Leadership Development Symposium draws 859 to San Marcos

SAN MARCOS – The 8th annual TEEX Leadership Development Symposium drew 859 emergency responders from across Texas, seven other states and as far away as Peru to San Marcos on Jan. 11-13.

More than two dozen top-notch speakers provided up-to-date information on leadership, management, safety, budgeting, crisis communication, generational differences, team-building and other topics relevant to fire and emergency services. The theme of this year’s conference was “Seizing Today, Forging Tomorrow.”

Keynote speakers included Scott Waddle, former U.S. Navy Commander of the USS Greeneville; John Salka, FDNY Battalion Chief (Retired); John Antal, U.S. Army Colonel (retired); and Geoffrey Tumlin, leadership consultant and author of “Stop Talking Start Communicating.”

In memory of the fallen firefighters from Texas in 2015, a tribute flame (at right) burned during the entire symposium, which was held at the Embassy Suites Conference Center.

There is no registration fee for Texas resident firefighters to attend the conference, and sessions are geared to meet continuing education requirements. The symposium is sponsored by TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute (ESTI) and funded, in part, by Texas general revenue.

The 9th annual Leadership Development Symposium will be held Jan. 9-11, 2017, in Frisco, TX.