The City of Champaign has selected four (4) finalists to be interviewed for the position of Fire Chief. The four (4) finalists will be interviewed September 17-18, 2014.
The finalists are:
Gary Ludwig, Managing Director of the Ludwig Group, LLC, a 37-year veteran of the fire service, and former Deputy Fire Chief for the Memphis, Tennessee, Fire Department. Ludwig has a Master’s Degree in Business and Management from National-Lewis University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Kensington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Douglas Recktenwald, Executive Assistant Fire Chief and 21-year veteran of the Louisville Division of Fire in Louisville, Kentucky. Recktenwald has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire & Safety Engineering Technology from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky, and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from Jefferson Community and Technical College in Louisville, Kentucky.
Peter Stehman, former Fire Chief for the Collinsville, Illinois, Fire Department, a 23-year veteran, has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication both from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois, and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science from Belleville Area College in Belleville, Illinois. He is currently enrolled in the Chief Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy.
Mark Wallace, consultant/sole proprietor for Fireeagle Consulting and former State Fire Marshal for the State of Oregon and Fire Chief for the City of McKinney, Texas, Fire Department, a 45-year veteran. Wallace has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Regis College both in Denver, Colorado, and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science Technology from Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado. Mr. Wallace is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy and holds Chief Fire Officer Designation.
The City hired an executive recruitment firm to conduct initial interviews and background checks of the candidates. The firm then presented a pool of recommended candidates from which the City Manager selected the finalists.
For more than 130 years, the men and women of the Champaign Fire Department have been protecting the lives and safety of City residents. The Department is comprised of 123 members, including 101 sworn fire operational personnel, divided among six fire stations who respond to
an average of 7,000+ emergency calls per year.
“I applaud the Champaign Fire Department for continuing to provide responsive service to the citizens of Champaign throughout the search for the new Chief. Our employees uphold the highest standards of the fire service, dedicating their lives to ensure the safety of our community. I remain committed to identifying the right person to serve as our Chief who can lead this department and continue its tradition of excellence,” said City Manager Dorothy David.
All questions about the recruitment and interview process and/or the candidates should be directed to City Manager Dorothy David at (217) 403-8710.