Former State Auditor Rebecca Otto Joins MnFIRE Team

We’re thrilled to announce that former Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto has joined MnFIRE as our first-ever Director of Business Affairs. Rebecca brings nearly four decades of public, private and nonprofit experience, deep financial expertise and strong relationships across the state to the MnFIRE team.

A well-known and well-respected leader, Rebecca served as Minnesota State Auditor from 2007 to 2019, where she led fiscal/legal compliance oversight of $50 billion in local government spending. Most recently, Rebecca served as executive director of the Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation, a conservation-minded nonprofit in Northern Minnesota. She also has experience as a state representative, teacher and small business owner.

“From Ada to Zumbrota, firefighters play an incredibly important role in every Minnesota community, and I am honored to be able to help MnFIRE strengthen its mission, build an even stronger and sustainable foundation and support these hometown heroes into the future,” Rebecca said.

“Rebecca has been a supporter of Minnesota’s fire service her entire career, and has built strong relationships with firefighters, legislators and community leaders all across the state,” said MnFIRE Board President George Esbensen. “As the health and wellness resources MnFIRE provides to firefighters and their families become more and more critical, Rebecca’s expertise and passion for the fire service will help our organization become even more effective and further elevate our important mission.”

You can reach her at rotto@mnfireinitiative.com. Please join us in welcoming Rebecca to the team!

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Firefighters continually put their lives on the line to keep us safe. When difficulties arise, we're committed to helping relieve the burden through the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program. Find resources for you or your loved one here: mnfireinitiative.com/hhap/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Your health. Our priority. What a fantastic weekend at the 2026 Firefighter Health Forum! To our attendees, presenters and supporters from near and far – thank you. From training and discussion to celebration and camaraderie, it was a privilege to gather our community in the name of firefighter health and wellness!

Special thanks to our excellent speakers:

Jen Elleraas
Dr. Margaret Gavian
Pamela S. Graydon, NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health National Firefighter Registry for Cancer
Rochelle Hawthorne
Megan Lautz, Rescue RD - Megan Lautz
Dr. Zeke J. McKinney
Sara Nelson
Dr. Michelle D. Sherman
Danielle Thornton, NAMI Minnesota
Aaron Zamzow, Fire Rescue Fitness
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Thank you WCCO & CBS News Minnesota for having our very own president and co-founder, Mike Dobesh, and state director of Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Minnesota, Steve Shapira, on The 4 to discuss Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. We are grateful for the chance to spread awareness and share important occupational health resources for the fire service community.

If you know a firefighter, be sure to tell them about the no-cost resources available to them through MnFIRE and the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program. 🚒 www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/video/the-demands-of-the-job-that-are-putting-firefighters-in-more-danger/
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Your health. Our priority. The 2026 Firefighter Health Forum begins this week! ⏰

We look forward to welcoming our fire service community to Grand Casino Mille Lacs. Check out our conference agenda on the Firefighter Health Forum page at the link in our bio!
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January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, and there's no better time to take advantage of our no-cost cancer training. You and your department can learn:

🟠 Activities that increase risk for developing cancer
🟠 Proper PPE strategies for mitigating cancer risks
🟠 What types of screenings can be done to catch cancer early

Schedule a training today: mnfireinitiative.com/training/
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