The best part about attending conferences is the people I meet. I enjoy talking to people who are really passionate about some personal cause or goal. Among those I've met recently is one so upbeat he'll set your toes to tapping.

Chief Dennis Beyer, EFO, is the chief of homeland security for the Tulsa (Okla.) Fire Department. In his spare time, he's also a singer and avid songwriter.

At the recent EFO Symposium, several EFO grads had chided Beyer for not bringing his guitar, so he went out and bought one. Curious, I followed the guys out to the picnic tables behind the on-site pub, where Beyer was strumming the instrument.

As I arrived, South Elgin (Ill.) Fire Protection District Chief Joe Cluchey, EFO, prodded Beyer to sing "American Firefighter" or "Smoke Diver."

I was amazed when I heard Beyer. Both the quality of his voice and the lyrics to "American Firefighter" floored me: "Might be a house, might be a wreck, could be a Mayday/Yet we're prepared to make them all."

Beyer is one of a group of officers who went through the EFO program together. Over the course of the program, each seemed to undergo a personal challenge that brought support and encouragement from the group. Consequently, they have a bond that you don't often see outside of a shift or fire station.

Chris Krajic, EFO, and Larry Nisbet, EFO, are both shift commanders from Estero (Fla.) Fire Rescue. They talked about the special bond that this particular group has from the EFO program, learning from each other's experiences on the job and sometimes in their personal lives. Nisbet said, "I can call any one of these guys and talk about something that I can't talk about in my own department."

Each member of this small group spoke of the special bond forged by such personal troubles as battles with cancer and other life changes. Even support for newly learned leadership skills is a common thread. As Beyer sings, "We stick together through thick and thin/They might need me, I might need them."

Beyer's songs seem to put to music what words can't describe. Listening to his songs reinforces the camaraderie of this small group of EFO classmates. Sort of a cross between Alan Jackson and Tim McGraw in turnout gear, Beyer sings about firefighting experiences, but a couple of his songs are just plain fun:

"We came and saw flames shooting out/Then we proceeded to kick its butt, shut it down, load it up/Gotta get on back."