2015 lifetime achievement gala
2015 Awardees
Our 3rd Annual Lifetime Achievement Award was held at the incredible Marconi Automotive Museum. The Marconi Automotive Museum partnered with IPSLEI and donated the proceeds from hosting our event to Children's Charities.
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We also conducted a "Books To Badges TM" town hall gathering. Students from the Verdugo Fire Academy were able to listen and meet these outstanding gentlemen who were able to give amazing life experiences and teaching points for these up and coming students.
Gordon
Graham
Gordon Graham is a 33-year veteran (now retired) of California Law Enforcement. In this capacity he served as a street cop, supervisor, manager and executive.
Mr. Graham was awarded a B.A. in Business from San Francisco State College, a Teaching Credential from California State University, Long Beach, a Master’s Degree in Safety and Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and a Juris Doctorate from Western State University.
He has taken his background as a cop, risk manager and attorney and is the Founder of Lexipol, a company designed to standardize public safety practices around America.
Along with Chief Billy Goldfeder he is the co-owner of the popular firefighter safety website, FireFighterCloseCalls.com and he assisted the IAFC with constructing their site, FireFighterNearMiss.com. He has presented to fire and law enforcement personnel from around the world.
Over the last decade, Mr. Graham has spoken to over 300,000 different law enforcement, fire personnel, dispatchers and EMS professionals from around the world (including NFA and IAFC), no doubt some from your Department. In 1995, he was presented with the Governor’s Award for excellence in law enforcement training by Governor Wilson (sole recipient).
In 2005 he received recognition from the IAFC for his lifelong work in improving firefighter safety and performance. In 2008 he received the lifetime achievement award from California POST. His penetrating wit coupled with his vast knowledge in multiple disciplines provides the enlightened listener with an information packed seminar.
He is available for seminars designed for the specific needs of your organization. He may be contacted telephonically at:
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GORDON GRAHAM GRAHAM RESEARCH CONSULTANTS
6475 East Pacific Coast Highway #136
Long Beach, California 90803-4296 714.374.9326
Ronny
Coleman
Ronny J. Coleman is the retired State Fire Marshal for the State of California.
He has received a Masters of Arts Degree in Vocational Education from Cal State Long Beach, a Bachelors of Science Degree in Political Science from Cal State Fullerton and an Associate of Arts Degree in Fire Science from Rancho Santiago College.
He has served in many elected positions in professional organizations, including President, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Vice President, International Committee for Prevention and Control of Fire (CTIF), and President, California League of Cities, Fire Chiefs Department. In 2010, he was appointed Chairman of the California State Firefighters Association Volunteer Committee. He served on the Public Safety Committee for the League of California Cities for almost 20 years. He served as Chairman of the Commission on Fire Accreditation International from 1984 – 2005.
He holds professional memberships in many other organizations, such as the International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Fire Code Institute, Conference of Building Officials, International Code Council, National Fire Protection Association, and the Institution of Fire Engineers, USA Branch. He was elected as a Fellow of the IFE by the British Chapter.
In the past he has served as a panel member on the re-constituted “America Burning” panel and was a member of the US Fire Administrations “Stakeholder Committee. He serves on the Fireman’s Fund National Committee and currently serves as the President of The National Fire Heritage Center. This organization is dedicated to preserving the written history of the Fire Profession in the United States. He is also the Chair of the International Accreditation Services, Technical Advisory Committee on the Accreditation of Fire Prevention Bureaus for the International Code Council. In 2011, he was appointed to the National Construction Safety Team panel, under the jurisdiction of NIST.
He is a columnist for Fire Chief Magazine and Sprinkler Age Magazine. He has authored over 19 textbooks for the fire community. His latest endeavor is to co-author a text entitled “Fire Marshal” for Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
The California Fire Chiefs Association named their annual Fire Chief of the Year Award after Chief Coleman in 2000. The Center for Public Safety Excellence named a perpetual trophy devoted to Excellence in Leadership after Chief Coleman. He was recently awarded a special recognition by the President of the International Code Council for his lifetime involvement in the development of fire codes.
He was recently appointed to the ICC Membership Development Committee. In 2011, he received the Mason Lankford Award which is a lifetime achievement award created by the Congressional Fire Caucus Institute. In 2012, he was placed in the CSFA Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was designated as “Companion Fellow” with the IFE.