Andrew Davis is a bestselling author and internationally acclaimed keynote speaker. Before building and selling a thriving digital marketing agency, Andrew produced for NBC’s Today Show, worked for The Muppets in New York and wrote for Charles Kuralt. Wherever he goes, Andrew Davis specializes in teaching business leaders how to grow their businesses, transform their cities, and leave their legacy.
Jamie Clarke, who has summited Everest twice, crossed the Empty Quarter by camel, and led both retail and e-commerce ventures, brings a wealth of stories from his adventurous life to the stage. As a sought-after speaker with over 25 years of experience, he combines humor, passion, and deep insight to inspire audiences, drawing on lessons from extreme environments to offer actionable strategies for success in business and everyday life.
Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., a Baltimore-based economic and policy consultancy he founded in 2004. He serves the Chief Economist function for many organizations, including the Maryland Bankers Association and Associated Builders and Contractors. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010. In 2022, he entered the Daily Record newspaper’s Circle of Influence.
Zack Fritz joined Sage Policy Group in 2013 and has led the firm’s day-to-day operations since 2015. He specializes in economic and fiscal impact estimation and economic content creation, and his writing has appeared in the Washington Post and Baltimore Sun, among other publications.
Dr. Candice McDonald is the deputy chief executive officer of the National Volunteer Fire Council. She is a former NASA federal agent with two decades of government service. She is an active volunteer firefighter, EMT, CE instructor, and fire inspector.
Karl Fippinger is vice president, fire and disaster mitigation for the International Code Council. Fippinger is a Certified Emergency Manager with the International Association of Emergency Managers and brings more than 25 years of public and private sector experience.
Bill Webb is the executive Director of the Congressional Fire services Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute designed to educate members of Congress about the challenges and needs of the fire and emergency services. Bill us also the Vice Chairman of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Dave Gatton serves as the Senior Advisor to the FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee. He has over 35 years’ experience in Washington D.C. representing cities, the fire service and urban interests before Congress.
Ken Holland is a Senior Specialist with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Ken’s work at the NFPA involves working with several technical committees that develop and maintain various safety standards revolving around fire department apparatus, aircraft rescue and fire fighting, fire department organization and deployment (career and volunteer), fire department rescue tools, technical rescue, automotive ambulances, fire hoses, ground ladders, and more.
Aaron Heller began his fire service career in 1984. He recently retired as a Deputy Chief in the Hamilton NJ Fire Department assigned to oversee the Training Division. Heller is a senior instructor with the Mercer County Fire Academy. He instructs and has been a presenter at several national, regional, and local training events throughout the United States and abroad. He is the owner of On Scene Training Associates, LLC.