 NAME:Matt HolmPOSITION:Assistant ChiefYEARS OF SERVICE:39PERSONAL:Married to Janet, 2 Sons
Matt began his career in the fire service in 1972 as a “Jr. Firefighter.” Then, a Jr. Firefighter was someone who was under 16 years of age who could drill and learn the skills of firefighting, but could not participate in any actually firefighting activities. Matt started at 15 years old and when he turned 16, he became a Volunteer Firefighter, which he continued to do throughout his high school years.
Matt attended Bates Vocational School after high school and became a Resident Volunteer Firefighter, living at a fire station, when not in school. In late 1977, he was hired at Fire District 9 (South Hill) and was only the fifth paid person to be hired there. The department remained mostly a volunteer fire department well into the late 1980’s.
Matt continued to expand his knowledge in the fire department by first becoming a training instructor for the department in the early 1980’s, then a Division Chief overseeing the department’s facilities and apparatus through the mid 1980’s to early 1990’s. As the department grew, Matt tested and was promoted to the position of Lieutenant, then Captain and finally a Battalion Chief in 1987.
Following the merger of Parkland/Midland, Spanaway and South Hill/Summit in the mid 1990’s (forming Central Pierce Fire & Rescue), Matt became Battalion Chief of ‘B’ Shift overseeing the daily emergency operations. In 2000, he was promoted to Assistant Chief overseeing Emergency Medical Services. In 2006, Matt moved full time into the position of Assistant Chief of the Prevention & Education Division. He now oversees prevention programs presented to the public, as well as, working with the fire marshal’s office. Matt is also the department’s Public Information Officer and works closely with the media, as well as, handling public speaking engagements on a regular basis to community groups, civic groups, etc.
After 38 years with Central Pierce, Matt has seen a lot of change and a steady growth in the department. Following the merger with the City of Puyallup, the department now has approximately 300 paid firefighters and responds to approximately 24,000 emergency calls each year. Matt remembers his first year when the department responded on 165 emergency calls. Back in those days, there was only one paid Chief and one paid Firefighter.
Matt is married to his wife Janet (for 26 years) she works at Clover Park Technical College. He has two boys, one is attending Central Washington University, and the other is attending Eastern Washington University. When not at work, Matt enjoys the outdoors (mostly on his Harley). Every day is a great day, especially if the sun is shining!  NAME:Dana TissuePOSITION:Firefighter/ParamedicYEARS OF SERVICE:10PERSONAL:Married to Tamara Ladder Competition - AVERY ISLAND, La., January 9, 2007 – Sound the alarms! Did you know that Vashon Island, Wash. and Puyallup, Wash. are home to two of America’s most talented firehouse cooks? Jason Everett, a firefighter with the Vashon Island Fire and Rescue, and Dana Tissue, a firefighter with the Central Pierce Fire and Rescue, are trading in their turnout coats and Scott packs for aprons and spice racks, and a chance to cook their way to a $10,000 grand prize in the fourth national Tabasco® Cook & Ladder Competition to be held in New York City on February 6, 2007.
Everett and Tissue will go head-to-head with the culinary talent of eight other firefighters from across the country and serve up their favorite recipes – Blazin’ Hot Chicken and Smoky Salmon Chowder respectively – to vie for the title of “America’s Hottest Firehouse Cook.” A panel of food industry judges selected Everett and Tissue to participate in the heated cook-off based on their fiery recipe submissions, which each include one of the six Tabasco pepper sauces, and brief essays describing why their recipes are hottest and most creative dishes in a firehouse kitchen.
Grand prize is $10,000; second prize is $5,000; and third prize is $2,000. All prize money is divided evenly between the winning firefighters and their affiliated firehouses.
Contestants will prepare their recipes for a judging panel composed of chefs, journalists, firefighters and fiery food experts from McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco brand products.
The first Tabasco Cook & Ladder Competition took place in New York City in 1994 at the French Culinary Institute, and evolved into a series of regional cook-offs staged throughout the United States in 1995 and 1996. In 2000, McIlhenny Company held the first-ever national Tabasco Cook & Ladder Competition in New York City at The Institute of Culinary Education. For more information, please visit www.TABASCO.com. # # # The TABASCO® marks, bottle and label designs are registered trademarks and servicemarks exclusively of McIlhenny Company, Avery Island, LA 70513. http://www.TABASCO.comTABASCO® Country Store 1-800-634-9599  NAME:Rich ColemanPOSITION:Fire CommissionerYEARS OF SERVICE:38PERSONAL:Married, one son and daughter
Commissioner Coleman began his involvement with the fire service in 1972 and spent 18 years as a volunteer firefighter. He later wanted to become more involved with policies and procedures. He has served as an elected Fire Commissioner since 1994. At the same time, he became active with citizens' concerns and activities including involvement with the Midland Association, Midland Matters, and now, is the vice president on the Board for the Midland Community Center.
Commissioner Coleman first served during the merger of four fire districts which formed Central Pierce Fire & Rescue and recently has been integral in adding the City of Puyallup and North Puyallup to the department.
