Knight will continue to lead the firm’s growing fire service practice
PLATTE CITY, Mo. — Fitch & Associates, a leading public safety and health care consulting firm, has named Steven Knight partner, effective January 1, 2018. For more than three years, Dr. Knight has served as the firm’s Fire Service Practice Lead. In that role, he led numerous assessments of fire service operations in cities and counties across the country, including standards of cover reviews and strategic planning projects.
Dr. Knight joined the firm after serving as the Senior Manager for Fire and EMS at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Dr. Knight has more than two decades of experience in fire and EMS, having retired in 2013 from St. Petersburg (Florida) Fire Rescue as an Assistant Fire Chief. He has served as a subject matter expert for both the National Fire Academy and the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). He also served as a team leader and peer assessor for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and held multiple Fire Science and EMS academic appointments.
“Steve’s expertise and experience have been a real asset to our team and for our clients for the last three years,” said Jay Fitch, PhD, founding partner and president of Fitch & Associates. “We are thrilled to have him as a partner as our fire service practice continues to grow.”
Dr. Knight received a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire and Safety Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Public Administration from Troy State University and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Research and Measurement from the University of South Florida. A nationally recognized speaker and author, Dr. Knight has completed the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program at the National Fire Academy, earning the A. Don Manno Award for Excellence in Research from the National Society of Executive Fire Officers and the 2007 Outstanding Research Award from the National Fire Academy and United States Fire Administration.
“It’s been an honor to help communities across the country improve fire service operations,” Dr. Knight said. “I’m excited for this opportunity and look forward to working with our clients to address the many challenges facing fire departments today.”
Dr. Knight and his family reside in Asheville, North Carolina.
For more than three decades, the team of consultants at Fitch & Associates, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Emprize Group, LLC, has provided customized solutions to the complex challenges faced by public safety organizations of all types and sizes. From system design and competitive procurements to technology upgrades and comprehensive consulting services, Fitch & Associates helps communities ensure their emergency services are both effective and sustainable. For ideas to help your agency improve performance in the face of rising costs, call 888-431-2600 or visit www.fitchassoc.com