Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Johnathon Paholke

Effingham,IL

Summary

Highly motivated and experienced firefighter with a comprehensive understanding of fire service operations and emergency responses. Demonstrates exceptional decision-making abilities under pressure while maintaining composure in high-stress situations. Offering over 20 years of expertise in responding to a wide range of emergencies, from multi-alarm fires, haz-mat incidents, to EMS calls. Committed to teamwork, operational excellence, and continuously taking on additional responsibilities to support department objectives and community safety.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Firefighter/EMT

City of Effingham
07.2021 - Current
  • Responded to emergency incidents, including fires, hazardous materials situations, medical calls, and rescue operations, ensuring efficient and effective mitigation of emergencies.
  • Operated and maintained firefighting equipment, including hoses, ladders, pumps, and rescue tools.
  • Assisted in programming and maintaining department radio communication systems to enhance operational efficiency and coordination.
  • Supported firefighter training programs by conducting drills and instructional sessions to enhance team preparedness and skill development.

Director of Operations

E-Environmental Operations
10.2020 - Current
  • Manage the day-to-day operations of six company locations, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and seamless execution of business objectives.
  • Provide leadership and oversight to a management team fostering a high-performance environment and ensuring operational excellence safely.
  • Direct the coordination of emergency response efforts for environmental spills and electric vehicle (EV) incidents, ensuring swift and effective mitigation strategies.
  • Oversee the development and implementation of operational strategies and policies to drive organizational growth, enhance productivity, and improve overall efficiency.
  • Lead large loss projects, managing subcontractors, coordinating emergency services, and ensuring successful project execution within scope, budget, and timeline.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and emergency response teams to optimize operational readiness and compliance with industry standards.

Intelligence Analyst

Illinois State Police/Mutual Aid Box Alarm System
02.2015 - 10.2020
  • Provided decision-makers with timely, accurate, and relevant assessments of emerging threats to support strategic and operational planning.
  • Conducted in-depth analysis of open-source intelligence (OSINT) to identify potential threats, vulnerabilities, and security risks.
  • Developed and produced multi-source intelligence reports and analytical products in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other federal agencies.
  • Served as a liaison between Illinois Fire Service Special Operations Teams, Illinois State Police, Illinois State Police SWAT, and the Illinois Secretary of State Police Bomb Squad to enhance interagency coordination and emergency response capabilities.
  • Facilitated information-sharing and intelligence dissemination among local, state, and federal partners to strengthen public safety and homeland security efforts.

Battalion Chief

Shumway Fire Protection District
02.2006 - 02.2020
  • Commanded one of two stations within the Shumway Fire Protection District, overseeing operations and personnel, including two Lieutenants and ten Firefighters.
  • Provided incident command at fire, rescue, and EMS scenes, ensuring effective coordination, resource allocation, and operational efficiency.
  • Maintained accurate records and facilitated state reporting for all department responses, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and department policies.
  • Led the development, implementation, and revision of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs) to enhance operational effectiveness and firefighter safety.
  • Supervised personnel training and readiness, ensuring firefighters were equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond to a wide range of emergency situations.
  • Fostered interagency collaboration and coordinated with mutual aid partners within MABAS to improve response capabilities and resource sharing.

Education

Associate of Science - Fire Science

Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

High School Diploma -

Effingham High School
Effingham, IL
05-2002

Skills

  • EMT Basic (2001 – Present)
  • Firefighter II (2007)
  • Hazmat Technician B (2008)
  • Instructor I (2009)
  • Fire Investigator (2009) expired
  • Rope Rescue Ops (2010)
  • Fire Service Vehicle Operator (2011)
  • Haz-Mat Incident Command (2014)
  • Advanced Firefighter & Firefighter III (2018)
  • Leadership Development and Decision Making Program, Chief Officer Level (2019)
  • IFSI Active Shooter (2020)
  • Fire Department Incident Safety Officer (2021)
  • Vehicle Machinery Technician (2022)
  • NIMS (Multiple)

Accomplishments

  • 2008 Effingham City Employee of the year
  • 2008 Top Community Leader Under 40
  • 2008 Life Saving Award, IL Association of Police Chiefs
  • 2010 Outstanding Achievement, International Arson Investigators
  • 2014 Shumway Fire, Firefighter of the Year
  • 2018 Task Force Leader for the Taylorville, IL Tornado
  • 2024 Medal of Honor

Timeline

Firefighter/EMT

City of Effingham
07.2021 - Current

Director of Operations

E-Environmental Operations
10.2020 - Current

Intelligence Analyst

Illinois State Police/Mutual Aid Box Alarm System
02.2015 - 10.2020

Battalion Chief

Shumway Fire Protection District
02.2006 - 02.2020

Associate of Science - Fire Science

Lake Land College

High School Diploma -

Effingham High School

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