Andy’s highly customized message is combined with good clean humor and amazing illusions. Andy Hickman believes in magic...and after hearing him speak, you will too!

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Thomas Byron Phillips is District Chief assigned to Special Operations. He provides operational command supervision and management for a countywide Fire Rescue service. Special Operations emergency responses include Hazardous Materials, Tactical Rescue, Natural and/or manmade disasters including terrorism and explosive ordinance disposal. Frequently the preceding responses involve target hazards in which a high-dollar and/or live loss factor is present, ie–Schools, Nursing Homes, etc.

Tom has specialized in the protection of life and property for the citizens of Palm Beach County as a Firefighter/Paramedic since October 4, 1976. He was promoted to Fire Lieutenant in 1979. He was awarded "Firefighter of the Year" by the American Legion Post 271. In 1982, he was appointed as Paramedic Lieutenant to manage Emergency Medical Service operations. He was promoted to District Chief in March, 1985 and promoted to District Chief of Special Operations in October, 1990. He has served on the Palm Beach county–Rescue/EMS Committee of the Unification Task Force and is currently serving on the State of Florida District 10 Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Tom is currently instructing for the National Fire Academy, the Florida State Fire College, the Palm Beach Community College and the Palm Beach County School Board. He is a certified Florida State Firefighter, Florida State Paramedic, by the Florida State College as Minimum Standards Fire Instructor, Municipal Inspector, Smoke Diver, Fire Officer I, Rope Rescue Practices, Confined Space Rescue, Advanced Elevated Victim Rescue, PADI Open Water Scuba Diver, Dive Rescue International Dive Rescue Specialist I, Rugged Terrain Search and Rescue, Basic Trauma Life Support Instructor, Pediatric Pre–Hospital Instructor, Hazardous Materials Technician and PBSO Explosive Ordinance Disposal.

He holds an Associate of Science/Fire Science Technology–Palm Beach Community College–1984, a Bachelor of Science/Fire Safety Engineering–University of Cincinnati–1993, a Master of Science/Management with a concentration in Environmental Studies–Chadwich University–1993, and the Executive Fire Officer Program–National Fire Academy–1994.

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Paul Shapiro is the Director of Fire Flow Technology, a consulting firm specializing in the training of large flow water delivery. Paul has been in the fire service since 1981 and is currently an Engineer with the Las Vegas, Nevada Fire Department. Paul is a nationally recognized instructor in large flow water delivery and is a regular author for Fire/Rescue Magazine featuring the Engineer's Corner. He is also a certified Fire Instructor II in the State of Nevada and has an extensive fire service educational background. Paul has also authored a book entitled "Layin’ the Big Lines" which covers the latest techniques in large flow water delivery.

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Paul Stein is currently a Division Chief with the Santa Monica Fire Department. In his 27 years with the department he has served as Training Officer, Fire Marshal and Battalion Commander.

Additionally, he is the Fire Technology Coordinator at Santa Monica College, an Instructor for the California Fire Academy System, and an Adjunct Faculty Member for the National Fire Academy. His instructional specialty is contemporary management issues and problems that confront today’s fire officers.

He hold an Associate degree in Fire Technology and a BS degree in Management. He is a Master Instructor for the California Department of Education. One of the highlights of his career was to be honored as the "California Fire Instructor of the Year".

Chief Stein has written many management articles for every major fire service magazine in the country. He has authored a college fire technology textbook and produced two videos on fire department oral examinations. He is a contributing steering committee member for the Professional Emergency Educators Association associated with The Alliance For Fire And Emergency Management.

He founded PHS Enterprises, a management consultant organization. PHS Enterprises has performed services for many private and public companies throughout the country.

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Ron Moore is employed as Program Director/Director of Education Fire and Emergency Television Network. He is also associated with American Heat Video Network and Pulse Emergency Medical Update Video Network.

He was formerly a Fire Protection Specialist 1 with NY State Office of Fire Prevention and Control, New York State Academy of Fire Science, Montour Falls, NY. He attained an Associates Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY. He was awarded an Associates Degree with High Honors Graphic Arts and Photography from Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY. He was awarded by the International Society of Fire Service Instructors the George D. Post Instructor of the Year. Moore authored "Vehicle Rescue and Extrications", a training text published by C.V. Mosby Co., St. Louis, MO. and authored the "Carbuster" series published by American Safety Video Publishers. He also created School Bus Rescue video tape No. 6. Ron also serves as a contributing editor to Firehouse magazine, responsible for the monthly University of Extrication series.

