2017 Michigan NENA Conference

Opening Speaker Chief Rick Lasky sponsored by Priority Dispatch Corporation

Rick Lasky, a 36-year veteran of the fire service, served as chief of the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department for 12 years, prior to that as Fire Chief in Coeur d'Alene Idaho.  Rick followed in his father’s footsteps beginning his career as a firefighter in the suburbs on the southwest side of Chicago and has been a line firefighter, firefighter-paramedic, company grade officer, training officer and command-level officer. While in Illinois he received the 1996 International Society of Fire Service Instructors “Innovator of the Year” award for his part in developing the “Saving Our Own” program, a program designed to teach firefighters how to save firefighters that have become trapped or lost in a burning building.  Throughout his 30-plus years in the fire service he has served as a career and volunteer firefighter.  Rick is a long-standing editorial advisory board member for Fire Engineering Magazine and as an author has written over 200 technical articles that have been published in national fire-rescue journals.  These magazine articles relate to fire department operations, administration, training and safety.  He is the author of the best-selling books “Pride and Ownership-A Firefighter’s Love of the Job” and “Five Alarm Leadership: From the Firehouse to the Fireground” published by PennWell Books and is the co-host for the radio show “The Command Post” heard on Fire Engineering Talk Radio. Rick lectures at the local, state, national and international levels and is a sought-after speaker by both the public and private sectors.  A very popular speaker on a variety of leadership topics, he has been requested by several businesses and corporations to deliver his inspiring and meaningful leadership development programs.

Closing Speaker Gordon Graham

Gordon Graham, J.D., also a Law Enforcement Officer. Graham's education as a Risk Manager and experience as a practicing Attorney, coupled with his extensive background in law enforcement, have allowed him to rapidly become recognized as a leading in both private and public sector organizations with multiple areas of expertise.
He helped design the first DUI task force, assisted in the development of the DRE (drug recognition program), was an instructor in the initial “Mod I and II” Haz Mat program, and wrote his first of many technical papers: “PCP–An Officer’s Survival Guide.”
He saw deficiencies in how officers were trained, and revolutionized law enforcement training with his SROVT program: Solid, Realistic, Ongoing, Verifiable, Training.
This daily training bulletin concept resulted in his later being awarded the Governor’s award for excellence in law enforcement training.
He also sharpened his focus on how his education and training in systems and his legal background could work together to improve the quality of law enforcement operations by incorporating real risk management into police operations.
He provides organizations, including those involved in commercial real estate, hospital operations, manufacturing companies, aerospace operations, nuclear power plants, auto racing operations and many others.
He also expanded his efforts to assist other public safety organizations to develop Fire Fighter Close Calls which is now recognized as “the source” for information about fire fighter safety.
This effort led to his assisting the International Association of Fire Chiefs with a similar effort–and the development of their Fire Fighter Near Miss safety.
The IAFC awarded Gordon with the Presidential Award for Excellence for his lifelong work in improving firefighter safety and performance.
Gordon became a founder of a company designed to standardize policy, procedure and training in public safety operations.
Today, most of the law enforcement agencies in California are using the Lexipol Knowledge Management System and nearly half of the States are now using this approach to law enforcement operations.
This effort has greatly improved the safety of police personnel while also influencing a dramatic reduction in claims, settlements and verdicts adverse to law enforcement agencies.
Gordon held his law enforcement headquarters assignment until his service retirement, and he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Graham's innovative programs, based on the values and beliefs he learned along with a passion for continuous improvement, are the standard for any organization that wants to improve existing operations and prevent things from going wrong.