For over three decades, the Cook County Emergency Services Conference has been a vital gathering that strengthens our community’s resilience, uniting local first responders and leaders in shared training and preparedness efforts. As of 2026, the event is entering its 34th year, serving as a cornerstone for collective safety and collaboration.
The event brings together a wide range of participants, including local firefighters, EMS personnel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, local law enforcement, dispatch teams, search-and-rescue teams, and emergency management. The Conference is not only for our dedicated first responders – healthcare professionals, educators, and community members are also encouraged and welcome to attend.
The conference began in the early 1990s as a local initiative to centralize training for the various emergency departments scattered along the North Shore and up the Gunflint Trail.
Except for a three-year hiatus during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference has been held annually in Grand Marais. In 2023, the event marked its 31st anniversary, signaling a return to fullscale operations after the pandemic pause. This comeback received high-profile support from local leaders, including Grand Marais Mayor Tracy Benson and Cook County Commissioner Ann Sullivan.
The keynote speaker this year is Ted Schick, a professional speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant based in Fredenberg Township just north of Duluth. Schick is a retired Naval officer who rose from the enlisted ranks to become an officer. This background, as an officer who was once enlisted, influences his leadership style—he understands both the frontline perspective and the executive view. He is very active in the North Shore and Duluth areas, volunteering for the Spirit Mountain Ski Patrol and various animal humane societies.
His “Leader Jacket” concept is part of his broader philosophy on Professionalism and Servant Leadership. He often opens his sessions by discussing the “5 keys” that make up a professional’s foundation: Competency, Accountability, Loyalty, Communication, and Image/Character/Conduct. He views leadership as a “position of service” rather than a style.
For the frontline responders in Cook and Lake Counties, Schick’s message usually centers on frontline leadership and decision-making under pressure. Despite the serious nature of leadership and safety, he is known for being high-energy and witty (he’s even done stand-up comedy), which helps keep a room full of tired first responders engaged.
Sessions cover Firewise resources, suicide and mental health, the new tribal and county Coast Guard, 988 public health, ARMER radio training, and emergency management basics.
Over time, the conference has evolved from basic skill-building into a sophisticated multi-disciplinary event that integrates hightech demonstrations with traditional response tactics. Recent years have showcased cutting-edge tools for underwater recoveries and portable emergency communications vehicles from the Minnesota National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing. Reflecting modern societal shifts, the curriculum has expanded to include sessions on Electric Vehicle (EV) safety, Naloxone (Narcan) training, and Suicide/Mental Health awareness, with a specific focus on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
These conferences show that safety isn’t managed by a distant federal office, but by the neighbors who spend their weekends in Grand Marais learning how to save lives. The Conference has transitioned from a few departments meeting up to trade tips to a full-blown regional operation. It really speaks to the “all hands on deck” spirit you see on the North Shore.
Registration will open soon. To secure your spot at the conference or to receive updates as soon as registration opens, please visit the Cook County Emergency Services website or contact us directly for more details.
For more information, contact Cook County Emergency Management Director Mike Keyport: 218-387-3059, mike.keyport@cookcountymn.gov.
