• The 150th Annual Training Conference & Convention in Waco, June 11-14
• A Commemorative 150th Yearbook highlighting our members and the association
• Conversations with Past Presidents - a look back with past presidents of SFFMA

 

The Texas State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association (SFFMA) is proud to recognize the dedication, service, and heroism of Firefighters and EMS Responders across the state. As part of our continued commitment to honoring these brave individuals, VFIS of Texas is honored to sponsor the 2026 Firefighter & EMS Responder of the Year Awards.

This year’s winners will receive a $3,000 cash prize, and runners-up will also receive monetary awards.

 

**Submit the nomination to your local SFFMA District by May 25**

 

 

Want the low-down on the conference schedule and training sessions? Visit our conference web page! (Note: schedules are subject to changes. During conference, you can check the monitor in the hallway near registration for updates. We will also post changes on our Facebook page.)

On HOT Takes, SFFMA staff have conversations with a wide range of folks in the fire service or fire adjacent. Take a listen! Visit our website to learn more.

 

In Episode 11 we kick off our "Conversations with Past Presidents" series, which is part of our 150th year celebration. From now through the end of 2026, we'll chat with SFFMA Past Presidents about the association's history, their stories, and their thoughts about the future. We kicked things off with Past President Bill Gardner, who got his first SFFMA member card at age 15! So he's seen a thing or two over his career.

 

Have an idea for someone to interview? Let us know! Email our Marketing & Outreach Director.

Rick Lasky, is a 40-plus year veteran of the fire service. Rick followed in his father’s footsteps beginning his career as a firefighter in the suburbs on the southwest side of Chicago and has been a line firefighter, firefighter-paramedic, company grade officer, training officer and command-level officer.

 

While in Illinois he received the 1996 International Society of Fire Service Instructors “Innovator of the Year” award for his part in developing the “Saving Our Own” program, a program designed to teach firefighters how to save firefighters that have become trapped or lost in a burning building. Throughout his 40-plus years in the fire service he has served as a career and volunteer firefighter. Rick is a long-standing editorial advisory board member for Fire Engineering Magazine, serves on the FDIC International advisory board and as an author has written over 200 technical articles that have been published in national fire-rescue journals. These magazine articles relate to fire department operations, administration, training and safety. He is the author of the best-selling books “Pride and Ownership-A Firefighter’s Love of the Job” and “Five Alarm Leadership: From the Firehouse to the Fireground” published by Fire Engineering Books and is the co-host for the podcast “The Command Post” heard on FireEngineering.com as well as the podcast “Old School.”

 

Rick has also served as a police officer and was wounded on several occasions, once while defending a victim of family violence and has received numerous fire and police awards and commendations. He was also honored in 2011 as an inductee into the Chicago Softball Hall of Fame. He is a Lewisville Honorary Police Officer and Honorary Battalion Commander in the 18^th Battalion of the FDNY. In 2017, he was the recipient of the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

Rick lectures at the local, state, national and international levels and is a sought-after speaker by both the public and private sectors. He is married to his best friend Jami and they have two children Rick and Emily and a granddaughter Brinlee who owns his heart.

Sheldon Yellen, CEO of BELFOR Property Restoration, the world’s largest disaster recovery company in the world, transformed his difficult beginnings—washing dishes at 11 and dropping out of high school at 17 in Detroit—into a foundation of grit and humility.

 

He and his 13,000+ team worldwide respond to thousands of disasters, large and small, living the company culture of "Doing The Right Thing, Even When Nobody Is Watching." Beyond business growth, his leadership is defined by kindness, a tradition exemplified by the 13,000+ handwritten birthday cards he writes annually, a practice he started over 40 years ago. He rejects corporate bureaucracy, focusing on empowering the "BELFOR Family" with the simple philosophy: "If you take care of your people, your team will in-turn take care of your customers."

 

When not at disaster sites, Sheldon films ABC's " Hearts of Heroes," highlighting first responders, and was Emmy-nominated for " Undercover Boss." He is a leading figure in the restoration industry, featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and other major publications, and regularly appears on CNBC and FOX News for his unconventional, people-first leadership.