Kathy Edwards is the CEO of Fire Life Training and Breaking Barriers and is the co-founder of Fire Wife Life. Kathy spent 30 years as a national non-profit Management Consultant, and concentrated her efforts on overall organizational management, income generation and board/staff modeling and training. Throughout her career she has worked with numerous organizations, a few of which include; The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The American Diabetes Association, Huntington’s Disease Society of America, United Cerebral Palsy, Lambda Legal, Global Health Action, the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, Girls on the Run and the National Down Syndrome Congress.

In February of 2020, Kathy joined Fire Life Training Associates and Breaking Barriers as Chief Executive Officer, with a goal of expanding the brands. In 2021 she co-founded Fire Wife Life and The Fire Family. Kathy has served on numerous non-profit boards and has served as the President of the Atlanta Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary, and on the Superintendent’s School Improvement Council for the largest school system in the state of Georgia. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the National Firefighters Training Foundation.

​Kathy has been married to retired Atlanta fire Captain Todd Edwards for 35 years, and together they have raised 2 incredible adult children. When not working they spend their time together with family and friends, traveling, and watching The Ohio State University and the Pittsburgh Steelers play football!

As a lead facilitator for Fire Wife Life, Kathy presents the message of community, togetherness, support, and inclusion. So many wives feel isolated from their spouse’s job family, and their “civilian” friends don’t understand their lifestyle or the unique challenges that they face. In bringing the message of Fire Wife Life forward, she encourages women to feel comfortable in asking for help, speaking their needs to other wives, and not being afraid to be a part of the fire family community. Simultaneously, the message and navigation of the importance of seeing one’s own worth and having one’s own identity outside of “fire spouse” is imperative to having a successful marriage and a healthy family dynamic.

Sabrina Yaw is a passionate advocate and leader whose career reflects an unwavering commitment to empowering families and communities with resilience and connection. Married to Major Dane Yaw of the Oklahoma City Fire Department (OKCFD) and a proud mother of two daughters, Sabrina’s 31 years as the wife of a first responder have profoundly shaped her mission to support others through life’s challenges.

She launched her career as a therapist specializing in addiction counseling, parenting, and marital therapy, where she cultivated a deep understanding of mental and emotional well-being. Her drive to heal extended beyond individual care when she directed a transformative camp in Cleveland County for children impacted by relational trauma, sharpening her insight into the power of compassionate intervention. During this period, she also served as a Family Advocate for the Child Abuse Response Team, tirelessly supporting those in crisis.

While raising her daughters, Sabrina expanded her influence as Vice President of an international nonprofit, overseeing initiatives that delivered medical aid, education, and resources to West Africa—a role that highlighted her ability to bridge local and global service. Drawing on her decades as a firefighter’s spouse, she then helped establish the OKC Fire Department Family Peer Support Team, serving as its coordinator for three years and creating a vital lifeline for spouses and partners navigating the unique stresses and traumas of fire service life.

Today, Sabrina excels as the Director of Academic Operations for a medical school, yet her dedication to firefighter families remains steadfast. She co-founded Fire Life Together: Preventing a Flashover, an initiative that provides tools and encouragement to strengthen family bonds and prevent emotional burnout. Sabrina’s selfless spirit, exceptional leadership, and ability to infuse her passions into every role make her an inspiring force—whether uplifting families in her community or extending her impact across continents.

Tracy McCart spent 28 years in education, having taught elementary, middle and high school throughout her career. Tracy held multiple leadership roles in the school districts that she was employed, in addition to being the president of several educational organizations.

Tracy brings a wealth of talent to her position as Co-Founder and Managing Director of Fire Wife Life, and her vision for the organization has been a leading force in its forward motion and quick growth. Tracy is a graduate of Central Methodist University where she earned a Master of Education degree.

Tracy is a proud fire wife of 21 years. She is married to Kevin McCart, who was in the fire service for 21 years as both a lieutenant and captain. Currently Kevin is the South Central Regional Manager of Keyhose. Tracy and Kevin reside in the Kansas City area.

As a lead facilitator for Fire Wife Life, Tracy will present the message of community, togetherness, support, and inclusion. So many wives feel isolated from their spouse’s job family, and their “civilian” friends don’t understand their lifestyle or the unique challenges that they face. In bringing the message of Fire Wife Life forward, she encourages women to feel comfortable in asking for help, speaking their needs to other wives, and not being afraid to be a part of the fire family community. Simultaneously, the message and navigation of the importance of seeing one’s own worth and having one’s own identity outside of “fire spouse” is imperative to having a successful marriage and healthy family dynamic.

A Licensed Professional Counselor based in Lake St. Louis, MO, who has been helping people since 2015. With a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University, Valerie Beason brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her practice.

Valerie’s passion for helping others led her to work with first responders, including firefighters, paramedics, and police officers. In fact, 95% of her practice is dedicated to serving this community. Along with her private practice, Valerie worked with SSM Executive Health in St. Louis to assess over 1900 first responders for their mental wellness screenings. She has also given several mental health presentations to various first responder support groups and taken her expertise on the road to many fire districts and departments in the metro-St. Louis area and around the state of Missouri.

Valerie is a true advocate for first responder’s mental health and serves as the President of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health for Fire Wife Life, LLC. She also sits on the statewide committee for Senate Bill 24, which is the Missouri First Responder Mental Health Act.

Valerie’s unique perspective on first responder culture comes from growing up with a father who served as a volunteer firefighter and was the fire prevention officer at his department. With firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to live with and support first responders, Valerie brings empathy and understanding to her practice.

Valerie’s mission is to help improve the quality of life and enhance resiliency for first responders by offering quality awareness and support services to reduce workplace trauma’s physical and psychological effects.