AMERICUS — The city manager, Steve Kennedy, has narrowed the field of candidates for the position of fire chief to four candidates: Roger Bivins, Franklin Edwards, William Hayes, and Roderick Jolivette.
Roger Bivins, began his career in 1992m as a firefighter with the Americus Fire and Emergency Services, in Americus, and over 25 years has grown through the ranks of engineer, captain and to his current position, battalion chief. He previously served in the U.S. Army. He holds an associate of applied science in fire science and is pursuing a bachelor’s of applied science in fire science from Columbia Southern University.
Franklin Edwards of Waxhaw, N.C., most recently served as the fire chief of the City of Margate-Coconut Creek, Fla. He began his career in firefighting in 1981, in Chesterfield County, Virginia, where he later served as deputy fire chief, then later moved on to serve as fire chief of the City of Pensacola, Fla., and public safety bureau chief and fire chief of Escambia County, Florida. He holds a bachelor’s of science in fire science from the University of Maryland, and a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

William Hayes Jr. currently serves as the chief program officer of Alabama Fire College (National Center for Fire and Life Safety). In 1990, he began his career in firefighting with the City of Morrow Fire Department. He has since served as chief of fire services for the City of Riverdale, director of public information and community affairs for the District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department and vice president of university relations for Columbia Southern University. He holds a bachelor’s of science in organizational leadership from Columbia Southern University, and is pursuing a master of business administration from Columbia Southern University, and a master of organizational leadership from Waldorf University.

Roderick Jolivette of Midland is currently the fire chief of Manchester Fire and Emergency Services. His career in firefighting began in 1988m with the City of Albany Fire and Emergency Services, where he also served as apparatus engineer, fire captain, lieutenant and assistant fire chief. Afterward, he served as fire program recruiter for Albany State University. He holds an associate of applied science in fire science technology, and an associate of applied science in management and supervisory development from Albany Technical College, a bachelor of arts in political science from Albany State University, and a master of public administration from Columbus State University.
Steve Kennedy, stated that these four candidates have both the experience and education to perform the job of fire chief for the City of Americus. He will be making a decision soon.