James Brower
Kila,MT
Summary
Highly motivated, responsible, hardworking individual that loves working in a hands-on environment. Advanced abilities in fire management, qualified background, emergency response, Incident Management, problem solving, and critical thinking.
Dedicated firefighting professional with great leadership, planning and scene management abilities. Talented in keeping crew members at peak performance with continuous training and expert motivational talents. Ready for any challenge and certified in multiple areas.
High-performing Board Member with substantial experience providing strategic leadership and governance to organizations. Proven track record of success in managing budgets and making sound business decisions. Team-oriented and driven to building relationships and fostering culture of excellence.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Fire Captain/AEMT
Smith Valley Fire District
07.2015 - Current
- Perform normal firefighter and AEMT duties as requested, station maintenance and apparatus maintenance
- Task with coordinating or assisting with training and scheduling training for district
- Responded to emergency medical calls to perform lifesaving procedures and other emergency medical services.
- Provided seamless patient handoff to hospital staff by delivering thorough reports while maintaining confidentiality standards.
- Mentored new firefighters in developing essential skills and understanding departmental expectations for performance excellence.
- Improved firefighter safety through consistent training sessions and adherence to established guidelines.
- Inspected apparatus, equipment, grounds, and stations for proper order and condition.
Emergency Medical Service Administration Board
Flathead County
01.2019 - Current
- Appointed by County Commissioners, 1 of 5 members on County Board that hires county Medical Director, approves budget for County EMS Manager to operate within, and approves medical policies and procedures within the county
- Reviewed financial statements and budgets for fiscal responsibility, ensuring proper allocation of resources.
- Collaborated with fellow Board members to develop strategic plans, setting organizational goals and objectives.
- Contributed to long-term financial planning through prudent investments and responsible fund management decisions.
Division Supervisor Northern Rockies Incident Management Team
Northern Rockies Coordination Group
01.2016 - Current
- Have been a Division Supervisor in the Northern Rockies since 2016
- Currently a Structure Protection Specialist (trainee)
- Upheld high standards of professionalism while interacting with the public during prescribed burns or emergency situations.
- Reduced wildfire damage to property by employing effective structure protection measures.
- Supported incident management teams with accurate mapping, GPS tracking, and real-time information sharing.
Department of State Lands
State of Montana
06.2006 - Current
- Wildland Firefighter/Engine Boss/Task Force Leader/Division, Kalispell Unit
- Work seasonal for DNRC for past 13 years on fires across the County and out of state.
- Enhanced wildfire containment by coordinating and executing strategic fire line construction.
- Upheld high standards of professionalism while interacting with the public during prescribed burns or emergency situations.
- Optimized firefighter performance through active participation in daily physical training sessions designed to maintain endurance levels.
- Improved crew safety through diligent hazard assessment and risk management during incidents.
- Established water supplies, connected hoses and directed water onto fires.
Training Coordinator
Flathead County EMS/FSA
10.2015 - 07.2017
- Serve as a representative for the EMS Office in the Mass Casualty Planning Group
- Act as an agency rep during Wildland season for wildland fires.
- Maintained accurate records of employee participation in training events, tracking progress towards learning objectives.
- Collaborated with department managers to design customized training plans aligned with organizational goals.
- Coordinated logistics for training events, including scheduling facilities, securing necessary equipment, and managing participant registration.
- Provided ongoing coaching and mentoring support for employees seeking professional growth and development.
EMS Program Assistant
Flathead County EMS
08.2011 - 10.2015
- Preformed a wide range of tasks, most have to do with organizing and keeping track of the EMS providers in the Flathead County
- Worked with monitoring the EMS system in the county ranging from dispatching of medical calls to agency responses.
- Assisted with planning and coordinating day-to-day and special program activities.
- Provided administrative support to department leadership, streamlining daily operations through efficient task prioritization and delegation skills.
- Supported planning and coordination of the EMS program and associated activities.
Fire Chief
Marion Fire District
01.2006 - 06.2015
- All duties of operating as Fire District: scene management, budgets, personnel management and recruitment and retention.
- Oversaw proper implementation of best practices, policies and procedures in alignment with regulations and operational needs.
- Managed department budget effectively, prioritizing essential equipment purchases and maintenance without compromising safety standards.
- Supervised incident command operations, ensuring proper coordination among on-scene personnel and effective communication with external agencies.
