Blog

Da’Von McRae

Leadership Award Recipient

Da’Von McRae is a native Washingtonian and a graduate of Paul Lawrence Dunbar Senior High School. Da’Von started his profession in the fire service in 2016 as a DC Fire & EMS Cadet and was assigned to Engine Company 6 once he completed his training. Da’Von, a second-generation firefighter, is the son of the late Lt. Kevin McRae; a beloved leader in DC Fire & EMS and the 100th member to die in the line of duty in the department’s history. He currently serves as the Technician of Engine Company 6, the same company his father led before his passing. While many may believe Da’Von had big shoes to fill, he has charted his own path and established himself as a leader in his young career.

Monique Collier

DC Fire & EMS

Monique is a DC firefighter, runner, certified trainer, influencer, and a 2023 NIKE Run Ambassador. She has been featured in Women’s Health, ESSENCE Magazine, and the Nike App.
Her wellness journey began through discipline and the desire to overcome hardships which led to life changing transformations. This journey has led her directly to her purpose and passion of helping others – both locally and on social media.

Monique’s social platforms use motivational content, training tips, and running techniques that give her online community a front-row seat to be inspired by her journey. Today, that platform has welcomed a community of nearly 1M people looking for inspiration to change their lives and wellness habits. Initially inspired by her running, fitness, and athleticism; her community receives that Monique is helping them be the best version of themselves.

Her mission is to help as many people as possible achieve overall wellness through fitness, spirituality, and mental health.

Overcoming numerous obstacles that many would see impossible, she sees her life’s mission no differently. Monique is a clear example of what she often says, “if you put your mind to it, there’s nothing you can’t do.”

Chris Styles

DJ

With over 25 years of DJ experience, Styles has done it all. He began his radio DJ career at HOT 995 in 2002 and was heard every weekend mixing and hosting on the DMV airwaves. In 2006, Styles was hired to host the night show on then XM 20 on 20. In 2009, Styles moved over to SiriusXM The Heat and was heard every Friday night mixing and hosting “Friday Night Fire”. In 2013, Styles took his talents to CBS Radio DC and was heard mixing every week on WPGC 95.5, Fresh 94.7 and El Zol 107.9. Along with his radio commitment, styles maintains being one of the busiest DJ’s in the DMV with over 100 gigs a year and personally DJing over 50 Weddings a year.

Styles has also been able to take his talents to various stadiums and arenas in the DMV. He currently DJ’s all home games for both University of Maryland Men’s & Women’s basketball. Along with the University of Maryland, Styles also DJs for Towson University and George Mason University. Along with the college circuit, Styles has spent time DJ’ing for various professional teams in the DMV that includes the Washington Redskins, Wizards, Mystics, and the Baltimore Orioles. From the Radio to Weddings/Private Parties to athletic events, Chris Styles is on of the most versatile DJ’s in the DMV.

Wes Hall

Host & Moderator

TV/Radio Host-Personality, Sports Analyst/Commentator, Actor, Voice-Over Talent, Host/Emcee .  .  . Wes Hall is the epitome of multi-hyphenate talent! He currently hosts ‘Wizards Pregame/Postgame Live,’ on NBC Sports Washington, ‘Sports Final’ on NBC 4 and ‘Greatest Sports Legends: Then and Now.’ From beginning his career in Los Angeles on the radio to now hosting multiple TV shows across the country, Wes has cemented his career in entertainment and sports as one of the more introspective and thought-provoking personalities in the industry.

An active member in his community, Wes has provided support for a variety of charitable organizations including the Juneteenth Foundation and the Capital Youth Empowerment Program. He is a proud alumnus of Tennessee State University.

Jonathan Tate

Founder of Food on the Stove

Jonathan Tate began his service as a DC Firefighter/EMT in 2012. Tate founded Food on the Stove in July 2017 to provide tools and resources to help firefighters live a healthier lifestyle through enhanced nutrition and exercise.

Jonathan was born and raised in Washington DC. He is the husband of Precious and father to his daughter Jenesis and son Judah. He is a 2nd generation firefighter. His father, the late James Tate Sr, became a DC firefighter in 1956 and was assigned to Truck Company 6 where Jonathan serves today. His father retired at the rank of Deputy Fire Chief and 9 years later passed away from cancer after having multiple heart attacks. The death of his father would later birth a vision and usher him into his calling – Food on the Stove.

