Impact
WARD: Ward 7
COMMITTEE:
$ IMPACT:
Title
Approval to hire Roy Acree as the Fire Chief for the City of Smyrna
Body
ISSUE: To hire Roy Acree as the Fire Chief. Mr. Acree is currently serving as the Interim Fire Chief for the City.
BACKGROUND: Roy Acree is a twenty-four year veteran of the Smyrna Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency.
He has held every position in the department, having received promotions at every available opportunity.
He is a visionary leader with a proven ability to identify and bridge gaps, form alliances, and increase community resiliency through hands-on involvement.
He is a team-builder with a focus on the departmental motto "Tradition of Excellence." Well respected within the department and recognized as a positive role model and leader.
He is considered by peers as possessing the highest levels of disaster management experience, including significant experience with both state and federally declared disasters.
He has a proven ability to leverage state and federal partnerships for the benefit of the community, and employs a creative approach to securing alternative funding sources to benefit the City of Smyrna and its residents.
And provides instructional leadership throughout the Metro-Atlanta region, playing a key role in the implementation of the National Incident Management System.
Ø He holds 10 different instructor certifications
Ø Is a Master-Certified Emergency Manager (something very few people in the state have)
Ø "Honor Graduate" of Smyrna's first large recruit program.
Ø "Honor Graduate" of Smyrna's first Paramedic class.
Ø FEMA's Top Award, "John D. Solomon, Whole Community Preparedness Award", Washington, D.C. 2014
Ø Commendation for "Commitment to Standards of Excellence in Emergency Management," FEMA 2008
Ø Commendation for "Outstanding service, dedication, and commitment while assisting Atlanta Fire during the Fire-Rescue International Conference", City of Atlanta 2007
Ø Public Service Award, for "extraordinary accomplishments that reflect the City's highest level of achievement," City of Smyrna 2006.
Ø Public Safety Award for Meritorious Service, Cobb Chamber of Commerce 2005.
Ø Commendation for actions taken during the hurricane Katrina campaign, State of Georgia 2005.
Ø Voted by peers as "Firefighter of the Year," City of Smyrna 2005.
Ø Commendation for the G8 Summit, State of Georgia 2004.
As Deputy Fire Chief;
Ø Achieved an unprecedented department-wide efficiency of functional operations while faced with significant revenue shortfalls. Reduced operational budget, over a four-year timeframe, by one million dollars while simultaneously increasing services available to Smyrna citizens.
Ø Played an instrumental role in Smyrna's reevaluation by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) which resulted in an upgrade of the Smyrna Fire Department's rating to a "Class 2 Department;" positioning the Smyrna Fire Department in the top 1% of departments state wide.
Ø Created internal practices that fostered a 90% reduction in Comp-Time benefits owed to employees.
Ø In 2009, successfully researched, created, and solicited for multiple federal grants through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, resulting in an award of a $1.7 million building grant and a $1.2 million staffing grant. The combination of these grants allowed the Smyrna Fire Department to build fire station 5, and hire the additional staff, in order to meet the increase service demands due to Smyrna's rapid growth and to bring Smyrna departmental service standards to a previously underserviced area of the community.
Ø Co-founded the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation (SPSF), a nonprofit that has been highly successful in coalition building between public and private stakeholders and that provides tens of thousands of dollars annually to Smyrna public safety causes. Current President of the SPSF.
As the Emergency Management Agency Director;
Brought about an exclusive partnership between FEMA and Smyrna EMA as the first community in the nation to fully participate in an "information to action" campaign, known as Prepare-A-Thon. This initiative is increasing overall "whole community" preparedness within the City of Smyrna, is significantly increasing overall community resiliency, and is spotlighting Smyrna's forward-thinking approach to emergency management. Acting as the program Lead, received the "2014 John D. Solomon, whole-community preparedness award" in Washington D.C.
RECOMMENDATION/REQUESTED ACTION: To approve the hire to Fire Chief