Meet Your Instructors
We know that learning is easier when you have an excellent instructor. That’s why most of our educators have achieved an advanced degree in their field. Our instructors are passionate about the subjects they teach and bring this enthusiasm into their seminars and courses.
Steve Kimker
Steve Kimker retired from Richmond Heights Fire Department after serving for 25 years. The last 5 years he served as the training captain, in the central core of St. Louis County, Missouri. For 19 years, Steve was a lead instructor for the St. Louis County Fire Academy. He is a Level II instructor and Lead Evaluator for the Missouri Division of Fire Safety, teaching and evaluating classes in multiple disciplines on a regional, state, and national level. He has AAS degree in Fire Science from ECC and is an Advanced Tactical Paramedic. Additionally, Steve specializes in teaching vehicle extrication, tactical medicine, technical rescue, swift water rescue, and SCBA.
Teaching Vehicle Rescue and Tactical EMS classes Internationally has allowed Steve to hone his skills and techniques. His attention to detail and street-smart approach to vehicle extrication enables him to take complicated situations and break them down into a streamlined approach. One of Steve’s biggest strengths is helping students learn to remain calm during challenging situations. His strength in teaching students to calmly evaluate, plan, and execute real-life scenarios provides them the opportunity to develop their skill sets in order to perfect their techniques.
Eric Cranmer
Eric Cranmer is a Fire Chief/ Paramedic for the Godfrey Fire Protection District in Godfrey, Illinois. He has been in the fire service for 33 years and 28 years as Paramedic. Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Management -Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He also holds various Illinois certifications; Fire Instructor II, Hazmat Technician B, Fire Investigator, Vehicle Machinery Operations as well as a ROCO trained rope technician. Eric has served as a Fire/ EMS instructor for Lewis and Clark Community College teaching Paramedic, EMT, ITLS, PEPP and ACLS along with the college’s fire science program. Eric also instructs Fire, rescue and EMS training at Phillips 66 Refinery – Wood River Illinois, for the fire and rescue teams that operate in the facility. Eric has spent many years honing his skills and knowledge and enjoys teaching students everything he has learned.
Cody Martin
Cody Martin is a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District. Cody started 23 years ago as a rural volunteer firefighter. Cody then accepted his first career position in 2010 with the Sullivan FPD and later served the district as a Captain. Cody has spent countless hours to further his knowledge and education in the fire service. Cody believes that he can pass on a variety of different perspectives from working in all volunteer to all career departments. Cody is a Mo Fire Instructor 1 and loves to pass on his knowledge and experiences with others.
Aaron Cranmer
Aaron Cranmer is a Firefighter/ Paramedic with the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District in north St. Louis County and a Flight Paramedic. Aaron has been in the fire service for the past 8 years, he started with the Godfrey Fire Protection District, then was hired full time in St. Louis County Missouri. Aaron has had a great interest in teaching since he started in the fire service. Aaron graduated with an Associate Degree in Fire Science from Lewis and Clark College in 2014, Aaron is fire instructor 1 in Missouri and Illinois he also is an instructor with Lewis and Clark college and the Greater St. Louis County Fire Academy. Aaron is a certified rescue medical practitioner and a FEMA USAR Medical Specialist. He also specializes in teaching basic firefighter I and II, rope rescue, confined space, auto extrication and EMT/ Paramedic classes, He is always trying to learn more and further his education to be an excellent instructor and offer the most knowledge and best experience to his students. A great trait of Aaron is that he will ensure that all of his students understand the information fully and doing whatever it takes to achieve success and develop their skillset and knowledge.
Clay Yarbrough
Clay Yarbrough has served for the past 14 years in the fire service. He has been an adjunct instructor with Georgia Fire Academy for 8 years. Clay has a broad knowledge and instructs; crash rescue extrication, technical rope rescue, confined-space, trench rescue, structural collapse and rescue systems. Clay currently serves as a Truck company Engineer for Newton County Georgia Fire and Rescue. Clay has an easy going demeanor with an eye for excellence, he works hard to help bring out the best in his students and others. “Repetition, skill development, and muscle memory is key! Train correctly until you can’t do it wrong”
Josh “Tiny” Whitten
Josh “Tiny” Whitten has over 10 years of service with the city of Griffin (Griffin Fire-Rescue). He is also an EMT having served several years with local hospital-based EMS. Aside from his service with his home department, he is an active member of Georgia Search and Rescue Task Force 4 and an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy. He is certified in rope, confined space, trench, structural collapse, hazardous material, wilderness, swift water and vehicle rescue all at the technician level. He is a lead or assistant instructor for most of the disciplines at the local state fire academy. He also helps teach Rescue Systems 1: The Fundamentals of Heavy Rescue for the state of Georgia. Aside from the fire service, he enjoys operating heavy equipment and lifting weights as a former strongman and competitive powerlifter. He is most proud of being a husband and a father.
Matt Capshaw
Matt Capshaw is a 20 years veteran with the Oklahoma City Fire Department. He served 8 years in the United States Marine Corps before becoming a firefighter. Matt currently is protecting the citizens of OKC as a Lieutenant assigned to Ladder 16/Rescue 16; he has held this assignment for the past 6 years. Matt is an NFPA 1670 certified vehicle rescue instructor, with a desire to learn everything he can about technical rescue. He has concentrated in honing his skills and abilities in Vehicle Rescue, Hybrid vehicles, and Electric vehicle response. Matt feels it is important to keep up to date on the ever-changing world of vehicle rescue. He has attended classes all over the country and seeks to improve his knowledge every day. Matt enjoys sharing what he has learned with his fellow firefighters and students at every opportunity. Matt also has a background with operating and working on heavy machinery and understands the challenges of heavy rigging and stabilization needed for these types of responses.
“I pride myself on quickness of extrication and safety of the patient and my fellow firefighters. Every time I take a class or teach a class, I learn skills that make me a better firefighter, fire officer and Instructor.”
Matt’s hard charging, motivated demeanor makes him a great instructor, mentor, and leader!
Nick Hercules
Nick is a 27 year veteran in emergency services, with the last 23 of those years serving for the Webster Groves Fire Department in St. Louis County Missouri. He currently hold the rank of Captain/ Paramedic and serves as the department training officer. Nick is a NFPA 1670 certified extrication instructor and carries a broad knowledge and skill set regarding extrication, alternative fuel vehicles as well as electric vehicles. Nick is a great instructor and shows great excitement in his teachings and is always furthering his education to offer the best education experience for his students.
Matthew Antolino
Matthew Antolino is a Firefighter/EMT with the South Essex Fire Department (New Jersey) and a Fire Instructor with the Passaic County Fire Academy in Wayne, New Jersey. A career firefighter since September of 2014, he has been involved in the Emergency Services fields since 1994; Certified in August of 1995 as an Emergency Medical Technician, he entered the fire service in 1998 as a volunteer. Matt is a ProBoard & IFSAC Level II Instructor, teaching multiple disciplines within the fire service locally, regionally, and internationally. In 2018 he was invited to teach as part of the H.O.T. Instructor Cadre for the FDIC International program “Extrication Techniques for Today’s Vehicles”, which was a highlight of his instructional career only eclipsed by being invited to teach internationally.
With a background in the towing industry, Matt brings a unique perspective to the extrication programs he is involved with, both as a rescuer and a former heavy duty tow operator. Matt is passionate about teaching, and sees every class as an opportunity to both share knowledge and learn. He presents with a common sense, keep it simple approach; reinforcing a strong focus on team communication. He believes training is more than vetted, high quality information and techniques, it is critical that the instruction is engaging, challenging, and fun as well.