Professional Experience

2015 - Present

• Contributor to "Firemanship:  A journal for Firemen" June 2021 Vol 11.

• Presenter & H.O.T. Instructor at Orlando Fire Conference, 2019,2020, & 2021.

• Creator of "Lovato Leadership".  A 3 month leadership development program designed to jump start a fire departments leadership development program and leave them with a gameplan to follow.

• Creator of the “Ultimate Training Plan”, 2019.  A year-long training plan that provides a lesson plan for each shift along with video references.

• Creator of “The Brotherhood Coaching Show with John Lovato” Podcast, 2018, designed to share experiences and help firefighters overcome obstacles they are facing by looking for the lesson in everything.

• Creator of “Fix Your Firehouse Academy”, 2018, online program designed to help firefighters make a positive culture change in their firehouse.

• Creator/Instructor of “The Squadhouse”, 2018, online group coaching program designed to help firefighters overcome adversity, stay into the job, and grow their influence.

• Presenter at Great Florida Fire School, 2017

• Author/Creator of “Company Officer Logbook” (published 2017) 

• Author of “Fix Your Firehouse” 7 Strategies that produce a winning team. (published 2017) 

Instructor, Southwest Florida Fire Academy

2013-2020

• Taught hands-on training to Firefighter I & II Academy students.  

• Advance Class Instructor. Forcible Entry: Beyond the Basics 

Captain/Paramedic, City of Fort Myers Fire Department

October 2014 - Present

• Became an Acting Battalion Chief, 2020

• Assigned to Engine 11, July 2020 - Present.  Managed 2 units with 5-6 personnel responding to an average of 4,000 runs per year.  

• Assigned to Engine 13, March 2015 - July 2020.  Managed 2 units with 5-6 personnel responding to an average of 6,000 runs per year.

• Developed 5 Acting Captains.

• Developed 3 Acting Engineers.

• Developed 10 Probationary Firefighters.

• Assisted with the development of FMFD Firefighter manual, Firefighter skill sheets, and Probationary Firefighter Daily Evaluation.

• Recruit School Instructor

• CPSE Credentialed Fire Officer, 2017

• Special Operations Team Member, 2016-2019

• Founder/Instructor of Officer Development School, 2017 & 2018

• Coordinated Department training through Target solutions from March 2017 - October 2017

• Ft Lauderdale Fire Expo 2017, Live Fire Instructor 

• Orlando Fire Conference 2016, Live Fire Instructor

Engineer/Paramedic, City of Fort Myers Fire Department

January 2009 - October 2014

• Became an Acting Captain, 2010

• Assigned to Station 13, 2009 - 2012, 2014 

• Assigned to Station 12, 2012-2014

• Peer Fitness Coordinator (2011-2017) 

• Assisted with implementation of yearly performance assessment 

• SWAT Medic Coordinator (2011-2013) 

• Ladder Driver 

• Streamlined ALS medical bags 

• Published Monthly Newsletter (2013-2017) 

• Coordinated/Developed Pinning Ceremony (2014- 2017) 

• Assisted with the improvement of accountability system (names on mask) 

• Started and encouraged station patches