As part of our transition process – and with an eye towards creating the necessary culture, structure, personnel and resources to improve efficiencies across all divisions and departments – the IAFF Executive Board recently approved a restructure in our headquarters operations. This was a collaborative effort undertaken by both the Office of the General President Edward Kelly and the Office of the General Secretary-Treasurer Frank Líma.
During the ongoing transition process, we identified the need for a manageable span of control at the top of our organizational structure. Therefore, in addition to Chief of Staff (COS) Matthew Vinci, we have created the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and look forward to welcoming Wayne Murphy, who will assume this new role effective June 1, 2021. Both Vinci and Murphy will report to the General President and the Executive Board.
Under this new structure, Chief of Staff Matthew Vinci will oversee all programmatic deliverables to our affiliates under the following divisions and departments.
- Human Relations, Education and Grants Administration Division
By combining the Education, Training and Human Relations Division with the Grants Administration and Hazardous Materials Training Division under the direction of Assistant to the General President Elizabeth Del Re, we will house program coordinators within one division while establishing an organization-wide capacity to develop and distribute all IAFF training programs and ensure a focus on human relations in a more efficient and consistent manner. - Health, Safety & Medicine
Under the direction of Assistant to the General President Patrick Morrison, the Health, Safety and Medicine Division will now include a new Director of Science and Research, Derek Urwin. A member of Los Angeles County, CA Local 1014 who will be receiving his PhD in chemistry later this year, Urwin’s experience and knowledge in the field of science and research will help us advocate to reduce occupational cancer and diseases impacting our members across both countries. Working with Director Urwin will be Racquel Segall, who has been promoted to Deputy Director of Occupational Health and Medicine. Deputy Director John Niemiec will now focus solely on providing behavioral health services to support our members in the field. - Technical Assistance & Information Resources
The Technical Assistance and Information Resources Division will be managed by the newly promoted Assistant to the General President Thomas Breyer and Director of Fire and EMS Operations Robert McClintock. In addition, Adrienne Kramer PhD has been promoted to Deputy Director of Fire and EMS System Analysis and Christopher Lake has been promoted to Deputy Director of Fire and EMS Development. - Conferences and Events, Planning and Logistics
Our new Director of Conferences and Events, Planning and Logistics Erin Lynch brings a strong background in strategic planning and event management and will be evaluating all opportunities to increase the operational effectiveness of our events. Coupled with the new Deputy Director of Logistics Jamie Grimes, who previously worked in the Office of the General Secretary-Treasurer overseeing procurement and the production center, the department will provide increased coordination for events ranging in size from 10 to 3,500 attendees. - Canadian Operations
Assistant to the General President Scott Marks will be continuing his service to the IAFF and will be supporting the continuity of operations in our Ottawa office. His institutional knowledge and service to the IAFF will be valuable as we evaluate and improve our services and resources for our Canadian members.
Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Murphy will be directly responsible for the following divisions:
- Communications, Media Relations and Public Affairs
The Communications, Media Relations and Public Affairs Division, led by newly promoted Assistant to the General President Jane Blume, will work with all divisions and leadership to effectively message our mission and brand to members across the United States and Canada. She will also be managing all external communications. - Governmental Affairs, Strategic and Political Initiatives
The Strategic Campaigns Department will be incorporated into the new Government Affairs, Strategic and Political Initiatives Division, with Director of Strategic Campaigns Doug Stern reporting to Assistant to the General President Dave Lang. Collaborating with our Communications team, this structure will bring increased efficiencies in further service to all IAFF affiliates. - Information Systems
The Information Systems Department will also report to the Chief Administrative Officer with Director Carmen Gloukhoff tasked with managing the day-to-day information technology operations across the organization. - General Counsel and Legal Services
Megan Mechak, a partner with McGillivary Steele Elkin, has been appointed to serve as IAFF General Counsel. An attorney with McGillivary Steele Elkin since 2007, Megan has provided high-level legal service to the IAFF and our affiliates and has been a tenacious advocate for working women and men.
The Chief Administrative Officer will also be responsible for refining the procurement process for goods and services across the organization. Working with the to-be-formed committee and the Office of the General Secretary-Treasurer, a consistent and focused approach to these necessary expenditures will result in a leaner operation and the implementation of buying power with the goal of realizing savings and increased efficiencies across all divisions.
Mathew Golsteyn who served the IAFF for four and half years as Chief of Operations, will assume the role of Special Assistant to the General President for Strategic Initiatives, focusing on developing and implementing strategies to address our affiliates most pressing concerns that do not inherently fall into specific roles and responsibilities. Golsteyn will be tasked with continually analyzing the IAFF as an organization at all levels to ensure that strategic goals are met through intellectual refinement.
General Secretary-Treasurer Frank Líma has been working with his senior transition team to review the structure, staffing, operations and resources needed for the General Secretary-Treasurer’s office to ensure we provide the most effective and efficient services to support our operations and the best possible use of our members’ hard-earned dues.
The Executive Board has approved changes that reflect a new approach to providing the best support and services from the Office of the General Secretary-Treasurer for our members. Frank Ramagnano, president of Toronto, ON Local 3888, has been appointed to the new position of Assistant to the General Secretary-Treasurer overseeing pensions, procurement and policy. His knowledge and interests in pensions, policy, procurement and Canadian operations will serve the IAFF well in improving the resources of the General-Secretary Treasurer’s office to better serve our members.
Additionally, the General Secretary-Treasurer’s Senior Transition Team recommended and the Board approved a new Director of Operations position under Frank Ramagnano. The General Secretary-Treasurer’s office is evaluating potential candidates and will announce this appointment in the near future.
The addition of these new positions and their roles and responsibilities address some of the most important issues highlighted by the former General Secretary-Treasurer, our auditors and the Ethical Practices Committee reports and reflect a new approach to providing the best support and services our members and staff deserve.
This improved span of control will enhance the ability of the Chief of Operations to provide the appropriate governance and compliance oversight required to manage the operations of the Office of the General Secretary-Treasurer efficiently and effectively.
These organizational changes, including a collaboration on centralizing organizing tools, will help ensure that the IAFF is properly equipped with the structure, personnel and resources to improve efficiencies across all divisions and departments and to support our mission and top priority – protecting our members and their families.
