FFCA 2026 Board of Directors Elections

VOTE for Secretary/Treasurer

Jason Gennaro
Fire Chief
East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District

VOTE for
West Central Regional

Ian Kemp [Bio]

Chief Ian Kemp has served as your FFCA West Central Regional Director for the past 6 years and has served the fire service community for more than 34 years. He began his career with the City of Naples Fire Department before joining Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue where he dedicated the next 15 years of his career. During his tenure in Fort Lauderdale, Chief Kemp spent much of his time as a member of the department’s Tactical Rescue Team.

Chief Kemp was also an active member of IAFF Local 765, serving his fellow firefighters in several leadership roles including Treasurer and President. In recognition of his leadership and service, he was honored by his peers with the title of President Emeritus from the Fort Lauderdale Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 765.

He retired from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue at the rank of Battalion Chief and currently serves as the Fire Chief for the City of Temple Terrace Fire Department in West Central Florida.

Chief Kemp holds the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is an alumnus of the University of South Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics.

He remains actively involved in the fire service profession and currently serves on several boards and committees, including the State of Florida EMS Matching Grant Review Committee and as Chairman of the Firefighters’ Pension Board. Chief Kemp also serves as the FFCA’s representative on the Florida Fire Code Advisory Council.

I humbly ask for your vote so I may continue my service as your next Secretary/Treasurer advancing the profession of fire and emergency services through strategic and proactive leadership, education, advocacy, and development.

Brent Stevens [Bio]

Hello, my name is Brent R. Stevens, and I currently serve as Fire Chief of the LaBelle Fire Department and have more than 18 years of dedicated service in the fire and emergency services profession. I hold multiple degrees and certificates from Edison College, Florida State University, and Western Governors University. Throughout my career, I have focused on communication, strengthening training, developing future leaders, and ensuring responsible management of department resources.

I am passionate about building strong relationships within the fire service and ensuring every member knows their voice matters. I believe effective leadership comes from listening, collaboration, and supporting one another. I am actively involved with the Fire Chief Peer Support Council, Coach’s Corner Advocacy, and the Legislative Committee, where I work to strengthen leadership development, peer support, and advocacy for Florida’s fire service.

My faith and community involvement as a member of Christ Central Church, serving on the worship team, and supporting No Longer Bound, have shaped my commitment to servant leadership. I will continue advocating for unity, mentorship, and ensuring every chief and department is represented.

I am committed to supporting the mission of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association by ensuring the organization remains fiscally responsible, transparent, and well-positioned to continue providing valuable training, advocacy, and leadership opportunities for its members.

If elected as Secretary-Treasurer, I will work to maintain strong financial stewardship while supporting initiatives that advance the fire service across Florida. I believe FFCA plays a critical role in representing fire service leaders and ensuring departments of all sizes have a voice.

I look forward to serving the membership, encouraging collaboration across the state, and helping strengthen the future of the Florida fire service.

I respectfully ask for your support and vote.

VOTE for Secretary/Treasurer

Jason Gennaro [Bio]

I currently serve as Fire Chief of the East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District, where I lead with a focus on operational excellence, fiscal responsibility, professional development, and community-centered service. With more than three decades of progressive leadership experience in the fire service, I remain committed to collaborative leadership and to advancing initiatives that strengthen both our local organizations and the fire service profession as a whole.

Throughout my career, I have served in a variety of operational and administrative leadership roles, overseeing emergency response delivery, training, fire prevention, emergency management, professional standards, ISO improvements, labor relations, legislative processes, and the development of key organizational documents. I have consistently supported initiatives that enhance operational readiness, modernize fire service practices, strengthen teamwork, and reinforce people forward thinking.

I am actively engaged in professional associations and strongly believe in the value of statewide collaboration. The strength of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association lies in its ability to unite leaders from departments of all sizes to address legislative priorities, workforce development, emergency management coordination, and emerging public safety challenges.

As a candidate for West Coast Regional Director, I am committed to:

• Strengthening communication between the FFCA Board and West Coast member agencies.
• Advocating for policies that support operational readiness, firefighter safety, and sustainable funding to support both the FFCA and our agency missions.
• Expanding leadership development and mentoring opportunities for emerging chief officers.
• Enhancing regional collaboration in areas such as mental health and wellness, recruitment and retention, professional development, and technology.
• Ensuring the West Coast region maintains a strong and consistent voice in statewide discussions and decision-making.

Effective regional leadership requires accessibility, transparency, open communication, and a willingness to listen. If elected, I will prioritize engagement with member agencies, encourage active participation in FFCA initiatives, and work diligently to represent the interests and perspectives of all West Coast fire service leaders.

