Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table
Episode 58: Heather Marques, Division Chief - Leading with Love
Release Date: November 26, 2024
Host: Berlin Maza
Guest: Heather Marquez, Division Chief of Medical Services, Alameda County Fire Department

Introduction

In Episode 58 of Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table, host Berlin Maza sits down with Heather Marquez, the Division Chief of Medical Services at the Alameda County Fire Department. The conversation delves deep into Heather's leadership philosophy, her groundbreaking work in human trafficking protocols, and her insights on recruitment and retention within the fire service. Central to Heather's approach is the concept of "Leading with Love," emphasizing positivity and mentorship as cornerstones of effective leadership.

Heather Marquez's Background

Heather Marquez brings a rich tapestry of experiences to her role. Born in Linwood, California, and raised across various regions including Guam, Chicago, Spokane, and Astoria, Oregon, Heather's diverse upbringing has deeply influenced her leadership style. She holds multiple degrees, including an associate in photography, an associate in paramedicine, a bachelor's in anthropology from UC Berkeley, and a master's in security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School.

"Leadership is not about power, it's about influence. So it's influencing the outcome of a situation."
[00:01]

Heather's career spans 18 years in the fire service, where she has risen to oversee medical operations, training, certifications, and special events across a vast 500-square-mile district. Her academic pursuits and passion for anthropology have enabled her to view the fire service through a unique lens, treating it as a living laboratory for studying human behavior and organizational culture.

Leadership Philosophy: Leading with Love

At the heart of Heather's leadership philosophy is the principle of leading with love. She believes that genuine leadership stems from care, respect, and positivity rather than authority or command.

"I think leadership is about influence. So if you feel like it's important to advocate for somebody who's been unrepresented, now you have the influence to do that."
[00:01]

Heather emphasizes the importance of creating a positive work environment where individuals feel valued and trusted. She challenges the prevalent culture of defaulting to negativity and anger, advocating instead for authentic friendships and supportive relationships within the firehouse.

"Those are the people who everybody wants to work with. Those are the stations people try to bid into. Those are the teams people want to be on."
[32:58]

Human Trafficking Protocols

One of Heather's notable contributions is the development of human trafficking recognition and reporting protocols within the fire service. Recognizing a significant gap in EMS training, she spearheaded the creation of protocols that enable EMS professionals to identify and report signs of human trafficking effectively.

"I created a suspicious activity report, sent it to our Northern California Regional Intelligence center, the Fusion Center. FBI evaluates it immediately. We just provided the final puzzle piece."
[21:25]

Heather recounts a pivotal moment when one of her Battalion Chiefs reported suspicious activities leading to the bust of a Mexican drug cartel involved in sex trafficking. This success validated the importance of her protocols and underscored the critical role fire service personnel can play in combating human trafficking.

Furthermore, Heather has been instrumental in rolling out a statewide training module, ensuring that these protocols are adopted across California and shared internationally.

Recruitment and Retention in Fire Service

Heather addresses the persistent challenge of recruiting and retaining women in the fire service, highlighting that despite numerous efforts, the percentage of women remains stagnant at around 4%.

"The research shows that since 1974, we've never gone beyond 4%. Before 1974, it was illegal for women to be firefighters."
[42:28]

She identifies four primary barriers—or "gates"—that women face in the fire service:

1. Physicality Gate: The demanding physical requirements of the job.
2. Sociocultural Gate: Overcoming societal and cultural expectations.
3. Childcare and Parenting Challenges: Balancing family responsibilities with demanding work schedules.
4. Promotional Challenges: Navigating the hierarchical structures to attain leadership roles.

Heather advocates for enhancing physical training without lowering standards and fostering a supportive environment that accommodates the unique challenges women face.

"Women in fire. I am not talking about all ethnic minorities or anybody else, but women in fire. We need to break down some of those barriers."
[45:00]

Mentorship and Culture in Firehouses

Heather underscores the crucial role of mentorship in retaining firefighters and fostering a positive organizational culture. She critiques the prevalent negative culture where anger and frustration are the default modes of interaction, advocating instead for a culture grounded in love and positivity.

"I challenge people to just default to positivity. Like, it's hard. It's actually harder."
[32:34]

By applying Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to the fire service, Heather illustrates that fulfilling basic needs of safety and security allows firefighters to attain higher levels of fulfillment and self-actualization. She emphasizes that mentorship should focus on building trust, advocating for others, and maintaining psychological and physical well-being.

Advice for Leaders and New Firefighters

Heather offers practical advice for both emerging leaders and new firefighters:

• For New Firefighters:
  "Envisioning. I'm all about visioning. Allow yourself to whatever you walked into this job with. Write down your why."
  [56:10]
  She encourages newcomers to document their motivations and keep memorabilia like thank-you notes to stay connected to their purpose.

• For Company Officers and Leaders:
  "Your words have weight. Your words matter. Be intentional about being positive and leading with love."
  [59:09]
  Heather stresses the importance of company officers setting the cultural tone of their crews, fostering an environment of respect and support.

• For Chief Officers:
  "Always be a lifetime learner. Don't live in a state of constantly striving for the future, but be present and open to what's next."
  [65:15]
  She advises chief officers to plan for retirement well in advance to ensure a smooth transition and maintain a sense of purpose post-career.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Heather leaves listeners with a profound reminder of the continuous journey of learning and leadership:

"Still I am learning."
[55:29]

She encourages fire service professionals to embrace lifelong learning, maintain passion, and nurture relationships both within and outside the firehouse. Heather also recommends connecting with other leaders like Chief Eric Sailors and Chief Willie McDonald to further enrich one's leadership journey.

Conclusion

Episode 58 of Leadership Conversations @ The Kitchen Table offers invaluable insights into effective leadership within the fire service. Heather Marquez's emphasis on leading with love, fostering mentorship, and addressing systemic barriers for women provides a roadmap for building resilient and positive fire service organizations. Her dedication to improving protocols and advocating for a supportive work culture underscores the transformative power of compassionate leadership.

Listeners are encouraged to implement these principles in their own leadership roles, ensuring a more inclusive, supportive, and effective fire service community.

Notable Quotes:

• "Leadership is not about power, it's about influence." — Heather Marquez [00:01]
• "They’re more likely to bring something with them. They’re more likely to help clean up afterwards." — Heather Marquez [49:54]
• "Still I am learning." — Heather Marquez [55:29]

Recommended Reading:

• Heather Marquez's thesis: "Working Fire Recruitment and Retention of Women Firefighters," published in the Homeland Security Journal.

Suggested Contacts:

• Chief Eric Sailors: Division Chief known for his expertise in tactical medicine.
• Chief Willie McDonald: The longest-serving training fire chief in California.

Be sure to implement these leadership strategies to create a more positive and effective environment within your organization. Until next time, be safe, be intentional, and stay curious.