Glenn Snyder
Glenn Snyder is employed with the Sarasota County Fire Department. He has been with Sarasota since 1996 and is currently a Battalion Chief with them. Prior to getting hired with Sarasota, Glenn started his career with the Nokomis Fire Department in 1990 and continues to volunteer. He is currently the Assistant Fire Chief of the Nokomis Fire Department. He holds the following State of Florida Certifications: Fire Instructor 1, Pumping Apparatus Operator, Live Fire Training Instructor II, Hazardous Materials Technician, and a State of Florida Certified EMT. Glenn is a H.O.T Instructor at the FDIC Conference in Indianapolis. Glenn is also a member of the Florida Fire Chiefs Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Florida Fire Training Directors Association, Suncoast FOOLS, and the International Association of Firefighters.
Howard Bearse
Howard Bearse has been the Fire Chief of Nokomis Fire Department since 2007. He started his career in 1973 in the Northeast, moved to Florida worked with the City of North Port Fire Department and retired in 2007 as the Deputy Chief of Operations. He started his southern career at Nokomis Fire Department in 1988. He holds a B/A from Florida Southern College, Fire Instructor 3, Live Fire Instructor II, Florida EMT. Howard is also a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Suncoast Fools, Florida Fire Chiefs Association and Florida Fire Training Directors association.
Jon Fullerton
Jon Fullerton has been with the Nokomis Fire Department since 2002. He started his career as a firefighter and is now a Captain. He has been an instructor with the academy starting in 2007 as an adjunct, and in 2008 became a state certified instructor 1. He is also a state certified firefighter/emt and a live fire training instructor. Jon is a graduate of the Nokomis fire academy in 2004 and now serves as an instructor.
Kyle Kosianowski
Kyle Kosianowski has been a member of the Nokomis Fire Department since 2001. He currently holds the title Captain. He also holds Instructor 1 and Live Fire Instructor 1 certifications. Kyle has been teaching with the Nokomis Fire Academy for two years.
Jentzen Barton
Jentzen Barton Lieutenant, I have been W/ The City of North Port Fire Rescue St 84 “B” shift for going on my 7th year. I’m working on year #10 in the fire service (it all started at Nokomis Fire Department in 1999), and started W/ NFA 5 years ago. I have my FO1, instructor, pump operator, and state journeyman tickets just to name a few. I would like to add a comment if you could just so everyone knows what I think about the fire service. “If this job was easy everyone would do it, so don’t be “that guy” work hard and train harder”!
Scott Titus
Scott Titus works for the City of North Port Fire- Rescue. He has been with North Port since 1993 and was a volunteer with Nokomis Fire Department for three years prior to that. His current position is that of Deputy Chief of Emergency Services. He holds Instructor III, Fire Officer I, Arson Investigator I, Tech-Rescue, Paramedic, and Live Fire Instructor I certifications. He received his B.A. degree from Eckerd College in Management with a focus on Public Safety and a minor in Human Development. Scott has taught for the Nokomis Fire Academy since 2004.
John Curry
John Curry is a native Floridian born in Sarasota, Florida. He has worked for the Sarasota County Fire Department since 2002. John has worked as a firefighter for the past 11 years and enjoys the excitement that comes with the job. He has been teaching with the NFA for the past 3 years. John’s qualifications include Fire Officer 1, State Certified Pump Operator and Instructor 1.
Rusty McCord
My name is Rusty McCord sr. current rank is Battalion Chief of “C” shift at station 71. I have worked for Englewood Area Fire Control District for twenty years. My career started in Nokomis in 1988 as a volunteer firefighter where I spent sixteen years moving through the ranks to Asst. Chief while also working at Englewood Fire Department. I have been an Instructor with Nokomis Fire academy for six years. I have an AS degree in Fire Science from Manatee College. Iam also state certified Fire Officer 1& 2, state certified Instructor 1 along with numerous other state certifications.
Steven Rose
My name is Steven A. Rose. I am a second generation firefighter at the Nokomis Fire Department. In 1992 I joined the Nokomis Fire Department at the age of 13 as a Fire Explorer. At the age of 18 I became a line firefighter for the Nokomis Fire Department. In that same year of 1997 I attended the fire academy and became a state certified firefighter, followed that next year with EMT school. I was hired as a professional Firefighter in 2000 by the Boca Grande Fire Control District. In 2001 I was hired by the Sarasota County Fire Department, I am currently assigned as the Captain of the Special Operations Division. I began my teaching career with the Nokomis Fire Academy in 2007. I am currently employed at the rank of Firefighter/Paramedic. I hold the qualifications of: Fire Officer I, Fire Instructor I, and Live Fire Training Instructor I.
Ryan Jekonski
I started my career in the fire service with the Nokomis Fire Department in 1999. I served as a volunteer at NFD until 2002, and I’ve continued my involvement with Nokomis as an instructor for the past 6 years. I was hired by the Sarasota County Fire Department in 2002. I am currently assigned to Sta#1-A-shift and hold the rank of Firefighter/EMT. My current qualifications in addition to Firefighter/EMT are for Fire Officer I and Fire Instructor I.
David Pressley
Dave Pressley is a career Firefighter/Paramedic serving Sarasota County Fire Department since September 2001. Prior to SCFD, Dave worked for Pasco County Fire Rescue for 6 years as a Firefighter/EMT. Dave began his firefighting endeavor with Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department in October 1992. After receiving his Fire Instructor I certification, Dave has been an instructor with the Nokomis Fire Academy since their inception. Dave has also has had the opportunity to teach the H.O.T. sessions at FDIC Indianapolis. Currently, FF Pressley is an SCFD Special Operations team member as well as a lead instructor specializing in rope, trench, confined space and structural collapse rescue disciplines. Dave also holds state certifications in Pump Operator, Fire Officer I, and Hazardous Materials Technician.
Sean Buckwalter
Sean Buckwalter is currently a firefighter paramedic with the Sarasota County Fire Department and is assigned to Station 1 on B-shift. He has been with SCFD since September 10, 2001. Sean began his career in the fire service as a volunteer with the Nokomis Fire Department in 1996 where he served as a Firefighter/EMT, Lieutenant, and finally as a Captain. His professional career began in 1998 where he was hired as a Firefighter/EMT with the North River Fire District where he served for 1 year. In 1999 he was hired by Charlotte County Fire and EMS where he worked for 2 years. Shortly after being hired with SCFD in 2001 he graduated from paramedic school and since then he has obtained state certifications for Fire Officer I, Fire Instructor I, and Haz-Mat Technician. He is a member of SCFD’s Special Operations team, SCFD’s Fire PDQI committee, an alternate on the Special Operations PDQI committee, and a board member of the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund. Sean has been an instructor with the Nokomis Fire Academy since 2003.