CEO

CEO Wolverton comes to us as an Air Force Brat, living in several states and several countries during his life. CEO Wolverton has over 35 years of Law Enforcement experience from Municipal, County, State, Federal and Federal Corrections. CEO Wolverton has been involved in several large-scale disasters from floods, tornados, and hurricane responses. CEO Wolverton has a strong background in Public Safety Communications.

CEO Wolverton retired from the Macon Police Department in 2015 where he obtained the rank of Sergeant. He supervised a traffic division, served as Commander of the Technical Support Unit which supported SWAT Operations and provided Interoperability Communications to Homeland Security with his team. In 1999, Wolverton was deployed to Bosnia Herzegovina with the US. State Department for a yearlong assignment as a Police Advisor to the local Bosnian Police Force. CEO Wolverton was later deployed to Guatemala for a short tour assisting in training a security force.

CEO Wolverton is currently an active member of the Georgia Wing of Civil Air Patrol where he works at the state level Communications Team. He acts as Assistant Emergency Coordinator for the Macon Bibb Amateur Radio Emergency Services, also serving on the Macon Bibb EMA MCV Team.

CEO Wolverton is currently employed with Baptist Health System in Florida.

Christina Hofheimer serves in the capacity of Chief Operations Officer for the Board of Governors of the SORT Organization. Christina is a nonprofit professional who has overcome life challenges and overwhelming self-doubt to break through barriers blocking her success, her goal is to become a Philanthropist. Christina grew up in Clay County, Florida where she went to Orange Park High/ Class of 2004 She then went to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts/Graduated in 2004.

Taking every experience as a learning experience, cultivating skills and thinking outside the box have contributed to Christina’s professional development. She is currently executive director of her own nonprofit; Christina is also a full-time student at Arizona State University Online where she will graduate with her Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership.

Christina’s Volunteer history includes the following.

Quigley House, Orange Park, FL

J.P. Hall Children’s Charities, Orange Park, FL

Betty Griffin House, St. Augustine, FL

Lighthouse Learning Center

Mistress of Ceremony SORT Awards Banquet

Chris Landers brings more than 24 years of public service experience to the SORT Board of Governors, where he serves as Chief Financial Officer. His career has been built on strong leadership, accountability, and a commitment to serving the community. In his role with SORT, Chris focuses on keeping the organization financially strong, transparent, and ready to support its mission when it matters most.

Experience in Financial Oversight & Investigations

Chris offers a unique skill set shaped by over 20 years with a local Sheriff’s Office, including nearly a decade as a Lead Financial Crimes Investigator. During that time, he worked complex fraud, embezzlement, and white-collar crime cases. As a certified At-

Risk Adult Crime Tactics (A.C.T.) Specialist, he brings that same attention to detail and integrity to SORT’s financial processes, helping ensure strong internal controls and responsible stewardship of resources.

Leadership & Grant Management

Currently serving as an Assistant Chief of Police, Chris operates at an executive level in public safety. His experience includes strategic planning, daily operations, and managing a variety of grant-funded programs. Over the past three years, he has secured and managed more than $57,000 in funding for important initiatives, including

highway safety enforcement, technology upgrades, ADA-compliant park improvements, and life-saving AED equipment. He brings that same forward-thinking approach to SORT, helping position the organization for sustainable growth and expanded impact.

Education & Community Commitment

Chris is a lifelong learner with a strong academic background. He holds an Associate degree in Criminal Justice from Central Georgia Technical College, a Bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Leadership with a minor in Psychology, and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Public Safety Leadership from Mercer University. As a proud Mercer “Double Bear,” he remains deeply connected to the Middle Georgia community he has served throughout his career.

Leadership Philosophy 

Chris believes in servant leadership and mentorship, guided by the principle: “Train people so they can leave; treat them so they don’t want to.” His dedication to developing others earned him the William H. Spurgeon Award for his work with the Law

Enforcement Explorer program, along with recognition as a “Hometown Hero.” He is known for building strong, mission-driven teams focused on service and community impact.

Family & Personal Life

Chris lives in Juliette with his wife, Cristi, and their two German Shepherds, Lily and Xena. He is a proud father—his oldest is pursuing a career in nursing, while his youngest is studying music performance at Mercer University. Outside of work, Chris

enjoys traveling, exploring new food experiences, and recently launched a small business focused on collectible memorabilia and trading cards. 

Chris is proud to serve as SORT’s CFO, helping ensure the organization remains financially prepared to support communities when they need it most.

Secretary, Board of Governors

Driven by a passion for service and organizational excellence, Cristi serves as the Secretary for the Special Operations Radio Team (SORT). Based in Middle Georgia, she leverages a diverse professional background in education, finance, and criminal justice to ensure the board operates with precision. Her career is defined by an ability to manage complex regulatory environments and foster collaborative growth, making her avital asset to the SORT leadership team as they expand their reach within the community.

