On this episode of the CMC Podcast, CMC instructor Doug McElmury talks to Rock Thompson from Rock Exotica. Rock Thompson is one of the most innovative and prolific people in any discipline that involves life safety rope equipment. In this podcast, Rock tells the story of the humble beginnings of Rock Exotica and how it has grown into a brand known around the globe. He shares fascinating accounts of how many popular products were developed and how they went on to change the rescue, access and arbor disciplines. Rock has had the honor of working with many other inventors in the rope equipment world and brought their ideas to realization. We are confident you will enjoy hearing his story.

In this CMC Podcast our school instructors Craig McClure, John McKently, LeRoy Harbach, and Jason Ilowite hold a roundtable a discussion about the books, aside from technical manuals, that have been influential to them in their lives and careers. Books mentioned: "The Mission, The Men, and Me" By Pete Blaber "Up the Organization" by Robert Townsend "Young Men and Fire" by Norman MacLean "Green Eggs and Ham, Oh the Places you'll Go" by Dr Suess "Deadliest Seas" by Caley Thompson "Damn Lucky" by Kevin Lawer "We Die Alone: A WWII Epic of Escape and Endurance" by David Howarth "Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman "Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun" by Wes Roberts "Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts" by Annie Duke "The Ashley Book of Knots" by Clifford W. Ashley

In this CMC Podcast CMC Instructors Wayne Chapman, John McKently, Doug McElmury, and Kelly Byrne hold a roundtable discussion about NFPA General Use vs Technical Use ratings. They explore how the ratings are defined, if there is a requirement to use one over the other, and possible use cases. Overheard this episode: “As long as you are buying good stuff from reputable places you are not in danger of breaking things... don't put your Wish .com carabiners on your high change of direction” at 07:41 “Are there NFPA police?” at 17:28 "Hipsters of rope" - at 32:34

This week we are joined by Fred Salazar. Fred started his journey into the fire services at a young age when he attended a fire academy through a junior college, followed by paramedic school. Fred's first position out of school was with a fire team working for a petrochemical plant in Southern California where he served as a full time industrial Fire Fighter for 7 years. After his service in the industrial world, Fred moved to Colorado where he has worked for a metropolitan fire department for 26 years. Currently, Fred is a fire lieutenant in his department's Heavy Rescue program and has been an instructor with CMC since 1994. Overheard from this episode: “For me, one of the most enjoyable moments is when you see the student actually get it.” “Everything will come full circle at some point.”

In this CMC Instructor podcast, we are joined by LeRoy Harbach. LeRoy started in the fire service in 1981 where he worked his way up to Battalion Chief of the Caledonia, Wisconsin Fire Department. LeRoy left his Battalion Chief position to join the Waukesha Fire Department as an entry level Fire Fighter to take on new challenges and open himself up to new opportunities at a bigger department. LeRoy has been a CMC instructor since 1999 and teaches a variety of classes. Overheard this episode: “I get called for a lot of oddities, not only US wide but Internationally.” “Solving those problems…is a lot of fun.”

This week we are joined by CMC School Instructor Craig McClure. Craig got his start in rope rescue volunteering for a Search and Rescue team in Bend, OR. Eventually after many years of volunteering and teaching in the rope rescue field Craig started his own training company called The Crackerjack Group, which he ran for nearly 10 years. After selling the Crackerjack Group he returned to his passion of rope training world joining CMC as an instructor in April 2022. Overheard this episode: 4:46 - “Dude, rope is where it’s at.” 16:55 - “I really enjoy what we do in this, which is help people overcome those fears and kind of open up new things in their lives.” 24:52 - “That caving influence in ITRS (International Technical Rescue Symposium) is vital to the growth and vital to the history.” 30:54 - “If you’re going to pick up a new technique, you need to consider what you’re going to stop learning if you’re going to learn a new one.” 35:57 - “Their risk profile is different than yours, so maybe don’t adopt their practices.”

Join us weekly to get to know our CMC instructors. This week we are joined by Matthew Scharper. Matthew got his start in high school, volunteering for the Search and Rescue team in Mariposa County, CA. After search and rescue, Matthew joined the Mariposa Sheriffs department where he worked as a "Gun Toter" and Search and Rescue Coordinator for over 20 years. He worked his way up to State Search and Rescue Coordinator, where he was responsible for 58 counties. Now retired from law enforcement, Matthew has been instructing CMC Rope Rescue Technician I/II courses since 2013. Overheard this episode: “When somebody is basically hanging on to the edge of their life, you cannot question what you are doing.” “I was responsible to make sure that the State had a Standard of Care from North, South, East to West, that all 58 (counties) had the resources they need to do their jobs.” “At the time I was hired, I was also given the assignment as the Search and Rescue Coordinator for the department because that was something that actually got me into the job and it was something I loved and I wanted to do.”

