Daniel Chapek has more than 20 years in the volunteer fire service, serving as firefighter, EMR, training officer, secretary, and rural board member in eastern Nebraska. He’s currently with the Weston Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department and co-chair the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association (NSVFA) Recruitment & Retention Committee, where he helps departments statewide strengthen membership and engagement.

Professionally, Dan is the content marketing manager for the Autodesk Tandem team, leading programs that help teams adopt emerging tools—including AI—to improve communication and operations. He brings that same focus on practical, scalable solutions to the fire service, helping small volunteer departments modernize without losing their community spirit. Over the years, he has taught with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and other state level associations throughout the Midwest, focusing on recruitment, retention, and technology adoption. His approach is simple: use real examples, stay people-first, and make tools work for the department—not the other way around.

At the end of the day, Dan believes the strength of the fire service comes from shared experience and a willingness to help each other get better. That’s what’s kept him involved for more than two decades.