Josh Henry poses with his children, Tyrus and Gweneth, and Lewisburg Fire Chief BJ Sewert after being sworn in as a firefighter/paramedic.
Terry Baver | The Register-Herald
LEWISBURG — Council hired Josh Henry as a firefighter/paramedic for the village’s fire department.
Henry, of Greenville, was one of six candidates considered for the position.
Fire chief BJ Sewert said three rounds of interviews were conducted with six candidates applying for the position.
“We got a pretty good idea of six people’s qualifications and how they would fit into our department,” BJ Sewert said.
BJ Sewert said the list of candidates was narrowed to three and then trimmed to two for the position.
BJ Sewert said a “meet and greet” was also held at the firehouse where the fire department officers had the opportunity to ask the two candidates questions.
“It got down to the point where the two were very qualified, but after he interviewed for the last time, the gentleman we decided to hire everyone said that’s our man,” BJ Sewert said of Henry.
Prior to accepting the firefighter/paramedic position with Lewisburg, Henry was employed by the Dayton fire department and was a captain with Spirit Emergency Medical Services in Greenville.
BJ Sewert said Henry will be an asset to the community.
“He’s the person we need and want. He’s had some background in small towns and small communities,” BJ Sewert said, adding Henry has “quite a few certifications.”
“He will be a good ambassador for the village,” BJ Sewert said.
BJ Sewert thanked the city administration for devising and council for approving the plan that provided the necessary money that allowed him to hire such a qualified candidate.
“I want to thank council, the municipal manager (Jeff Sewert), (chief fiscal officer) Susan (Laux) and (village attorney) Steve (Hobbs) for doing a very good job of devising the plan where we could hire Josh as a firefighter/paramedic,” BJ Sewert said.
“I am 90 percent sure we would not have been able to hire him or anybody else at the salary we had before,” BJ Sewert added.
Reach Terry Baver at [email protected].
