OKEECHOBEE – Okeechobee County employees were honored for their years of service at the Okeechobee County Commission meeting on Aug. 10.

20 Years

Keith Bourgault, Fire Rescue Chief of Risk Reduction/Prevention was honored for 20 years service. Bourgault was born and raised in West Palm Beach and moved to Okeechobee in 1980. Prior to joining Okeechobee County Fire Rescue in 2003 he worked for the City of Okeechobee Fire Department for 4 years. Prior to that, he was in charge of the county cemetery for 3 years. Mr. Bourgault holds an associate degree in Fire Science and is currently serving as the Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce Leadership of Okeechobee Class of 2023. He joined OCFR as a firefighter/EMT and within a year obtained his Paramedic license. He has since promoted multiple times and is currently serving as a Bureau Chief of Community Risk Reduction/Prevention.

Community Development Planner Michael “Ty” Hancock was honored for 20 years service. Hancock joined the Okeechobee County Community Development department in April of 2003 as an Administrative Planner. Twenty years later he continues to help Okeechobee County citizens serving in his role as Community Development Planner.

Five years

• Dakota Alfinez, Fire Rescue driver/engineer was honored for 5 years’ service. Alfinez is originally from Port St Lucie and moved to Okeechobee in 2018. He previously worked in the emergency room as an EMT and joined Okeechobee County Fire Rescue in May 2018. Alfinez has since been promoted to the position of driver/engineer.

• Matthew Coleman, Fire Rescue firefighter/medic was honored for 5 years’ service. He is originally from Okeechobee. He joined Okeechobee County Fire Rescue in April 2018 and has since completed Paramedic training in order to serve in his current capacity of firefighter/medic.

• Lakisha Gilchrist, code enforcement officer, was honored for 5 years’ service. Gilchrist was born and raised in Okeechobee. Prior to coming to work for Okeechobee County she worked at the Okeechobee Health Care facility as a CNA for 22 years where she was known for her dedication and compassion toward the patients. In her five years with Okeechobee County, she has become certified in all levels offered by the Florida Association of Code Enforcement. She takes great pride in her assigned area and is proactive in locating violations and working with our citizens to achieve compliance.

• Samantha Maursetter, Fire Rescue firefighter/medic, was honored for 5 years’ service. Maursetter joined Okeechobee County Fire Rescue in May 2018 as a firefighter/EMT. She has since successfully completed Paramedic training and currently serves in the position of firefighter/medic.

• Timothy Palmer, Fire Rescue firefighter/medic was honored for 5 years’ service. He is a lifelong Okeechobee County resident. He began his fire service career in 2010 with the Okeechobee City Fire Department. He joined Okeechobee County Fire Rescue in April 2018. He serves as a firefighter/medic and fills roles such as field training officer and step-up driver/engineer. Palmer has received awards from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the State of Florida Senators Office for multiple off-duty rescues.

• A.J. Pegler, Fire Rescue firefighter/EMT was honored for 5 years’ service. Pegler is originally from Stuart and moved to Okeechobee in 2012. He joined Okeechobee County Fire Rescue in April 2018 and is currently enrolled in paramedic school.

• Michael Skipper, (not pictured) Fire Rescue firefighter/medic was honored for 5 years’ service. Skipper worked as a firefighter/EMT for City of Okeechobee Fire Department for 10 years before joining Okeechobee County Fire Rescue in April 2018. After successful completion of paramedic training, he has since promoted to his current position of firefighter/medic.