Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Paid

Job Function

Lieutenant

Years in Fire/EMS:

22 Years

Years With Department/Agency

20 years

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Arlington Fire Dept.

My Training:

Fire fighter/Paramedic

About Me:

I got married the first itme when I was 19 with a baby on the way and dropped out of college to support my young family giving up my dreams of being a doctor. I was blessed to eventually get a job with the Arlington Fire Dept when I was about 21. This helped me to Move up to the Shelby County Fire Dept. where I have spent the last 20 years. Because opportunities for promotion were pretty scarce until recently, I persued interests outside the dept. to satisfy my drive to succeed. I own a sucessful real estate appraisal business and a few good quality investment properties. I have a total of 5 children (4 girls; 1 boy). The oldest is just graduated college and is getting married this year and the youngest is my son (6months old).

Day Job:

Real Estate Appriaser/Land lord

Relationship Status:

Married

Facebook or Other Online Profile:

http://www.allrightrealestateservices.com

Why I Joined Fire/EMS

I joined because I needed to put food on the table; I stayed because it became a part of me. I have friends with good corporate jobs that look at me with envy when I talk about what I do everyday. We make a huge impact on people's lives in moments of crisis; that is something that most people will never have the opportunity to do once. We are the heros of our community -- and we get paid to do it too! Who wouldn't want to do this?

Why I Love Fire/EMS

I love the feeling I get when I know that I truly made a difference in someone's life.

Top Issues Facing Responders:

I think one of the biggest challenges that I encounter is maintaining a positive professional attitude and staying vigilent to serve the true emergencies when it seems that more and more of our time at the company level is spent on non-emergencies and departmental beaurocrocy.