My Love for the fire service began at a very young age.  It was the day Chief Elmer Schreiber, of the City of Franklin came knocking on our front door on a Sunday after my First Communion.  The purpose of the visit was to shake my hand and present me with a card to congratulate me on the special day.   What it actually did was set me on a career path course which I have never looked back and questioned why. That’s my earliest memory of how special the fire service is and how it is about family. 

It has always been a part of my family.  I grew up watching my dad serve the City of Franklin as a paid-on-call firefighter not to mention the board of directors of this wonderful organization.  My start in the fire service began my senior year of high school with the City of Franklin as a paid-on-call firefighter. It was then in 1992 I was given the opportunity to live a childhood dream as a career firefighter with the Village of Pleasant Prairie.  As a result of that opportunity and many mentors along the way I now have the privilege of serving as Fire Chief for the City of Manitowoc.

One common theme has always been there throughout my career and that theme is “never forget where you came from”.   That is why it’s a privilege to serve on the Wisconsin State Firefighters Association Board of Directors. It allows me to give back to the fire service and everything it has provided and has meant to our family.  Speaking of family, without the support of my wife Gina along with my children, Cody, Madeline, Noah, and Reilly - not to forget Grandma and Grandpa none of this would be possible.

I appreciate the support and trust that this Association has entrusted me and the rest of the Board as we continue to maintain the voice of advocacy for the Wisconsin Fire Service.