It took a little good-natured deception to get Steve Ronk to accept his “Fire Chief of the Year” award publicly.
‘I’m not a limelight guy,” Ronk said. “Anything I do is not for the point of accolades or awards or anything else, but this was nice because it came from other fire chiefs in the state.?
In order to get Ronk to drive up to Traverse City for the award ceremony, he was issued an invitation to meet the new head of the Michigan State Police Homeland Security.
‘I kind of bit on it because they just changed who that is ? one guy got promoted and they just appointed a new guy a couple weeks ago,? Ronk said. ‘I’m thinking ‘well the timing is right and that’s something we need and have to do with the projects we have going on.??
Ronk joined other members of Michigan Association of Fire Chiefs for their annual dinner, July 17, still suspecting nothing.
‘I was sitting there not paying a lot of attention because this thing was supposed to be after their program. They started reading off the accomplishments of the year that this fire chief had done and I’m starting to add them up, then I started to kind of listen and then I was like ‘Holy cow? this is a little intuitive,? said Ronk. ‘Then I knew and my heart got pounding and I got a little flooded, it was a total surprise.?
Firefighting is all about helping people, an attitude he wants reflected in the firefighters he hires.
‘This is a job where you put people ahead of your own needs, gains and whatever else,? he said.
He has been with the department for 34 years and been chief for the past eight.
Ronk said he made his accomplishments only through team work, with the great people he works with.
‘These people will love you if you help them when they need it, but go the extra mile. If they just got in a car accident, take their groceries that they just bought from Kroger and bring them back to the station and let them pick them up rather than being towed,? he said. ‘It’s really not hard to be nice to people.?
Independence Township Supervisor Dave Wagner, said Ronk was well deserving of the award.
‘You couldn’t have a better fire chief than Steve,? said Wagner. ‘This guy is so dedicated, it’s something to behold.?
Julie Secontine, risk manager for Oakland County, has worked with Ronk the past six years on homeland-security projects. Ronk remains dedicated no matter what, she noted.
‘I think he pursues his goals with excellence, humility and always with integrity,? said Secontine. ‘He believes in protecting the public, he believes in doing what the citizens expect us to do.?
Bob Cesario, who’s worked with Ronk 25 years, described him as a ‘hardworking man.?
‘It’s obvious that he puts his heart and soul into this department and spends a tremendous amount of time making things happen,? said Cesario.
Not only is Ronk an inspiration to his co-workers, friends, and members of the community, but he is held on the highest regard by those closest to him ? his family.
‘He’s a visionary, he’ll get a concept or a vision in his mind where he wants to see the fire department or the fire service in general be and he will work until he sees his vision or dreams come to fruition,? said his wife, Anne. ‘He has as high of expectations for his children as he does his for his employees. People really don’t want to disappoint him. They want to meet his expectations, which I think is a sign of a really good leader.?
His daughter Andrea said she wasn’t surprised her dad received the award because she knows how much ‘passion he puts into his work.?
‘He’s not about the flash, he’s not about the awards, and he’s never been about showing off what he has. I think he took pride in his kids and showing off what we had accomplished, but it was never about him,? she said.
“He’s always kind of been my hero, my grandfather (the late Frank Ronk, the township’s first fulltime fire chief) was a phenomenal role model and I think my dad is just an exceptional human being as my grandpa Tink was.?
Steve’s son Rob said his father followed in his grandpa’s footsteps.
“I know my grandpa is very proud of him,” Rob said.
“He’s one of the hardest workers I have ever been around and he strives for perfection in everything he does. I think that is a big reason why he has one of the best fire departments in the state.”
‘I’m proud that he’s my dad,? said his son Tommy. ‘He’s our biggest role model in life, actually both of my parents are.”
Tommy said he knew his dad would have to be tricked into going up to Traverse City.
“He would accept the award, but he wouldn’t go up there and accept it. He would accept it in privacy or something like that,” he said. “He isn’t about being out there and showing off. He’s very humble.?
His mother, Mary, said she was ‘very, very proud of her son.?
‘He’s done a wonderful job for the township and he’s a wonderful son,? she said. ‘Too bad his father was not here to see the honors, but I know he’s made his dad proud.?
Steve said he learned the duties of his job and the way to live life by watching his father, who died this past December.
‘I was very proud of him,? Steve said. ‘A lot of what I do is from the lessons he taught me. Not only in being a dad, but the way to approach the job and treat people.?