The New Recruit Track

Ali Rothrock is a speaker, author, educator and advocate who has delivered over 500 presentations nationwide. Ali has been in the volunteer fire service since 2005, enjoying more than a decade as a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. Ali is the CEO & Lead Instructor for On the Job and Off, an online platform dedicated to building more resilient first responders.  

As Director of Risk Management for Emergency Services Insurance Program with McNeil & Co, Dave works with emergency service organizations across the US . He is the Past Chief of The Cortlandville Fire Department in Upstate New York and A Fire Commissioner in the Virgil Fire District. Dave serves Cortland County as a Deputy Fire Coordinator and is a Director for the Association of Fire Districts in the State of NY. Dave served as the Foundation Secretary for the NVFC. His experience also includes being Treasurer of several non-profit organizations and a Board Member for the First National Bank of Dryden.  

Matt Aalto serves as Lieutenant/Training Officer for the Gaston Fire District and assists with recruitment and retention. Matt earned his Associates Degree in Fire Science from Portland Community College and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Administration from Eastern Oregon University, along with a Certificate in Leadership Effectiveness from Notre Dame’s College of Business. In 2019 he completed the NFA’s 2 year Managing Officer. Matt has worked directly with the IAFC, NVFC and NFA as an instructor and specialist. Matt Aalto brings over 20 years of experience in marketing, human resources and recruitment and retention. In 2011 he co-founded the Oregon Fire Recruitment Network that has helped the State of Oregon gain over 1000 line-firefighters since its inception by combining resources and recruitment efforts from across the state.

David is an active member of the Odenton (MD) Volunteer Fire Company, having served for over 40 years as a volunteer firefighter/EMT and past Chief Officer. He is also NVFC's Maryland Director and the NVFC representative to the AFG, SAFER, and FP&S criteria development process. He is a Past President of the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association and of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. He is recognized lecturer on many fire service topics and teaches on behalf of the National Fire Academy and the MD Fire and Rescue Institute around the nation. David is a Maryland Director of the National Volunteer Fire Council. David Lewis’s expertise not only includes fire ground operation, he also is a subject matter expert on strategic planning, fire service reputation management and behavioral health issues among other topics.

Joe Maruca was appointed chief of the West Barnstable (MA) Fire Department in 2005.  Prior to 2005 he served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT, lieutenant and captain for the West Barnstable Fire Department for 10 years, and had 18 years of prior service as a volunteer firefighter with the Sandwich Fire Department and Longmeadow Fire Department.  Chief Maruca is an attorney.  He has his BA in Business Administration from Boston University’s Questrom School of Management and a BS in Fire Department Administration from SUNY Empire State College.  He is a member of the NVFC Board of Directors, serves as chair of the FCAM Call/Volunteer Chief Committee, and is chair of the NFPA 1917 Technical Committee on Ambulances.

Mark Moorhead is the Curator of Education at the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting in Phoenix, Arizona.

Douglas Cline, Chief of the Professional Development Division with Horry County Fire Rescue, a combination Metro Department with over 750 Fire and Emergency Medical Personnel, serving a diverse population and 1255 square miles of jurisdiction. Chief Cline is a 46-year student of the fire and emergency services, as well as a well-known international speaker and instructor presenting dynamic power packed /high intensity programs on leadership, instructor development, officer development, fire ground tactics, rapid intervention team training and firefighter safety and survival. Cline is a highly published author of articles, blogs and textbooks for both Fire and EMS.  As a Chief Officer, Cline is a distinguished authority on Leadership, Officer Development and has traveled internationally delivering distinguished programs on these topics.