Hoffman Estates names new fire chief
Sure "third time's the charm" is a cliché, but tell that to new Hoffman Estates Fire Chief Robert Gorvett.
He's applied for the chief's position three times, serving three stints as the village's acting chief while village officials debated who would take the reins.
This time around, Gorvett took over in March for Kevin Rydners who retired and then took an assistant fire chief's post with Algonquin/Lake in the Hills.
Gorvett in February applied for the fire chief position for the third time. He waited like Susan Lucci, the soap opera actress who was constantly nominated for a daytime Emmy but never managed to take home a trophy.
But that is in the past. Hoffman Estates officials announced Thursday night that the 54-year-old Gorvett will make the leap from acting chief to department chief. He'll be sworn in on Monday during a special board meeting at village hall.
Mayor William McLeod recounted a story about an icy day close to 20 years ago while he was driving his car on Interstate 90, exiting off Barrington Road. The car managed to get stuck on the ramp. Luckily for McLeod, Gorvett was in a fire engine behind him. He exited the truck and with the help of other firefighters they pushed McLeod's car up the hill.
"He's very good with people and very dedicated," McLeod said.
Gorvett will be the village's 13th fire chief. Born in Canada, he moved to Hoffman Estates early on and graduated from Conant High School.
He began as a volunteer firefighter in 1972 before joining full-time in 1975. He served as a lieutenant in 1983, became a captain in 1992 and was promoted to assistant chief in 1995. He finally was named deputy chief in 1998.
Gorvett's experience as an acting chief proved valuable, McLeod said. He served for two 15-month stints, one in 1996 and another in 1999.
He and his family live in Schaumburg. Under village law, he'll have a year to move to Hoffman Estates to satisfy the village's residency requirement. Gorvett was the village's only internal candidate.
"You feel good when you get someone from within," McLeod said.
A benefit of promoting an internal candidate is other firefighters will also receive promotions, which boosts morale, McLeod added.
The board will promote Jeff Jorian to deputy chief, Greg Schuldt to assistant chief, Thomas Mackie to battalion chief, David Davone to captain and Donald Richter to lieutenant.
Norris told McLeod of his choice on Wednesday night. The village received 25 resumes before narrowing the field to four applicants.
The village board won't have to vote on Gorvett's appointment, McLeod added.