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Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > May > 08 > Entry
EMA list narrowed to six
The Butler County Emergency Management Agency governing board has narrowed its list of applicants for the EMA director’s position to six. All of them boast extensive certification and training credentials.
Here are the finalists:
Scott Fitzsimmons, consultant at the Federal Emergency Management Agency center for domestic preparedness in Anniston, Alabama with prior experience as a firefighter, sheriff’s deputy and paramedic in cities across Ohio. He holds a master’s degree in criminal from Tiffin University. He lived in Hamilton briefly and received his paramedic training from D. Russell Lee in 1998.
Janet Stanovich, Madera County, California, Office of Emergency Services coordinator. She holds a master’s degree in public health from Walden University.
John Hooker, director of the Monroe County, Indiana, Emergency Management Agency from 1998 to 2008. He also serves as a special deputy for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and security officer at Bloomington Hospital in Indiana. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in recreation.
Joey Henderson, emergency management specialist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and adjunct professor of homeland security and emergency management at University of Maryland University College. He holds a master’s degree in management from John Hopkins University and worked as a firefighter in Baltimore.
Jeff Galloway, director of the Fentress County Tennessee Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Before that, he worked for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue in Florida. Trained in fire administration and emergency medicine at Palm Beach Community College.
Bill Becker, Middletown city councilman and former city manager. Before that, served as Middletown police chief. A Hamilton native who received police training at Sinclair Community College and the Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville.
Who do you think should get the job?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Emergency Management Agency
Comments
By Ken
May 8, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this
It looks like five of them have some training and experience in emergency management. Thus, as is typical with Butler County Government they will hire the less qualified Mr. Becker.
By Martin
May 8, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this
Ken, has a point. All the candidates list some background in emergency management (with the exception of Chief Becker) thus surely one of them should make a good director of the emergency management agency. If they were hiring a Police Chief then Chief Becker would be the better candidate. I hope that good old boy Butler County politics doesn’t play a role in the selection here.
By Patrick
May 8, 2009 2:52 PM | Link to this
Listen people it’s going to be Bill Becker. He’s a elected official here in the county, he’s active in republican politics, he’s a supporter of the sheriff and commissioner Furmon, Steve Botts is a Middletown employee an can’t afford to vote against him, the mayor of Middletown isn’t going to vote against a council member, and Neil Ferdelman isn’t going to pass on a chance to vote for a fellow police chief. This is a done deal. Becker is the EMA director.
By Fred
May 9, 2009 5:41 AM | Link to this
Apparently, living in the community, being an elected official, and being “friends” with the republicans are the REAL qualifications needed to be an EMA director. It is interesting that no local candidate with the appropriate training and experience are listed in the final 6. Is that because the selection committee wanted to eliminate any real competetion for Becker or were those individuals just too WISE to apply in backwards Butler County?
By Carly
May 14, 2009 2:30 PM | Link to this
Jeff Galloway started Emergency Training Systems with the goal that people learn best by hands-on training. He currently serves as a Federal Safety Officer with previous deployments to the Columbia Shuttle Disaster, Florida Hurricane season 2004, Wildfire seasons of 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2004 and Hurricane Andrew. With over 28 years in the fire service Jeff Galloway has held positions of Department Safety Officer, Lieutenant, Training Officer, Driver Engineer and retired from Palm Beach County (Florida) Fire Rescue in 2004. Jeff also holds a Federal Red Card for Strike Team Engine Leader, Strike Team Crew Leader and Structure Protection Specialist and has been deployed both within the State of Florida and Nationally. He has served as the Safety Officer, Deputy Incident Commander and Liaison Officer with the Florida Type II Interagency Management Gold Team. As an avid horse owner, rider and Large Animal Rescue Instructor he is now concentrating on training Firefighters and Emergency Personnel how to handle horses and other large animals during natural and man made disasters, Barn Fires and other emergency situations with large animals.
By Tom
May 14, 2009 6:04 PM | Link to this
Are they actually going to interview all six. Neil Ferdelman and Chuck Furmon are both telling everyone it’s going to be Bill Becker.
By Tony
June 22, 2009 9:16 AM | Link to this
As June comes to an end the rumors are that they may be getting close to finally hiring a new EM Director. The word on the street is they have narrowed the list down to two candidates and the EM Committee is now checking references of those two. The good new is that Billy Boy Becker is not on the short list of two. Thankfully the committee did not follow Don Dixon’s recommendation, you can bet Donnie will not be happy.
By HiteBlensioli
June 8, 2010 11:16 PM | Link to this
I added your blog to bookmarks. And i’ll read your articles more often!