Hello, I’m Jason Hoevelmann
Jason Hoevelmann is a nationally recognized leader in fire service education, organizational leadership, and public safety innovation. With over three decades of hands-on experience—from frontline firefighter/paramedic to Fire Chief—he brings a rare blend of operational insight, instructional expertise, and strategic vision to every engagement.
As the founder of NEL Consulting & Professional Development, Leadership In Practice, and co-owner of Engine House Training, Jason has empowered thousands of professionals across public, private, and nonprofit sectors with customized leadership development programs grounded in transformational and servant leadership principles. His dynamic presentations, workshops, and keynote addresses challenge audiences to lead with integrity, adapt with purpose, and create cultures of trust and accountability.
Jason’s extensive work with the National Fire Academy, Harvard Business School Online, and Columbia Southern University reflects his commitment to continuous learning and evidence-based practices. Whether facilitating high-impact workshops or speaking at national conferences like FDIC and IAFC, he translates complex leadership concepts into actionable strategies that resonate at every level of an organization.
A dedicated mentor, instructor, and thought leader, Jason partners with agencies to elevate performance, inspire courage in decision-making, and foster leadership that leaves a legacy.
My Approach
Jason Hoevelmann’s approach to leadership development is rooted in transformational, servant, and distributed leadership principles, with a strong emphasis on ethical decision-making, emotional intelligence, and strategic purpose.
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, Jason builds leadership programs around the unique values, culture, and goals of each organization. His method is grounded in adult learning theory, real-world fire service experience, and actionable strategy, ensuring each engagement goes beyond theoretical exploration to achieve measurable growth.
Values-Driven & Mission-Focused Coaching leaders to identify and live by their core values—making decisions that align with long-term organizational mission, not just short-term outcomes.
Customized & Contextualized Curriculum Designs development programs using case studies, role-play scenarios, and interactive reflection prompts tailored to the fire service and public safety environment.
From Tactical to Transformational Moves beyond command-and-control leadership to cultivate empathy, collaboration, and trust-building—especially vital in high-stakes, distributed teams.
Systemic Change Agent Empowers leaders to challenge existing norms and champion culture change—whether at the frontline, executive level, or across entire departments.
Academic Rigor Meets Operational Reality Integrates academic frameworks (like French & Raven’s power dynamics or Northouse’s leadership paradigms) with boots-on-the-ground experience to create relatable, high-impact learning.
Mentorship for Legacy Leadership Coaches emerging and established leaders with an eye toward long-term impact—encouraging introspection, bold action, and sustained excellence.