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Mr. Robertson is a Lieutenant for the Fort Worth Fire Department. He has been involved in the fire service since 1978 as a volunteer for the Granbury Fire Deparmtewnt, where he now serves as Chief of the department. Homer is a Squad Leader for the Texas Task Force No. 1, Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR). He teaches at the Fort Worth Fire Department training center as welll as instructing various programs in the Fort Worth, Dallas area. He is also an instructor for the Texas Fireman’s training school at Texas A&M University. He has written various articles for Firehouse magazine, NFPA Journal and Texas Fireman magazine.

Homer has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and a Master of Science in Political Science from Tarleton State University.

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Carolyn Balling, after several years as a training manager in a variety of industries, now splits her time between external consulting and being a one-person internal training department. As a consultant, she works with companies on issues that relate to the performance of their people, and with training functions to enhance and streamline their products and services. At Collagen Corporation, a biomedical firm in the Silicon Valley, Carolyn manages the firm’s internal training and development efforts, with an emphasis on building employee capabilities and clarifying "the big picture". In both her roles her focus is on ensuring that delivered training fits the audience and their needs, and that it sticks and transfers to the job.

Previously, Carolyn started and headed the Training and Development department at AMEX Life Assurance Company (a subsidiary of American Express), as Director of Human Resources Development; managed the Corporate Training and Development departments at Industrial Indemnity, a property–casualty insurance services firm and Sutro & Co. stock brokerage; and service as Training Director for Napa–Solano Girl Scout Council.

Carolyn is a frequent presenter at national training conferences (sponsored by Training Magazine/Lakewood Conferences, corporations and trade associations), and for local training organizations. Carolyn is an instructor in the University of California at Berkeley, Extension's Training and HRD Certificate Program, and chaired the Advisory Committee for that program. She has service as a national volunteer for the Girl Scouts for Training and Conference’s "Training Directors’ Forum."

Carolyn holds degrees from the University of California at Berkeley (B.A., Social Developmental Psychology) and California State University; Hayward (M.S., Education). Described as "a great combination of witty and knowledgeable", she is well–known for her lively, informative, energetic sessions. She is the author of "Fit to Train – how to succeed at training delivery (without really tiring)", 1997, Lakewood Publications. When not on the freeway or at work, she lives with her husband in the Oakland hills.

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Steve Mace, now in his twenty–third year in broadcast communications, has served as news director assignment editor, morning anchor and state capitol correspondent. In June of 1996, Steve completed 11 years as news director of KLIF/KPLX in Dallas. He marked the anniversary by starting ACM Media Training/Public Relations. Steve's media training clients include Fina Oil and Chemical and the City of University Park. He handles public relations/marketing duties for a variety of clients including KLIF/KPLX/KTCK/KKZN radio stations. He is also under contract with C-SPAN, helping the national cable outlet with coverage opportunities in Texas and the Southwest.

Listed in the first edition of Who’s Who in Media and Communications, Steve is the former chairman of Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. He has also served on the NBC News Directors’ Advisory Board and the Media Relations Committee of the Dallas Bar Association. A frequent speaker on media issues, Steve has conducted training seminars for a variety of professional and civic groups. He is a graduate of Colorado State University with a B.A. in Journalism. His wife, Teri, is an attorney. ACM Media Training/Public Relations.

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Adam started his fire service career as a volunteer firefighter with the Beaver Brook Fire Department in Danbury, Connecticut. He became a career firefighter and continued serving the 70,000 citizens of Danbury. He rose through the ranks to Training Officer responsible for the professional development of Danbury’s 100 career and 400 volunteer firefighters. He left Connecticut in 1985 to become a Fire Service Specialist for the Minnesota Technical College System. He was quickly promoted to State Director of Fire Training and given the additional responsibility of library development in 32 campuses. Most recently, Adam was a part of the Metropolitan State University, administering a Fire and Emergency Medical library collection as well as providing training and educational opportunities for the state’s 20,000 firefighters. After 13 years in Minnesota, he returned to Connecticut as their State Director of Fire Training. He is responsible for the equal statewide access to all levels of fire training and education, from entry–level firefighters through fire officer and Chief.

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Steven Edwards has been a professor at the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology at Oklahoma State University since 1982. He is a Fellow in the American Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology and a member of both the United States Olympic Committee and Sport Psychology Registry.

Steven holds a Ph.D from Purdue University in Sport Psychology, a M.S. degree in Education and a B.P.E. in Education. He has written over 150 publications and given presentations at the state, regional, national and international levels.