- Updated standard operating procedures to reflect advancements in firefighting technology and best practices.
Lathe Operator
Plum Creek Plywood
05.2002 - 07.2011
- Started out pulling green chain and moved up to the Lead Lathe Operator; duties included maintaining production, keeping up all maintenance on the lathe
- Collaborated with team members to streamline production processes, resulting in improved workflow and reduced downtime.
- Had to have a very good working knowledge of all job centers and the mechanics of machines along with how to fix them, also in charge of the production line from the Vats to the end of the Green Chain.
- Enhanced production efficiency by optimizing lathe machine settings and implementing preventative maintenance measures.
- Served as a valuable resource for others seeking guidance on best practices concerning lathe operations.
Assistant Fire Chief
Marion Fire District
06.2004 - 12.2005
- All duties as Assistant Fire Chief: scene management, budgets, personnel management and recruitment and retention.
- Reduced property damage caused by fires through proactive risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
- Enhanced training programs for firefighters, resulting in increased efficiency during real-life emergencies.
- Established strong relationships with neighboring jurisdictions through mutual aid agreements and collaborative training efforts.
Firefighter/Captain
Marion Fire District
02.2001 - 06.2004
- Standard firefighting and Captain Duties
- Mentored junior firefighters in their professional development, fostering a supportive learning environment within the team.
- Reduced property damage by directing effective salvage and overhaul procedures during fire incidents.
Education
GED -
Flathead High School
Kalispell, MT03.1995
Skills
- Incident Command
- Attention to Detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking Abilities
- Self Motivation
- Professionalism
- Policy Enforcement
- Personnel Management
- Emergency Response Procedures
- Training Oversight
- Public Education
Experiencetrainingqualifications
- ICS Classes
- 100B
- 200
- 300
- 400
- 700
- 701
- 701a
- 702a
- 703a
- 704
- 706
- 800B
- 802
- 907
- Certified Courses
- Firefighter I & II
- National Parks Service
- NFPA 1021 Fire Officer
- NREMT
- National Registry
- AEMT
- Montana State
- S-130 Basic Wildland Firefighting
- NWCG
- S-190 Introduction to Fire Behavior
- L-180 Human Factors
- L-280 Followership to Leadership
- S-133 Look up, Look Down, Look Around
- S-131 Squad Boss
- S-200 Initial Attack Incident Commander
- S-231 Engine Boss
- S-230 Crew Boss
- S-336 Tactical Decision Making in the Wildland Fire
- S-215 Fire Operations in the Wildland/Urban Interface
- S-212 Wildland Power Saw (A Level)
- L-381 Incident Leadership
- S-234 Ignition Operations
- 2-330 Strike Team/Task Force Leader
- NWCG (All Hazard)
- S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior
- S-390 Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Calculations
- S-339 Division/Group Supervisor
- M-410 Facilitative Instructor
- FI-210 Wildland Fire Investigator
- MGT-346 EOC Operations & Planning for all Hazards
- TEEX
- L-947 EOC/IMT Interface Course
- EMI
- G290 FEMA Basic Public Information Officer
- DES/FEMA
- Hazardous Materials Awareness
- AHIMTA
- IS 907 FEMA Active Shooter
- FEMA
- Group Crisis Intervention (Basic)
- ICISF/UMBC
- AHA BLS CPR/First Aid Instructor
- AHA
- Stop the Bleed Instructor
- ACS
- Rescue Task Force (Instructor)
- NTOA
- Ice Rescue Instructor
Timeline
Emergency Medical Service Administration Board
Flathead County
01.2019 - Current
Division Supervisor Northern Rockies Incident Management Team
Northern Rockies Coordination Group
01.2016 - Current
Training Coordinator
Flathead County EMS/FSA
10.2015 - 07.2017
Fire Captain/AEMT
Smith Valley Fire District
07.2015 - Current
EMS Program Assistant
Flathead County EMS
08.2011 - 10.2015
Department of State Lands
State of Montana
06.2006 - Current
Fire Chief
Marion Fire District
01.2006 - 06.2015
Assistant Fire Chief
Marion Fire District
06.2004 - 12.2005
Lathe Operator
Plum Creek Plywood
05.2002 - 07.2011
Firefighter/Captain
Marion Fire District
02.2001 - 06.2004
GED -
Flathead High School
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