OREGON FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION

Mark Niemeyer

Mark Niemeyer currently serves as the Fire Chief of the Boise Fire Department, as well as the President of the Board for the Western Fire Chiefs Association. In 2010, he was appointed as the Fire Chief for the Meridian Fire Department, where he spent the next 10 years. In 2020 Chief Niemeyer was appointed Fire Chief for the Boise Fire Department by Mayor Lauren McLean. While leading an innovative, mission-driven organization, he is also the host of the Boise Fire Department  “Mission Strong” podcast, where he interviews firefighters, BFD staff, and community stakeholders to share the incredible work serving the mission. 

Locally and at the State level he has worked to improve firefighter health and safety as well as enhancing overall community response. Most recently he served on Idaho Governor Brad Little's wildfire taskforce, and continues working on State wildfire mitigation and response planning. 

Chief Niemeyer has lived in Idaho with his wife Cheryl since 1997. They have a son and daughter, both serving the mission as a firefighter and emergency room nurse, who are now bringing the Chief and his wife the joy of grandkids. 

Jeff Johnson

Jeff Johnson has an extensive public safety background, with broad experience at the local, national, and international levels. Chief Johnson rose through the ranks to become the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Fire Chief for 15 years, retiring in 2010 after a 32-year career.

Chief Johnson has authored two books, “Making the Pieces Fit” – a book on mergers, consolidations, and Recruiting—and “Training and Maintaining Volunteer Firefighters,” both published by Jones and Bartlett.

Chief Johnson served as the Vice Chairman of FirstNet, which deployed the world’s first nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety and national security users. Chief Johnson has served as President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), President of the Western and Oregon Chiefs, and Executive Director of the Western Fire Chiefs Association, which serves fire chiefs in the 11 western states from Guam/Saipan to Utah.

Chief Johnson also has an extensive private sector background as an advisor or board member to numerous technology companies. Chief Johnson is also the principal at Sisters Meat and Smokehouse, which launched in August 2016. Chief Johnson is a graduate of Concordia University and the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program.

Katie Augsburger

Katie Augsburger is a dynamic force at the intersection of history, human resources, and equitable  workplace practices. With over two and a half decades of experience leading HR teams, she brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her work. As a founding partner of Future Work Design, Katie works with clients to get curious about the the “why” and “how” policies and practices were created, and even more curious about “who those policies best serve”, to help imagine a better, more inclusive future state.

Katie's impactful contributions have garnered recognition, including Oregon's Best Company To Work For and Fortune Magazine's Most Flexible Workplace. Beyond her professional achievements, Katie's influence extends to the public sphere. Katie has been the featured speaker at such events as the Portland Design Museum, Living Future Institute Conference, Partners In Diversity, NAPFA Conference, HR While Black, NOMA Conference, Portland Human Resources Society Annual Conference, Disrupt HR and many more. Katie continues to educate and inspire through her featured appearances on podcasts and articles. Certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Katie's expertise is both broad and deep. Her multifaceted approach, coupled with her relentless pursuit of progress, makes her an invaluable asset in shaping the future of work.

Nina Narelle

Nina Narelle is an experienced consultant and designer passionate about organizational performance and health. Her career spans over two decades, focusing on group process facilitation, leadership development, and organizational design. As a consultant and coach, she collaborates with organizations committed to making workplaces opportunities for purpose, belonging, and equitable wealth distribution. Nina's expertise lies in executive/leadership team performance, organizational and process design, collaborative strategic planning, and equity and inclusion.

She is a founding partner and senior strategist at Future Work Design, where she works in to lead organizational change and strategy work through the lens of equity and inclusion and in service of a world that is sane and humane. 

Additionally, Nina was an assistant professor at Pacific Northwest College of Art, teaching graduate-level courses on leadership, ethics, and equity and inclusion.  As a senior consultant at XPLANE, she combined strategic expertise with creative design to help organizations define and activate complex strategies at an enterprise scale. She also held roles such as the Global Chapters Manager at Conscious Capitalism, Inc., contributing to one of the first organizations to adopt the Holacracy operating model. As Principal at NCN Consulting, Nina worked with grassroots social and environmental justice non-profits to help them develop organizational development and social impact strategies. She holds a BA in Economics and an MA in Organizational Development and Leadership.

Nina has been a featured speaker at conferences and public events, including the Portland Design Museum, The National Association of Change Management Professionals, the Western States Center ACMP Conference, the Living Futures Conference, the Governing for Racial Equity annual conference, and the Organizational Development Network.

