget-Based Programming for Fire Station Planning
Justin Myers - Architect, Martinez Architects
Sponsored by 1st Response Clinic
Texas Room 116Repeated Session
Fire Departments and the State Fire Marshal's Office
Chuck Allen - Assistant State Fire Marshal, State Fire Marshal's Office
Sponsored by BRYCER
Texas Room 117Repeated Session
Hidden Talent, Shared Wisdom: Unlocking the Power of Peer-Led Development in the Fire Service
Daniel Anderson - Deputy Chief - Professional Standards, Cy-Fair Fire Department
Sponsored by Angel Armor
2:15 - 3:00 pm
Exhibit Hall Break/Drawings
Break Sponsored by Webb's Custom Apparel
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
Texas Room 113
Data-Driven Response: Leveraging NERIS and Operational Platforms to Master Fireground Readiness
Robbi King - Director of Solutions Engineers (Asst. Chief, Ret., Vector Solutions
Sponsored by Axon Education
Texas Room 114
Leading From Day One: A Chief Officer’s Roadmap for Culture, Communication, and Operational Transformation
Brent Shanklin - Assistant Chief, Arlington Fire Department
Sponsored by 1st Response Clinic
Texas Room 116
Silent Fires: When the Rescuer Can’t Rescue — Confronting Addiction and Ending the Silence in Leadership
Michael Thomson - Fire Chief, Carrollton Fire Rescue
Sponsored by BRYCER
Texas Room 117
From Data to Dollars: Quantifying Resource Decisions for Budget Stakeholders
Paul Dow - Fire Chief, McKinney Fire Department
Sponsored by Angel Armor
4:00 - 4:15 pm
Transition Break
4:15 - 5:15 pm
Breakout Sessions
Texas Room 113
Making the Jump from City to ESD: Different Patch, Different Challenges, Same Great Service
Tye Prange - Assistant Fire Chief, Pedernales Fire Department / Travis County ESD 8
Sponsored by Axon Education
Texas Room 114
Why Every Project Should Start with a Needs Assessment/Feasibility Study
Ray Holliday, AIA, ASLA, ASID - Principal and Civic Sector Leader, BRW Architects
Sponsored by 1st Response Clinic
Texas Room 116Repeated Session
Building an Effective Leadership Training Program for Newly Promoted Officers: Why It’s No Longer Optional, and How to Get Started
Mike Clements - Assistant Chief, Cy-Fair Fire Department
Sponsored by BRYCER
Texas Room 117
Un/Re/New Your Department Culture
Tony Haden - Fire Chief,, Pedernales Fire
Sponsored by Angel Armor
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Evening Networking Dinner
Sponsored by Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, Inc.
8:00 - 11:00 pm
Hospitality Suite
Sponsored by Blauer Manufacturing
