2027 Instructors

Candace Ashby

Dr. Candace Ashby is a career firefighter with over 35 years of experience and is a Battalion Chief with the Indianapolis Fire Department. Her educational background includes a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership. She is President of Key Fire Investigations and ELITE Public Safety Consulting. Dr. Ashby enjoys making a positive impact in the fire service through coaching, mentoring, and leading change.

Fred Benzel

Bio Coming Soon

Cody Brdicko

Cody is a firefighter assigned to Heavy Rescue 33 in Omaha, NE. A member of FEMA’s Nebraska Task Force 1 where he holds the following positions: Rescue Squad Officer, Rescue Specialist, Water Rescue/Boat Operator Specialist, Logistics Specialist, FEMA Rescue Instructor and NETF1 Rescue Advisory Group Representative. Cody is both a Paratech-Approved and National AMKUS Instructor. He is a graduate from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Emergency Management and a graduate from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Cody is honored to have taught at several departments and conferences including Les Lukert, University of Missouri Winter Fire School, Revolutionary Fire Tactics and Wichita HOT.

Rocky Foster

Rocky currently serves as a Captain at Rescue 8 with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue and brings nearly three decades of experience and perspective from multiple areas of the fire service. He began his career in 1998 as a volunteer firefighter in Lyons, South Dakota. After earning his Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from Casper College, Rocky spent three seasons serving as a wildland firefighter with the United States Forest Service before beginning his career with Sioux Falls Fire Rescue in 2004.

Rocky is also a member of Pheasant Country FOOLS and is passionate about training and continuing education across all aspects of the fire service. His experience ranges from volunteer service and wildland firefighting to career operations, technical rescue, and mentorship within the firehouse.

Jon Hardy

Jon Hardy is a Seargent for the Plattsmouth Police Department and Assistant Chief of Plattsmouth Fire. Hardy provides Mass Casualty and Rescue Task Force training to all of the first repsonder agencies of Cass County.

Michael Kruger

Michael Kruger is a Deputy for the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and a Captain/Training Officer with Elmwood Rural Fire. He provides Mass Casualty and Rescue Task Force training to all of the first repsonder agencies of Cass County.

Gene Landers

Chief Landers began his journey in the fire service in 1991 as a child growing up inside the firehouse, where both his mother and father served as Fire Chiefs. Raised in a family deeply rooted in public service, he developed an early understanding of leadership, sacrifice, and commitment to community that would later shape his own career and leadership philosophy.

Today, Chief Landers serves as Fire Chief of the Orange Township Fire Department in Indiana, where he has become recognized for progressive leadership, direct communication, and a strong focus on firefighter culture, recruitment, retention, and operational readiness. Under his leadership, Orange Township Fire Department evolved from a 100% volunteer department into a combination department in 2024 — a change driven through honest conversation, collaboration, and a willingness to address the realities facing the modern fire service.

Chief Landers is known for blending real-world experience with practical leadership strategies focused on accountability, decision-making, and community connection. He frequently speaks on leadership, organizational culture, staffing challenges, and the importance of building stronger departments and stronger communities through honest conversation, purpose, and action

Erin McGruder

Erin McGruder retired as a Firefighter/EMT after 23 years, and 15 years as a search canine handler for a state USAR team. She has served as a Planning Team Manager for a FEMA USAR team for more than 17 years.

McGruder is a National Fallen Firefighter Foundation Fellow and volunteers as a state advocate. Additionally, she serves as a director for the International Society for Fire Service Instructors. McGruder has specialized in curriculum and instructor development as a fire service state training agency staff member for more than a decade. She holds a master’s degree in public affairs and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in educational psychology and adult learning.

Midwest Misfits

Midwest Misfits Technical Rescue and Training is a firefighter-led training company dedicated to delivering realistic, experience-driven education for the fire service. Built by active firefighters with backgrounds in technical rescue, special operations, and hands-on emergency response, our mission is to provide practical training that directly translates to real-world incidents.

Our instruction is rooted in operational experience across technical rescue disciplines including structural collapse, rigging, vehicle and machinery rescue, truck company operations, and firefighter problem-solving. We focus on delivering high-impact, hands-on education that builds competence, confidence, and decision-making under pressure.

Midwest Misfits was founded on the belief that quality training should be relevant, challenging, and accessible to the fire service. As firefighters ourselves, we remain committed to giving back to the profession that built us by sharing lessons learned, proven techniques, and practical knowledge that attendees can immediately apply in their own departments.