"I'll serve to see the department continue to grow and be one of the best for all the citizens. In the years to come, there will be many challenges and mountains to climb," Coleman said. "It will be a day-to-day joy to continue to serve as Commissioner and work with the wonderful people of Central Pierce Fire & Rescue."  NAME:Jack M. AndrenPOSITION:Fire ChiefYEARS OF SERVICE:42PERSONAL:Single, 3 Sons, 2 Grandsons, 1 Granddaughter
Chief Andren’s exposure to the fire service began at a young age. His grandparents lived one block from the old Tacoma Fire Station #9 (which is now the Engine House #9 Pub). As a kid, he’d walk over to the station for tours and to talk with the firefighters.
In the 4th grade, Chief Andren recalls a classmate’s father (a Tacoma Fire Department Lieutenant) visiting the class to show his firefighting gear and talk about the profession. From that point forward, he was hooked.
In 1968, Andren became a volunteer firefighter with the Parkland Fire Department. He attended the Tacoma Vocational/Technical (now Bates) Fire Training Course from 1969-1970. He was hired as a career firefighter for the Parkland Fire Department in March 1971. Over the next several years, Andren worked his way up through the ranks, promoting to Lieutenant in 1974 and Captain in 1980.
In 1973, Andren was instrumental in forming IAFF Local 2175, becoming it’s first president and serving in that position for over twenty years. For ten years he held the position of 4th District Representative to the Washington State Council of Firefighters and also served as its Secretary-Treasurer in 1995.
In 1995, the Parkland/Midland Fire Departments merged with the Spanaway and Summit/South Hill Fire Departments forming what is now Central Pierce Fire & Rescue. In August of 1996, Andren was promoted to Assistant Chief in charge of Community Services. In 1998, he assumed the Assistant Chief of Field Operations role.
In March of 2001, he was appointed “Interim Fire Chief” and on September 1, 2001, Andren was promoted to the position of Fire Chief. During his tenure, the department has grown substantially. Andren was instrumental in building three new fire stations and increasing minimum staffing on all fire engines and ladder trucks to 3-person crews. When asked about his biggest accomplishments he had two. 1) The annexation of the City of Puyallup Fire Department into Central Pierce Fire & Rescue. 2) The partnership with the City of Tacoma Fire Department which sends the closest units to emergencies regardless of borders.
He considers his highest priorities, safety of firefighters and improving emergency response capabilities to the citizens they serve. When asked what he enjoys the most about being Fire Chief, Andren stated, “I have the privilege of leading a group of highly motivated, dedicated people who share a common passion to serve their neighbors in their time of need.”
When he’s not busy leading Pierce County’s largest fire district, Chief Andren enjoys riding his Harley, traveling to Arizona and time with his friends and family.  NAME:Guy OverbyPOSITION:Deputy Fire MarshalYEARS OF SERVICE:19PERSONAL:Married to Marga Lee, 1 daughter Mahlia, 1 son Alex
I graduated from Rogers High School in 1984, spent the next several years working for a cabinet shop, and then Boeing. I was hired by the Puyallup Fire Department (now Central Pierce Fire & Rescue) on Sept. 1, 1991. I took a temporary appointment into the Fire Marshal’s office in 1998. I enjoyed it so much I took the next promotional exam and was promoted full time in early 2000.
During my 9 years in investigations, I have had 7 Deputy Fire Marshals come and go, as well as, 6 different supervisors. Hmmmm, not sure if it’s me or the job that’s wearing them all out.
Most of my spare time is spent in the gym. I have been competing in bodybuilding since 1993 and my wife (the love of my life) is a nationally ranked Figure/Fitness Competitor. People always ask how we tell our trophies apart. I always say it’s easy, most of mine say 2nd place and most of hers say 1st.
When not dieting for a show, my wife and I enjoy wine tasting and traveling to sunny destinations. Mexico and Las Vegas seem to be where we find ourselves most often. My other passions are my 1968 442 Convertible, golfing and, as much as I hate to admit it, I am a Fantasy Football addict.
 NAME:Jim McAdamsPOSITION:Battalion ChiefYEARS OF SERVICE:25PERSONAL:Married, 1 daughter and 1 son
I was born in High Wycombe, England on June 9th, 1962. My Dad was in the military and met my Mom there. Being military, we traveled a lot and we were stationed in Guam, Germany, Oklahoma, Texas, Massachusetts, Arizona, and finally Washington.
I attended Aylen Junior High and Puyallup High School. There, I played baseball and basketball. After graduation, I went to Bates Vocational Tech for fire service training and attended Fort Steilacoom Community College in pursuit of my Fire Command and Administration degree.
I was hired with the Summit/South Hill Fire Department in April of 1985 and decided to get away from the 2 year levies and see what the City of Puyallup had to offer for security in 1989 (insert laugh here). Now with the merger with Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, I am happy to be back with many of the people I worked with in the past and look forward to meeting all the new fellow employees.
I have been married to my wonderful wife, Heidi, for 22 years (18 of them happy, joke!). I have 2 great kids, Jessica is 18 and Luke is 16.
I enjoy traveling, fishing, camping, playing softball with CPFR, and basketball sessions whenever possible.
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