Bryan Frieders is the retired Fire Chief of the Pasadena (CA) Fire Department.  He is also the President of the nationwide non-profit Firefighter Cancer Support Network.  Bryan has more than 31 years of Fire/EMS experience in a variety of assignments ranging from operations to emergency management.  He is a well-known speaker on the topic of firefighter health and safety, leadership, and cancer risk reduction.  Bryan holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Education, and an Associate’s Degree in Fire Technology.  He has also been designated as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) by the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).

Lisa Raggio joined the Firefighter Cancer Support Network in 2015 and is proud to serve as the Executive Director.  She is humbled and honored to support our nation’s first responders, with her firefighter cancer crusader brothers and sisters, at their greatest time of need and to help lead the way globally in firefighter cancer support, research, prevention and education.

Lisa has worked for the past 24 years as a nonprofit executive. Prior to joining the FCSN in 2016, Lisa worked with Habitat for Humanity in Government Relations and the YWCA as an executive where she created the Focus on Female Veterans program, recognized as a best practice program by the California Department of Veterans Affairs.  Lisa has also served as an executive of nonprofits serving military veterans in crisis and in transition, as well as a community mental health foundation.  Lisa was honored to have been awarded the Business Life Women Achievers Award in Los Angeles County and to be a VIP guest of the White House and First Lady Obama for a “Champions of Change" event.    

Lisa graduated summa cum laude with a master’s degree in Public Administration. Prior to her nonprofit service, she worked for almost a decade at Nestle USA and Disney under strategic planning initiatives. Her unique cross-sector background has shaped her approach to be mission driven and best business practice focused.

Lisa is a proud and privileged granddaughter, sister, sister-in law, and niece of service members from World War I to 9/11 who is indebted to our first responders for putting her family’s lives above their own and believes that serving first responders is her vocation.

Joe Schumacher is the Secretary and Chief Operations Officer (CFO) for the FCSN and the Assistant Virginia State Director. Joe started volunteering with FCSN in 2013 after his second battle with cancer. Joe was first diagnosed in 1996 with testicular cancer and again in 2013 with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Joe is currently managing two exciting projects for FCSN which will expand FCSN’s reach and ability to better serve firefighters both in the United States and internationally.

In 2018 Joe retired from the City of Fairfax Fire Department at the rank of Captain after a wonderful thirty-year career. During Joe’s career, he was awarded both the department’s Lifesaving Award and the Silver Medal of Valor. Prior to being hired in 1988, Joe was a volunteer firefighter with the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department where his passion for firefighting began.

Joe remains an active member of the City of Fairfax Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association. He is also a member of the National Capital Region Incident Management Team where he operates as a Safety Officer and Public Information Officer. Joe is also a member of the Sons of the American Legion and volunteers at the FISH Food Pantry in his area. When not working or volunteering, Joe enjoys SCUBA diving and traveling with his wife of thirty-four years, Carol.

Debbie has served as the Wellness Coordinator and mentor for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network since 2010. Debbie was introduced to the network when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 through her husband, a captain with the LA County Fire Department.  

After her recovery, she was trained to volunteer as a mentor with Long Beach Memorial, which helped her mentor with the FCSN.  After years of mentoring, she moved into the Wellness Coordinator position.  She feels grateful to be able to give back to an organization that was there for her during such a scary time in her life.  She is passionate and committed to serving our mentors and loves to spend her free time with her husband and daughter.

Tony Cruz retired from the FDNY, where he was assigned to Res2cue, and is the fomer fire chief for the Smithtown (NY) Fire Department. Cruz launched FCSN’s New York operation in 2008 with fellow prostate cancer survivor Ron Barz. Cruz now works more than 40 hours a week to further FCSN’s support, awareness, and prevention missions.

Curtis Dunn is a retired lieutenant at the Arlington Texas Fire Department and has more than 36 years’ experience in the fire service.  Curtis has also been a member of the International Association of Firefighters for 43 years and was a District Vice President for the Texas State Association Firefighters for 18 years.

Curtis is the state director in Texas for the FCSN and has been helping firefighters in Texas diagnosed with cancer for over 15 years. Curtis has been instrumental in launching the FCSN/IAFF Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, that premiered in January of 2021. His tireless and dedicated efforts have increased public awareness to occupational cancer in the fire service and will help generate greater legislative support for states and provinces to establish presumptive disabilities for all cancers affecting fire fighters.

Russell has been a firefighter for over 30 years, currently serving as the Chief of Department in Ogunquit, Maine. Russell has been in the forefront of the fire service cancer epidemic since 2011 and was a key developer of the FCSN cancer prevention education program, Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service, piloted in Boston, MA now delivered across the nation. He is a member of the DetecTogether Fire Service Advisory board and, serves on several study panels focused on reducing cancer among firefighters. He presents to thousands of firefighters from large conferences to small firehouse talks. He has published several articles on how firefighters can reduce the risk associated with cancer in the fire service.

Scott Jennie is the National State Director, California State Director, and a seated member on the Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month Committee. Scott has over 35 years of fire service experience and recently retired as a Fire Captain/Paramedic from the Laguna Beach Fire Department.

Steve Weissman is a 46-year veteran of the fire service. He entered the fire service in 1974 with the Merrick (NY) Volunteer Fire Department. His career continued with the Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue Department retiring as a Captain. Steve went on to serve in the Hanover County Fire-EMS Department as a Battalion Chief and finished his career serving as Deputy Chief with the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department in Stafford, Virginia.

In 2016 Steve was diagnosed with occupational cancer. Steve joined the FCSN shortly after his diagnosis and currently serves as the Virginia State Director. Steve is also active serving on numerous working groups with the FCSN.

In 2023 Steve received the Virginia Governors Award for Excellence in the Fire Service for his dedication in assisting firefighters battling cancer and his work in establishing a relationship with the Virginia Commonwealth University's Massey Cancer Center to develop an app and conduct a survey of Virginia Firefighters so that they can better understand the dangers Virginia firefighters specifically face related to their cancer risks.

Donna joined FCSN in 2019 as a mentor on the New York team and has served as the Logistics Coordinator since 2021, as well as Accounts Payable in the FCSN Finance department.

Donna, who also serves as the District Secretary for the Copiague Fire District, is a highly accomplished professional with more than 30 years of experience in the corporate world and as a volunteer for nonprofits serving the cancer community.    A 16-year breast cancer survivor herself, Donna understands the emotional strength it takes to get through a cancer diagnosis and the value of peer-to-peer support.   She brings a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership skills to her role.  Donna is the proud wife of a 30-year volunteer firefighter who serves as the West Islip Fire District mechanic.