BeyondtheBoardroom Susan Farren executive director of First Responders Resiliency
By Rosie Padilla
E xecutive Director Susan Farren founded First Responders Resiliency in 2018 to advocate for first responders and provide them with tools for stress management. As a retired paramedic, Farren understands from her firsthand experience in the pre-hospital-care industry how physically and mentally demanding these positions are. In 2016, Farren underwent major surgery after a cancer diagnosis, and this led her down a vigorous research path. When researching her own condition, she found numerous studies surrounding the physical, emotional and mental impacts that occur while working as a first responder. First Responders Resiliency is a proactive nonprofit organization that offers tools to cope with stress before it becomes unmanageable. First Responders Resiliency strives to maintain its culture of innovation—and the nonprofit aims to open a local Resiliency Center as a homebase for its various programs and initiatives. According to its website, Phase 1 is complete and $2 million has been raised toward the project planned on 17.8 acres in Cotati. Beyond her work with the nonprofit, Farren is also a published author. Her 2006 book The Fireman’s Wife explores how the dangers of an emergency profession can impact family dynamics. Farren last year was voted Best Community Leader in our annual Best of the North Bay readers’ poll. For more information on Farren and the work of First Responders Resiliency, visit resiliency1st.org.
What does a day-in-the-life of Susan Farren look like? My days can range from office work, doing a podcast, teaching a meditation class to police officers or to getting on a plane to go and train a department. It's a wild and unpredictable ride at times. How do YOU manage stress and practice resiliency? LOL! I have to practice what I preach! I start each day with meditation, journaling, sunshine and reading something inspiring What's your No. 1 tip regarding stress management? You hear it on every airplane: You must put the oxygen mask on yourself before you put it on anyone else. We are all so good at making everyone else a priority and forget that we simply can't be the best versions of ourselves—professionally or personally—if we aren't making ourselves a I try to be patient with myself and forgive myself when I make mistakes, and then I pass on the same concept to others. I make an effort to listen with curiosity and compassion and remember every person is doing the best they can on any given day—just like me. It's not about focusing on the mistakes we make, it's about how we resolve those issues that define our success. . Does that typically work? When all else fails, I take a nap and start over. What is coming for First Responders Resiliency in 2025? 2025 is an exciting year for us. We just partnered with the drummer of Def Leppard, Rick Allen, and his wife Lauren Monroe, with their organization The Raven Drum Foundation to train agencies across the country in resiliency. priority. Honor you every single day! What traits make you a good leader?
[Photo by Duncan Garrett Photography]
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Best of the North Bay 2025
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