The Firehouse Yak: Jeremy Blair & Courtney Hull - Recruiting and Educating Gen Z Firefighters

Jeremy Blair is a battalion chief with Wauwatosa, WI, Fire Department and a fire/EMS instructor at Waukesha County, WI, Technical College, where he has been preparing the next generation of firefighters for state certification and real-world service. With 29 years of experience in fire and emergency services, Blair brings a grounded, real-talk approach to leadership, communication, and personal development. A dedicated mentor and motivator, Blair thrives in every setting—whether leading crews in the firehouse, instructing in the classroom, or presenting in front of a professional audience.

Courtney Hull serves as the associate dean of fire/EMS training at Waukesha County Technical College. She served in the field as a career firefighter/AEMT with the Menomonee Falls, WI, Fire Department prior to transitioning to a full-time role in fire and EMS education in 2010. Hull has a master’s degree in training and development.

Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.