Richelle D. Wallace
Fire Captain, Retired
Hampton,Virginia
Summary
Pragmatic professional with solid experience in leadership roles in public safety operations, emergency preparedness, and mental health crisis. Adept at implementing strategic business plans, driving growth and improving operations. Collaborative and dedicated to building and leading talented and motivated individuals.
Top-notch Fire Captain with a proven track record of success leading and growing organizations. Strong background in strategic planning, financial management and team development. Skilled in identifying opportunities and implementing practical business strategies with commitment to staying informed about latest trends, technologies and best practices.
Experienced leader with strong background in guiding teams, managing complex projects, and achieving strategic objectives. Excels in developing efficient processes, ensuring high standards, and aligning efforts with organizational goals. Known for collaborative approach and commitment to excellence.
Demonstrates strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments. Eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. Brings positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder, CEO
Inspire Consulting Group
- Our primary interest is consulting Public Safety Departments, fire and law enforcement, in their hiring and promotional processes
- We provide and fair and equitable process that provides career opportunities as well as promotional opportunities for minorities
- We ensure the demographics of the Public Safety personnel reflect the demographics in that city or county as much as possible, with qualified minority individuals
Workforce Development Coach
Urban League of Hampton Roads
Hampton, Virginia
08.2016 - 12.2016
- Assists with outreach and marketing activities to recruit program participants based on eligibility requirements
- Conducts client intake and exits
- Schedules and conducts one-on-one interviews for screening purposes
- Assists with coordinating program related events and activities
- Assists students in completing and updating their Individual Career and Education Plans
- Monitors individual participation and progress in the program
- Works closely with program staff, community and employment partners
- Facilitates education, job readiness related workshops and life skills training
- Assists in the coordination of guest speakers and facilitators
- Works with the program manager to track participants’ milestones for incentives
- Visits work sites during paid on-the-job training component
- Works with the program manager to identify work sites for paid on-the-job training opportunities that will lead to permanent employment
- Identifies community resources that will be beneficial to program participants
- Coordinates transportation and childcare needs
- Positively represents the agency, program and participants
- Prepares data for the completion of monthly, quarterly and annual reports
- Performs related tasks as required
Fire Captain
City Of Hampton
22 Lincoln Street, 6th Floor
01.1997 - 11.2015
- Mentored new firefighters in developing essential skills and understanding departmental expectations for performance excellence.
- Led a team of firefighters in extinguishing hazardous material fires, minimizing environmental impact and potential harm to nearby residents.
- Improved firefighter safety through consistent training sessions and adherence to established guidelines.
- Compiled and maintained log books, run reports and training records.
- Perform advanced life support, medical activities, and provides other assistance as required.
- Direct work of subordinates pending arrival of a superior officer.
- Determine and supervise methods of fire suppression including laying of lines, direction and pressure of water streams, placement of apparatus, ladders, ventilation of buildings, rescuing of persons, and salvage activities.
- Supervise daily maintain of departmental equipment, supplies, and facilities to ensure response readiness.
- Instruct and drill personnel in duties, use of tools, raising of ladders, and rescue work.
- Review and provide consultation regarding disciplinary actions.
- Monitor activities to ensure conduct and performance conform to departmental standards.
- Carry out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and local laws and ordinances.
- Respond to multiple alarm emergencies and assume command in the absence of superior officers.
- Participate in the operation of departmental in-service training.
- Prepare a variety of reports and records.
- . Perform the duties of subordinate personnel as needed.
- Attend conferences and meetings to keep abreast of current trends in the field.
- Represent the department in a variety of State, County and City meetings.
- Coordinate activities with other supervisors or other City departments and exchange information with other fire departments.
- Maintain contact with the general public, department officers, and other City officials in the performance of fire department activities.
- Survey the incident and validates preliminary evaluation information to include type of release (spill, explosion, or fire), and the hazardous substance involved. Takes or continues action necessary to control the risk, and secure the scene appropriately.
- Collect and interpret hazard and response information from Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information, emergency information centers, databases, and other technical resources.
- Ensure the emergency response component of the Emergency Action Plan and the Incident command System is implemented.
- Confirm the characteristics of the hazardous substance, as well associated hazards such as toxic fumes. Determine the extent of damage to containers or other storage sites. Predict the likely behavior of released material and the potential impact if other unstable materials are involved. Take appropriate action to mitigate hazards identified. Estimate the size of the endangered area, and implements institutional controls such as evacuation and area closures.
- Perform advanced mitigation, control, and confinement operations required to control the spill, and stop the release, or otherwise contain the hazardous substance such as cooling, plugging or patching containers, applying diluting sprays or neutralizing agents, and constructing dams, dykes, or channels.
- Participate in rescue operations and provides emergency medical treatment within the scope of certification and training.
- Cooperate with and assists other emergency response resources. Ensures proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and adherence to all safety procedures.
- Participate in decontamination/cleanup operations, and post-incident activities.
- Account for, utilizes, maintains, and performs minor repair for all issued equipment.
- Participate in briefings, receives situation reports and stays informed of mission objectives and status changes.
- Establish and maintain an effective working relationship with other employees.
- Exercise sound, independent judgment within established guidelines.
- Express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Apply standard firefighting and emergency care techniques to specific situations.
- Act effectively in emergency and stressful situations by using good judgment, self-discipline and courtesy.
- Conducted periodic firefighter written performance evaluations and completed written recommendations on probationary firefighters.
- Promoted fire safety awareness within the community by organizing and participating in public outreach events, such as open houses and safety presentations.
- Preserved order and discipline among subordinates and gave assignments and instructions.
- Supervised cleaning and maintenance of buildings, rooms and equipment.
- Increased overall departmental efficiency by regularly evaluating and updating standard operating procedures as needed.
- Oversaw multi-agency responses to large-scale incidents, coordinating resources effectively for successful outcomes.
- Collaborated with local schools to implement fire safety education programs, empowering students with life-saving knowledge.
- Enhanced team efficiency by developing and implementing dynamic training programs tailored to unique needs of fire department.
- Fostered team-oriented environment that encouraged professional growth and skill development among junior firefighters.
- Spearheaded community outreach programs to educate public on fire safety, resulting in noticeable decrease in preventable fire incidents.
- Led critical incident debriefings, fostering culture of continuous improvement and resilience among crew members.
- Crafted and executed fire suppression strategies that minimized damage to property and environment.
- Evaluated team performance and implemented strategies to close gaps in skills or knowledge.
- Assigned firefighters to jobs at strategic locations to facilitate rescue of persons and maximize application of extinguishing agents.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Fire Administration
Hampton University
Hampton, VA05-2009
Skills
- Team leadership
- Strategic thinking
- Marketing
- Entrepreneurial and innovative
- Ethics and integrity
- Organizational structuring
- Visionary leadership
- Strategic vision
- Operations management
- Growth mindset
- Consulting
- Recruitment and hiring
- Performance assessments
Timeline
Workforce Development Coach
Urban League of Hampton Roads
08.2016 - 12.2016
Fire Captain
City Of Hampton
01.1997 - 11.2015
Founder, CEO
Inspire Consulting Group
Bachelor of Science - Fire Administration
Hampton University