Survivor of Arizona Wildfire & Focus of Film, “Only the Brave” to Speak at Symposium

(December 8, 2021) -The 2022 Specialized Transportation Symposium, February 22-24 will feature a number of expert speakers addressing safety, permitting, and risk management. But the keynote speaker, Brendan McDonough, will provide a lesson in inspiring others. As a member of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a team of elite firefighters based in Prescott, Ariz., his crew confronted a freak, 3,000-degree inferno in nearby Yarnell. The relentless firestorm ultimately trapped his Hotshot brothers, tragically killing all 19 of them within minutes. After the unfathomable loss of that day, McDonough suffered from seemingly insurmountable bouts of depression and post-traumatic stress. But the light of hope that inspired him to keep living in one of his darkest moments—his daughter who needed him—inspired the firefighter to fight on against depression and inspire others to find their best selves, even if that means often looking beyond the self. To hear this incredible story, register for the Symposium. To secure your booth space for the Exhibit Center, contact Melanie Khoury.