I respectfully ask for your support and the opportunity to humbly serve as West Coast Regional Director for the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association.

Matt Brown [Bio]

Assistant Chief Matt Brown began his fire service career in 1998 with Polk County Fire Rescue before joining the Lakeland Fire Department in 1999. Over the past two decades, he has served in a variety of leadership roles including Firefighter, Lieutenant, the department’s first Training Captain, Training Chief, and currently Assistant Chief of Fire Administration. Throughout his career, he has remained focused on training, operational readiness, and developing the next generation of fire service leaders. Chief Brown holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Florida Southern College and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Managing Fire Officer Program as well as Florida State University’s Certified Public Manager Program. Earlier in his career, he was actively involved with IAFF Local 4173, serving as Treasurer and gaining valuable experience in organizational leadership and member representation. Beyond his department, Chief Brown has built strong relationships with fire service leaders throughout Florida through extensive involvement with the Florida Fire Chiefs Association and other statewide initiatives. He currently serves as the FFCA Technical Rescue Team Workgroup Leader, collaborating with chiefs, state officials, and department leaders to strengthen Florida’s Technical Rescue Team program. Since 2019, he has helped expand the program by 35 percent, adding 12 new teams and assisting in the development of consistent statewide standards and requirements. He has also contributed to updates to the State Emergency Response Plan. Chief Brown also serves as an ESLI Instructor and an Instructor for the Division of State Fire Marshal. He previously served as the Region 4 FASAR Representative and has deployed to the State Emergency Operations Center as part of the command structure during multiple hurricane responses. At the national level, he serves as a principal committee member for NFPA 1006 and NFPA 1020, helping shape national standards for technical rescue and fire officer professional qualifications. Chief Brown is seeking the opportunity to serve as West Central Director based on his longstanding involvement with the FFCA and his commitment to advancing the mission of the Association. He believes strong communication, collaboration, and active engagement with members are essential to effective regional representation. If elected, Chief Brown looks forward to continuing the positive work underway in the region while helping address the current and emerging challenges facing Florida’s fire service. Through collaboration, transparency, and a focus on practical solutions, he is committed to representing and serving the members of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association.

Jason Dougherty [Bio]

Chief Jason Dougherty currently serves as Fire Chief of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, one of Florida’s largest combination fire departments. He began his fire service career in 1999 in Thomasville, Georgia, and later served as Training Chief with Tampa Fire Rescue before joining Hillsborough County Fire Rescue in 2016. During his tenure with HCFR, he served as both Deputy Chief of Operations and Deputy Chief of Administration before being appointed Fire Chief in December 2023. Chief Dougherty holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science Education from University of Florida and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Waldorf University. He is also a designated Executive Fire Officer and Chief Fire Officer and is a graduate of the Fire Service Executive Development Institute. Chief Dougherty is passionate about advancing the fire service through leadership development, firefighter health and wellness, and strong statewide collaboration. If elected to the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Board of Directors, he will work to advocate for policies that support firefighters and their families while helping departments across Florida adapt to the evolving challenges facing the fire service.

Rob Hanson [Bio]

My name is Robert (Rob) Hanson, I became Fire Chief for Sumter County Fire & EMS Department (FL) in December 2018. My wife, Heather, and I have been together for 31 years and have an adult daughter & adult son. We enjoy fishing, boating, and tending to a small farm in Webster, FL.

I began my fire service career in 1999 as an industrial fire brigade/hazmat responder and volunteer firefighter. Over the past 27 years I have served in various fire service capacities in Sumter County and the surrounding area as a firefighter, paramedic, company officer, and chief officer. I am also fire service instructor, having taught in both fire and EMS fields. I hold a Doctor of Education in Applied Learning from the University of Miami, Master of Public Administration from Anna Maria College and a Bachelor’s of Science in Fire Science Administration from Waldorf College. I am also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, the FFCA’s Emergency Services Leadership Institute (ESLI), and Certified Public Manager program from Florida State University.

Education and continuous improvement are important aspects of professional development that I consider foundational to our role as fire service leaders and mentors. Education and continuous improvement have led to initiatives and innovations in firefighter safety, endurance, excellence, health, wellness, and industry best practices; all spearheaded by Florida’s Fire Service. I hope to continue that innovation and aim to find the next initiative that leads to innovation. The FFCA members and the firefighters among us hold the keys to those new ideas, opinions, and practices. As a regional director my goal is not only to represent the voice of West Central Florida’s members, but to seek out the unknown and bring those challenges to light, so we find the solutions together. 

Rob Hanson
Fire Chief
Sumter County Fire & EMS  

VOTE for West Central Regional