FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE July 2017 34 Job title and tenure: Program Administrator November 1998 - Present Previous work experience: Prior to joining the Bradenton Fire Department (BFD), I worked in the accounting field long enough to discover that I wanted a career path that would allow me to contribute to more than the bottom line. I was initially hired as a Clerical Assistant, one of three administrative support positions at the time, eager to tackle any challenge presented. After several years of taking on additional and more complex duties, I was reclassified to a position that better suited the responsibilities. Briefly describe the structure of the administrative services of your organization. The Bradenton Fire Department provides service to all those within the approximate 15 square miles of the City of Bradenton. As a city department, the BFD Fire Chief reports to the City Administrator and Legislative body (Mayor and five Councilmembers). The department is comprised of 67 members, of which 57 are shift suppression and ten are 40- hour members of the Fire Prevention Bureau, Training, and Administration. While officers and others are empowered to carry out certain administrative duties, the Secretary and Program Administrator provide the vast majority of administrative support services. The Secretary reports to the Program Administrator, and the Program Administrator reports to the Fire Chief and Assistant Chief. Briefly describe your job duties. Much like administrative/support positions in other departments, I wear many hats and my role is ever evolving to meet the needs of the organization. While providing support to the Fire Chief and Assistant Chief, my role largely entails department-specific budget and finance duties, personnel support, accreditation management, organizational document management, coordination of the city’s Emergency Management Plan and COOPs, producing department publications, online presence management, and various special projects. What is the most important aspect of your job? Effective communication is the foundation on which everything else functions. Our improved and advancing methods of internal and external communication aid in successful execution of all other duties. My commitment to continuous improvement, organizational skills, and time- chunking are other equally important aspects of my job that enable me to support the personnel, mission, and vision of the department. What challenges do you face in your position? The demands upon my time and frequent need to ‘reprioritize the priorities’ can prove quite challenging. However, through each challenge there is a great opportunity to identify and implement improvement strategies. What do you enjoy most about your job? I am most rewarded when I feel I have helped someone or contributed to the success of the organization. There is also a great sense of gratification when I have completed a big project or accomplished a major goal – anything that checks off a task from “the list.” Meet Meetthe the Fire Administrative Fire Administrative Professional Professional Rebecca Desch, FAEM, Program Administrator City of Bradenton Fire Department July 2017 FFS.QXD 6/29/17 9:34 AM Page 34