Annual Meeting

We are happy to announce the upcoming 2023 Conference in Deadwood Dec. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

This years conference will be held at Cadillac Jacks in Deadwood SD again.  

Click here to go to registration and vendor info page

Hello and welcome to the 2023 South Dakota Fire Chiefs Leadership Conference.  We are please to say we are back at Cadillac Jacks for another conference.  This year we have made a few schedule changes to open up more quality networking and social time for the attendees to get the most out of the conference.

Here are the links for rooms at SpringHill and Tru for those wanting to stay on site.  Due to circumstances the special priced rooms are only held until Nov. 1st so get on that as soon as you can.

Tru by Hilton

Tru by Hilton in Deadwood, SD is honored to host the guests of South Dakota Fire Chiefs Association.
Rates are valid starting December 1 through December 3, 2023.
Individuals may book their reservation at the group rate using the link below, online with the code SDFC, or can call our hotel directly at 605-571-1001 and request a reservation.
Rates and code are only valid for King Rooms and must be made prior to November 1, 2023 to receive the group rate.
The hotel allows individual cancellations without penalty up to 48 hours prior to arrival date.
Cancellation policy is enforced regardless of what automated emails or Hilton websites list.
Tru by Hilton Link

SpringHill Suites by Marriott

SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Deadwood, SD is honored to host the guests of South Dakota Fire Chiefs Association.
Rates are valid starting December 1 through December 3, 2023.
Individuals may book their reservation at the group rate using the link below, online with the code FIRG, or can call our hotel directly at 605-559-1600 and request a reservation.
Rates and code are only valid for King Suites and must be made prior to November 1, 2023 to receive the group rate.
The hotel allows individual cancellations without penalty up to 48 hours prior to arrival date.
Cancellation policy is enforced regardless of what automated emails or Marriott websites list.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Link  

The conference will start Friday night, Dec. 1st with check in at 1700hrs.  a social hour and food will be provided and a slot tournament will be held on site again starting around 2000hrs.
Saturday the 2nd we open up registration at 0800 and the conference kicks off at 0900.  2 breaks during the day will have snacks, and this year lunch on Saturday will be provided for all.  This will also have the vendors there with everyone so we can have some time to mingle there as well.  Saturday will conclude around 1700hrs and dinner and night time entertainment will be on your own.  Great time to continue to network.
Sunday will have breakfast at 0800, a beak snack provided, and then lunch for the meeting around noon.
Speakers and presenters are still being plugged into time slots but we have another full conference for education and leadership topics.  Two of the headliners are listed below with there bios.
We hope to see all of you here again, and bring a few new faces as well.  This is not just for chiefs, but also for up and comers in your organizations.

Kepra Jack RN-BSN

Kepra is the Co-Owner and Chief Operating Officer for HeartFit For Duty.
Kepra works with various fire departments and law enforcement agencies across the country to
educate members on relevant health risks specific to their jobs. Kepra is a voting member on
NFPA committees as well as the National LEO Medical Guidance committee. HeartFit For Duty
works with agencies to continuously expand the scope of wellness programs and identify ways
to implement change within the public safety community. Kepra and the HeartFit team partner
with researchers to drive the needle forward to change habits and improve health. Kepra and
her team work with the Firefighter Cancer CoHort Study, First Responder Center of Excellence,

The 100 Club, Skidmore University and The Science Alliance.

Dani Shedden is a mental health counselor and owner of Close the Gap Wellness. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor. Her education includes a Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling from Northwest Nazarene University and a Masters Certificate in Fire Ecology, Management, and Technology from University of Idaho. Her background not only includes working in the mental health field, but as a wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service. She has served as a Peer Supporter, Peer Lead, and Coordinator for the Critical Incident Stress Management interagency programs. Recently, she became certified in CISM and accepted into the approved instructor course to teach CISM courses. One of Dani's core values is taking care of people, she continues to do this work outside the land agencies as a CISM Clinician, Mental Health Educator, and as a Human Factors Facilitator for Fireline Leadership courses with Mission Centered Solutions.

Course Title: Holding the Line for Fire Leadership

About Holding the Line: with Danielle Shedden. Maintaining your mental health is just as important as your physical health. This course focuses on how to build resiliency, support, and develop tools to maintain self-care throughout the year. The goal is to learn strategies on how to care for one’s mental health to be able to stay in a position for the long term, while managing to stay healthy both mentally and physically.  You’ll learn how to cultivate your own mental health, while holding the line and advocating for yourself.
Leaders attending will have the opportunity in this course to learn what resiliency is to you and those you support, what a healthy support system looks like, and some tools to utilize to avoid burnout and/or fatigue.