Josh Waldo

Chief Josh Waldo was appointed as the 14th Fire Chief of the Bozeman Fire Department on August 24, 2015. In his role as Fire Chief, Chief Waldo oversees the day to day operational, planning, and community risk reduction efforts of 66 employees, working out of three fire stations. 

Prior to his arrival in Bozeman, Chief Waldo served as the Deputy Fire Chief of the Oak Ridge Fire Department in Oak Ridge, TN and served as the Chief of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department from. Chief Waldo holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Eastern Kentucky University, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and holds three professional designations from the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). 

Aside from his duties as Fire Chief, Chief Waldo currently serves as the President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Chief Waldo sits on the Board of Directors for the Montana State Fire Chiefs Association, previously served on the Western Fire Chiefs Association Board of Directors and has served as a peer reviewer for the CPSE Commission for Professional Credentialing since 2013. Chief Waldo has authored numerous professional articles, served as a technical advisor for fire service textbooks and standards, and presented educational lectures and seminars across the country. 

Paul LeSage

Paul LeSage worked for 29 years as a Firefighter/Paramedic for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, serving several years on the Technical Rescue and Dive Team and as a Flight Paramedic with Life Flight Network. He retired from the fire department as the Assistant Chief of Operations in January 2010, has over 40 years of experience in emergency services as a provider and executive, and has received many awards and commendations, including the State of Oregon EMS Impact Award, several Lifesaving Awards, and the OFCA’s Golden Trumpet Award. He spent two years as the Interim Director at Oregon’s second-largest 911 Center, implementing a unique Quality and Performance Program. 

Paul currently works as a Founding Partner and Senior Analyst with SG-Collaborative Solutions, where his work centers on creating reliable and resilient teams and systems that analyze and manage risk. His current clients are primarily centered in commercial aviation, air-medical programs, healthcare, and EMS. Paul also leads a Human Factors Analysis Group responsible for deconstructing and analyzing aviation, EMS, and healthcare incidents and accidents. 

Paul and his teams at SG currently conduct this work across the United States, and in Canada, Central America, and Australia. He holds degrees in Organizational Communications, Human Factors Analysis, EMS, and Fire Science, and is on faculty at the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine. 

Paul has authored a popular book on Crew Resource Management in Emergency Services, and was also the founder of Informed Publishing, which created Nursing, Medic, and Emergency Service mobile apps for front-line care providers. 

Winslow Cervantes

Winslow Cervantes serves as a Risk Manager at WHA Insurance, headquartered in Eugene, Oregon. In his role, he contributes a forward-thinking approach to risk management, ensuring that WHA Insurance stays ahead in the ever-evolving digital landscape. 

WHA Insurance is an independently owned and operated agency offering a comprehensive range of insurance services, including benefits, commercial lines, personal lines, and workers' compensation. With a history dating back to 1950, the company has established itself as a trusted provider of industry-leading insurance and risk management solutions.Clodura+1Cience+1

Cervantes is part of a diverse team of professionals at WHA Insurance, each bringing specialized expertise to deliver comprehensive risk management services to clients.

Brian Fennessy

As the Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), Brian Fennessy leads more than 1,800 firefighters and non-sworn personnel who collectively serve 2 million residents across 23 cities and unincorporated county.

Chief Fennessy began his career in 1978 with the USFS and BLM working as a hotshot crewmember and ultimately crew superintendent.

In 1990, Fennessy joined the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and ultimately became Chief of Department in 2015.  In 2018, he was appointed to Fire Chief of the OCFA.

Chief Fennessy currently serves as Chair of the FIRESCOPE Board of Directors; represents California as a member of the Western Fire Chiefs Association Wildland Fire Policy Committee; represents the nine West Division FEMA Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces; and President of the California Fire Chiefs Association.  In 2022, Chief Fennessy was recognized as CalChiefs Fire Chief of the Year and in 2023, the International Association of Fire Chief’s Career Fire Chief of the Year.

George Fox College

George Fox University is a private institution located in Newberg, Oregon, known for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and personalized education. With a student-to-faculty ratio that fosters close mentorship, the university offers more than 60 undergraduate majors, as well as graduate and professional programs in areas such as business, education, counseling, and engineering. George Fox is recognized for its strong community, focus on service, and emphasis on developing students both professionally and personally.

Patrick Fale

Patrick Fale serves as the Deputy Chief of Strategic Services for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. He also holds a director position with the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association and sits on the executive board of the FirstNet Health and Wellness Coalition.