Assistant Fire Chief Queen Anunay

DC Fire & EMS

Queen Anunay is the Assistant Fire Chief of EMS Administration for the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. Anunay’s role with the agency is to ensure compliance with operational policies with a concentration on Emergency Medical Services. As the top EMS official, she responds to high profile incidents and Mass Casualty emergencies. As a part of the Fire Chief’s Executive team, the Assistant Fire Chief serves on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments EMS Subcommittee, Collective Bargaining committee, a board member of the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board (DVFRB) and the Women Advisory Council which advocates for the empowerment of women within the DC Fire and EMS Department to attain leadership roles and strive for excellence in leadership positions.

A native of Washington DC and graduate of DC Public Schools Anunay joined the Fire Cadet program in 1991, and currently has over 30-years of service in the DC Fire and EMS Department. After serving for 15 years as a firefighter, Anunay became certified as a Nationally Registered Paramedic, earned her Associates Degree in Fire Science and her Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration. Anunay is the second woman in the department’s history to achieve the rank of Deputy Fire Chief and the first to achieve the rank of Assistant Fire Chief in the 151-year history of the department.

Anunay is an active member in the community who remains committed to building positive relationships among district agency partners to ensure that the DC Fire and EMS department provides the highest quality of public safety to all resident’s constituents and visitors of the District of Columbia.

Deputy Fire Chief Tiffanye Boyd Wesley

Arlington County Fire

Tiffanye S. Wesley is celebrated as a leader and trailblazer. The internationally certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, and Coach is also a Deputy Fire Chief with the Arlington County Fire Department in Arlington, Virginia – the first African American female to be promoted to this level of leadership in the department’s 80-year history.

A 29-year veteran of the Arlington County Fire Department, Tiffanye has served in numerous positions. The two most notable positions include Nationally Certified Bomb Technician and Bomb Commander and Station Commander for the largest and busiest firehouse in Arlington.

This ‘woman on fire’ is an inspiration to men and women all over the country because of her transparency and story of determination and commitment in a career no one ever thought she would survive. Her ‘No Matter What’ and ‘If they say I can’t, I will prove that I can’ attitude has allowed her to climb the ladder of success even when the odds were stacked against her.

Tiffanye released her published work in the book anthology, No More Chains. Her story is also profiled in a 2017 documentary by the same title.

Tiffanye is married to her best friend, Eric Wesley, who is a Captain in Arlington County. They have four beautiful children, two of whom work in public safety, and three beautiful grandchildren.

Lieutenant Lauren Foreman

Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department

Lt. Foreman is a 36-year-old Fire/Medic/ Lieutenant in Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department. She started her journey in the fire service after obtaining her BS in Exercise Science at Salisbury University. There, she ran track and played rec basketball. She then became a Fire/EMS Volunteer at Chapel Oaks Fire Station Co.838 located in Fairmont Heights, MD in Prince George’s County. Shortly after, she was hired with the county. In her 11 years of employment with Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, Lt. Foreman has served as a Firefighter/EMT, Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire/Medic/Technician, and Fire/Medic/Lieutenant.

Lt. Foreman is a native to Prince George’s County where she was born and raised in Largo and Upper Marlboro, MD. She enjoys serving the citizens of the county in which she grew up in. Lt. Foreman also enjoys spending time outdoors in nature, animals, advocating for and teaching about emotional health, family time, arts/crafts, sharing testimonies of what God has done, and writing blogs.

Acting Captain Kaandra Herman

Alexandria Fire Department

Acting Captain Kaandra Herman has been with the Alexandria Fire Department since July 2011. She currently serves as the Administration Assistant Chief’s Aide and a co-chair for the Traumatic Exposure Recovery Program (TERP). In October 2020, Gov. Ralph Northam appointed Wilson to the Virginia State Child Fatality Review Team. She also serves as one of the co-leads for the Alexandria Fire Department’s Equity Core Team.

Herman is the recipient of the James E. Shortt Jaycees Award for Outstanding Community Service (2015), the Valor Award for Life Saving (2017), and the Sons of the American Revolution Life Saving Award (2017). She received her paramedic certification from Prince George’s Community College. December 15, 2021 Wilson earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). She is the Alexandria Fire Department’s liaison for the Women in Fire Service and is currently working on securing her Fire Officer Credentials within her department’s accreditation process.

Acting Captain Herman hopes to positively impact her department by using the knowledge and skillset gained through her studies as she continues to lead our TERP Team. She also plans to introduce additional training opportunities that will provide our personnel with the tools necessary to improve overall mental health and better support one another as we serve the community.

