Leadership & Life Lessons

Jeff Cash, CFO, has over 43 years in the fire service and is the retired City/Manager Fire Chief of the City of Cherryville, NC, his hometown. Currently, Jeff is President of Bucket Brigade Consulting, LLC, and also serves as the Training Coordinator for VFISNC. He holds a degree in Fire Protection. He is a Past President of the NC State Firefighters Association. He has received the following recognitions: Cherryville FD Firefighter of the Year, Western NC Association Fire Officer of the Year, NCSFA Firefighter of the Year, NC Association of Fire Chief’s Career Chief of the Year, NC Society of Fire & Rescue Instructors, Instructor of the Year, the IAFC-VCOS-John Buckman Leadership Award, and the NVFC-James Monihan Leadership Award. He also received the North Carolina American Legion Fire Service Person of the Year Award. Recently, upon his retirement, he was awarded the NC Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Cooper.

He serves on the Executive Committee (Secretary-Treasurer) of the National Volunteer Fire Council as North Carolina’s Director. Chief Cash is a previous member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Board of Directors. He also serves as a principal committee member of NFPA 1021 and a Board member of the IAFC-Safety Health & Survival Section (NVFC Liaison). He is an active fire service instructor, teaching since 1982. Chief Cash has testified twice before US Congressional Committees on Fire Service issues. Chief Cash has spoken or taught in 36 states. Chief Cash also serves on the Caromont Health System Board of Directors as Chair.

He is married to Cynthia B. Cash. Cynthia is an employee of the City of Kings Mountain. They have two adult sons, Chad (Heidi) and Quentin (Erin). Both sons serve in the fire service. Chad serves as a volunteer at the Cherryville FD and Quentin is a career Battalion Chief at the Shelby FD. He loves NASCAR racing and he and Cynthia attend as many races as possible! They are volunteers at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC. Jeff and Cynthia are members of First Baptist Church in Cherryville.

John M. Buckman III served as a German Township Fire Chief managing volunteers for 35 years. He is most proud of the title “pawpaw.” Leslie his wife has spent 29 years together. He currently serves as Education Coordinator for the International Association of Fire Chief Volunteer and Combination Officers Section. He is the Director of Government and Regional Outreach for IamResponding. He served as the Indiana Fire Academy Director for 15 years. He served as President of the International Association of Fire Chief in 2001-2002.

He has authored over 150 articles in various publications. In 1996 he was selected by Fire Chief Magazine as Fire Chief of the Year in 1996. He has published 4 books and 7 photography books. He received the Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels Meritorious Service Award. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2022 he received the Jimmy Seavey Health and Wellness award presented by the NVFC. and the Presidents Award from the International Society of Fire Service Instructors.

He was one of the founders of the Volunteer and Combination Officer Section (VCOS) and the National Fire Academy Alumni Association. He has contributed to several “ribbon reports” published by the VCOS. He was asked to be one of the editors for the original Lavender Ribbon Report published by the VCOS and NVFC in 2019. In 2021 he along with Brian McQueen spearheaded the update for the Lavender Ribbon Report. He is a principal author of the Yellow Ribbon Report and the updated updated Training Volunteers white paper published by the National Volunteer Fire Council and the Volunteer and Combination Officers Section.