The Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) is excited to welcome incoming officers to our Board of Directors. These changes are effective as of July 1, 2025, which is the beginning of MnFIRE’s fiscal year.

MnFIRE Co-Founder Mike Dobesh, who recently retired from his role as Fire Chief at the City of Richfield, has been elected to the role of MnFIRE President. Since MnFIRE’s inception in 2016, Dobesh served as MnFIRE Vice President under George Esbensen.

After nearly a decade in the president’s role, Esbensen will continue to serve as a board member.

“There’s no better person to lead the mission of MnFIRE than Mike Dobesh,” says outgoing President George Esbensen. “The three of us founders know first-hand what life in the fire service is like, as we’ve all been there. With Mike’s very recent retirement from his role as Fire Chief, he’s very in tune with the current needs of Minnesota’s firefighters and has a clear passion for improving firefighter health and wellness.”

Also retiring from an officer role is MnFIRE Co-Founder John Wolff, who served as treasurer since MnFIRE’s inception. He will continue serving as a board member.

The following other officer transitions have taken place, also effective July 1, 2025:

• Amber Lage, Minneapolis Fire Department – MnFIRE Vice President
  Deputy Chief Lage joined the MnFIRE Board of Directors in November 2021.
• Ed Hoffman, Owatonna Fire Department – MnFIRE Treasurer
  Fire Chief Hoffman joined the MnFIRE Board of Directors in January 2023.

Golden Valley Battalion Chief Ken Bence will continue to serve as secretary. In addition, Scott Vadnais will continue his volunteer service as a board member alongside Esbensen and Wolff.

As we welcome this new leadership team, we also want to congratulate DeeDee Jankovich on her recent promotion to MnFIRE Assistant Director. DeeDee has served as Program Administrator since 2021. Not only is DeeDee essential to the success of MnFIRE’s day-to-day operations, she is well-known and respected by Minnesota’s fire service thanks to her long tenure as Executive Director of the Minnesota State Fire Department Association (MSFDA).

MnFIRE is poised for another great year of continued growth and providing critical resources for Minnesota’s 20,000 firefighters and their families! Thank you to our entire staff and the board for your continued efforts towards a healthier fire service.