Ewa Helbowicz is a career fire fighter at the Barnard Fire Department in Greece, N.Y.  Her interest for fire fighting began after horrific terrorist attacks on 9/11. “I was a freshman in high school when 9/11 happened and it was a pretty monumental day  The kid whose locker was next to mine in high school was a fire fighter. I'd always see photos of him as an explorer and see these trophies and fire paraphernalia.  I asked him what he did as a explorer and he told me a bit about it. I decided to come to a meeting one night, and I haven’t left since that day. I’ve  pretty much fallen in love with the fire service”. Not only does Ewa work as a fire fighter at the department, she is also a paramedic. Barnard is the only fire department in Monroe County that has paramedics, other stations contact hospitals when paramedics are needed. Ewa is the first woman to be hired as a full time fire fighter at Barnard.

Ewa also works as a personal trainer, she and her husband Kyle Glickman are in the process of opening a gym of there own ‘Glickfit’. “I got my start with fitness after I failed my first fitness exam at the fire house, this job is demanding and you need to be in good shape to do it.  I really wasn’t prepared, so I joined CrossFit Rochester. After about two months of training, I came back and did really well. I feel its my duty to be in good shape so I can do my job to the best of my ability, and through that I caught the bug.”  “CrossFit  is also where I met Megan Mundy, founder of Fashion Week Rochester. She was the one who’s inspired me to model the idea off feminine and masculinity. I was honored when she asked me to be the ‘It Girl’ of the the first Fashion Week 8 years ago. And I hope to keep inspiring others throughout my career.”