A lifelong resident of the region, Cristi currently serves as the lead upper-elementary teacher at a multi-county school in Middle Georgia. In her role as a teacher and case manager within the field of special education, she oversees the development and rigorous compliance of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with diverse needs. This position requires a mastery of educational law and a high degree of administrative accuracy—skills she now uses to mentor fellow educators in compliance and instructional planning. Her transition into educational leadership is supported by a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Mercer University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Georgia College & State University. She is currently advancing her expertise further by pursuing a Specialist in Educational Leadership at the University of West Georgia, where she has already earned her Tier 1 Leadership Certificate. 

Before dedicating her career to the classroom, Cristi cultivated a robust foundation in financial management, organizational logistics, and public safety. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Technology from Central Georgia Technical College, a background that informs her understanding of the technical and

procedural frameworks essential to the public safety community. Her versatile professional history also includes service as a Deputy Tax Commissioner, as well as significant experience as a bookkeeper, and an office manager for a freightliner trucking sales corporation and a local milk hauling company. These roles equipped her with an exceptional eye for detail and a talent for strategic planning.

As Secretary for SORT, Cristi is committed to bridging the gap between high-level strategy and ground-level execution. She is focused on ensuring seamless communication across all levels of the organization, from board members to dedicated

volunteers. Leveraging her background in leadership—which includes being a recipient of the National Engaged Leader Award (NELA) and induction into the National Society for Leadership and Success—she aims to champion organizational growth through

mentorship in public speaking and compliance. Her goal is to ensure that SORT remains a well-documented and highly effective resource for the Macon-Bibb area and beyond.

Deeply rooted in the local community, Cristi was born and raised in Forsyth and is a proud graduate of Mary Persons High School. She currently resides in Juliette with her husband, Chris, and their two German Shepherds, Lily and Xena. When she is not advocating for her students or serving the board, she is a creative entrepreneur,

operating a hobby crochet business where she designs and creates handmade pieces. As a mother of two adult children—one pursuing nursing at Gordon State College and the other studying music performance at Mercer University—she remains a steadfast

supporter of education and the arts within the Middle Georgia area she calls home.

Col Stewart comes to us with many years of various first responder experience. He was born and raised in Macon, GA and currently lives in the city of Dublin, GA. Col Stewart works in the field of EMS, Fire, Auxiliary Deputy for local Sheriff Office, and Tactical Medic. 

Throughout his EMS Career, Col Stewart served on the Disaster Response Team and Infectious Disease Response Team in EMS. Over Col Stewart's career, he has worked several tornado outbreaks, Hurricane evacuations/aftermath, and several infectious disease outbreaks. He has also been involved in several communications exercises and deployments. He has known and worked beside our Gen Wolverton in several different event coverages, disasters, and other communication points for over half of his life.

Vice Commander Garza retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2009. Prior to that he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Explosive Ordnance Technician. Col. Garza is a Veteran of Vietnam, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom.

Vice Commander Garza has a strong Public Service background. He served as a Law Enforcement Officer in Prince William County, Va., as a K-9 Handler and Bomb Technician. After moving to Georgia, he served with the Macon Police Department as a Patrol Supervisor and Bomb Technician.

Vice Commander Garza is licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator in 2012. He holds an Extra Class rating. He is also licensed as

an operator with DMR and GMRS. Col. Garza has served in various capacities with the Georgia Amateur Radio

Emergency Service. He is currently an Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator, with Georgia ARES.

Vice Commander Garza has participated in several statewide radio exercises, and emergency communication exercises. He has participated in several emergency situations, relaying traffic to the State Operations Center as well as the affected areas. He is proficient in Winlink and Digital Communications. Col. Garza enjoys being on the radio and contacting people around the world.

Major Collier was born in Missouri at Whiteman’s AFB in 1972. Maj Collier has over 28 years in the public safety field holding various positions as career and volunteer organizations.

At the age of 18, Maj Collier started in the public safety field as a Volunteer Firefighter/EMR in Jones County Ga. In 2001, the same month as the attack of the World Trade Center, Maj Collier decided to change his status and become a career firefighter. He spent 7 years as a career firefighter with the Peach County Ga Fire Department, working his way up the ranks until health issues forced me to retire as a lead fire inspector of fire safety education and prevention division, where he was involved with building inspections, and public education. Collier then was employed as a certified emergency medical dispatcher with the Medical Center of Central Georgia EMS Service where he was employed until 2014 when he made the decision to retire fully. During his time employed he studies various land mobile radio communication systems, learning how various systems operated. He also volunteered with the American Red Cross holding various positions including being the State Lead of Emergency Management for the organization. He also held the title of Emergency Coordinator for Bibb County in the Amateur Radio Emergency Services.

