From the Captain’s Desk

Monday, January 1, 2024 – White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company has tapped Kim Lyons, a Baltimore County business owner, as the new chair of the White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company’s board of directors.

Lyons, the founder of An Etch Above, an 11-year-old custom engraving business, joined the WMVFC as a community board member in 2020. She said she joined the fire company’s board because she wanted to offer her services as an experienced fundraiser. A graduate of the Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business management, Lyons boasts more than 20 years in sales, marketing and nonprofit fundraising.

The new board chair stepped up her commitment to WMVFC by recently working closely with D&G Community Development, a consulting firm, to develop a 5-year strategic plan for the fire company. The project took eight months — and about 300 hours of coordination between consultants and leadership. 

“I admire everything about WMVFC from the dedication of the volunteer members who answer calls every hour of every day to the leadership who work tirelessly to ensure that the members have the equipment and resources needed to fulfill their mission,” Lyons said. “WMVFC is the best in the county and with the forward-thinking of leadership and the board’s guidance, we want to chart the next five years of success.”

Lyons’ experience in fundraising began at The Arc of Baltimore where she was responsible for concerts, golf tournaments, art exhibits and more. She also worked as business development director at Barton Cotton and as a fundraising consultant for a Washington, D.C., consulting firm. Her work in D.C. included managing a team to provide data driven fundraising and awareness campaigns. 

She plans to bring that expertise to help WMVFC continue its strong growth in fundraising, which includes numerous community events such as the Fields of Fire Country Concert, the Winter Fest and Food Truck Tuesdays.

WMVFC President Kevin Palmer said Lyons brings valuable experience to this important role in the organization. Her work on the strategic plan will provide a blueprint for the fire company’s future growth.

“We’re thrilled to have Kim lead our board,” Palmer said. “She brings real-world business experience to the firehouse.”