TIFFIN — Seneca County EMS will start the new year under new leadership, with both people stepping into the top roles promoted from within the agency.
Seneca County commissioners on Tuesday, Oct. 20, accepted the retirement of EMS Director Chris Hafley, effective Jan. 8, 2027, and named Assistant Chief Nic Summers as the county’s chief of emergency services, the Advertiser-Tribune reported. County Administrator Matt Clouse described the chief position as Hafley’s successor role and said Summers and Hafley will serve as co-directors until Hafley retires in January. The chief reports to the county administrator.
Clouse called the promotion well deserved. Summers thanked the commissioners and the administrator for backing the service and said the team is excited about what comes next.
Lynn Love named assistant chief
Commissioners appointed Lynn Love to replace Summers as assistant chief of emergency services. Commissioner Anthony Paradiso said Love worked her way up from the ground floor. She was serving on Attica village council about six years ago when she applied to Seneca County EMS, became an EMT and then an advanced EMT, and has since filled nearly every role in the organization.
Love thanked her family and recalled the early days, when local squads were struggling with funding and volunteer shortages. Those problems led to the creation of the countywide service, and she remembered the work of bringing 16 people together around a shared plan. She also praised Summers as a visionary leader.
A short history of the post
Hafley was appointed director in May 2024 after the resignation of Don Ballah. Ballah had taken over in January 2023 following the resignation of Ken Majors, who held the job for 12 years.
Seneca County EMS works alongside partners including Tiffin Fire and Rescue and the Fostoria Fire Department. The service is hiring paramedics, AEMTs and EMTs, and job information is posted on the Seneca County EMS page on the county website.
Sources
https://advertiser-tribune.com/news/1547470/ems-director-retires/
https://senecacountyohio.gov/ems/
Adapted from The Fostoria Free Press, originally published 2026-10-23.