Chief Kevin Quinn: ‘If you do retention right, you don’t have a recruitment problem’

Recruitment and retention are critical issues impacting fire departments across the country, and while it’s important to level up our efforts there, Deputy Chief (ret.) Kevin Quinn emphasizes a third R – replacement, as in, succession planning. Chief Quinn, who served for over 40 years on the board of the NVFC, certainly understands the importance of such long-term vision and planning, as he has mentored and empowered countless emerging leaders throughout his career. It’s one of the reasons Quinn was recently recognized with the CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. We talk with Quinn about the award, his impactful career, plus all this:

• The final goal he hopes to achieve in the final stretch of his fire service career

• Elevating volunteers above “second-class citizen” status in the fire service

• The need for unity across fire service organizations

• The one certification he wasn’t interested in getting during his career

• Maintaining the sizzle factor and the juggle factor

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore (go.lexipol.com/?target=lnk_gJwUyLzy5fzELcZZ). Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore (go.lexipol.com/?target=lnk_gJwUyLzy5fzELcZZ).

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