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Virginia Fire Chiefs Association

2026 Conference Information Now Available!

WOMEN OF FIRE & EMS CONFERENCE INSTRUCTORS

COURSE: Forcible ENTRY

Surgical Entry and Exit

Mastering Precision When It Hits the Fan & THE TOOLS ARE IN YOUR HAND!

Elite Tactics for High-Stakes Firefighter Rescue Operations

Be Prepared—Save Lives

  • Forcible Entry: Learn how to. Master conventual in tight area methods and always prioritize safety and teamwork.
  • Confined Space Rescue (Mayday): Identify and manage hazards in tight, dangerous spaces like tanks, vaults, and crawl spaces. Practice risk assessment, safe entry, rapid rescue, and mayday communication protocols.

Course Highlights:

  • Hands-on training with real tools and scenarios
  • How to recognize and respond to mayday situations
  • Teamwork, communication, and safety emphasized throughout
  • Perfect for new and experienced emergency responders

Join us to sharpen your skills in critical rescue techniques, strengthen your confidence, and help keep your crew and community safe!

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

Joey Smallwood

I am Joey Smallwood, and I proudly began my firefighting career at 17. I have transitioned from volunteer to professional, gaining invaluable experience across the
state and learning from exceptional mentors. As a lifelong student of this craft, I am dedicated to mastering my skills. My motto, “one fluid motion”, embodies my belief in achieving efficiency and effectiveness in every task.

Adam Wood

Lieutenant- Henry County Public Safety, FF/Medic – Martinsville Fire & EMS
Years of Service- 8 Career, 5 volunteer
I have a desire to ensure Firefighters and EMS providers receive the knowledge and the hands-on training to ensure confidence in their ability when called upon. If I can share
anything that makes someone more successful in their endeavors, that’s a win for me!
I have been a long-time enthusiast of forcible entry and through the lock or respectful entry and enjoy sharing that passion. I find great satisfaction hearing success stories from students when they had the skills needed to quickly access and occupy a space.

Course: Air track mgmt: learn and burn

This class will discuss five types of flashovers and how to determine the fire’s stage. We will look at the
five stages: Lean, Rich, and Hot Rich. These are all open sources; the smoke is connected to the fire. The
next two we will discuss are closed sources. The smoke is not connected to the flames. The two are
Isolated and Rich Isolated. What are the dangers, and how can we control them? How can we use this
knowledge to determine the fire stage and help keep firefighters safer? What is the flammable range of
the smoke? Is there a way to tell the flammable range? We all know smoke burns, but why don’t we act
like it?
Classroom and live burns class size is limited to six for each class. We will be offering three classes. The
last class will be putting it all together. You do not need to attend one of the three to attend the last class.
The last class is open to all.
Date: 9/26/ 08:00 – 13:00, max six students
Date: 9/26/25 13:00 – 18:00, max six students
Date: 9/27/25 08:00 – 13:00, max six students
Date: 9/27/25 13:00 – 18:00, open to all
This will be Live fire and real smoke
Prerequisite: Firefighter I
Equipment: Full PPE SCBA

meet the instructors

DWAYNE ROBERTSON

Dwayne Robertson is an Assistant Chief with Martinsville Fire & EMS on B-Shift. Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration. I have taught fire classes for the past 21 years. I enjoy sharing what I have learned and my mistakes in my 26 years of service. One of my favorite classes I have taught would be Air Track Management. I have taught this since 2011 based on Smoke Burns by John Taylor.

JOHN TAYLOR

John Taylor has been a firefighter since 1977, serving in Greater Manchester and North Yorkshire before retiring in 2004. 
John has been involved in fire development research since an educational visit to Sweden in 1990. He was awarded A European Fire Engineering Diploma in 1991by the Institute of Fire Engineers for his research paper on Flashover training.  He also participated in the Equinox TV program Under Fire in 1995 and has given fire development presentations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and the United States. John has been a long-time educator, friend, and partner to Martinsville Fire & EMS. 

COURSE: PEDIATRIC ASSESSMENTS FOR EMS: FROM TRIANGLE TO TREATMENT

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

TANYA TREVILIAN

Tanya Trevilian is an experienced pediatric critical care nurse and trauma program manager with over 20 years of clinical and leadership experience in pediatric intensive care and trauma systems. She currently serves as the Pediatric Trauma Services Manager at Carilion Children’s Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia, where she leads multidisciplinary initiatives to improve pediatric trauma outcomes, streamline care protocols, and ensure system readiness for high-acuity pediatric patients.
Tanya holds a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Liberty University and is board-certified as a Critical Care Registered Nurse in Pediatrics (CCRN‑P), a Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN), and a Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN). Her background includes years of bedside nursing in pediatric ICUs, transition into trauma system development, active involvement in quality improvement, trauma registry oversight, and injury prevention outreach.
She is a committed leader in national pediatric trauma efforts. She serves on the Nurse Leadership Committee of the Pediatric Trauma Society, where she contributes to strategic planning, policy guidance, and professional development initiatives for pediatric trauma nurses across the country. Tanya is also a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences, advocating for evidence-based pediatric trauma care and interprofessional collaboration.
Her clinical insight, operational leadership, and passion for pediatric safety continue to influence best practices in trauma care delivery

BRYAN BYRD

Bryan Byrd holds an Associate of Applied Science in Paramedic. He brings over 20 years of EMS experience to his current role as a Trauma Registrar for Carilion, specializing in both pediatric and adult trauma. He has a strong interest in pediatric care and has previously served as a Lieutenant for Bedford County and a Centra’s neonatal/pediatric flight team member. Outside of work, Bryan enjoys playing golf and is an avid snow skier, often traveling out west in the winter for tree skiing adventures.

