Leadership Institute spends an immersive weekend in Charleston

September 29, 2026

The South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association’s Leadership Institute continued its yearlong leadership development experience with an immersive weekend in the Charleston area September 25-27.

The weekend began at Charleston Fire Department Headquarters, where Leadership Institute participants delivered their group project presentations before turning their attention to the Charleston-area fire service. Retired North Charleston Fire Department Chief Greg Bulanow provided an overview of the metro area and helped set the stage for the weekend’s discussions and site visits.

Participants then toured the Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch Center, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at the communications systems and personnel responsible for coordinating emergency response across the area.

Saturday focused heavily on the people and experiences that shape leadership in the fire service. Laura Tait with the Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center led a presentation on firefighter mental health and wellness.

The class also visited the gravesite of Louis Behrens at Bethany Cemetery with Charleston Fire Department Assistant Chief Joey Roberts, providing an opportunity to reflect on Charleston’s fire service history and the leaders who helped shape it.

Later in the day, Dan Curia presented “Playing to Win Versus Playing Not to Lose,” challenging participants to consider how mindset influences leadership and decision-making.

The class then visited the Charleston 9 Memorial site for a tour and discussion led by Charleston Fire Department Assistant Chiefs Joey Roberts and TJ Axson and St. Andrew’s Fire Chief Charles Lamoreaux. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire, its lasting impact on the fire service and the lessons that continue to influence leadership, operations and firefighter safety.

The weekend concluded Sunday with a walking tour of downtown Charleston firehouses and a discussion on leadership perspectives led by Assistant Chief Joey Roberts and Deputy Chief Forrest Cockcroft.

From mental health and decision-making to fire service history, communications and lessons learned from tragedy, the Charleston weekend gave Leadership Institute participants an opportunity to examine leadership from multiple perspectives while learning directly from leaders throughout the Charleston-area fire service.