Trisha Wolford got her fire service start with the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) Fire Department, and 13 years later, she returned as its fire chief – a full circle moment that helped shape her perspective on leadership. Wolford details how she worked to build trust among the membership through transparency and making members feel heard. She also shares what it was like to be deemed a “DEI hire” while addressing some of the misconceptions about DEI efforts in the fire service. Plus, we dig into this:
- The leap from art major to fire chief
- Where chiefs get stuck in the “frozen middle” with DEI efforts
- How a simple policy around nail polish made a big difference
- “Don’t call them” and other tips for recruiting Gen Z
- The most important decision she makes as a chief
This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.
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The former CAL FIRE chief of fire protection shares stories from her unique path from seasonal firefighter to fire chief and beyond
