Marty Parker Jr.
Marty Parker Jr. got started in the junior fire explorers at 13 years old in 2008 before officially joining Rehoboth Fire in 2014 and working his way up to lieutenant. He has since moved on from Rehoboth, but he continues bringing newer guys along, backing internal training, and keeping standards, tradition, and pride in the job where they belong. Marty later went career with Stoughton Fire and now serves with Fall River Fire, where he is assigned to an engine. He is the one who brought Hold The Line Training Co. to life because he believes traditional fire service culture, engine company work, and the standard of the job still matter and still need to be passed down the right way. He is big on progress, not perfection, and on getting younger firefighters better one step at a time while showing them what the job is supposed to look like.
John Sulyma Jr.
John Sulyma Jr. has spent more than 20 years in the fire service and has built his career around the job, the fireground, and the standard that comes with it. He went full time with Somerset Fire, worked his way up to lieutenant on an engine, and now continues the job with Sharon Fire. In 2019, he went to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services as crib support for the new academy in Bridgewater and was part of the initial cadre, which only pushed harder on what he already believed about standards, culture, and passing the job down the right way. John is big on the senior man and on building thinking firefighters, not robots. He cares about teaching firefighters to read conditions, solve problems, and do the job with purpose instead of just going through the motions.
Joe Bourquin
Joe Bourquin has spent over 25 years in the Rhode Island fire service and has done the job from a lot of different seats over the years. He came up career side in Coventry Fire, worked his way up to lieutenant, later served with Portsmouth Fire, and now continues the job with Tiverton Fire. He also still serves in a senior leadership role with the Rhode Island Fire Academy, which fits the kind of instructor he has always been. Joe gives a damn about the standard, about credible training, and about making sure the work still holds up when the job gets hard. He is big on telling people the truth, keeping the bar where it belongs, and making sure the training still means something when you go back to the firehouse.
Bryan Syrett
Bryan Syrett has spent over 25 years in the fire service and around the training ground, with a lot of that time spent teaching, developing people, and figuring out what actually holds up when things get real. His career path started with Plainville Fire and now continues with Mansfield Fire, with years in between spent building experience, instruction, and real-world perspective. Bryan has a knack for taking complex work, stripping it down, and teaching it in a way firefighters can understand fast and actually use. Around the crew, he is the ops guy. He is big on clean reps, straightforward teaching, and making sure firefighters leave training sharper than when they showed up.
Stuart “Stu” Blakely
Dedicated and well-trained Firefighter/EMT with over 13 years of fire service experience and more than 4 years of providing emergency medical services. Currently serving with the Providence Fire Department and assigned to Tower Ladder 2 (West End Express) at the Messer Street Firehouse. Former Captain with Forest Volunteer Fire Department with a passion for developing firefighters, mentoring new members, and fostering a strong culture of professionalism, training, and continuous improvement. Recognized for calm leadership under pressure, strong mechanical aptitude, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Enjoy teaching, leading by example, and helping others build the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary for success in the fire service.
Lindsey Burnett
Lindsey Burnett grew up in the fire family — pagers on the counter, boots by the door, and the job as a regular part of how the house ran. That is the world she came up in, and it is still the world she works in. She is not a firefighter, but she is an EMT and a public servant, and she has been around the culture long enough to know what it looks like when it is done right. Around Hold The Line, she is the one behind the camera and behind the scenes: photographing the training, documenting the work, and handling the logistics that keep a class from coming apart before the first evolution even starts. She is big on capturing the job honestly, keeping the details squared away, and making sure the family standard still shows up in the photos, the planning, and the way the day actually runs.
