This year marks MnFIRE’s ten-year anniversary. What started as an idea on the back of a napkin turned into a full-fledged nonprofit supporting and advocating for Minnesota’s fire service. We’ve come a long way, and still have big aspirations and initiatives for the future.
As we double down on our commitment to improve the health and wellness of Minnesota’s fire service, we’re excited to share some changes to the MnFIRE team. This spring, MnFIRE embarked on a search for our first Chief Executive Officer (CEO). After a short hiatus from the organization, MnFIRE Co-Founder George Esbensen will be rejoining the team to lead MnFIRE’s strategic growth and statewide impact. Esbensen served as MnFIRE Board President for eight years before leaving the organization in 2025.
“After a thorough search, it was clear that George is the best person to drive our next phase of growth,” says MnFIRE Co-Founder and President Mike Dobesh. “In addition to his deep understanding of and relationships with Minnesota’s fire service, George’s passion for firefighter health and wellness is second to none. He’s always been driven by our mission and he’s prepared to keep advancing MnFIRE’s impact in new ways.”
George has been an advocate for firefighter wellness his entire career, pushing to ban cancer-causing flame retardants, establishing the Hometown Heroes Survivor Act, and, in 2021, leading the charge to pass the most comprehensive firefighter well-being legislation in the nation, Minnesota’s Hometown Heroes Assistance Program.
George has over 30 years of experience in the fire service, retiring as Eden Prairie’s fire chief in 2018. A few years later, in 2020, George became an Outreach Liaison for Hennepin Healthcare, with the same goal of improving health outcomes for patients and the community by connecting people and organizations to resources that make a lasting difference. He will soon complete the Master of Healthcare Administration program at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
DeeDee Jankovich promoted to Executive Director
We’d also like to congratulate DeeDee Jankovich on her recent promotion to MnFIRE Executive Director. As Executive Director, DeeDee will oversee the organization’s operations and finances, including the Hometown Heroes Assistance Program grant. DeeDee has been serving as Interim Executive Director since February 2026. Initially joining MnFIRE in 2018, she previously served as Director of Program Delivery for four years and Assistant Director for one year.
We’re grateful for DeeDee’s extensive knowledge of MnFIRE’s programs and operations, in addition to her passion for supporting the fire service. DeeDee also serves as Executive Director of the Minnesota State Fire Department Association (MSFDA).
Thank you, George and DeeDee, for your dedication to the fire service and action-oriented leadership to forward MnFIRE’s mission.
