Thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with our team of highly qualified professionals who will be working to ensure your career and educational goals are met!
Matthew Trent
President – Instructor
Matt began his fire service career in 2006, serving as a Firefighter, Driver/Engineer, Lieutenant, and Operations Battalion Chief with Greater Naples Fire District. Matt now serves as the Assistant Chief of Training and Safety for an independent special taxing district in SWFL.
Matt holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and is pursuing a Doctor of Public Administration at Walden University. Additionally, he has been designated as a Chief Fire Officer (CFO) by the Center for Professional Safety Excellence (CPSE), Member Grade (MIFireE) by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), and is a graduate of the Florida Fire Chief’s Association Emergency Services Leadership Institute (ESLI) program.
Matt is certified as a Fire Officer IV, Fire Code Administrator, Live Fire Training Instructor II, Fire Instructor III, Safety Officer, Fire Inspector II, Fire and Life Safety Educator, Hazardous Materials Technician, Fire Investigator, and Pump Operator.
In his spare time, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and four children.
EDUCATION CREDENTIALS AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Doctor of Public Administration (in progress)
- Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Barry University
- Chief Fire Officer Designation (CFO)
- Member Grade (MIFireE)
- Fire Officer IV
- Fire Code Administrator
- Instructor III
- Live Fire Training Instructor II
- Florida Safety Officer
- Hazardous Materials Technician
- Fire Safety Inspector II
- Fire & Life Safety Educator
- Fire Investigator
- Pump Operator
- Firefighter II
- EMT-Basic
- NIMS Instructor
PRO BOARD AND NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
- Firefighter I/II
- Fire Officer IV
- Hazardous materials First Responder at the Operations level with Product Control
- Hazardous Materials Technician
- Fire Instructor II
- Fire Inspector I/II
- Plans Examiner I
- Fire & Life Safety Educator II
- Fire Marshal
Jay Harper
Adjunct Instructor
Jay Harper has been in the fire service for over thirty-one years, which began in 1984 as a volunteer and a paramedic for over twenty-four years. Harper has been with his current department as a Lieutenant/Paramedic for fifteen years. In 2006, he completed an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science & Technology from Florida Southwestern State College (formerly Edison State College) in 2006, a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in 2007 from Hodges University and a Master’s in Professional Studies in 2011 from Hodges University as well. Currently, I am in my second Internship with the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program with Hodges University, which will be completed in early 2016. The goal with the mental health degree will be to assist emergency service providers that suffer from cancer. I have been a CPR instructor since 1994, was an EMT instructor with Southwestern State College, a past Basic Trauma Life Support instructor and have taught with Southwest Florida Public Service Academy (Fort Myers Fire Academy) since 2007. I love teaching and my goal is to make the learning experience fun for all students.
EDUCATION CREDENTIALS AND CERTIFICATIONS
- Master’s in Professional Studies-Hodges University
- Fire Officer IV
- Instructor III
- Live Fire Burn Adjunct Instructor
- State of Florida Safety Officer
- Fire Safety Inspector II
- Fire Investigator I
- Pump Operator
- Firefighter II
- Florida Paramedic
- Life Safety Educator
- National Registry Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic