James E. Crum – Candidate for Board of Directors – St. James Fire Department
I respectfully submit my candidacy for a position on the Board of Directors of the St. James Fire Department.
I have served as a member of the Board since April 2019, becoming Treasurer in December 2019 and President in January 2024. During my tenure I have been a strong proponent of fiscal conservatism, professional organizational and management, and close coordination and cooperation with the Town of St. James, the St. James Plantation Property Owners Association, Troon, and other local government and emergency services officials. Significant accomplishments during my Board service are development and implementation of formal succession planning for our entire department; establishment, long-term planning and cash funding for capital reserves, operating costs, insurance deductible and Garden of Honor maintenance; and the selection and purchase of replacements for an aerial tower and an ambulance.
As a Board member, my priorities will be focused on recruitment and retention of volunteers, continuation of our strong financial condition, enhancing our technology and communication programs, and the selection of our next Chief of the department.
I also serve as Assistant Chief – Fire Police Division, serving continuously in increasingly responsible roles since joining the department in 2013.
I hold a BA in History (cum laude) from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and have worked for 36 years in banking and financial management and supervision, including 17 years with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. I am a Vietnam-era Army veteran. In addition to my fire department service, I held various positions with the Friends of the NC Maritime Museum at Southport, the Southport Historical Society and the First Tee of Brunswick County.
My wife Nancy and I are property owners since 1996 and full-time residents since 2008
I will be deeply honored to receive your vote and continue to serve our Fire Department and our broader community. Thank you!
Garren Foy
Results Oriented Leader Saint James Resident since 2019
Goal: It’s my goal to utilize the talents God has given me within the Community by serving on the Saint James Fire Department Board and enhancing the safety and security for all residents.
Relevant Education:
- Associate’s Degree – Fire Science Technology
- Bachelor of Applied Science Degree – Administration of Justice / Public Administration
- NC EMT Certification
- 200 + hours of EMS Continuing Education YTD 2025
- Fire Suppression and Arson Detection Courses at the National Fire Academy, Emmitsburg, MD
- High Level and Heavy Rescue Operations continuing education courses
Relevant BOD Experience:
- Served as interim Board President 11/23 – 12/23
- Board Vice President 2024 – 2025
- Recruitment Committee Chair – Successful in doubling the members of the EMS team; Fire Police fully staffed; Fire divisions almost fully staffed.
- Created new recruitment brochures and posters (QR codes) that have resulted in new members. Written several Cat Tales articles.
- Led the truck committee in the selection of a new Sutphen 100 ft. Tower to replace 3761
- Led the truck committee in the selection of a new Braun ambulance to replace 4795
- Created the concept of SJFD family picnic which was well attended in 2024 & 2025
- Represented SJFD at community events as well as the TOSJ Leadership conference.
Relevant Experience:
- STJFD EMS Team Lieutenant / Team Lead
- STJFD EMS member 2020 – Present
- Responded to an average of 200+ EMS calls in each of the last 5 years.
- Firefighter / EMT City of Greensboro Fire Department 1980 – 1986
- 30 + Years of Leadership in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Sales and Marketing
- Volunteer – Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Logistics team while living in Atlanta. Worked on disaster scenes in SD, CO, TX, AL, MI and WV.
Edmund H Reeves III
910-274-8457 EHReeves3@gmail.com
Dear St. James Residents,
With this letter of intent, I am announcing my candidacy for a position on the St. James Fire Department Board of Directors.
My wife, Paula, and I built and moved to St. James in January 2020, after living in the Compass Pointe community in Leland for over ten years. It was just in time for COVID.
I was still employed and traveling regularly but that soon came to an end with the help of COVID. I retired in 2021 and began looking for opportunities where I could use my gifts to give back in different ways. In early 2022, I joined the St. James Fire Department – Fire Police. I have served in several different capacities, including Team Leader, Training Officer, Fire Police Lead for 2023 Open House, Recruiting Committee, and am now currently a Lieutenant within the organization.
The challenges facing our St. James Fire Department are ever more complex as the level of building within our Fire District has increased exponentially. The five- and ten-year challenge for us is to grow our department both inside and outside of St. James, in a fiscally responsible way to serve the entire Fire District quickly and efficiently. The purchase of a new Engine, a new Ladder Truck, and Ambulance are just the beginning of an ever-increasing infrastructure that the board will be working on now and the near future. I will work to help ensure that we grow sensibly in line with the growth of the surrounding area within our Fire District.
My motivation to join the board is based on my desire to continue to positively impact the growth of our department considering the challenges that face us. I would hope to use my background in general management, sales and marketing, and experience within the
SJFD, all of which is somewhat detailed in my resume, for the benefit of the department.
I am a proponent of keeping our department 100% volunteer. To do that, we need to continue to develop a strong outreach program. As a member of the Recruiting Committee, I work directly to help bring new and qualified people into the organization. As a board member, I would look to empowering the Recruiting and Communications Committees to further their outreach programs.
With the various goals and challenges I’ve mentioned above, I would very much like to join and serve on the St. James Fire Department Board of Directors and would appreciate your vote in the upcoming Fire Board elections on November 14th at the St. James Fire Department, Station #1 from 10AM – 5PM.
Thank you! Ed Reeves
Areas of Local Experience
Saint James Fire Department
- Member of SJFD Fire Police since March 2022.
- Fire Police Lieutenant and Team Leader of Team A.
- Training Officer — 2024.
- Recruiting Committee — 2023-Present.
- Fire Police SJFD Open House Coordinator – Fall, 2023.
- My call responses are over 33% for 2022, 2023, and 2024
- Pine Straw Participant: Delivery and Fire Police Escort — 2020-Present.
Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office
- Graduate of Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy – 2023.
- Volunteer in administrative functions at Sheriff’s Office.
- Volunteer with IMPACT (Improving Public Awareness and Community Training).
- Volunteer with VOICE (Volunteer Observers Impacting Community Efforts) Citizens Patrol.
WARM – Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministries – Band of Brothers
- Working on area homes with “Band of Brothers” September 2022 — September 2024.
- Hands on construction and reconstruction of properties in need.
- “WARM helps people age in-place safely by preventing home accidents and illnesses – preserving their dignity and independence.”
Southport Historical Society
- Docent at houses during Christmas Open Houses.
Professional Experience and Education
Sales and Marketing Professional at Executive Level in the Specialty and Natural Food Industry for over 40 years.
- Corporate career path Regional Sales Manager through VP Sales & Marketing. Corporate VP level at three different companies.
- Strategic thinker developing business plans for upstart companies and launching new products.
- Experienced with the line-by-line budgeting process, departmental through divisional level.
- Experience developing, creating, implementing successful sales and marketing plans and materials.
- Familiar with the Microsoft Office Suite products: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.
- Education: MBA-Marketing – Erivan K. Haub School of Business at St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia. BA-Economics – Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA.
Personal Life
Married to Paula Harvey Reeves. Between us we have six children and a total of eight grandchildren.
- Moved to NC in 2011, to Compass Pointe in Leland. Built in St. James and moved in January 2020.
- Retired in 2021.
- My hobbies include woodworking, trim-work and construction, lawn care, collecting antique American clocks. (Member of NAWCC).