Tryon Fire Chief Joey Davis recently completed the process that awards him the professional designation of Chief Fire Officer (CFO).
The Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) gave Davis the official designation on Aug. 23.
Davis was recognized by Tryon Town Council and received a standing ovation during council’s meeting Tuesday, Oct. 18.
“There’s only 787 [CFOs] in the world,” said Tryon Town Manager Justin Hembree. “I think that says a lot for a town and a department our size to have a leader that is credentialed through this organization.”
The process of gaining CFO designation includes an assessment of the applicant’s education, professional development, technical competencies, contributions to the profession and community involvement. Applicants are also  required to identify a future development plan.
“Chief Davis has a rich knowledge of the emergency services profession and has far surpassed critical core competencies for personnel serving in senior fire officer positions,” stated a press release from The Commission on Professional Credentialing, an entity of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE).
Davis was hired as Tryon’s fire chief in 2007. A native of Shelby, he holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia Southern University (CSU). He is currently pursuing his doctorate in business administration from CSU.