Steven has been a consultant for the International Fire Service Training Association, Certification Test Preparation Project since 1997. He is a Volunteer Fire Fighter, adopted by the Mangum Fire Department of Mangum, Oklahoma.

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Bob Acker is a Division Fire Chief with the Plano Fire Department. Chief Acker joined the Plano Fire Department in 1976 and his current assignment is Division Chief of Operations, where he is responsible for the fire suppression and EMS services of his department. Bob also serves as an Associate Faculty member for Collin County College, where he instructs both recruit and degree level courses.

Bob received a Bachelor of Science in Education from East Texas State University and is a graduate of both the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program and the Arizona State University Fire Service Institute. He has served as a guest instructor at the annual Texas Municipal Fire School and has presented numerous technical and employment workshops to fire service organizations across the nation.

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Bob Murphey was a member of the Nacogdoches Volunteer Fire Department for 38 years, retiring as Volunteer Chief in 1975. He is a past President of the East Texas Fireman’s & Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas in 1969. He was an Instructor at Texas A&M Fireman’s Training School for 27 years.

Bob is a lawyer by profession, a former District Attorney, an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II, was the Sergeant-At-Arms in the Texas House of Representatives, among many other accomplishments.

For the past 35 years he has spoken throughout the United States as a professional humorist. He has appeared in 45 states, Canada and Mexico. He has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, T.V.'s Hee Haw, and the Nashville Network. In 1994 he was the recipient of the Mark Twain Award presented by the International Platform Association in Washington D.C.

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James Frock has 15 years of fire service with the Dallas Fire Department and the Plano Fire Department. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from the Edinborough University. He received a Fellowship at the American School and International Cultural Institute in Teguciagalpa Honduras. He is a certified Master Firefighter and Master Fire Instructor with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. He has also taught at the Texas A&M University Engineering Extension Service.

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Ronnie Sexton, Loss Prevention Training specialist - TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool, has 27 years of construction, engineering and operations experience. He has worked with construction companies in various positions up to superintendent. His experience includes serving as an Inspector and resident engineer with an engineering company and a Water & Wastewater Superintendent for a local municipality.

Ronnie currently instructs various programs covering Confined Space Entry, Excavation & Trench Safety, Public Works Driving, Public Works Safety, Fire Emergency Vehicle Response, Fire Liability & Safety, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Rescue, and ICS. Ronnie has served as a volunteer fire fighter and EMS responder for 26 years. He is a certified Water & Wastewater Operator, certified Fire Fighter, and a certified EMT. He is approved or certified to instruct by the Texas Water Utilities Association, Texas Natural Resource Convservation Commission, Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the State Fireman's and Fire Marshals' Association.

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Mike Cook is a Fire Rescue Specialist/Instructor with the Plano Fire Department. Mike is currently working with the Plano Fire Department at F.A.O. on hazmat/confined space rescue team and as a volunteer with the Lucas Volunteer Fire Department as the training Captain. He was raised in El Paso, Texas. Mike has had a 10 year career as a firefighter. His career includes training in hazmat, confined space rescue, trench and high angle rescue. His professional certifications include Advanced Fire Fighter and Intermediate Instructor by the Texas Commission on Fire Protections.

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Lieutenant Kevin Gell has been with the Austin Fire Department for 14 years. As a training instructor, Lt. Gell specializes in Search and Rescue and Saving Our Own. He is certified as an Advanced Firefighter and an Intermediate Instructor.

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Lieutenant Brooks Frederick works in the Austin Fire Department as a member of its Special Operations team. Lt. Frederick has extensive state and national teaching experience in many areas of technical rescue. He is also a Chief Instructor with ROCO.

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David Bailey is a Captain in the Austin Fire Department. He has served over 12 years with Austin and is currently responsible for the design, coordination and delivery of their six month Cadet Academy. He is certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as an advanced Firefighter and an Intermediate Instructor. He resides in Pflugerville with his wife and two children.

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Tim Sendelbach is Training Officer for the Missouri City Fire Department. Tim began his career in the fire service in 1985, starting as a volunteer fire fighter in Kentucky. Tim received his B.S. in Fire Adminstration from Eastern Kentucky University, Arson Investigation in 1991, and became A.S. in Emergency Medical Care in 1993. He began working as a Paramedic in Kentucky and later moved to Kansas City where he worked as a Fire Figher/Paramedic. He was later promoted to Fire/EMS Instructor with the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department. He joined the Missouri City Fire Department in 1996.

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