Alumnus brightens nonprofits in Fayette County
Steve Sappington recently volunteered his electrical skills as a licensed, non-restricted electrical contractor and master electrician for two local Fayette County, Georgia, nonprofits: DayGLOW Music and Royal Animal Refuge. DayGLOW Music is the vision of his friend and neighbor, Daniel De Los Reyes, percussionist for the Zac Brown Band. The organization’s mission is to provide music education to youths who do not have access to it. Sappington completed all electrical projects on Reyes’ property, including his workshop, recording studio and control room and personal residence. Since November 2018, Sappington has also done electrical work for Royal Animal Refuge to ensure the animals have a safe place to live. Sappington is a 2012 graduate with a master’s degree in occupational safety and health.
Award-winning Knight promoted to regional training officer for Navy region
Jason Kinlaw was recently promoted to regional training officer for Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services. Before being promoted, Kinlaw was selected as EMS Provider of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic Region and will go on to compete for the award at the Navy level. He was also recently awarded the Robert E. White Scholarship through the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association to continue pursuing his master’s degree in public administration at CSU. He is a 2010 graduate with a bachelor’s in fire science.
Alumnus to head fire department in New Mexico
Paul Bearce, a 2014 CSU graduate, was recently appointed to the position of fire chief for Rio Rancho, New Mexico Fire Rescue. Bearce has served the Rio Rancho community since 2001 and has been in the fire service since 1996. He received his master’s degree in emergency services management from CSU and completed the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. He is also a chief fire officer designee from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
Georgia police chief, Knight retiring after 30 years of service
DeKalb County, Georgia, police chief and CSU Knight James Conroy is retiring on April 30. During his 30-year tenure with the DeKalb County Police Department, Conroy worked a wide variety of assignments in the Criminal Investigation and Uniform Divisions and the Homicide and Assault Unit. His distinguished career also includes several leadership positions and service as the commander of the North Precinct, Special Victims Section, Information Services Division, and assistant chief of the Support Services Division. Conroy led the effort to increase public trust and overall transparency of the department’s activities. He received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from CSU.
Knight selected as emergency management director for Ohio county
Jeff Klein has been selected as the new director of the Wood County Ohio Emergency Management Agency. He is a graduate of the Ohio Fire Executive Program and Columbia Southern University, where he earned a degree in fire science.
Alumnus recognized as a VFW Teacher of the Year in Georgia
Jeff Bouchard, a teacher at Lee Middle School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, was recently honored as one of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Teachers of the Year for the state of Georgia. The VFW award recognizes teachers at elementary, middle and high school levels each year for exemplary commitment to teaching American history, citizenship and patriotism to their students. Bouchard, who teaches sixth-grade math and science at Lee Middle, served in the Army for 23 years. He holds a master’s degree in occupational safety and health from CSU.
Texas Knight heats up career with fire chief promotion
Taylor, Texas, has a new fire chief in Daniel Baum. He has served as the assistant fire chief in Pearland, Texas, for two years where he also served for two years as chief of the city of Pearland Emergency Medical Services. Before moving to Pearland, Baum was an EMS division chief and lieutenant for the Buda Fire Department, and also served as a paramedic with San Marcos/Hays County EMS. Baum is a graduate of CSU and the Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy. He also recently earned his Fire Service Chief Executive Officer certificate from the Texas Engineering Extension Service at Texas A&M University.
Alumnus, retired firefighter seeking seat on city council in Pennsylvania
Michael Capriotti, a 17-year veteran of the fire service and Navy veteran, is seeking a seat on the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, City Council. Capriotti, who left the city’s fire department in June 2017 to become an institutional safety manager at a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections facility, is currently seeking a place on the primary ballot. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from CSU.
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
