Join us for the Ninth Annual
Garner Local Heroes Breakfast
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 – 8-10 a.m.
Grand Marquise Ballroom
225 New Fidelity Court, Garner, NC 27529
Purchase your tickets today or become a sponsor to support this annual event honoring local First Responders who serve the Garner area.
2026 Platinum Sponsors
2026 Gold Sponsors
2026 Silver Sponsors
Garner Historic Society
2026 Bronze Sponsors
In-Kind Sponsors
C2 Woodwork
Garner Towne Square & White Oak
We’d love to welcome you as a sponsor! Find out more here.
Sponsorship Deadline: April 30, 2026
Thank You to Our 2026 Planning Committee
Jenny Gorman, Kathy Taylor, Stefani Rich, Tracy Mathews, Lisa Jeffries Nobling, Kim Woodard, Ashley Price, Stacey McIver, and Taryn Sanchez
Our Mission
To support first responders and their families by celebrating excellence, providing monetary support, and building community.
Want to do more than attend?
Join Garner Local Heroes as a 2026 event sponsor!
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Garner Local Heroes Award Recipients
2025 RECIPIENTS
Retired Fire Chief Matt Poole – Garner Fire-Rescue
Sergeant Joe Gomes – Garner Police Department
Trooper Logan Torruella – North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Heather Michetti – Raleigh-Wake 911 Communications
Scott Schultz, Security Manager; Leslie Helmick, Technician; Ben Burkhead, Security Supervisor; Jason Compton, IT Architect; Logan Richmond-Grantham, OSSI System Administrator; Sheriff Willie Rowe; Maj. Christopher Creech; Kanisha Taylor, Deputy Director – Wake County Sheriff’s Office
District Capt. Becky Lippert, Advanced Paramedic Kevin Masterson, Paramedic Anthony Forlini, Paramedic Emily Tinney, EMT William Cunningham, EMT Bailey Willis – Wake EMS
2024 RECIPIENTS
Firefighter First Class Hunter Byrd – Garner Fire-Rescue
Senior Officer Rodney McGee – Garner Police Department
Trooper Ceon Cayco – North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Sophia Martin – Raleigh Wake 911 Communications
Deputy Louis Cubillos – Wake County Sheriff’s Office
April Wiseman – Wake County Emergency Medical Services
2023 RECIPIENTS
Firefighter First Class Chris Ruhlman – Garner Fire-Rescue
Officer Clayton Armstrong – Garner Police Department
Trooper Joseph Mangum – North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Danielle Gregg – Raleigh Wake 911 Communications
K-9 Deputy Devin Richardson – Wake County Sheriff’s Office
Wake EMS Canine Therapy Program – Wake County Emergency Medical Services
Honorary Awards to the Families of K-9 Deputy Ned Byrd and Raleigh Police Officer Gabriel Torres
2022 RECIPIENTS
Senior Officer Scott Klein – Garner Police Department
Firefighter First Class Aaron Little, Garner Fire-Rescue
Sergeant Ronald Waller – Wake County Sheriff’s Office
Trooper Herman Mungai – North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Paramedic Krystal Ziegler – Wake County Emergency Medical Services
Duana Dailey – Wake 911 Communications
2021 RECIPIENTS
Senior Officer Derrick McCarter – Garner Police Department
Battalion Chief Barrett Penny – Garner Fire-Rescue
Lieutenant Scott Sefton – Wake County Sheriff’s Office
Trooper Garrett L. Macario – North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Paramedic Tyler Schnedler – Wake County Emergency Medical Services
Stephanie Barnard – Wake911 Communications
2020 RECIPIENTS
Officer Patrick McGuire – Garner Police Department
Firefighter First Class Zack Johnson – Garner Fire-Rescue
Lieutenant Kenneth Bagwell – Wake County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Ferrel Reynolds – Wake County Sheriff’s Office
Trooper Ryan A. Chernoff – North Carolina State Highway Patrol
Hannah Brantley – Wake County Emergency Medical Services
District Chief Ryan Lewis – Wake County Emergency Medical Services
2019 RECIPIENTS
Sgt. Grant Davis – Garner Police Department
Chief Brad Mitchell – Garner Fire Rescue
Deputy James Clark – Wake County Sheriff’s Office
Trooper Zach Clay – NC Highway Patrol
Paramedic Rebel Coombes – Wake County EMS
Ashley Warner – Raleigh-Wake County 911 Center
2018 RECIPIENTS
Officer Patrick Lee – Garner Police Department
Captain Tim Rooks – Garner Fire & Rescue
Mater Deputy Hunter Blackburn – Wake County Sheriff’s Office
Trooper Kurt Mills – North Carolina State Highway Patrol
District Chief Kevin Phillip – Wake County Emergency Medical Services
Assistant Supervisor Marcus Wells – Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications
Garner Local Heroes News & Updates
Mark Your Calendars: Remember Our Heroes Mustang and All Ford Show 2025 Benefiting Garner Local Heroes on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025
Our friends and sponsors at the Heart of Carolina Mustang Club are hosting their Remember Our Heroes Mustang and All Ford Show 2025 on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Ting Park in Holly Springs.
Community Gathers to Celebrate Garner’s Local Heroes at Eighth Annual Awards Breakfast
This morning, the Grand Marquise Ballroom was filled with pride and gratitude as the community came together to honor outstanding public servants at the eighth annual Garner Local Heroes Awards Breakfast. Held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 8–10 a.m., the event paid tribute to the brave men and women across Garner’s emergency response, law enforcement, and public safety teams—and celebrated their selfless service to the community.
Pictures from Garner Local Heroes 2024 Breakfast
Thank you to photographer Chad Flowers for donating his time and talent again this year!
Continue Reading Pictures from Garner Local Heroes 2024 Breakfast