Roundtable Talk - From Search to Submission: Navigating the Grant Process

Breanna Adams started as the Grants Specialist at Snap-tite Hose in early 2025.  She is an active volunteer in the Erie, PA community and has over a decade of experience with nonprofits in the area.  Between her prior role in local government and nonprofit volunteerism, Breanna has been successful in finding and securing grants from federal, state and local funders.  

With over 20 years in the volunteer fire service, I’ve served as firefighter, EMR, training officer, secretary, and rural board member in eastern Nebraska. I’m currently with the Weston Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department and co-chair the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association (NSVFA) Recruitment & Retention Committee, where I help departments statewide strengthen membership and engagement.

Professionally, I’m the Content Marketing Manager for the Autodesk Tandem team, leading programs that help teams adopt emerging tools—including AI—to improve communication and operations. I bring that same focus on practical, scalable solutions to the fire service, helping small volunteer departments modernize without losing their community spirit.

Over the years, I’ve taught with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and other state level associations throughout the midwest, focusing on recruitment, retention, and technology adoption. My approach is simple: use real examples, stay people-first, and make tools work for the department—not the other way around.

At the end of the day, I believe the strength of the fire service comes from shared experience and a willingness to help each other get better. That’s what’s kept me involved for more than two decades.

David Lewis is an active member of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company (Anne Arundel County, Maryland), having served for over 50 years as a volunteer firefighter/EMT, Past President, and past Chief Officer. David is a Past President of the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association and of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. He currently serves as the President the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association and as Maryland Director to the National Volunteer Fire Council. David’s true passion is in training and education. He is active as an instructor with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and the National Fire Academy. He is also active with delivering training programs for the NVFC, traveling across the U.S. to enhance the training and education of emergency services personnel.

Kait Meeker. Captain - EMS Director at the Colona Fire Department in Colona, Illinois. Educating the next generation is my passion and I am the Cadet program coordinator. I have been a volunteer on Colona Fire for 10 years. I have been a Chiropractor in my town for 25 years. I use my experience as a business owner to serve as treasurer of my department and oversee our 501c3.  I write our grants and administer the funds received. I have awesome mentors and am grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward. I love sharing my experience and all I have learned to help other volunteers succeed in finding, applying for, and administering grants.