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ Join us weekly to get to know our CMC instructors. This week we are joined by Kelly Byrne. Kelly Started his fire service career as a Highschool cadet volunteer in 1992. After Highschool Kelly served in the United States Army as an Airborne Infantryman with the 82nd Airborne. Upon completion of his service in 1999 Kelly moved back into the Fire Services where he found himself working for the Washington DC Fire Department where he currently serves. Kelly has been an instructor with CMC since 2013. Overheard this episode: “I anchored to the foot of Freedom. There is no more bombproof anchor than that.” “I wanted to be a guitarist in a rock n roll band and have big, long hair, dreams of that!” "Gravity is the same for everybody and the techniques aren’t too terribly different.”

Join us weekly to know our CMC School instructors. This week we are joined by Justin Klopfenstein. Justin started his fire career early in life. Watching his dad work in the Fire Services, Justin was inspired to start volunteering with Cal Fire in Highschool in 1992. Justin worked as an EMT from 1999 to 2001 when he got hired as a firefighter. He spent 5 years as a Firefighter paramedic, 5 years as an Engineer, 11 years as a captain, and now as a Bataillon Chief. Justin has been a CMC instructor since 2015. Overheard this episode: "I’m a huge fan of just practicing your craft and honing your craft.” “As long as you have that depth of knowledge then you should be safe, you should be OK.” “I am a member of California Task Force 8 and currently serve as a Rescue Team Manager over there.”

Join us weekly to get to know our CMC School instructors. This week we are joined by John McKently. John began working in the rescue industry in 1974, became an instructor with CMC in 1995, and retired as the CMC School Director in 2020. John worked for 47 years on the Montrose Search and Rescue team in Los Angeles County, CA. In this interview, we talk with John about how he transitioned from working in the private industry as a construction manager for a bank, to being asked by CMC founder Jim Frank to teach rescue for CMC. John continues to teach classes for CMC in his semi-retirement. Overheard this episode: “We’re not in the business of exchanging lives.” “The thing that I really like is when you got a bunch of students and the light finally comes on in their head and you can see it on their face.” “Our team goes from 1,000’ in elevation to 10,000’ at the county line.”

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ Join us weekly as we get to know our CMC School instructors. This week we are joined by Derrick Walker. Derrick has a background in the industrial world working in power plants as a certified structural welder and welding inspector. Derrick has been teaching Rope Rescue Tech I / II classes with CMC since 2021. In this interview, we talk with Derrick about his background working in the industrial world and how that allows him to bring a unique skill set to the classroom. Overheard this episode: “I want to be able to pass along the things that I have learned.” “I’m your industrial guy, so that’s my world.”

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ Join us weekly as we get to know our CMC School instructors. This week we are joined by David Harper. David started his career by taking an EMT class in Highschool and worked his way up from working for a private ambulance company to Fire Bataillon Chief. David has worked with FEMA and managed both a rescue team and squad. David has been teaching for CMC since August 2021 and teaches Rope Rescue and Confined Spaces. In his personal time David works on his farm at home in Montana. Overheard this episode: “I’ve been a member of the FEMA Task Force for about 10 years now, been on there as a Rescue Squad Officer, Rescue Team Manager, and currently one of the Task Force Leaders for California Task Force 5.” “The middle of the call isn’t the time to start having what we call the good idea fairy come up in the middle.” “There is certainly an art to teaching.”

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ Join us weekly as we get to know our CMC instructors. This week we are joined by Dan Claridge. Dan has been working in Fire Services since 2001 and has been an instructor for the CMC School since 2014. Currently an Engineer Paramedic, City Of Glendale Fire Department (CA), Dan teaches subjects ranging from Low Angle Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue Technician, and Rescue Systems I/II. Overheard this episode: “I find a lot of value in that and getting better as an instructor, being able to have those different opportunities and scenarios where you are teaching.” “I like challenging people; I want them to challenge me.” “I’ll tell you right now, within the first 15 minutes from when I walked into that fire station, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.”

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ With this CMC Podcast we are kicking off our Instructor Series. Join us weekly as we get to know our CMC instructors. This week we are joined by Alan Baker. Alan started his career as a firefighter in Newport Beach, CA, in 1992 and has been an instructor for the CMC School since 1995. He is a senior instructor teaching subjects ranging from Trench Rescue, Rope Rescue, Rescue Systems, and more. Overheard this episode: "I never wanted to teach something that I didn't actually do rescues in" "As an instructor you have to open your mind up and just not say, 'I'm the one in charge and you're going to listen to me' , that's the wrong attitude to have." "The number one word is consistency"

