As a titan of industry, Jim Silvernail, fire chief of the Kirkwood Fire Department, plans and executes strategically. Since he was named a Titan 100 in 2023, Silvernail has developed the organization’s next five-year strategic plan with his administrative staff members. “This forward-thinking initiative will continue to capture growth and navigate change by analyzing our current strengths and weaknesses while anticipating opportunities and environmental threats,” said Silvernail.
Executing the strategic plan, under Silvernail’s leadership, will entail challenging the organization to provide opportunities and to recruit under-represented demographics while also establishing programs that provide scholarship to the new generation of public safety professionals. “The future of any organization is dependent on the next generation and the tools that they have been given to succeed,” said Silvernail.
The Kirkwood Fire Department, through teamwork, integrity, compassion and community loyalty, strives to enhance the quality of life of Kirkwood citizens by providing professional excellence in safety and by meeting the evolving needs of the public.
According to Silvernail, the past year involved a journey of labor relations and a collective bargaining agreement that required diplomacy and mutual respect. “The greatest leadership lessons that I have learned in the past year are empathy, patience and listening,” he said. “Leaders must realistically and reasonably understand the guiding factors that influence positive output from their employees.”
While supporting his team, Silvernail also continued his public service to the industry. He was elected to the position of president of the Missouri Valley Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs that includes a network of more than 11,000 fire chiefs and emergency officers in 26 countries. “As the president, I have committed to an agenda that supports the four strategic initiatives of the division: lead, execute, serve and include,” said Silvernail.
Silvernail has also attempted to create safer, effective and efficient working environments through his published works. This year, he completed his second manuscript that was submitted to his publisher to be published in an industry textbook. He has also assumed the role of advisory board member for Fire Engineering Magazine and the Fire Department Instructors Conference.
His biggest honor has been holding the position of advisory board member for Backstoppers, an organization that provides ongoing needed financial assistance and support to the spouses and dependent children of all police officers, firefighters and volunteer firefighters and publicly funded paramedics and EMTs who have lost their lives or suffered a catastrophic injury in the line of duty.
Silvernail’s continued service to his team, the industry and the community has earned him a spot as a Titan 100 for the second time.