Chief Fale began his fire service career in 1996 as a firefighter intern with Lake Oswego, earning his paramedic certificate in 1998 before joining the City of McMinnville as a firefighter/paramedic. In 2001, he joined Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, where he has since served in every rank up to his current role. His career highlights include leading recruit academies, advancing community consolidation efforts, and serving as interim fire chief in Western Washington County.

Patrick holds an associate degree in Fire Suppression from Portland Community College and a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from George Fox University.

A passionate advocate for responder wellness, Patrick believes that people are the fire service’s most important asset—and that caring for employees, including chief officers, is fundamental to delivering exceptional service. He sees it as a moral imperative for leaders to not only serve the community, but to care deeply for themselves and for the men and women on the front lines. Patrick is committed to collaboration, finding efficiencies, modeling a healthy leadership lifestyle, and ensuring the well-being of every member of the Oregon fire service.

Dave Pickhardt

Dave Pickhardt is a retired Fire Chief with a long and respected career in the Oregon fire service. He has been a leader not only in fire operations but also in advancing the professional development and support systems for fire agencies across the state. In addition to his leadership as a fire chief, Dave has remained actively involved in the fire service community through his work with WHA Insurance, where he provides risk management guidance and supports fire districts in strengthening their operations and safety practices. He also serves as the Managing Director for the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association (OFCA), contributing his knowledge and experience to help guide the association’s mission of supporting fire service leadership and collaboration statewide. Dave is widely recognized for his mentorship, advocacy, and continued commitment to public safety and the fire service profession.

The Victory Group

Established in 1994, The Victory Group is a third-generation Salem-based firm known for its integrity, dedication, and effectiveness in governmental affairs and association management. With a proven track record of advocacy achievements, we specialize in strategically guiding high-caliber clients through the intricacies of the Oregon Legislative process.

Sarah Jahnke

Dr. Jahnke is the Director and a Senior Scientist with the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research within NDRI-USA, Inc.. She also serves as the President of the Board of Science to the Station: A Health and Wellness Alliance, an organization focused on making empirical evidence more accessible and useable for frontline personnel. With nearly two decades of research experience on firefighters, she has been the Principal Investigator on several national studies and dozens of studies as a co-investigator. She has more than 100 publications to her credit.  Her work has focused on a range of health concerns, including the health of women firefighters, behavioral health, risk of injury, cancer, cardiovascular risk factors, and substance use, with funding from FEMA, the National Institutes of Health, and other foundations. She has received several recognitions for her work, including the John Granito Excellence in Fire Service Research Award, the President’s Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Glatfelter Distinguished Service Award from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation . 

Mariana Ruiz-Temple

Mariana Ruiz-Temple is a distinguished public safety leader with extensive expertise in fire service operations, emergency management, and strategic partnerships. She oversees statewide efforts to reduce the loss of life and property from fires, explosions, and hazardous materials incidents. Her work is defined by a decisive and collaborative leadership style that emphasizes building strong, results-oriented relationships with local, state, federal, and international partners.

With a career spanning more than four decades, Mariana has held progressively senior roles, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing public safety through innovation and strategic initiatives. She manages day-to-day operations, statewide mobilizations, and three incident management teams while serving as an advisor to the governor on implementing the Emergency Conflagration Act. As the Oregon state fire chief, Mariana ensures effective and efficient deployment of state resources during crises.

Beyond operational leadership, Mariana is deeply engaged in shaping fire service policy and advancing the field through active participation in many organizations. She serves on the National Association of State Fire Marshals executive board and is a chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Emergency Management Committee. As a representative on the Oregon Emergency Response Council and the Western Fire Chiefs Association Wildfire Committee, Mariana contributes to strategies for wildfire management, mitigation, and recovery.

Mariana was selected to the prestigious Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, where she worked with a team to provide Congress with recommendations to improve federal wildfire policies, including prevention, suppression, and post-fire land rehabilitation.

Her expertise extends to managing multi-agency collaborations, advising legislators on fire-related policies, and representing Oregon in regional and national initiatives. Mariana’s leadership is informed by a robust education that includes the Oregon Executive Leadership Academy, the National Fire Academy’s Fire Service Interpersonal Dynamics program, and advanced training in hazardous materials and incident command systems.

Committed to excellence and public service, Mariana continues to drive progressive, outcome-focused initiatives to enhance public safety, support the fire service, and address emerging challenges in fire and emergency response.