2026 SD Fire Chiefs Annual Leadership Conference
Friday, December 4, 2026 10:00 AM - Sunday, December 6, 2026 12:30 PM (MST)
Description
Conference Schedule
Friday, December 4
- 10:00 AM: Vendor setup begins
- 12:00 PM: Fire Chief 101 with Ron Hines
- 5:00 PM: Social with light dinner
- 6:00 PM: Social event hosted by our vendor sponsor
Saturday, December 5
- 8:00 AM: Registration opens
- 9:00 AM: Welcome and introductions
- 9:30 AM: Keynote
- 10:30 AM: Break, sponsored by our vendors
- 10:45 AM: Keynote continues
- 12:30 PM: Lunch provided by our vendor sponsor
- 1:30 PM: Keynote continues
- 3:00 PM: Break, sponsored by our vendors
- 5:30 PM: Dismissed until Sunday morning
Sunday, December 6
- 7:30 AM: Breakfast, sponsored by our vendors
- 8:30 AM: South Dakota Wildland presentation
- 9:30 AM: Featured speaker presentation
- 10:45 AM: Break
- 12:30 PM: Adjourn
- 12:30 PM: SDFCA meeting
Keynote Speaker: (Ret.) Chief Tiger Schmittendorf
Tiger Schmittendorf has dedicated his life to the success of fire and emergency services. A firefighter with the Evans Center Volunteer Fire Company in Angola, NY since 1980, he is a nationally recognized expert on fire and EMS recruitment and retention.
- Served more than 25 years as Deputy Fire Coordinator for Erie County, NY, leading training and mutual aid for 97 departments and 6,000+ responders
- Built a county-wide recruitment program that brought in 600+ new volunteers every year
- Created the IAFC’s “Recruitment & Retention Coordinator” certification course
- Serves as an advocate for the National Volunteer Fire Council
- Has led his signature conversation, “From the Xbox to the Box Alarm: Connecting Today’s Firefighters,” for thousands of responders across the U.S. and Canada since 2007
Tiger doesn’t give presentations, he has conversations. Expect passion, humor, and practical ideas you can take back to your department.
Learn more at FireRECRUITER.com
Other Presentations/Info will be Provided From:
South Dakota Workers Compensation and the FRAP (First Responder Assistance Program)
South Dakota State Fire Marshal/South Dakota Department of Public Safety/South Dakota Wildland Fire
South Dakota Firefighters Association
Click here for a copy of the Annual Meeting Minutes from the 2025 Conference
EXHIBITORS/VENDORS: For information on Sponsorship opportunities, exhibitor space at the event, etc... please contact us and we'll send you a link for Vendor/Exhibitor/Sponsor Specific Registration Page. info@sdfirefighters.org
Sponsors
SD Fire Chiefs Assn. - Main Conference Sponsor
SD Fire Chiefs Assn. - Meal Sponsor
SD Fire Chiefs Assn. - Fri. Evening Social Sponsor
SD Fire Chiefs Assn. - Conference Break Sponsor
SD Fire Chiefs Assn. - Slot Tournament Sponsor
SD Fire Chiefs Assn. - Partner Sponsor
SD Fire Chiefs Assn. - Event Venue Partner
Images
Conference cost is $175 per attendee, those that belong to a Department that is a Current (FY 2026) SD Fire Chiefs Association MEMBER will receive a $50 discount per registrant.
NON-Members - If your Department isn't a CURRENT member of the SD Fire Chiefs Association its not to late! Visit our membership application page at <SD Fire Chiefs Membership Application> and fill out an application and get your membership dues paid. The membership process requires review of your application which may take a day or two, you will be notified once your application has been processed.
Click Here to view a list of current SD Fire Chiefs Association Members
NOTE: An early registration discount of $25 will be automatically applied to your registration fee if registering by the cut-off date of
100 PINE CREST LANE
DEADWOOD, SD 57732 United States
(877) 393-5634 - Mention SDFCA Conference for Room Block Pricing
ALL TIMES LISTED ARE MOUNTAIN TIME
Friday December 4th
1000 Vendor setup begins
1200 Fire Chief 101 with Ron Hines
1700 Social with light dinner
1800 Social event with vendor sponsor
Saturday December 5th
0800 Registration opens
0900 Welcome and introductions
0930 Keynote Speaker
1030 Break- vendor sponsor
1045 Keynote continues
1230 Lunch provided- vendor sponsor
1330 Keynote continues
1500 Break- vendor sponsor
1730 dismissed until Sunday morning session
Sunday December 6th
0730 Breakfast- vendor sponsor
0830 SD Wildland Presentation
0930 Speaker presentation
1045 Break
1230 Adjourn
1230 SDFCA meeting
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