In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by 49th Parallel (@49thparallelrescueteam) a Canadian team composed of Firefighters from all across Canada who are involved with Ronin Rescue (@roninrescue). In this episode Doug talks with the 49th Parallel team about why they decided to compete in GRIMP NA 2022, what they learned from other competitions that helped them prepare, how they trained during the pandemic, and how they excelled as a team despite meeting each other for the first time at the event. We hope you have enjoyed our podcast series on the 2022 GRIMP NA teams. Stay tuned for information on our next GRIMP NA event, or sign up to receive updates: cmcpro.com/grimp-na. Overheard this episode: “It’s every discipline, all kind of formed into one, it’s like the Bruce Lee version of martial arts.” “For 3 years, I have had sleepless nights and anxious moments forever wanting to do that one again.” . . . #cmcschool #cmcpro #cmcpro_official #grimp #grimpday #grimpna2022 #grimpna #rescuecompetition #roperescue #firerescue #cmcrescue #rescue #csr #confinedspacerescue #towerrescue #roperescuetechnician #roperescuetech #roperescueprofessional #roperescuetraining #firstresponders #rescueinstructor #ropeaccesstechnician #roperescuegear

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by Peak Rescue (@peak_rescue) members Micah Rush, Toph Steinhoff, Eric Christensen, and Tye Herron who all placed first in Grimp NA 2022. Peak Rescue is a team from parts of Wyoming and Utah composed of members who work in Fire Service, Rope Access and Mountain Rescue. In this CMC Podcast Doug speaks with Peak Rescue about how their combined skillsets across a multitude of industries benefited them in competition, why it was they decided to get involved in GRIMP in the first place, how GRIMP helped them reexamine their team dynamic and the individual contributions they all make to said dynamic, and how GRIMP NA 2022 challenged them in unexpected ways. Overheard this episode: “You learn a lot when you are uncomfortable.” “It was cool to watch poetry in motion.” “It’s all about your team.”

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by Intervention Rescue (@interventionrescue). Intervention Rescue is a UK based technical access and rescue training provider that offerers consulting services for rescue plans and risk assessments. Intervention rescue is comprised of professionals from the rope access industry and firefighters. In this CMC Podcast, Doug interviews Intervention Rescue member Nick Croudace about: what drew a UK based team to compete in a competition in California, the benefits and challenges of being a UK team competing in an American styled competition, and what their main takeaways were from competing. Overhead during the episode: “It was the most gritty, the most real world; it felt like a real incident.” "Play with ropes, in the sun, in California, on a battleship; not many people going to say no to that I think.” “The scenarios where very different than what we have been through before.”

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by members of the Rose City Ropers: Adam Salvetti, Sam Dougan, Josef Kuehnast, Tyler Hohl, David Mackovjak . The Rose City Ropers are a team comprised of members from Portland Fire & Rescue in Portland, Oregon. In this CMC podcast Doug speaks with the Rose City Ropers on how they prepared for the GRIMP NA scenarios, how they approached friction between team members, how that friction benefited their team overall, and how a flexible mindset benefited their team long term. Overheard during the episode: “Spend the time to align your goals, both personally and how you fit into the group, so that when the moment of truth arrives, you’re not focused on the friction that comes up between members and you can focus on the patients.” “Simple is faster a lot of times.” "He squeezed out of the hole like a muffin.”

More podcast episodes here: https://www.cmcpro.com/podcast/ In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by T'NT Work and Rescue (@tntworknrescue). Coming from Canada with a combined 70 years of experience, T'NT has a diverse background in law enforcement, rope access, and fire rescue. Team captain Wade Going and team members Danny DeHaas, Scott Gibney, and Steve Minarchi speak to how they mentally prepared to compete head to head in each scenario and how they remained calm and collected throughout the two-day competition. They express how much they learned through the competition format and how they applied this to future training. Overhead during the episode: "The thing with competition that you can't reciprocate in training is it really points out your weaknesses and it really points out your strengths. It will really influence our future training as to what areas we need to push more and which ones we feel we do well. I don't think you can reciprocate that in training, it only comes out in healthy competition." "With our training down the road, we're starting to look at a couple smaller groups that we can get together with so we can replicate the competition style. We get four or five guys on each team and have two simultaneous scenarios going where we're training while competing against another team at the same time - increasing the stress level, and coming up with on the fly scenarios."

In this CMC GRIMP North America 2022 recap, we are joined by the Orange County Fire Rescue Florida team (@ocfirerescue): Ryan Allen (@rope_rescue_guy), Evan Pech, Jeffrey Hansen, and Christopher Ramey. Orange County Fire Rescue Florida was founded in 2015 in response to the ever growing theme park industry. OC Fire Rescue Florida performs rescues on theme park rides and other unique structures in Central Florida, including Sea World, Orlando Eye observation wheel (7th tallest in the world), the world’s tallest Swing Ride, Drop Tower, and Sling Shot. They also work closely with other Fire Departments within Orange County that cover Universal Studios and Disney World. In this episode OC Fire Rescue explains the process of getting ready for GRIMP NA 2022 and the strategies they used to excel in the competition. Overheard in this episode: “In this event, we ascended every single scenario except the Catacombs, in which we didn’t even use ropes.” “If you want to do GRIMP and want to be good at this, I think you have to take a bunch of different disciplines and cross-pollinate.” - Ryan Allen