AP TRITON - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• School Secretary

Job Titles:

• Business Unit Leader
• Frank Blackley / Business Unit Leader

Chief Blackley has more than 35 years of experience in the fire service and has served with several departments in southeastern North Carolina. His service began at the Wilmington Fire Department, after spending nearly 10 years at the Wrightsville Beach Fire Department. In 1996, he began working with New Hanover County Fire Rescue as a fire inspector/investigator. In 1999, he returned to the Wilmington Fire Department as an inspector and was promoted to Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal in 2001. He served in this role until 2009, then transferred to Assistant Chief of Operations. In 2012, he assumed his last role as Assistant Chief of Support Services. Chief Blackley brings a long list of education, experience, and technical expertise to AP Triton. With experience in both combination and career departments, he possesses a demonstrated record of professionalism and a commitment to excellence. In addition to fire administration and management accomplishments, Chief Blackley has contributed to Vision 20/20 as a technical advisor for several states and development of a new Outcome Measures Guide. He has spoken nationally on Community Risk Reduction and how to use data in the decision-making process. He is familiar with the Center for Public Safety Excellence accreditation process and has written several categories for his department.

Job Titles:

• Protection District, CA - Fire Chief

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer

James is a dynamic, energetic executive with over 15 years of senior-level leadership, management and cross-industry consulting experience within high-growth, professional services, consumer products, clean technology, medical device, manufacturing, design, and commercial real estate for Fortune 500 corporations, early-stage companies, and private equity funded start-ups. James leads his own management consulting firm New10, Inc. (newton) focusing on the physics of organizations and works directly with owners, CEO's and senior managers across all areas of operations. He is a highly strategic thinker with an affinity for detail, operations, branding, creating successful products, sales and marketing plans, securing alliance partnerships and identifying markets for growth. His leadership style is characterized by collaborative and entrepreneurial vision, proficient strategic awareness of the competitive environment and keen business acumen all based upon a non-compromising integrity. James has had a broad-based career consulting for professional service firms in design architecture, real estate development with a special focus on urban adaptive re-use, health care services, and branded consumer products. As Vice President/General Manager of Ralph Lauren Footwear, for the RLX, Polo and Polo Sport brands, he was instrumental in redesigning and repositioning premier performance footwear products working directly with Ralph Lauren and Polo RL NYC-based design team. As his first formal company experience, James founded and operated the first athletic-leisure branded apparel company, Moda Prima for over 10 years until a large multinational corporation acquired it in 1996. Various roles over his career span President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Product Officer and Managing & Board Director. James currently serves as a Board Member for Goodwill Industries of San Diego, Inc., on the Goodwill Communications and Strategic & Long-Range Planning Committees and is a founding member of Catholic Men's Fellowship, a 19-year enduring men's faith ministry. He is an energetic speaker and presenter and is engaging through a personable and authentic communication style. James obtained his Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Northridge. He holds a Ph.D. from California School of Professional Psychology/Alliant International University, an American Psychological Association accredited graduate school for clinical practice, which he specialized in the area Child & Family. James lives with his wife and family in Carlsbad, CA.

Job Titles:

• Business Unit Leader
• John Stouffer / Business Unit Leader / Planning

Mr. Stouffer began his career in public safety in 1976 as a firefighter/EMT with Yakima County (WA) Fire District #10, where he established the first EMS program in the department. In 1980, he attended the Paramedic Program at Central Washington University and obtained a position with Yakima (WA) Medic One becoming a field paramedic and the organization's first Training Officer. In 1988, he was offered the position of the Director of the Yakima County (WA) Department of Emergency Medical Services. After holding that position for nine years, he took a position with Gresham (OR) Fire & Emergency Services as the EMS Coordinator, occasionally serving as the acting Chief of the Training Division, until his retirement in 2009. Since 1992, in addition to his other employment, he has been providing a wide variety of public safety consulting services to clients throughout the U.S. and Canada. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Western Region Manager, Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI) (2018-2020) Project Manager/Associate Consultant, ESCI Technical Advisor/Program Developer, Vision 20/20 & Institution of Fire Engineers EMS Research Investigator/Coordinator, Oregon Health & Science University EMS Coordinator (Captain), Gresham Fire & Emergency Services CEO/Senior Consultant, Pacific Northwest Associates, LLC Director, Yakima County Department of Emergency Medical Services Training Officer/Paramedic, Yakima Medic One Firefighter/EMT-Paramedic/Medical Services Officer, Yakima County Fire District #10 More than 40 years of diverse experience in fire and emergency medical services

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Operations
• Kurt Latipow / Vice President of Operations

Mr. Latipow has enjoyed 40 years in Public Safety with over 27 years of Public Administration in Fire Chief and Chief Officer positions. He has developed and implemented numerous comprehensive fire and emergency services related plans. Mr. Latipow has facilitated the adoption of those plans via a variety of governing bodies. Mr. Latipow offers extensive experience in developing and implementing emergency, strategic, master plans, and succession plans/management processes as well as developing and implementing Standards of Cover Analysis, Fees for Service Cost Recovery Programs, and ALS Program Development and Implementation for both transport and engine company-based organizations.

