Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Whitfill.
Hi Chad, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I started 5 days after graduating high school, got into my initial fire academy, and fell in love. I knew immediately that I would always be in emergency response in some facet or another. Most definitely took turns in different areas, whether in a fire department directly or outside. In the end, we found this knitch and went full speed ahead. I’ve met some great people to work with, and both of my business partners (David Koenigsberg and Lonnie Bozeman) are very wise in multiple areas and have been there to help correct misguided detours when needed. Also, my family directly has been a major contributor to our success, whether it’s the support from my wife or my windshield partners in my children; they have always been there for me when I needed them. As mentioned above, fire departments are about family; we hold that close to our business outlook. If we can come in and help relieve some of the pressure they receive from the apparatus side, we will be doing our job to help each call a little more accessible.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No one has a smooth road. We all hit our speed bumps; some turn into mountains, others smooth out. It comes down to how challenging your chin is and whether you will overcome the obstacles or give up. Momma didn’t raise a quitter, so I’m still here, the business is still here, and as long as there are apparatus issues in the emergency response world, we will always be there to help.
Thanks. What else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
No offense to anyone here, but a mechanic is a mechanic, some good, some bad. Our drive to be a part of the department sets us apart as if we were them. We take and feel an immense amount of pressure to keep these guys on the road working correctly. Just in this interview alone, it’s taken me three months to get this out to you because we put them first over many things. It’s not that we don’t care about the others, but we know these trucks roll on emergencies for many people’s worst days; their trucks should be their last concern, while the call itself should be there first.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
Be prepared! Due to some of the material delays, things got pushed and pushed. Too often did we have a moment where if we had just spent the extra dollar, we could have something in stock rather than wait for sometimes up to 10, 12, or 16 months for items to come in. COVID-19 is most definitely something I don’t want to go through again; far too many things were lost in ways never imaginable 5 or 10 years ago.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.texasfireresources.com
Image Credits
Brittney, Chad Whitfill, and Lonnie Bozeman