Helton Pereira

Helton Pereira is an 18-year veteran in the fire service, currently serving as a Lieutenant in Virginia. He’s the author of the book The First Things First, and host of “The First Things First” podcast! His passion for teaching, mentoring, and serving others is a reminder of why this truly is the best job in the world.

Troy Petersen

Troy Petersen designs and delivers performance-based training to fire departments of all sizes as a coordinator for Montana State Fire Training Services. He previously managed the recruit academy for Boone County (MO) Fire Protection District. He retired as a Captain/Paramedic with 25 years of experience with the Kansas City (MO) Fire Department, most of which were spent in special operations and on Heavy Rescue 1 located in downtown Kansas City. Petersen received two awards for valor, one award for bravery, and numerous unit citations. As a rescue specialist and search team

Manager for Missouri Task Force 1 (FEMA), Petersen responded to notable events including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the Joplin EF-5 tornado. His fire service career started in the suburban Chicago and St. Louis communities, with a combined experience of more than 35 years.

Denell Rhinehart

Bio Coming Soon

Scott Rieland

Scott has served as a career firefighter for the past 17 years, dedicating his career to serving his community and upholding the traditions and values of the fire service. For the last 5 years, he has served as an engine company officer, emphasizing teamwork, accountability, and operational excellence.

Scott is also a founding member of Pheasant Country FOOLS, helping promote the mission of preserving the aggressive, disciplined, and brotherhood-driven culture of the fire service.

He is deeply passionate about training and educating firefighters, believing that continual learning, realistic hands-on training, and sharing experience are critical to improving firefighter safety, protecting civilians, and preparing the next generation of firefighters for the challenges of the job.

JP Royea

JP has over 25 years of experience in the fire service and currently serves as the Deputy Fire Chief for a small combination department in southern New Hampshire. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Administration and an Associate of Science degree in Fire Science, along with certifications as a Firefighter II, Inspector II, and Instructor. Additionally, JP is a staff instructor for the New Hampshire State Fire Academy.

In 2025, JP was honored with the National Outstanding Fire Service Professional of the Year award by Columbia Southern University. His passion lies in educating others about leadership, mentorship, and the retention of firefighters within small to medium-sized agencies.

Andy Soccodato

ANDY SOCCODATO has served in the fire service since 2006 in career and volunteer agencies that covered rural and urban communities. He is a full-time Fire Instructor II at the Tennessee State Fire Academy, where he oversees the driver/pump and aerial programs. He is also the owner of The Water Thieves, LLC, which specializes in delivering street-smart driver/pump operator courses.

Soccodato has presented at FDIC and is the author of Water Thievery: The Art of Water Supply Operations (Fire Engineering Books)

Joe & Heather Yowler

Joe has been in the fire service for 20+ years and has experienced stressors that eventually led to his pursuit of a master’s in social work & psychology from The Ohio State University. Through the pursuit of this education and being involved in Peer Support on both a department and state level, Joe has been able to analyze and decipherer some of problems we face today at work and home. Many of the current practices in the fire service tend to leave scars and set our firefighters and their families up for failure. He has witnessed this and also been exposed to this in his career. Being set up for failure by being told to learn a complex algorithm or method to alleviate a degrading situation. By simplifying, de-stressing and streamlining practices he has been able to not only better himself but many others. This is done by practicing breathing techniques, daily repetition of simplified drills, and stress mitigation exercises. Implementing these practices both at work and at home has allowed his career and home life to exponentially improve.

  • Charlotte Fire Department - FF Engine 19.

  • Charlotte FD Peer Support Member

  • NC Peer Support Member and Call Taker

  • NC Task Force Leader for Sons of The Flag

  • Director of Carolina Fire Days

  • Co-Founder Twisted Fire Industries

  • Published in Art of Firemanship Magazine (Controlling Chaos 2019, Lets Get Weird, 2020, Set a Precedence 2021, Fire Nuggets Engine Company Inoculation 2023.

  • Masters Social Work Psychology - The Ohio State University with a - August 2026

  • BS Health Sciences Graduate – The Ohio State University - May 2024

Twisted Fire Industries shares a vision that provides an aggressive, tried and true education experience. We accomplish this through innovation, progressiveness, preparation and dedication. We are professionals who encourage open and honest communication. We live by the values of integrity, teamwork, education, assertiveness, peak performance and responsiveness.