About Us
No matter your rank, department type or position in the fire and emergency service, the IAFC is here to serve you. Count on us to help you gain knowledge, build confidence and pave your path to successful leadership.
The Missouri Valley Division serves the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. In addition to our executive board (President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, International Director and Immediate Vice President) each state has its own State Director.
In order to serve the membership, the Board serves as the liaison between the IAFC and the States. Communication is provided by participating in state chief’s conferences, maintaining a website, email blasts, etc.
The secretary of the Division is generally available by phone, 620-341-7669, or by email, mvdchiefs@gmail.com, to provide immediate assistance. If not immediately available, please leave a message for a return call. Serving our membership is important to us.
Division Officers
Executive Board
Chief Gary Lorenz
President
Member Since 2012
Chief Brian Daake
1st Vice President
Member Since 2006
Chief Jeremy Young
2nd Vice President
Member Since 2023
Chief Jack Taylor
Division Secretary
Member Since 1994
Chief Andy Kovacs
Past President
Member Since 2018
Chief James Wamsley
International Director
Appointed 2020
State Directors
Chief
Colorado
Chief Clint Robinson
Iowa
Chief Jeff Degraffenreid
Kansas
Chief Kirk Lair
Missouri
Chief Cory Schmidt
Nebraska
Chief Dan Fuller
North Dakota
Chief Matthew McAreavey
South Dakota
Chief Gary Harnish
Wyoming
State Chiefs' Associations
Colorado
Kansas
Iowa
Missouri
Nebraska Municipal
Nebraska Volunteer
North Dakota
South Dakota
Wyoming
Colorado
Executive Director Ken Watkins
President Brad White, Fire Chief Grand Fire Protect District No. 1
Vice President Jeremy Young, Fire Chief Frederick-Firestone Fire District
Treasurer Brycen Garrison, Fire Chief, Brighton Fire Rescue District
Secretary Leif Sackett, Fire Chief Colorado River Fire Rescue
Past President Kristy Olme, Fire Chief Northwest Fire Protection District
Kansas
President Chad Russell, Fire Chief/Critical Care Paramedic Andover Fire-Rescue
Vice-President Darin Myers, Fire Chief Ellis County Fire Department
Secretary-Treasurer Bill Stark, Division Chief (Ret) Lawrence- Douglas County Fire Medical
Past President Tim Smith, Fire Chief Tonganoxie Township Fire Department
District 1 Representative Scott Hilbrink, Assistant Fire Chief Colby Fire Department
District 2 Representative Rusty E. Lindsay, Company Chief Ellis County Fire Dept. Co. 5
District 3 Representative Andrew Avantagiato, Fire Chief Herington Fire Department
District 4 Representative Ryan Almes, Deputy Chief Manhattan Fire Department
District 5 Representative Antonio Hearn,Fire Chief Larned Fire Department
District 6 Representative Doug Williams, Fire Chief Sedgwick County Fire District 1
District 7 Representative Dave Bruner, Fire Chief Fort Scott Fire Department
District 8 Representative Sean McEntee, Battalion Chief Garden City Fire Department
Fire Prevention Section Gene Robertson, Fire Marshal Garden City Fire Department
Iowa
iapfc.net
Director John TeKippe, Fire Chief – Des Moines
President Rich Higgens, Fire Chief – Ames
Vice President Vance Swisher, Fire Chief – Ankeny
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Platz, Fire Chief- North Liberty
Past President Clint Robinson, Fire Chief – Waukee
Missouri
MO Director of MVD of the IAFC Kirk Lair, Central Jackson County Fire Protection District
President Michael Snider, Lee’s Summit Fire Department
Vice President Jason Hoevelmann, Florissant Valley Fire Protection District
Treasurer Kirk Lair, Central Jackson County Fire Protection District
Secretary Bryan Newberry, Springfield Fire Department
Past President Scott Frandsen, Mid-County Fire Protection District
Nebraska Municipal
President – Cory Schmidt, Grand Island Fire Department
Vice President- Brian Daake, Beatrice Fire Department
Secretary/Treasurer- Doug Koopman, South Sioux City Fire Department
Nebraska Volunteer
President – Brenda Jenny, Blair, NE
1st Vice President- Troy Shoemaker, Alliance, NE
2nd Vice President- Kenny Krause, Fairbury, NE
Secretary/Treasurer- Mark Meints, Wymore, NE
North Dakota
President Ken Wangen, Chief – Carrington Fire Department
Vice-President Brian Paulson, Chief – Jamestown Rural Fire Department
Secretary/Treasurer Blaine Eisenbeis, Chief – Pembina Fire Department
South Dakota
SD IAFC Director Michael Koopman, Baltic FD
President Nick Carlson, Rapid City FD
1st Vice President Brent Long, Rapid City FD
2nd Vice President Ron Hines Aberdeen FD
Secretary/Treasurer Mark Bukovich, Sioux Falls FD
East River Representative Rick Gustad, Platte FD
West River Representative Jason White, North Haines FD
At-Large Representative Darrell Hartmann, Brookings FD
Past President Jeremy Walla, Whispering Pines FD
Wyoming
President J.R. Fox, Deputy Chief- Campbell County Fire Department
1st Vice President Jim Wamsley, Fire Chief- Rock Springs Fire Department
2nd Vice President Fred Baldwin, Fire Chief- Kemmerer Fire Department
Executive Secretary Eric Quinney, Administrative Chief- Unita County Fire and Ambulance
Past President Byron Mathews, Division Chief- Cheyenne Fire Rescue
