Talk to a Recruiter
Thinking about a career with the Madison Fire Department? We've assembled a knowledgeable and dedicated group of people willing to answer your questions! Email any of our recruiters your questions about the Madison Fire Department, to schedule a station tour or ride-along, or to learn about any of the MFD's specialty areas including EMS, Hazmat, SCUBA, and Heavy Urban Rescue.
Send questions about the hiring process to Fire Recruitment at JoinMFD@cityofmadison.com or (608) 513-3446.
Reggie Williams
Date of Hire: 2014
Previous Experience: Volunteer firefighter at the Maple Bluff Fire Department/Paid On-Call EMT; Varsity boys' basketball coach, Asst. football coach, and JV golf coach at the Madison Metropolitan School District; Driver's Ed teacher; Director/Coach at Wisconsin Academy Basketball
Current/Past Assignments: Firefighter/Paramedic
About Reggie: I'm a Madison native and East High School graduate.
Bennett Lardie
Date of Hire: 2012
Previous Experience: Wisconsin Army National Guard since 2002 with multiple positions and one deployment; volunteer firefighter with Verona Fire Department
Current/Past Assignments: Currently a Firefighter/Paramedic; Heavy Urban Rescue Team, Tactical EMS (TEMS), and Training Division
About Bennett: I’m a U.S. Army veteran and live in Dane County. I’m married with two young children.
Adam Perez
Date of Hire: 2013
Previous Experience: Worked in retail and corporate sales for 10 years before entering the Protective Services field. Worked at Curtis Ambulance and local volunteer fire departments. Before working at MFD, I worked for UW Clinics as a Medical Assistant.
Current/Past Assignments: Firefighter/EMT; Hazmat Team
About Adam: I had been an athlete my whole life. I enjoyed being on a team and staying in shape. I kicked around the idea of firefighting after high school and never knew where to start. After discovering I wanted to make a bigger impact in the world, I went to the local fire department. The rest is history.
Bryce Powell
Date of Hire: 2017
Previous Experience:Bartender, waitress, phone technician, firefighter/AEMT intern at Maple Bluff Fire, Firefighter/Paramedic paid on-call at Town of Lisbon Fire.
Current/Past Assignments: Firefighter/Paramedic; HazMat
About Bryce: I teach CPR and am also a fire instructor at WCTC in Waukesha. If I'm not enjoying concerts in Madison or Milwaukee, I enjoy working out and traveling in the U.S. and Mexico.
Shandra Pulver
Date of Hire: 2014
Previous Experience: 13 years in the Army as NCO and helicopter flight mechanic. I had no fire background prior to MFD.
Current/Past Assignments:Firefighter/Paramedic; Heavy Urban Rescue Team
About Shandra: I love being able to help others out, being part of a crew, and staying active at work.
Tamara Dinkel
Date of Hire: 2016
Previous Experience: Project Manager for commercial general construction; Monona, Middleton, and Verona Fire Departments; Waunakee EMS; Ryan Brothers EMS; Madison College Instructor-CPR and all levels of EMS.
Current/Past Assignments: Firefighter/Paramedic
About Tamara: I'm a graduate of Monona Grove High School and attended UW-Madison, earning a Bachelors degree in Psychology; four-year athlete for the UW Women's Rowing team and was a rowing coach. Volunteer and club associations include Gilda's Club Cancer Support Community, CampHERO for Girls, and Ignite: Women Of the Madison Fire Department. I fell in love with the fire/EMS services when I was 36 years old, and I was hired after my third process at age 42. It is never too late to passionately pursue your goals.
Bernadette Galvez
Date of Hire: 1990
Previous Experience: I'm involved with Project Angel, which provides gifts for prisoners around the holidays, and I help with CampHERO. Prior to working the fire department, I managed a fast food restaurant.
Current/Past Assignments: Currently the Community Education Officer; Juvenile Fire Setters program, MFD Recruitment Committee, Peer Support Team.
About Bernadette: I have a B.S. in Criminal Justice, and EMT and Firefighter I certified. I'm also a Senior Car Seat Technician. I'm passionate about teaching kids about fire safety. They look up to people in uniform, and they take advice from us. Having been around the department for a long time, I've seen many changes over the years. I love the variety of people interested in becoming a firefighter and who want to be involved in reputable department.
Lori Karst
Date of Hire: 1994
Previous Experience: Volunteer firefighter in Mankato, MN; studied art and psychology at Minnesota State University-Mankato and University of Wisconsin-Madison; worked in landscape, bakery, fast-food restaurants, garbage collection, home healthcare, grocery store, community recreation specialist, community education with adults with disabilities, live-in nanny, and newspaper delivery; held 6 part-time jobs at one point to make ends meet.
Current/Past Assignments: Apparatus Engineer; Recruitment Committee, Community Outreach Committee, Sept 11th Blood Drive Coordinator, Firefighter Fun Day Coordinator, and Pancake Breakfast Crew Leader.
About Lori: When looking for a physical and mental challenge after high school, I found firefighting after failed attempts in the military and athletics. I volunteered at my college fire department for 1.5 years when I ran into my first woman who was doing it full-time, and it changed my life. From that moment on, I made it my mission to make firefighting a lifetime commitment. That is what the power visibility has. I now teach firefighting to kids at CampHERO to pay back that woman for what she did for me. I’m also an avid curler, having competed in one Olympic Trials for curling, and I assist in ice-making duties at our club.