Firefighter Tamika Mitchell

DC Fire & EMS

Tamika Mitchell was born and raised in S.E. Washington, DC. She graduated from Frank W. Ballou Senior High School in 2008. Before graduating from Ballou Senior High School as the Valedictorian in just three years, she won the DC Inter-High Tennis Championship twice. She received an academic scholarship to attend the University of Arizona and was the first person in her family to graduate from college and pledge Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She also was honored as a Scholar Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars from 2009-2011.

Ms. Mitchell graduated from the University of Arizona in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences. She returned home in 2013 after graduation to work for a nonprofit organization, The Washington Tennis and Education Foundation (WTEF) to give back to the program that gave her so much. This organization meant a great deal to her because she grew up in the program and understood the positive impact it had on inner-city youth. She was initially employed as a tennis coach, mentor, tutor and receptionist, before advancing to her role as the Executive administrator. Ms. Mitchell wanted to continue to be an advocate for women and be a role model for her community.

In 2017, Ms. Mitchell joined DC Fire and EMS where she was awarded most athletic female and most physically fit female in her class. She was appointed to Engine 4 where she continues to serve. She aspires to become an officer soon and continue to make a difference in the department and in her community.

Lysa Philips

Entrepreneur & Author, He Answered the Call

A native of Grenada, West Indies—The Isle of Spice, Lysa Phillips wears many hats: mother, entrepreneur, author, public speaker, and a woman of God. Her most cherished title is “mother.” Raising her three children, who are now thriving young adults, has been her greatest accomplishment.

Lysa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and a minor in Human Resources. She is the owner of LPS Marketing Designs, LLC (LPSMD), an MDOT MBE/DBE/SBE certified, woman-owned company located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, serving clients throughout the United States. LPSMD specializes in brand consistency, creative graphic design for print and digital marketing and promotions, book designs and self-publishing consulting, editing and writing, and remote administrative support services.

In 2019, she published He Answered the Call: Coping with Our Loss—The Family’s, Friends’, and Firefighters’ Perspectives, which shares the real-life, sensitive story of her husband, DC Firefighter Anthony “Sauce” Phillips’ final call to duty by those who loved him and those who worked beside him, sharing their struggles with his passing, how it impacted them personally and professionally, and the mechanisms they have used to cope over the years.

Over the course of her life, Lysa has endured numerous trials and tribulations, one of which would alter her life forever. She was diagnosed with lupus in 2003, an autoimmune condition affecting more than 1.5 million people nationwide. However, like countless other God-fearing, strong women who have endured and overcome adversities, Lysa continues to persevere as she welcomes all opportunities and tackles life’s challenges head-on.

In addition to her many responsibilities, Lysa dedicates time to sharing her family’s story about coping with the loss of her husband and raising their two young sons. She also devotes her time to spreading awareness, educating the public, and bringing attention to the fight to end lupus by sharing her personal experiences, participating in fundraising events, and engaging in online support groups discussions.

Even though Lysa has a gentle spirit and intuitive abilities, she is ambitious and leaves no stone unturned. Lysa’s faith in God, her family, and her strength and determination are at the core of her being.

Lieutenant Joe Morgan

C Fire & EMS (Retired)

Joe Morgan is a native Washingtonian. He follows Christ, loves his wife, admires his four adult children, and adores his five grandchildren. Joe is a missionary, a leader in his church, and a volunteer as a Burn Survivor Peer Supporter. He dedicated 40+ years of his life in public safety, serving his country and community. Joe is an expert in the industry of Fire and Life Safety.

Joe is Professional Speaker who is laser focused on helping individuals to never lose hope to live out their dreams. He currently holds the position of Property Management Specialist at The Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD. Throughout his career, Joe has dedicated his life towards the safety and protection of others.

Joe was severely burned while working as a Washington DC Fire Fighter, fighting a townhouse fire in Northeast, Washington, DC. He sustained second and third degree burns over 65% of his body and given a 5% chance to live, where two of his colleagues did not survive that fire. As a burn survivor, he has experienced a long journey of recovery and self-discovery. He has been on both sides of a burn story… he fought fires to save lives and fought for his life as a burn survivor.

Joe has spoken across the country to a number Fire Departments, businesses, and organizations to educate, motivate and inspire, that we all can survive and thrive through any difficult challenge