Meet Our Local Heroes

MEET OUR HeroesLocal

The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce is proud to join the Palm Springs Fire Department in honoring the following brave men who serve our community every day

CAPTAIN CHAD BLASECK

2019 Firefighter of the Year

Captain Chad Blaseck was nominated by the members of the department and selected by the awards committee as the 2019 Firefighter of the Year. • Distinguished service to the people of Palm Springs • Heroism On the morning of February 14, 2019, a high school student swept away by flooding was trapped on a small island. His position was life-threatening, as the water levels began to rise and the island deteriorated. The Palm Springs Fire Department assembled a swift-water response that included six swift-water techs and an inflatable boat. Multiple unsuccessful attempts were made by the rescuers, including trying to swim in the fast-moving, debris-filled water. A tension diagonal rope was what would make this rescue possible, but the width of the floodwaters was over 200 feet and firefighters had no way to get the line across that distance. Captain Blaseck put himself in grave danger as he used a golf cart bridge to get close enough to receive a throw from the other side—this after witnessing the same type of golf cart bridge failing and being washed downriver just moments before. The other five rescuers each received a Meritorious Service Award for the rescue, which was made possible by the efforts of Captain Blaseck.

CAPTAIN JUSTIN HARVEY

2020 Firefighter of the Year

Captain Justin Harvey was nominated by the members of the department and selected by the awards committee as the 2020 Firefighter of the Year. • Distinguished service at all times to the people of Palm Springs in and/or beyond the call of duty • Outstanding work in promoting fire protection and life safety within the city of Palm Springs • Origination of a program/idea/ tool that is highly beneficial to the fire department and/or the city of Palm Springs • Above-average technical knowledge; participation in fire educational programs; teaching in fire science programs It was on January 13 of last year that Captain Harvey assumed the newly created role of training captain. He was subsequently able to achieve far more than the first-year goals and objectives set by the training division. Harvey worked tirelessly on developing a fire training program to not only improve the department as a whole but most importantly to ensure local firefighters are given every opportunity to go home safely to their families. Captain Harvey was able to research and ensure compliance with federal and state mandates, thereby guaranteeing the Palm Springs Fire Department continues to meet all required standards and training through Cal OSHA, FAA, REMSA, ISO, and CICCS. He was able to create a comprehensive task book for engineer, captain, and battalion chief positions. He updated both the probationary firefighter trimester test and the engineer certification process. He also achieved Palm Springs Fire Department compliance with NFPA 1410 by establishing company performance standards. The 2020 Live Burn Drill was a success because of Harvey’s efforts in preparing the site for a safe training burn for the department members and diplomatic guests who participated. Captain Harvey raised the bar for safety, efficiency, and professionalism, and his accomplishments will have a long-lasting impact on the well-being of all personnel on the Palm Springs Fire Department.

CAPTAIN/PARAMEDIC SHAWN ARDEN

Meritorious Service Award

Captain/Paramedic Shawn Arden has established Target Solutions for training to make it more efficient and easier to keep track of. He has implemented CheckIt, a new department apparatus accountability program that includes vehicle checks, writeup procedures, and narcotics accountability. Captain Arden attends meetings for a county-wide CAD integration program and is working on the final steps for the department’s new station alerting system. He has been working on the department radios, upgrading the system for better communications. He helps manage our Firehouse RMS system for incidents and assists with maintenance of the department’s fire inspection program, including ARFF inspections.

BATTALION CHIEF JEFF VAN LIEROP

Meritorious Service Award Battalion Chief Jeff Van Lierop has worked tirelessly to secure the department’s new training tower. Although incidents have arisen throughout the project, he has continued to take a proactive approach in working toward the department’s first-ever training tower. Chief Van Lierop has put endless hours into training and has always been the department’s “go-to guy” when it comes to furthering one’s knowledge. His leadership and ability have transferred over into the Battalion Chief’s office, which has directly affected the department in a positive way. Chief Van Lierop has also been a strong, logical voice in assisting our local union in negotiating and improving working conditions.

CAPTAIN/PARAMEDIC

DAMIEN MYERS

Meritorious Service Award Captain/Paramedic Damien Myers has always provided distinguished service to the people of Palm Springs in and/or beyond the call of duty. He sets an excellent example for our personnel, spending endless hours both on and off duty to improve the department in any way he can. Captain Myers continually assists personnel with training to meet their goals and provides sound guidance to personnel as a department peer support member.

E S E I NHOWER HEALTH H E R O

AWARD

Eisenhower Health President and CEO Martin Massiello (right) presents Captain/Paramedic Nathan Gunkel with the Eisenhower Health Hero Award.

EISENHOWER HEALTH HERO AWARD

Captain/Paramedic Nathan Gunkel Meritorious Service Award and the Eisenhower Medical Center Award Captain/Paramedic Nathan Gunkel has provided distinguished service at all times to the people of Palm Springs in and/or beyond the call of duty. As the department’s infectious disease officer, he has improved the process for our personnel in the event of an exposure. This knowledge of the system and how to provide valuable information and guidance did not go unnoticed. Soon, he was offering guidance to the Palm Springs Police Department. On January 13, 2020, Captain/Paramedic Gunkel assumed a new role as the public information officer for the Palm Springs Fire Department. By March 2020, COVID-19 was a reality, and an experienced individual to help navigate through this new territory was needed. Captain/Paramedic Gunkel accepted the increased job duties without question and set out to assist the department in any way he could. In the early days of the pandemic, fear of the unknown, exposure, and the scarcity of proper personal protective equipment supplies were key issues. Captain/Paramedic Gunkel worked relentlessly to coordinate emergency supply sources, acting as the department’s liaison with Desert Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Public Health, and several other agencies to provide personnel with guidance during this challenging time. This invaluable experience and knowledge were once again instrumental to the Palm Springs Police Department when Captain/Paramedic Gunkel assisted in establishing a policy and procedure for that department as well. It is a fact that through his many efforts, he helped prevent many more fire and police department employees from contracting the virus and bringing it home to their families. Captain/Paramedic Gunkel has continued to ensure all personnel are provided with much-needed PPE, testing, and treatment throughout the pandemic.

The Chamber adds a second flexible office space to meet demand.

“Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” –Farrah Gray, American businessperson and best-selling author.

The Chamber’s Palm Springs Co-Work offers modern, flexible options in the heart of downtown. Choose from two vibrant locations: Chamber HQ, with its midcentury feel and stunning mountain views, or the modern, industrial suites above the West Elm building, which overlook Palm Canyon Drive. Amenities include high-speed WiFi, kitchen and lounge areas, coffee, beverages, snacks, and free parking. Need a break? Walk to nearby shops and restaurants. And don’t forget that Co-Work members enjoy exclusive Chamber benefits, including free access to networking opportunities, special events, and discounts. Full-time locals, seasonal residents, and out-of-towners combine to make Palm Springs Co-Work an inspiring environment for enterprises of any size or budget. No longterm commitment is ever required.

PALM SPRINGS

Contact us at (760) 325-1577 or mellis@pschamber.org or visit pschamber.org for more information or to reserve your spot.