Course: Pushing for Success

Meet the Instructor

Marci Stone

Deputy Chief Marci Stone began her journey in fire-EMS in 1991 while attending high school, attending a vocational firefighting program and became certified as an EMT through the volunteer system.  She continued volunteering through college and became certified as a Paramedic in 1995, working for two years for a private ambulance company.  In 1997, she was hired at Roanoke Fire-EMS Department as a firefighter/paramedic.  During her tenure she served the department as a Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, and Captain before leaving in 2006 after the premature birth of her daughter.
 
From 2006-2008 she held the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator position at an area hospital. In 2008, she took a position with Bedford County as the Emergency Medical Instructor until 2010 at which point she became the Deputy Chief of Operations for Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue.  In 2014 she returned to Roanoke as the Emergency Manager and was promoted to Deputy Chief in January of 2019 where she continues to serve.
 
Marci holds a Master of Business Administration from Averett University, a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration from Hampton University and an Associate of Science in Emergency Health Science from Jefferson College of Health Sciences.  Marci is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, the International Association of Fire Chief’s (IAFC) Fire Service Executive Development Institute.  In addition she is a Chief Fire Officer Designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.   She is Second Vice President of Virginia Fire Chiefs Association and serves on the Virginia Governor’s Advisory Board Security and Resiliency Commonwealth Panel.
 

Course: Fireground tactics

Meet the Instructor

Eric dillon

LT Martinsville Fire & EMS
I have over a decade of service in both urban and rural firefighting. Through classes and real-world experience, I have developed a passion for Ladder company operations.
While I do enjoy every type of “truck company” work, I am drawn to the search and rescue side. I enjoy teaching the ways of searching; I have developed and learned from
other instructors throughout the years. Being able to provide that knowledge and hopefully learning new or different ways to search is always the goal.

COURSE: EXTRICATION

The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction and brief overview of modern-day vehicle disassembly after an accident. A special focus will be placed on vehicle airbag locations and the difficulty associated with attempting to perform extrication on modern-day vehicles that contain ultra-high-strength metals. The “Jaws of Life” rescue tools will be used extensively in this class.

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

EDDIE CHITWOOD

Eddie Chitwood / Retired Captain Roanoke County Fire and Rescue  28 1/2 years of service

Nationally Registered Paramedic 33 years 
Former Flight Paramedic with Carilion Life Guard 10 
Life Member of Franklin County Rescue Squad
Adjunct Fire Instructor with Virginia Dept. of Fire Programs
Basic Vehicle Rescue Instructor – Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads 
School Bus Extrication Instructor – Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads
Advanced Vehicle Extrication Instructor – Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads
Passenger Vehicle Extrication Adjunct Instructor – Virginia Department of Fire Programs
Large Vehicle Extrication Adjunct Instructor – Virginia Department of Fire Programs
Master Vehicle Extrication Instructor – Hurst Jaws of Life
 
Captain Chitwood is considered a renowned expert in vehicle design and extrication.  He has over 40 years knowledge and experience in vehicle extrication.  He has traveled throughout the United States sharing his knowledge to both career and volunteer departments. 
 
He is married to his wife Angie for 24 1/2 years.  His two sons are Blake and Grayson.  He currently lives in Franklin County and is a member of Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department.

jOHN fOUTZ

John Foutz, Training Captain, Franklin County Fire & EMS 

With 25 years of dedicated service in the fire industry, John Foutz , began his journey as a volunteer firefighter with the Vinton Fire Department, gradually gaining experience and expertise in every facet of the fire service.

John is currently a Training Captain with Franklin County Fire & EMS, where he is committed to ensuring his team’s readiness and safety. His leadership experience extends beyond his current role, having served as Fire Chief for two years at the Stewartsville-Chamblissburg Volunteer Fire Department, where he also holds life member status. The department is known for operating a Heavy Rescue unit, and John has played a key role in overseeing the complex operations and training associated with this vital service.

In addition to his work with Franklin County, John serves as an Educational Coordinator with  (Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services), where he plays a key role in developing and coordinating educational programs aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of first responders across Virginia.

John is also an Adjunct Instructor with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP), where he helps educate and train the next generation of firefighters.

He serves as a proud board member and craftsman for Project Kill the Flashover, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating firefighters on Fire Behavior. 

Throughout his career, John has remained deeply committed to his community, his team, and his craft, with an unwavering focus on training, mentoring, and making a lasting impact on the fire service.

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