Adam Bales
Mount Vernon
Summary
I am an accomplished Fire Chief with a strong background in developing and implementing emergency response procedures and managing diverse teams. I am known for effective communication and problem-solving skills, enhancing operational capabilities and fostering collaboration across multiple agencies, and for the past 26 years my skills as a firefighter.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Fire Chief
City of Mount Vernon, KY
01.2024 - Current
- Chief of department comprised of 36 volunteer and 3 part-time paid members, responding to nearly 700 calls for service annually.
- Develop and implement annual operating budgets.
- Collaborate with mutual aid partners to coordinate emergency response efforts.
- Developed and implemented policies and procedures for uniform effectiveness.
- Worked with neighboring agencies to streamline communications making more effective emergency responses.
- Established procedures for continual monitoring of firefighting equipment and technology needs, making ongoing improvements in operational capabilities and effectiveness.
Fire Chief
GardaWorld-Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky
05.2016 - 04.2026
- Managed a department of 23 full-time firefighters to provide 24/7 emergency coverage to Toyota Motors' largest North American facility.
- Collaborated with on-site plant management groups as well as mutual aid partner agencies to create effective emergency response procedures.
- Developed and oversaw multi-million dollar operating budgets.
- Recruited, interviewed, hired, and managed personnel.
- Created Standard Operating Procedures for safe and effective fire department responses.
- Designed, developed specifications, attended pre-build and final inspection meetings at manufacturing facilities for the purchase of several new fire apparatus for multiple Toyota Facilities in North America.
- Supervised incident command operations, ensuring proper coordination among on-scene personnel and effective communication with mutual aid agencies.
- Strengthened interdepartmental communication through regular meetings, improving collaboration on projects involving multiple divisions.
- Enhanced firefighting strategies for better efficiency in extinguishing fires and reducing property damage.
- Established a schedule for cleaning and maintenance of apparatus, buildings, and equipment.
- Prepared and adjusted schedules to cover demand.
- Maintained the schedule of upkeep for NFPA fire equipment inspections.
Dairy Clerk
Kroger Company
06.2020 - 06.2023
- Managed dairy product inventory to ensure optimal stock levels and reduce waste.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of dairy department displays to enhance customer experience.
- Assisted customers with product selection, providing knowledgeable recommendations and excellent service.
- Restocked cases with new merchandise and removed expired items for proper disposal.
Sales Representative
911 Fleet & Fire Equipment
10.2013 - 12.2018
- Demonstrated product knowledge through detailed presentations and demonstrations to potential customers.
- Developed relationships with clients to understand needs and offer solutions effectively.
- Provided post-sale support, fostering long-term customer satisfaction and retention strategies.
- Enhanced client satisfaction by addressing concerns promptly and providing exceptional service.
- Conducted product demonstrations to educate customers on features, benefits, and competitive advantages.
- Increased repeat business by fostering trust-based relationships with key accounts through regular communication.
Education
EMT-B - Emergency Medical Technician
Madison County EMS
Richmond, KY10-2026
High School Diploma -
Southwestern Pulaski County High School
Somerset, KY05-2000
Skills
- Firefighting operations
- Incident command
- Workload prioritization
- Fire suppression
- Site inspections
- Emergency management
- Fire prevention
- Interagency coordination
- Building inspections
- Hazardous materials response
- Emergency response procedures
- Occupational safety
- Disaster preparedness
- Fire protection
- Records management
- Damage, danger, and loss prevention
- Personnel training
- Regulatory enforcement
- Rescue operations
- Municipal codes
- Alarm and fire detection systems
- Fire strategy
- Crisis communication
- Code enforcement
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Effective communication
- Active listening
- Decision-making
- Emergency vehicle operation
- Equipment operation
- Self motivation
- Public safety
- CPR certified
- Analytical thinking
- Hazardous materials handling
- Incident reporting
- Adaptability
- Emergency planning
- Facility and equipment maintenance
Certification
- Kentucky 400-hour Certified Firefighter
- Hazardous Materials Technician
- Rope Rescue Technician
- Confined Space Rescue Technician
- NIMS & ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 706, 800
- NFPA 1081 Advanced Interior Firefighting (40-hour)
- OSHA 30 for General Industry
- CPR/AED/First Aid Certified
- Scott Breathing Air Service Technician Level Certification
- American Safety & Health Institute Industrial Medical First Responder
- Extensive Training in Automobile and Machinery Extrication and Stabilization
- Auto Extrication Skills & Competency Evaluator for Rockcastle County Fire Departments
- 2300 Kentucky Fire Commission Training Hours
- Southeastern Kentucky Firefighters Association, 2nd Vice President, Chairman of Education Committee
- Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs Member
- CPAT Scheduled for July 2026
- IFSAC Firefighter 1 & 2 Scheduled for July 2026
Timeline
Fire Chief
City of Mount Vernon, KY
01.2024 - Current
Dairy Clerk
Kroger Company
06.2020 - 06.2023
Fire Chief
GardaWorld-Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky
05.2016 - 04.2026
Sales Representative
911 Fleet & Fire Equipment
10.2013 - 12.2018
EMT-B - Emergency Medical Technician
Madison County EMS
High School Diploma -
Southwestern Pulaski County High School