At its meeting on September 8, the membership of the Bethany Beach Volunteer Fire Company elected its directors for 2008-09. They will take their posts on October 1. Monte Wisbrock, a member since 1991 and assistant secretary for the last two years, was elected president. He is an Illinois native, retired U.S. Army sergeant major, prior owner of several local businesses, past president of the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce, nationally-certified firefighter II and the BBVFC’s Firefighter of the Year in 2005. He has been a driving force behind many of the Company’s fundraising activities. Wisbrock lives in Bethany Beach with his wife, Cheryl, an artist, gallery owner and board member of The Quiet Resorts Charitable Foundation. Brian Martin takes over as Fire Chief after two years as deputy chief. He was born in Philadelphia, attended North Penn High School and Penn State and was a volunteer firefighter for 4 years in the Philadelphia area. His family moved to Sussex County in 1996 and he joined the BBVFC in 1997. Martin is a nationally certified firefighter II and a US Coast Guard captain and was BBVFC’s Firefighter of the Year in 2007. He lives in Ocean View with his wife, Jesika, and their two children and operates Martin Services LLC, a property management and home improvement firm, with his father, Jack, who is also a BBVFC member. The new vice president is outgoing assistant treasurer Todd Hickman, a native of Reston, VA, who will also continue to be a fire lieutenant. Hickman joined the BBVFC in 2004 after prior service with companies in Ashburn, VA and Rockville, MD. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from High Point University, and is a nationally certified firefighter II and EMT-B and a member of the Sussex County Technical Rescue Team. He is division manager/vice president of NVHomes’ Coastal Division and is a director for Junior Achievement of Delaware. He lives in Ocean View with his wife, Candace, and their two sons. Bill Bowden returns as chief engineer. He was born in Salisbury, MD, moved to Selbyville when he was twelve, joined the BBVFC in 1996 and has served previously as chief engineer for four years. He has also been captain of the Company’s fire police for six years and has been the Company’s top responder many times. He lives in Ocean View and operates Bowden’s Repair Service, a property maintenance company. Charly Curcio returns for his fifth term as treasurer. Curcio is a Washington, DC native and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from George Washington University and a law degree from Widener Law School. He has been a member since 1995 and is also a fire police officer. He is a CPA with Jefferson, Urian, Doane & Steiner and lives in Ocean View with his wife, Sherri, a long-time member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Secretary Hal Barber joined the BBVFC in 1973 and is a life member and fire police officer. In his 35 years of service, he has held many offices and served as president for 17 years. Barber is a retired U.S. Navy senior chief petty officer, a former newspaper publisher, Sussex County Director for the Delaware Volunteer Fireman’s Association, a past president of the Sussex County Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and a member of the Delaware Industrial Accident Board. He is the broker-of-record for Tansey-Warner Inc. in Bethany Beach, where he lives with his wife, Dottie, a life member of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Eric Myers, who previously served two years as secretary, was elected assistant treasurer. He will also be serving as assistant fire chief, a position he has held for the last four years. A Sussex County native, Myers joined the BBVFC in 1999. He is a graduate of Indian River High School and Mount St. Mary’s College and is a project manager for Ryan Homes. He lives in Clarksville with his wife, Brandy, who is also a member. Bob Minutoli, who joined the Company in 2006, will be assistant secretary for the coming year. Minutoli, a New York City native, moved to Fenwick Island from Columbia, MD in 2004. Minutoli attended West Point, Golden Gate University and MIT and is a professional engineer, US Coast Guard captain, FAA senior parachute rigger and nationally registered firefighter II and EMT-B. He and his wife, Andrea, operate several real estate companies.