After retiring, Maj Collier moved to the coast of GA to enjoy the retirement life. His hobbies include fishing, hunting, walking on the beach enjoying the waves. He also enjoys the hobby of Amateur Radio where he holds an FCC general class license. He also enjoys continuing to learn about various radio modes in the communication field.

Major Coyner dedicated 20 years of service to the United States Air Force, specializing in Satellite Ground Station operations. He retired from the Air Force in 1988 and subsequently joined Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Division in California. In 2007, he relocated with the company to Colorado Springs, where he supported a U.S. Army project known as JTAGS (Joint Tactical Ground Station) until his retirement in 2012.

Major Coyner has long held an interest in Amateur Radio. He earned his Technician Class license in 2004, followed by a General Class license in 2007, and ultimately achieved the Amateur Extra Class license in 2008.

In 2015, Major Coyner returned to Macon, Georgia, and became an active member of the Macon-Bibb County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), which is supported by the Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency. In 2021, he was

appointed Emergency Coordinator (EC) for Macon-Bibb County.

Major Coyner joined the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) in 2023 and was later promoted to the rank of Major. His experience and leadership continue to serve the organization with distinction.

Lt. Roderick Finney is a dedicated public service professional with a strong background in emergency management, communications, and community service. A graduate of Central High School in Macon, Georgia, he actively participated in the JROTC program before graduating in 1987. Following high school, he proudly served in the United States Marine Corp from 1987 to 1991.

Continuing his commitment to public safety and emergency preparedness, Lt. Finney earned a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Emergency Management from Mercer University in 2023. He also served for five years with the American Red Cross as a member of the Disaster Action Team, providing assistance and support during emergency situations.

Lt. Finney has been actively involved in amateur radio communications for the past four years as a member of the Macon-Bibb ARES Group, supporting emergency communications operations throughout the region. He joined the SORT organization four years ago and currently serves as a Lieutenant as a Non-Governmental Liaison Officer, where he works closely with partner agencies and organizations to strengthen community response capabilities.

In addition to his service work, Lt. Finney has been employed in the private security field for the past three years. Outside of his professional and volunteer responsibilities, he enjoys fishing, riding motorcycles, and spending time with his dog.

Captain Baker currently serves as the Chaplain for the SORT Organization, bringing decades of distinguished service, leadership, and public safety experience to the organization. With a professional career spanning more than five decades, he has earned recognition as a respected law enforcement professional, private investigator, instructor, and community servant.

Mr. Baker began his professional career in the mid-1960s, working as a shipping clerk for the Keebler Company in Macon, Georgia, before advancing into positions with Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins and Furniture Center Inc. in Macon. His commitment to service led him to enlist in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1963, transferring to active duty from 1964 until receiving an honorable discharge in 1965. He later continued his military service with the Georgia Army National Guard from 1977 to 1980.

In 1968, Mr. Baker began a distinguished career with the Macon Police Department, where he served in numerous leadership and investigative capacities over nearly three decades. Excelling as an investigator, he advanced through the ranks to become Sergeant and Supervisor for Team 2, ultimately concluding his law enforcement career as a communications Supervisor in 1996. During this same period, he also served with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office as a Court Security Officer from 1995 to 1996.

Following his law enforcement career, Mr. Baker established himself as a highly respected private investigator, a profession he has practiced since 1996. He holds certifications in public management and criminal justice from both the University of Georgia and Macon State College, earned in 1989. In addition, he has been licensed as an instructor for private detectives and security training since 1990 and previously held private investigator licenses in both Georgia and South Carolina.

Throughout his career, Mr. Baker has maintained active involvement in numerous professional organizations, including the Peace Officers Association of Georgia, the Fraternal Order of Police, ASIS International, the Academy of Security Educators and Trainers, and the Georgia Association of Professional Private Investigators. He has also served as a consultant with Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations and as an in-service trainer for security and investigative firms throughout Georgia.

In addition to his law enforcement and investigative background, Captain Baker has dedicated significant time to ministry and chaplaincy services. He holds certifications in legal investigation, classroom instruction, lay leadership studies, and lay speaking through the District Methodist Committee. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Caring Connection Chaplaincy, an organization that provides ministry and support services to public safety agencies across Georgia, including the Georgia Department of Public Safety, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Department of Homeland Security, and numerous local law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Baker’s lifelong commitment to public service has earned him widespread recognition. In 2016, he was honored by the Georgia General Assembly through a House Bill recognizing his outstanding contributions to public service. He has also been featured in several prestigious biographical publications, including Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, and Who’s Who in the World.

Outside of his professional and ministry responsibilities, Captain Baker enjoys golfing, tennis, motorcycle touring, and art. His lifelong dedication to service, leadership, faith, and community continues to make a lasting impact within the SORT Organization and throughout the public safety community.