Job Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Partner
• Founding Partners

Kurt P. Henke has over thirty-nine years of experience in the fire service. He has held the ranks of Firefighter through Fire Chief. Prior to becoming the Fire Chief of the state's seventh largest fire department, Kurt served as Union President of one the state's largest labor groups, serving multiple Cities and Districts. Upon his retirement from the Fire Service in October 2014, he formed AP Triton Consulting, LLC, with his business partner, Scott Clough. Experience Chairman of the California Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Executive Board Member of the California Fire Chiefs Association from 2011 through 2014 Named California Fire Chief of the Year-2013 Professional Development & Education AP Triton founding partners Kurt Henke and Scott Clough share more than sixty years of experience in the fire service. They started their careers as firefighters and worked their way to Fire Chief and Assistant Chief in one of the largest fire departments in California. Their experience has placed them in lead roles on numerous programs that involved cutting edge changes in fire service business practices on the local, state, and national levels. Together, as principals of the firm, they take a hands-on approach to the oversight and continued development of the work products and fostering of solid industry knowledge and supported relationships.

Job Titles:

• Melissa Vazquez Swank / Professional Services Manager
• Professional Services Manager

Melissa Vazquez Swank possesses over 10 years of experience in project management and administration. She is an expert in administrative functions of project-related assignments, including overall planning, tracking, and documentation of numerous projects from the project proposal (RFP) phase to project closeout. In addition to project administration, Melissa specializes in quality assurance and recruitment processes. Melissa is responsible for ensuring the consistent quality of production processes by developing and implementing sustainable practices and leading the proofing and editing of final products. She plays a crucial role in business by ensuring that all products (reports, website, social media, surveys, and newsletters) meet certain thresholds of acceptability. Melissa works to improve the project's efficiency and profitability by reducing time or product waste. Melissa's professional experience, a keen eye for detail, and training qualify her to provide the highest level of project support. She has a passion for accuracy and fact-checking that permeates all aspects of her professional tasks.

Job Titles:

• Business Unit Leader
• Richard Buchanan / Business Unit Leader

Mr. Buchanan has been in emergency service for 33 years. His diverse background began as a volunteer in a small rural ambulance service. After several years in an urban setting gaining Paramedic experience, he returned to a rural setting and became the EMS Director for Gunnison Valley Hospital. During this time, he took a BLS volunteer agency to a paid ALS system serving over 3000 square miles. After 16 years in leadership, he transitioned to the South Metro Fire Department serving an additional 17 years in a variety of capacities including paramedic, company officer, EMS certification program development, Type I Haz-Mat team coordinator, and EMS Operations Officer. Over the past three years, he has provided full-time consulting services focusing on the development of master plans, organizational assessment, strategic planning, and standards of cover studies. Mr. Buchanan is currently an independent contractor providing consulting services for numerous organizations including AP Triton Consulting and maintains a part-time status at South Metro Fire Department as an instructor. Additionally, Mr. Buchanan provides training throughout Colorado in most areas of prehospital care and the management of hazardous material events. He has also consulted with fire and EMS departments to conduct utilization studies and implement asset management programs focusing on inventory distribution, cost reduction, and efficacy. Mr. Buchanan holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership, a Graduate Certificate in Project Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

Job Titles:

• Chief Information Officer
• Partner

Mr. Clough is a 33-year member of California's fire service, beginning his career as a hand crew member in southern California and working his way through the ranks. He has held the ranks of Firefighter/ Paramedic, Captain, Battalion Chief, and Chief of EMS. His last position was that of Assistant Chief assigned to the Office of the Fire Chief for one of the largest fire departments in California. Upon retirement from the fire service, he formed AP Triton Consulting, with his business partner Kurt Henke.

Job Titles:

• Administrative Services Manager
• Valerie Erwin / Administrative Services Manager

Valerie Erwin has more than thirty years of hand-ons administrative experience in private and public agencies, and in for profit and non-profit organizations. She specializes in organizational and project management, grant writing and program administration, quality assurance, budget development and monitoring, and event planning and cordination. Valerie possesses strong problem solving, critical thinking, interpersonal, and verbal and written communication skills. Her wide range of professional experience provides the backdrop for a no-nonsense approach to support operations with the development, implementation, review, and improvement of administrative systems, policies, and procedures.