Candidates running for three Board positions
Elizabeth E. Bednarcik
Division Chief of Prevention, Brighton Fire Rescue Distrcit, Brighton, CO
Chief Elizabeth Bednarcik is employed as the Division Chief of Prevention for the Brighton Fire Rescue District, located in Brighton, Colorado. She began serving this role in July 2020.
Chief Bednarcik was called to the fire service in 2004 when she began her firefighting career with the Cross Plains Volunteer Fire Department in Cross Plains, Tennessee. She quickly realized she had found her calling and has since dedicated her life to helping others.
As the Division Chief of Prevention overseeing Community Risk Reduction efforts, her vast knowledge of data collection and analysis has helped to create effective risk reduction programs. Her current passion is collaborating with Healthy Homes to identify and mitigate health and safety hazards in households. Chief Bednarcik lives by the servant leadership philosophy of helping others recognize, develop, and act on their vision and purpose.
Chief Bednarcik was recognized in 2017 by the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office for her Community Risk Reduction Plan she created for the City of Gallatin. This extensive plan also brought her national recognition as a leader and innovative thinker for the health and safety of the fire service in America.
Chief Bednarcik’s educational background includes a Bachelors's Degree in Design Communications from Belmont University, Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University. She has served on the IAFC FLSS Board since 2020.
William G. Hyde II
Deputy Fire Chief, Fire Marshal & Building Official, City of Rogers Fire Department, AR
William Hyde is seeking election as an at-large member of the Fire & Life Safety Section Board. Since his appointment as his city’s Fire Marshal and Building Official, he has been an emphatic learner and practitioner of all items pertinent to creating a safe environment for residents and visitors. He has been successful at collaboration with engineers, planners, and code adoption, including his city becoming the first in the state to require sprinklers in duplexes and townhomes.
Chief Hyde welcomes the challenge to advance and enhance the FLSS and board as an at-large member. He believes the importance of properly positioning the fire service’s current, and future leadership, must be accomplished through collaborative efforts with the other IAFC sections, committees, and organizations.
Chief Hyde currently serves The City of Rogers, AR as the deputy fire chief of community risk reduction. He has completed the NFA EFOP; IAFC’s Fire Service Executive Development Institute; MBA, with specialization in leadership & ethics; a BS in Public Safety Management; designated as CFO and CEMSO. He is recognized as a Fellow with the Institution of Fire Engineers. He also serves as a Commissioner on the Commission for Professional Credentialing and on the International Code Council’s Fire Service Membership Council.
Chief Hyde is immersed in many aspects of fire & life safety and would be honored to join the Fire & Life Safety Section Board as a contributing member. He welcomes the work that will come by participating in the efforts of the Section.
Jessica Melton
EMT and Fire/Community Risk Reduction Captain, Nevada Fire Department, IA
My name is Jessica Melton, and I am seeking election to the Fire and Life Safety Section for Board At-Large.
I am an EMT and Fire/Community Risk Reduction Captain for the Nevada Fire Department located in Nevada, Iowa. I have a Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in Community and Public Health. I have been a firefighter for nine years and serve as Captain over community risk reduction and community outreach for Nevada. I serve as the area Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Specialist on our state’s JFSI team.
I work full-time as a Clinical Research Coordinator for Accellacare of McFarland Clinic in Ames, Iowa. I spend time teaching BLS CPR and evaluating EMT psychomotor exam skills at our local community college.
My passion involves interacting with the community and educating all age groups on keeping emergencies small. I install Stovetop Firestops to reduce our #1 risk of stove fires. I teach hands-only CPR and I’m working an IAFC initiative to register every AED in our community on Pulsepoint.
For the last two years, I’ve been a member on the IAFC conference planning committee for the Community Risk Reduction Leadership Conference. I have been blessed to meet many great individuals in the world of fire and risk reduction. I have the full support of my fire chief to run for this position.
Thank you for your consideration for this position. I would be very honored to be elected and serve you.
Raymond Allen Reynolds
Fire Chief, Nevada, Iowa Public Safety Department,
Missouri Valley Division
I seek re-election to the FLSS board for At-Large Member. I am a career chief serving a volunteer department covering 137 sq. miles. My roots in the fire service come from being a volunteer firefighter. I remain very committed to inclusion as my fire department has 19 female firefighters on our staff of 48. I have a part-time job as a Lieutenant/critical care paramedic for the Bondurant Fire Department. I am 33 years into the job. Governor Kim Reynolds has appointed me to the Fire Service Emergency Response Council in Iowa. We oversee fire service training for all firefighters in the state and advise the State Fire Marshal. I've served as State Fire Marshal in Iowa from 2010-2013. I am a combat Veteran who served in Iraq from 2003-2004.
Serving on the Fire Code Action Committee (FCAC) and participating in the IAFC strategic plan have been the most rewarding part of my membership to the IAFC. We have successfully researched major fires affecting the cellulose ethanol industry and passed new fire codes for the safety of those firefighters involved in agro-industrial fires. I have taught several Command Officer Leadership Symposiums (COLS) for the IAFC. My passion lies in preventing fire deaths. I humbly request your support.
Gage Schlice
Chief
Chief Gage Schlice began his career in 2003 as a seasonal firefighter serving the California Department of Forestry - Riverside County. He worked in rural and city fire stations throughout Riverside County until he left to join the Petaluma Fire Department in 2011 and then the San Bruno Fire Department in 2018. Chief Schlice was promoted to Fire Marshal in 2019 and provides oversite and implementation of all regulatory inspection and planning programs, public education, and special events, and conducts fire investigations. Gage is a member of the Northern California Fire Prevention Officers Association and the California Conference of Arson Investigators. His formal education includes an associate degree in Fire Protection Technology from Palomar College and a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration from Columbia Southern University. He is also a California State Certified Fire Officer and Chief Officer.