On August 6, the CPSE Center for Innovation (CPSE CFI) brought together our Board of Directors and staff for our first in-person governance meeting after having met virtually through 2025.

This dedicated group of individuals were seated on January 1, 2025. To read more about the Board’s experience and credentials, visit the ‘About Us’ page of our website.

  • Jim Robinson, CFO, President, Fire Chief, Greensboro (NC) Fire Department
  • Alex Henderson, Ph.D., CTO, Vice President, Associate Professor, Marist University (NY)
  • Alec Oughton, CFO, Treasurer, Fire Chief, Aurora (CO) Fire Rescue
  • Rebecca Grill, Director, City Manager, City of Oshkosh (WI)
  • Sai Narain, Director, State & Local Government Public Safety & Justice Technology Strategy Director
  • Salvatore Scarpa, CFO, Director, Fire-EMS Chief, Columbus (GA) Fire & EMS Department
  • Ron Siarnicki, CFO, Director

At the meeting, we discussed our first Strategic Scan on AI in the Fire and Emergency Service, our future Partners and Sponsorships, and CPSE CFI presence at the CPSE Excellence Conference. We also participated in a Stakeholder Centered Innovation Facilitation exercise. Focusing on the development of our Expert Finder program, we conducted Stakeholder Mapping, developed personas of potential users, and evolved our problem statement into a goal-oriented action statement. Once we had a clear idea of our action, beneficiary, and the outcome, we moved to idea generation for achieving that goal, and then rated those ideas based on viability, desirability, and feasibility. This allowed us to prioritize ideas based on effort and impact and develop a value proposition.

“Participating in the Stakeholder Centered Innovation Facilitation exercise was a great opportunity to collaborate with fellow board members and staff,” said Director Rebecca Grill. “The process allowed us to focus on outcomes and generate actionable ideas that ensure our innovative programs will provide value to the fire and emergency service.”

It was exciting not only to make progress on the development of one of our five programs, but to further practice this process, as it is similar to what we will be offering under another program area, Innovation Training and Facilitation.

“The synergy in the room generated by such thought leaders is palpable” said Director Sal Scarpa, CFO. “I am honored to work alongside such creative minds focused on contributing to excellence and innovation in the fire service.”

CPSE launched the CPSE Center for Innovation in 2024 to serve as a catalyst for innovation in the fire and emergency service. As a trusted resource for innovative practices, the CPSE looks forward to giving back to the fire and emergency service through the CPSE CFI.  In August 2025, we hired our inaugural Director.

The CPSE CFI’s five program areas, Actionable Research, Expert Finder, Innovation Museum, Innovation Training, and Insight Hub, will highlight innovative solutions developed by Commission on Fire Accreditation International® (CFAI) accredited agencies and Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC) designees and address an industry-wide gap in evidence-based decision making.

About CPSE CFI

The CPSE Center for Innovation serves as a catalyst for innovation in the fire and emergency service. A wholly owned 501 (c)(3) nonprofit subsidiary, CPSE CFI will highlight innovative solutions developed by CPSE-accredited agencies and credentialed professionals and address an industry-wide gap in evidence-based decision making. Learn more at https://www.innovationcpse.org