Heartland Fire & Rescue established seven strategic goals for fiscal years 2025-27, marking the culmination of a comprehensive strategic planning process facilitated by Tripepi Smith Talent Solutions (TSTS).
Formed through a Joint Powers Agreement between the Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove, Heartland Fire & Rescue is a model of regional collaboration. The organization delivers fire suppression, emergency medical response, technical rescue, fire prevention and community education services across all three jurisdictions.
Seeking to strengthen coordination among the three member agencies and chart a cohesive direction for the future, Heartland Fire & Rescue partnered with TSTS to lead a strategic planning process. The effort was spearheaded by Director Christine Martin, with support from Senior Business Analyst Kylie Sun and Junior Business Analyst Sofia Gonzalez.
“This plan gives us a shared vision and a clear direction for the next several years,” said Fire Chief Bent Koch. “Our goal was to ensure the three cities continue working together as one team, delivering consistent, high-quality service and preparing for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Working with Christine Martin and the TSTS team made the process seamless. They brought expertise, guidance and a collaborative approach that helped us achieve meaningful results.”
The development of the strategic plan was a collaborative effort involving elected officials, city managers, union representatives and Heartland Fire & Rescue executive staff. Each stakeholder group contributed perspectives on organizational priorities, operational challenges and opportunities for improvement to ensure the plan reflected the collective needs of the three member cities.
Input was gathered through a structured process that included stakeholder questionnaires, individual interviews and a facilitated strategic planning workshop. During the workshop, stakeholders reviewed and refined proposed goals, evaluated alignment with organizational priorities and provided feedback to ensure the final plan balanced operational capacity with long-term objectives. This inclusive process ensured that the plan reflects a unified vision and shared commitment to service excellence. Following the strategic planning workshop, TSTS met with key Heartland Fire & Rescue staff to translate the goals into actionable work plans.
“What stood out to me during this process was the extraordinary level of collaboration and shared dedication to service excellence,” said Christine Martin. “From city managers to union leaders, everyone approached the table with a common goal—to strengthen and unify Heartland Fire & Rescue. It was refreshing to see the leadership team’s openness and commitment to meaningful progress.”
The resulting strategic plan provides a unified roadmap for advancing organizational performance, strengthening relationships among the member agencies and enhancing the delivery of public safety services to the community.
About TS Talent Solutions
TS Talent Solutions is a California-based executive search and talent development organization focused on the local government sector. A division of Tripepi Smith, TS Talent Solutions leverages the expertise and digital acumen of its parent firm to deliver next-generation recruitment solutions for public agencies. The quest for talent never ends, but progress is made with TS Talent Solutions.
We’ve sourced talent for:
City of American Canyon, Town of Atherton, City of Bainbridge Island (WA), City of Bell, City of Commerce, City of Fairfield, City of Indian Wells, City of Indio, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lomita, City of Manteca, City of Morro Bay, City of Needles, City of Palos Verdes Estates, City of Paramount, City of Pasco (WA), City of Rosemead, City of San Luis Obispo, City of Saratoga, City of Tracy, Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District, Humboldt County Association of Governments, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Ventura Council of Governments, West County Wastewater District
We’ve developed strategic plans for:
City of Bellflower, City of Carpinteria, City of Cerritos, City of Foster City, City of Hercules, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lomita, City of Westminster, Heartland Fire & Rescue
