ImageTrend, Inc. is excited to announce two keynote speakers for the 2022 Connect Conference: Deputy Chief Brian Marcos of Smyrna Fire Department and United States Marine Corps Major (Ret.) Brian “Tosh” Chontosh.

Chief Marcos is an accomplished fire service professional and a respected writer and speaker on leadership best practices within public safety. His articles on leadership have been published by national fire-service trade magazines and he’s often sought to support leadership training and speaking engagements for public service entities. Chief Marcos is well known as a change agent with experience leading strategic initiatives and brokering partnerships that positively impact service delivery within the community.

Chief Marcos recently received the honor of being named as one of the 2021 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia. He was also named the 2020 Chief Fire Officer of the Year by the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, and he was honored as one of Cobb Life Magazines 20 under 40 in 2020. He is currently serving as the Area 7 District Vice President for the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs and as the Georgia State Director for the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs. Chief Marcos received advance degrees in Fire Science and Fire Service Administration, and he holds a Chief Fire Officer Designation from the Commission on Professional Credentialing.

Brian “Tosh” Chontosh is a veteran of the USMC, where he served for over 20 years, ultimately being awarded the prestigious Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism, two Bronze Stars with Valor, the Meritorious Service Medal, and multiple combat action ribbons and personal awards. His unit’s 2004 assault into Fallujah was the focus of the Fox News documentary Breaking Point: Company of Heroes. Today, Tosh owns and operates the Crooked Butterfly Ranch in Colorado, where he designs custom experiential learning opportunities for clients looking to test their minds, bodies and spirits. On the Crooked Butterfly Podcast, you can hear Tosh’s intimate and self-reflective perspective on everyday life. As the president and executive director of the Big Fish Foundation 501(c)(3), Tosh helps support veterans through transition to civilian life while prehabing against suicide.

ImageTrend looks forward to welcoming both keynote speakers live at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Chief Marcos is scheduled to kick the conference off with his keynote address Wednesday, July 20th from 8:30AM to 10:00AM CDT. Brian Chontosh’s keynote address is scheduled for Thursday, July 21st from 1:30PM to 2:30PM CDT. For more information regarding Connect 2022, visit the conference website to view the agenda, scheduled networking and events, speaker information, FAQs and more.

An alleged drunk driver crashed into a Fritch (TX) Volunteer Fire Department fire truck as it blocked the road making way for an ambulance responding to the drowning of a 2-year-old, according to a report published by FOX34.

The little girl died as a result of the drowning and the television station says the crash caused a 20-minute delay in response to the incident which occurred in the Blue West beach area of Lake Meredith.

The driver of the vehicle that hit the fire truck was charged with public intoxication, interfering with public duties, and other charges, according to the report.

The little girl was pronounced dead at Golden Plains Community Hospital after about an hour of continuous CPR, according to the report.

The Ligonier (PA) Volunteer Hose Co. No. 1 is planning to get a new platform aerial later this year, according to a report published by the Latrobe Tribune.

The newspaper reported the city council voted unanimously to withdraw $250,000 toward the $990,000 price for the 70-foot platform aerial  to be built by Sutphen.

It is estimated that the new apparatus could be completed by the middle of September, according to the paper, that added the new unit will be a multi-function apparatus. It will replace a 20-year-old unit, the paper said.

Two Oakland (CA) Fire Department aerial trucks collided early Sunday morning sending four firefighters to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to a report published by KTVU Fox 2.

According to the television station, the two trucks were heading to a fire in a vacant building when the collision occurred at the intersection of 20th and Broadway streets. The four firefighters were treated and released with two returning to duty and two recuperating at home, the station reported.