Community and Business Leaders gathered at Northstone Country Club in Huntersville to recognize our Public Safety Officers of the Year - Police and Fire in the Towns of Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville. The Luncheon was Presented by Carolinas Telco Federal Credit Union. Supporting sponsors included Lake Norman Media Group, Business Today / Cornelius Today and WSIC.

Below is a Detailed Account of our Outstanding Firefighters. The Police were highlighted in a different story.

Bill Suthard - Huntersville Fire Department

This year's firefighter of the year for the Huntersville Fire Department is our very own Bill Suthard. Bill Suthard is a Firefighter/EMT, and the Public Information Officer. Bill joined the department in February of 2010 as a part-time FF/EMT member and has served the department for the last 15 years. Firefighter Suthard is well known for his up-to-date social media post and interviews with news media to give the citizens of Huntersville the most up to date reports on incidents happening in town that could impact their day to day lives.

Prior to joining the Department Bill served in the US Army and the Army National Guard for 11 years, before exiting, honorably, as s non-commissioned officer. Bill also works, full-time, for the Charlotte Fire Department where he is currently assigned as the Superintendent of the Communications Division. Bill directly manages the three executive leaders of the Division who in turn manage and run the 43-member Division. Bill also manages the Division’s public information, social media, and serves as an Adjunct Public Information Officer for that Department.

In his spare time when not working for Huntersville or Charlotte, Bill serves as instructor for the Federal Emergency Communications Division, a portion of the Department of Homeland Security. Getting involved and serving the public has always been Bill's passion from being a firefighter/Public Information Officer to running the Charlotte Fire Department 911 call center to educating the future as an adjunct professor for both the University of North Carolina Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College where he teaches media relations and public information.

This journey would not be possible without his family and support team. Bill is a 19-year resident of Huntersville where he resides with his wife Dawn and Son Jack. Jack is a NC certified firefighter-2 and is currently attending EMT training following in dad footsteps. Each year, in May, Bill also serves as the PIO for the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial service in Emmitsburg Maryland which he lists as one of his greatest accomplishments.

Pictured accepting for Bill is Assistant Chief Jason Dyer and Huntersville Commissioner Edwin Quarles. 

Battalion Chief Dale Brown - Davidson Fire Department

Chief Brown has served the Town of Davidson at an exceptional level since 2017. Chief Brown came to the Davidson Fire Department after a distinguished career with the Charlotte Fire Department. He began his full-time Davidson career at the Engineer level before being promoted to Battalion Chief in 2018. Currently, Chief Brown serves as the shift commander for “C” Shift and ensures that all shift related functions/requirements are met.

Part of Chief Brown’s administrative responsibilities are to help oversee the department’s Training Division. The department’s Training Division is one of the most critical aspects of the organization in that it is responsible for ensuring required training is being developed and delivered to fire department members. The Training Division is typically one of the most critical components of any public safety organization. Training requirements and standards are evolving annually, and it is critical for any public safety organization to have effective leaders managing that program. Chief Brown has done a fantastic job with ensuring the training needs of department members are always met.

Over the last few years, Chief Brown has led a partnership effort between the Town of Davidson and Feed NC to host an annual back to school, “Stuff the Truck” event that collects school supplies and needed food for area children in need of assistance. This has been a fabulous event and continues to grow annually.

Chief Brown sets a positive image as a Town of Davidson employee and can be pointed to as a role model employee. His contributions to the Town of Davidson and the Davidson Fire Department have not gone unnoticed and his work ethic is unmatched. He is deserving of this recognition.

Firefighter Kyle Graham - Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue

Kyle Graham joined the Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue Department in 2019. In his six years with our department he has worked extremely hard to gain the respect of his peers and has become one of our most dedicated and reliable members.

Kyle began his career as a junior firefighter in 1998 and served 12 years in New York prior to moving to North Carolina. Kyle holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from The State University of New York at New Platz . On top of being a dedicated member of the Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue Department he holds a fulltime job with the Lowes Corporation as well as serving in his most important role as a husband and father of three.

As you can imagine with a family of five, a career in finance and a parttime job as a firefighter Kyle’s life is extremely busy. Even with all of that going on in his life he keeps himself in top physical shape and has taken on extra responsibilities such as being the department secretary and the Fire Department Chaplain.

Kyle is that firefighter that you always want to see come in the door. You know he will give you 1000% each day, loves training, always conducts himself in an extremely professional manner and keeps a smile on his face throughout the shift. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Kyle for his extreme dedication to our department and congratulate him on being named firefighter of the year by his peers.