By Jeff DiDonato, Deputy Chief
Maple Valley Fire & Life Safety will interview five candidates to become the district’s next fire chief. The community is invited to a reception on November 17, 2016 at 7:00pm to be held at New Community Church (Olsen Mansion) “In the Barn”, located at 21401 244th Ave SE. At the reception the public will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the candidates and provide written comments that will be forwarded to the Maple Valley Fire Board of Commissioners. The candidates will be interviewed by the Maple Valley Fire Board of Commissioners and three additional interview panels the following day on November 18, 2016. The five candidates include:
David Bathke has served the Hellsgate Fire District in Arizona since 2012, first as Battalion Chief, and he has been the Fire Chief since 2014. Prior to that, he was the Fire Chief/Fire Marshal for Ripon Area Fire District in Wisconsin from 2011-2012. Mr. Bathke has also worked as the Administrative Captain/Training Officer for the Town of Lisbon Fire Department in Wisconsin from 2003-2011, and as Relief Lieutenant, Firefighter and Paramedic for the Wauwatosa Fire Department in Wisconsin from 1992-2011. He has a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Upper Iowa University and a master’s degree in Management from Cardinal Stritch University in Wisconsin.
Steven Beer has served as the Assistant Fire Chief of Operations for Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue in Wisconsin since 2010, and has been with the department since 1988 when he started out as a volunteer. He progressed through the ranks serving as a Paramedic from 1990-1997, Paramedic/Lieutenant from 1997-2000, Captain from 2000-2005, and then Battalion Chief from 2005-2009. Mr. Beer has an associate degree in Fire Science from Fox Valley Technical College, Wisconsin, a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security Administration from Marian University, Wisconsin, and he is working on a master’s degree in Leadership from Grand Canyon University. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.
Paige Day is currently Safety & Training Manager for the City of Atlanta, Georgia, Department of Watershed. Prior to that, she was the Fire Chief for the Smyrna Fire Department in Georgia in 2014, the Assistant Fire Chief for Missouri City Fire & Rescue in Texas from 2011-2014, Station Officer/Battalion Chief for the Raytheon Fire Department in Arizona from 2008-2011, and Risk Reduction/Hazard Mitigation Specialist for the Tohono O’Odham Nation in Arizona from 2007-2008. Ms. Day also served the Golder Ranch Fire District in Arizona from 1999-2007 in positions including Community Services Director/Captain. She has a bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Administration, a master’s degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership, and she is a doctoral candidate in Organizational Leadership, all from Grand Canyon University.
Norman Seals has been the Assistant Chief of the Emergency Medical Service Bureau for the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department in Texas since 2012, and has been with the department since 1986. He progressed through the ranks, beginning as a Paramedic, promoted to Captain and Chief Training Officer/Safety Officer in 2007, to Executive Deputy Chief of the Emergency Response Bureau in 2009, and then to Deputy Chief of the Emergency Medical Service Bureau in 2011. Mr. Seals has a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership, and he is working on a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership, both from Columbia Southern University.
Aaron Tyerman has been in emergency services for the last 19 years. After working in the field for 12 years, he promoted to Division Chief in charge of special operations and ultimately to Deputy Chief for King County Medic One, Kent, Washington, his current position. He has over seven years of experience at the chief level. He has also been a contract instructor delivering EMS curriculum at the National Fire Academy since 2014. Mr. Tyerman has a Bachelor of Science degree in Paramedicine from Central Washington University, Paramedic Certification from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and he is a current candidate for the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy.
The District hired Prothman, an executive search firm, to help with the search and hiring of a new fire chief. Prothman received 25 applications for the position. After a review of the written applications Prothman interviewed candidates that best met the district’s profile for the position. Prothman then met with the Board of Commissioners to review the results of those interviews and the Board of Commissioners chose the five finalists.
