Todd Wilkening

• Oversaw proper implementation of best practices, policies and procedures in alignment with regulations and operational needs.
• Managed department budget effectively, prioritizing essential equipment purchases and maintenance without compromising safety standards.
• Managed and completed the construction of a multifaceted $11.9 Million Dollar Public Safety Center and Fire/Police Station.
• Established strong relationships with local government officials to secure necessary funding and resources for the department''s needs.
• Supervised incident command operations, ensuring proper coordination among on-scene personnel and effective communication with external agencies.
• Incorporate EMS into the Fire Department to provide 3 ALS Ambulances and Paramedics t the community
• Upgraded Fire Apparatus
• Upgraded the Departments Safety gear
• Increased Fulltime Union Staffing
• Increased the departments highly trained Marine unit
• Manage a multi Million Dollar Budget
• Fire Prevention and Inspection program
• Built all new Policies and Procedures for the department and surrounding departments
• Reduced workplace injuries by enforcing strict adherence to safety protocols and conducting regular inspections of facilities and equipment.
• Updated standard operating procedures to reflect advancements in firefighting technology and best practices.
• Optimized fire services management with introduction of new systems, policies, procedures and tools.
• Strengthened interdepartmental communication through regular meetings, improving collaboration on projects involving multiple divisions.
• Successfully led large-scale emergency exercises, testing the readiness of personnel under high-pressure scenarios and identifying gaps in response capabilities.
• Promoted public trust in the department by maintaining transparency in operations, addressing concerns from community members, and ensuring accountability among staff members at all levels.
• Organized department-wide training sessions on mental health and wellness, resulting in improved morale and reduced burnout rates among firefighters.
• Enhanced firefighting strategies for better efficiency in extinguishing fires and reducing property damage.
• Collaborated with neighboring departments for seamless interoperability during large-scale emergencies or natural disasters.
• Developed comprehensive training programs to ensure the continuous professional growth of firefighters and officers.
• Established a mentoring program for newer firefighters that increased their skills development rate significantly.
• Improved emergency response times by implementing new dispatch procedures and optimizing resource allocation.
• Directed work of 45 firefighters engaged in extinguishing fires.
• Implemented comprehensive training operations, inspections and performance evaluations.
• Coordinated, scheduled and maintained team resources to achieve top levels of operational readiness.
• Inspected apparatus, equipment, grounds, and stations for proper order and condition.
• Conducted periodic firefighter written performance evaluations and completed written recommendations on probationary firefighters.
• Created a streamlined process for handling permit applications, expediting approval times while maintaining compliance with applicable codes and regulations.
• Conducted thorough investigations into fire incidents, working closely with law enforcement agencies to determine causes and identify responsible parties when necessary.
• Championed diversity within the department by actively recruiting minority candidates and fostering an inclusive work environment.
• Supervised firehouse operations, maintaining inventory and liaising with vendors to secure necessary supplies.
• Supervised cleaning and maintenance of buildings, rooms and equipment.

Emergency Response to:

• Large Fires, Haz Mat, Disasters, Terrorism Response.
• Manage the Lake County Haz Mat Team
• Manage the Lake County Fire Academy training over 1500 responders
• Disaster Planing for lake County Communities planning for all of Industry in Lake County
• Terrorist Threat analyses for lake County Industry to include Casino boats, Steel Mills, BP Refinery, Chemical plants, pipelines, critical infrastructure and utilities.
• Coordinate Drills with the LAPC, EMA, Lake County Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Hospitals, State, Federal and Industrial Companies. Bp Amoco, Steel industry, Nipsco,

• Directed public outreach campaigns to promote fire safety awareness and preparedness, reducing the number of preventable incidents within the community.
• Streamlined department operations by integrating modern technology solutions like computer-aided dispatch systems and GIS mapping tools.
• Optimized staffing levels to ensure adequate coverage during peak call times while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
• Led the development of standard operating procedures that improved efficiency across multiple divisions within the organization.
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• Ensured safe working environment by strictly adhering to safety protocols and guidelines during chemical operations.
• Operated chemical processing equipment successfully while adhering to company standards.
• Followed safety processes and protocols while moving hazardous chemicals and operating heavy machinery to avoid and accidents.
• Stored, retrieved, mixed, and monitored chemicals used in production process.

• Training for Steel and Chemical Industry,
• Investigate OSHA violations after incidents
• Facilitated brainstorming sessions among team members to generate creative ideas for program enhancements or new product offerings.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams for seamless project delivery, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced development time.
• Evaluated vendor proposals when outsourcing specific tasks or services during project development, ensuring quality and costeffectiveness.
• Enhanced user experience through intuitive interface design and user-friendly navigation elements for various applications.
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Environmental Response to Industrial accidents, releases and Hazardous Material Response on the highways