Your plan will be a credible and practical road map to elevate your organization’s journey of continued improvement and success.

A comprehensive Community Risk Assessment/Standards of Cover is a benefit to all Fire/EMS agencies. We stand ready to assist you through the process.

Your community relations program has the potential to move beyond simply informing and educating the public to creating a comprehensive system of engagement and stakeholder partnerships.

We perform a comprehensive gap analysis of current and projected capital infrastructure and its current and projected effect on service delivery.

Shared services is an umbrella term for the variety of organizational methods in which fire agencies can effectively collaborate with other fire agencies. Ironwood Strategic Solutions can assist you with your shared services delivery solutions.

Videos are a great way to deliver efficient and effective messages to targeted audiences, including your stakeholders and your team. You can tell your story, conduct public education and train staff through well-produced videos.

Gary has a unique blend of professional work experience that includes 11 years in consulting engineering and 26 years in the fire service. He has a B.S. degree from the University of Arizona and a Master of Leadership and Adult Learning in Applied Settings from Northern Arizona University. 

Gary is an Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program graduate and is a Certified Chief Fire Officer (CFO) by the Commission on Professional Credentialing. His career at Northwest Fire District in Tucson, Arizona included management roles in Logistics, Health/Safety, Special Operations, Operations and Training. He served as NWFD’s initial accreditation manager in 2006 which he fulfilled until his retirement in 2018. 

He has extensive experience in the safety/health/wellness field and has taught numerous Health/Safety Officer, Incident Safety Officer and accident/injury review courses across the country.

Gary currently is an instructor and peer assessment team leader for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. He is certified by the Association of Strategic Planning as a Strategic Planning Professional. 

Ed has over 30 years of experience in Fire/EMS. He holds a Master of Fire Service Administration and Bachelor of Fire Service Management degrees from Arizona State University. He is a graduate of the United States Fire Administration Executive Fire Officer program, and is a certified Chief Fire Officer by the Commission on Professional Credentialing.

His career at Tucson Fire Department included many management roles including Deputy Chief of Safety and Health, Operations, Medical Administration, Training and Special Operations. Ed was Assistant Fire Chief of the Casa Grande Fire Department and is currently Chief at Mescal-J6 Fire District.

Ed has served as the chair of the Pima County Fire Chief’s Association. He was co-founder and past chair of Southern Arizona Safety Officers and past chair of the Arizona Fire Chiefs Safety and Health Section. Nationally, Ed was elected to the Board of Directors for the International Association of Fire Chiefs Safety, Health and Survival Section in 2007 where he chaired the health section. Ed is a member of the Fire Department Safety Officers Association and a ProBoard certified Health and Incident Safety Officer.

Mindy has an extensive background in media, communications and community relations. She began her broadcast journalism career at KREX-TV in Grand Junction, Colorado and quickly moved to an anchor position at KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs. In 1988, Mindy joined KOLD-TV in Tucson, Arizona where she reported and anchored local news for 25 years. Her position required extensive collaboration with news staff and management to produce the top rated and most trusted newscast in the market.

Her second career brought her into the world of public education where she served as Community Relations Director at Amphitheater Public Schools in Tucson.

In 2016 she joined Pima Association of Governments as Outreach Coordinator for the Regional Transportation Authority.

Mindy has served on several boards and enjoys volunteering for Arizona Public Media. She earned a bachelor degree in English from Western Colorado University.

Jayme is a senior staff member who specializes in strategic planning and capital improvement plan services. He is a retired Chief Fire Officer of the Rincon Valley Fire District in Vail, Arizona. Prior to serving Rincon Valley, Jayme had been employed with the Northwest Fire District in Tucson, Arizona for 25 years serving in various divisions including training, operations and logistics. His last assignment at Northwest Fire included overseeing the construction of five fire stations and the establishment of a long-term budgeting system.

Jayme’s formal education includes a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arizona and many state and national fire department-related certificates. He is a nationally credentialed Chief Fire Officer (CFO).  He is also a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy and was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Research Award for Executive Fire Officer, National Fire Academy.

Thomas completed his internship with us in June 2024. He holds the position of strategic plan specialist and assists our senior staff members in facilitating strategic plan development. Thomas brings to Ironwood a high level of academia as well as extensive leadership experience with organized labor. He has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire and Emergency Management from Purdue University and a Master of Public Administration, also from Purdue.

Thomas helps fill a role in the strategic planning process to include perspectives from a current operations captain and as an IAFF local chapter president. His participation in a strategic plan process creates the opportunity for line personnel to connect with someone who is currently “doing the job” and contributes to Ironwood’s goal that the strategic plan be a document that any member can read and understand how the plan will benefit them as well as their community.