Meet the Fire & EMS, LLC Team

Jake started with a professional fire service in 1996 after watching his father work in the same profession for over 36 years at a municipal fire department in the same area. Jake quickly rose through the ranks making Lieutenant and then Captain. He spent several years as Captain of the training division overseeing eight recruit schools in 2 years. He holds multiple NPQ certifications and Blue Card certifications. He is the former head of Camp Puzzle, one day camp for individuals on the spectrum, and has chaired numerous committees during his career. He has an Associate's degree from West Georgia Technical College in Fire Science and a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia Southern University in Fire Science. He has also taught Fire Fighter I and II on the college level at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. 

Chris joined the fire service in 1996. Over the years, Chris was promoted through the ranks from firefighter until he retired early in 2018 at the rank of Captain. Chris served on the Hazardous Materials team for almost a decade and holds the certification of hazmat specialist in radiological, biological, and nerve agent response. Chris obtained his paramedic license just before his promotion to Lieutenant. Chris served as a training officer in the training division for two years and then served on the med-ops team as a tactical medic with the SWAT team just before his promotion to Captain. Chris resigned/retired early from the fire service in 2018 with 21 years of service after a close friend experienced a medical-related line of duty death while Chris was the acting battalion chief. 

Hoke began his fire service career by serving as a volunteer firefighter from 1984-1991 in his home department of Coweta County (GA) Fire Rescue. After working 10 unfulfilling years in manufacturing, he joined the professional fire service in 1996 with Cobb County (GA) Fire & Emergency Services and was voted the “Top Recruit” for his Recruit Academy. Hoke earned the ranks of Engineer, Lieutenant, and then Captain. He served 1 1/2 years as a Lieutenant in the Training Division and the last 4 years of his career as a Captain in the Training Division, overseeing multiple recruit academies and organizing department-wide training. During his 33+ year career, he spent 4 years on the Hazardous Materials Team, served 10 years on the Honor Guard, and worked 5 years as a part-time firefighter with Coweta County Fire Rescue. He attended Southern Polytechnic State University and earned an Associate Degree in Fire Science from Chattahoochee Technical College. He holds multiple NPQ certifications, is an EMT-I, and is Blue Card certified. He was responsible for the research and development that led to the purchase of the department’s flashover simulator in 2018 and served as the lead instructor for the program until his retirement in December of 2022. Even though his firefighting career has ended, Hoke still maintains a passion to serve and improve the fire service. In his free time, Hoke enjoys hunting, fishing, and beach and mountain trips with his wife and best friend Jill. They reside in Newnan, GA and have 6 children and 8 grandchildren.

Lance Sutton is a highly experienced and accomplished fire service professional with over 24 years of distinguished service in the field of emergency services. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration and numerous industry-leading certifications, including Certified Fire & Explosives Investigator and Fire Officer IV, Lance brings a wealth of expertise to his role.
Throughout his career, Lance has demonstrated exceptional leadership, analytical abilities, and a steadfast commitment to public safety. As a Fire Captain with the Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue Department, he managed personnel, led emergency responses, and spearheaded innovative training programs to enhance collaboration with other agencies. Now, as a Fire & Life Safety Specialist with Bureau Veritas, Lance prioritizes safety and innovation, ensuring the compliant life safety design and operation of cutting-edge facilities in the battery energy industry.
With a proven track record as a published fire author and recognized for his achievements,  including supervisory commendations and firefighter of the year awards, Lance is a respected and invaluable asset to the Fire & EMS LLC team and the clients they serve.