Mission
To provide information, education, services and representation to company officers to enhance their professionalism and service to community.
History
2010
November
|
IAFC President Jack Parow established the Company Officer Task force consisting of Mike Jaffa,Chair; Craig Aman, Joseph Bradley, Brian Collins, Randall Hanifen, Jo-Ann Lorber, James Paul, Alan Rufer, and Donald Willbanks, who held their kick-off meeting on December 2, 2010. |
2011
August |
Task Force Chair Jaffa and Randall Hanifen presented a briefing to the IFAC Board of Directors, making 5 recommendations to enhance professional development of Company Officers and promote their involvement as members of the IAFC. |
2012
January |
Then IAFC President Al Gillespie established the Company Officer Leadership Committee, with a mission to, “Integrate and grow Company Officer engagement within the work of the IAFC and to help Company Officers develop the leadership skills to meet today’s challenges and to prepare them for promotion to Chief Officer in the future.” The Company Officer Leadership Committee was made up of 12 members with an additional 4 adjunct members. Over the course of the next 3 years the Committee became active on several other committees and built relationships with other Sections and Divisions of the IAFC. Producing several webinars and being consistent contributors to the IAFCs On Scene newsletter, the committee began its quest to form the Company Officers Section. |
2015
February
|
Chair Jaffa and Vice Chair Hanifen presented a draft of the proposed Company Officers Section by-laws, budget, and a list of more than 150 IAFC regular members who had committed to support the formation of the Section to the IAFC Board of Directors. At that IAFC Board meeting, under the leadership of then IAFC President Keith Bryant, approval was given to form the section. |
2015
August |
At FRI 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia, the Company Officers Section became the 10th section of the IAFC. The original members of the Company Officer Section Board of Directors were, Mike Jaffa – chair, Randall Hanifen – vice chair, Rob Frampton – treasurer, Brian Morrison – secretary, members at-large, Craig Aman, Joseph Bradley, Christopher Divver, Mary Emge, Jon Messick, Brieanne Nix, Alan Rufer, and Demond Simmons. |
| 2017 |
In 2017 we lost two of our friends, mentors, brothers, and fellow board members to cancer; Captain Craig Aman of the Seattle, Washington FD and an original member of the Company Officer Task Force, and Battalion Chief Jon Messick of the Southern Platte Fire Protection District, Missouri. GONE TOO SOON! RIP BROTHERS! |
2023
August |
The Company Officer Section officially released its first publication: “IAFC - Succession Management for the Fire-Rescue Service Second Edition" |
2024
May |
We have had new board members elected and/or appointed to fill the board seats of other members who have left the board for a variety of reasons. Our current board is made up of the following members: Randy Hanifen – Chair, Brian Morrison – Vice-Chair, Joe Bynum – Secretary, Rob Frampton – Treasurer, and Demond Simmons, Sean Cummings, Mark Duerr, John Russ. Matthew Caward, Stephen Ludwig, and Laron Ward serving as at-large members of the board. |
| 2025 |
This year the section celebrated its 10th anniversary. The board undertook numerous projects. The first ever Company Officer of the Year Award was presented during FRI 2025 and FailFest was put on by the board. During FRI 2025 Lt. John Russ (vice chair) was reelected and sworn in alongside new board members Capt. Ashley Engler, Lt. Ryan Meigel, and BC Jesse Schilling. |
The section has since become the fastest growing section in the IAFC and is working hard to promote the development and professional growth of company officers.
Governance
The COS board includes four executive officers (section chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer) who serve two-year terms, plus eight at-large directors who serve three-year terms. The executive officers are elected by the current COS board. The at-large directors are elected by section members.
Section bylaws COS Succession Management 2024 plan
Meet the COS Board