Staff
Paul Capo, CTO
Fire Chief
Chief Capo has been a firefighter since 1996. He achieved his B.A.S. in Public Safety Administration, Masters in Biblical & Theological Studies and instructs on all levels and topics of firefighting. Paul Capo holds his National Registry Paramedic Certification and is the Founder of When Things Go Bad, Incorporated where he develops a vast compliment of firefighter curriculum and training. His diverse teaching includes, but not limited to: FDIC (Fire Department Instructors Conference), Fire House Expo, Orlando Fire Conference, Fire Rescue East, Wichita HOT, etc. where he trains on multiple subjects in fire service academia. In addition, he frequently instructs and consults in areas of firefighter self-preservation – the physiological changes during firefighter survival. Chief Capo was recognized as the 2022 Colorado Fire Training Officer of the Year
Chief Capo joined Estes Valley in October 2017. He lives in Estes Park with his wife, Kristie, and two children.
Erika Goetz, PHR, SHRM-CP
Chief of Staff
Erika has worked in the Human Resource field for 17 years. She has an Associate Degree in Human Resources and holds both a PHR and SHRM-CP certification. Prior to working at the fire district, she worked in the Office of Human Resources with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Erika joined the Fire District as an Administrative Assistant and has since been promoted to Chief of Staff due to the high level of competence and value she brings to the organization. Erika also serves as the District's Public Information Officer (PIO), managing social media and communications.
Erika joined Estes Valley in February 2015. She lives in Estes Park.
Marinda Baxter
Administrative Assistant
Marinda recently joined the Fire District as an administrative assistant. She was born and raised in Northwest Arkansas where she attended the Sam Walton College of Business. Marinda has worked in various administrative and customer service positions over the last 15 years. She relocated to Colorado in 2014 and has lived in Estes Park for the past 5 years working in Real Estate.
Vacant
Division Chief of Operations & Training
Christopher Thomas
Training Captain & Volunteer Coordinator
Captain Thomas joined the Estes Valley Fire District as a volunteer in 2018. He became a volunteer lieutenant in 2020, and was hired to the full time staff in 2021. In this role he supports Operations through the development and delivery of fire training, recruitment and training of new members, and support for all volunteer functions.
Captain Thomas joined Estes Valley as a volunteer in 2018 and full time in 2021. He lives in Estes Park with his wife, Aracely, and two children.
Jon Landkamer
Division Chief of Support Services
Chief Landkamer joined the Estes Valley Fire District as a volunteer firefighter in 1991. He has held many positions throughout his volunteer career with the District, culminating with his designation as Volunteer Assistant Chief from 2014 until March of 2022. Chief Landkamer has been a full time resident of Estes Park since 1986, having spent almost thirty years of his career living and working at YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Center, in the Buildings & Grounds Department. His last twenty-three years of that career were spent as the Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds, in a leadership role for all things facility and safety related for the YMCA. In 2015, Chief Landkamer transitioned to the Town of Estes Park where he developed and led the new Facilities Division, as part of the Public Works leadership team.
Chief Landkamer joined Estes Valley full-time in March 2022. He lives in Estes Park.
Stacey Sutherland
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Fire Code Inspector II/Lieutenant
Stacey is a Lieutenant/ Firefighter/EMT who brings fifteen years of emergency medical experience and twenty years of management and customer service to serve the Estes Valley community. Stacey is passionate about public safety. She was an instructor for the EMT certification program at Front Range for five years, and did outdoor recreation education and mentored youth through a counseling program for twelve years, and has spent the last eighteen years using her management and emergency medical skills to help mitigate disaster relief. Her love for nature, community and public safety inspired her to be a firefighter and work in fire prevention.
Stacey lives in the Estes Valley with her family. She joined the department in 2022.
Laura Shepard
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Wildland Risk Reduction/Lieutenant
Laura became a member of the Estes Valley Fire Protection District in April 2020 as a volunteer firefighter. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Laura moved to Estes Park in 2015 shortly after earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Since becoming a full-time resident of Estes Park, she has gained experience working with local recreation departments, hospitality organizations, and financial companies. Her hobbies center around the outdoors, including hiking in the summer and snowboarding in the winter.
Lieutenant Shepard joined Estes Valley as a full-time staff member in July 2024. She lives in Estes Park.