Where are you from and how did you come to reside in Jackson? I am originally from Rocky River, OH. It’s a suburb of Cleveland. My best friend Emmett since we were kids brought me out here. He gave me a job on a ranch here and I’ve never looked back.

What do you do for work? I work for a ranch; I take care of 25 horses all year. A lot of rides, irrigating, and projects in the summer. Moving snow, projects, and looking after the horses in the winter.

What do you do in your free time? Riding horses, snowboarding, and fly fishing. Other than that, putzing around the ranch somewhere.

How long have you been a part of JH Fire/EMS? About 4 years.

What made you want to join originally? I wanted to help people out. There have been many times that I have felt useless in certain situations. This was a good route to pursue to excel in education and to seek out the necessary training to give me a more well-rounded skill set. Now I can apply that within my community and wherever else I’m at…it makes me feel a little more useful being able to help others who may be having a bad day.

What is your role in the department? I am a volunteer at Station 6.

What are your current certifications? Structure/Wildland Firefighter, EMR, Hazardous Materials, EVOC.

What are your future goals in the department? To start excelling in more certifications and to spend more time around the stations.

Favorite part of volunteering so far? The community of people that I have met within the organization. There are so many amazing people, and they are always looking to help no matter what the situation. I just hope I can give the same back.

What about the most challenging? Showing up for calls and putting in quality volunteer time.

What advice would you give new recruits? It’s a lot of work, but it’s completely worth it. Just keep grinding. It’s a great feeling, being a part of such an awesome team.

Is there anything you wish you had known when starting? That I’m still not the best student…

What is the most valuable trait for someone to have in this line of work? Generally to have a more well-rounded view on everyday situations. Applying my certs and knowledge together really makes me see things differently.

What do you think you bring to the department? I think I bring a good trade background. I have gotten to learn plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and all sorts of other trades throughout my life. I can apply those to different scenarios when we go on house calls.

Do you have a mentor or someone that you look up to in the department? My mentor is Tyler Hartz. All time legend. I look up to so many people in the department, though. It’s pretty cool just being a part of the team. Everyone definitely brings their own different set of skills.