-- Stephen Davis spent more than two decades in fire and emergency services, rising through the ranks to become Division Chief. His career ended abruptly when he declined an order to issue citations to firefighters under his command who refused vaccination during the height of pandemic protocols. “I couldn’t, in good conscience, discipline people for making a personal medical decision,” Davis said. That decision cost him his post but opened an unexpected path toward new ventures that merge his sense of duty with a broader conversation about family and leadership.
Photo Courtesy of: Stephen Davis
Before his exit from the firehouse, Davis had also served in the U.S. Army as a mechanized infantry medic and flight medic. Those years - stationed in Germany and at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin - reinforced habits of preparation and the ability to make quick, consequential decisions. His subsequent firefighting career brought similar demands: managing teams in crisis and navigating the politics of public service. The vaccine mandate dispute brought those experiences into sharp focus, prompting him to rethink how he could influence public life outside government employment.
Building the Raising Alphas Project
Soon after leaving the fire service, Davis co-founded the Raising Alphas Project, a parenting and leadership initiative that began as a podcast and grew into a digital platform. The project encourages parents to cultivate independence and critical thinking in their children - traits Davis believes will help the next generation meet complex social challenges. “We can’t delegate character-building to schools or peer groups,” he said. “Parents have to be the primary teachers of integrity.”
The website, hosts podcast episodes, features written content, and sells merchandise ranging from apparel to accessories. It attracts a national audience that engages with the content across major streaming services and social media platforms. While its social following remains modest - around a few thousand on Instagram - the project reflects a larger trend in U.S. entrepreneurship: values-driven businesses that blend media and community building. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, new business applications have averaged roughly 430,000 per month in 2024, a level about 50 percent higher than in 2019. Many of these enterprises, like Raising Alphas, use digital channels to serve niche audiences rather than chasing mass markets.
Launching Choice Press
This year, Davis expanded his entrepreneurial footprint with the launch of Choice Press, a publishing house designed to give authors an outlet for works on parenting, leadership and civic responsibility. His own memoir, Alone in the Fire: The First Alarm, is the company’s inaugural title. The book recounts the decision that ended his firefighting career and how it spurred his commitment to encouraging families to raise confident, principled children.
Choice Press enters a competitive publishing environment that continues to evolve. Industry analysts at the Association of American Publishers report that U.S. trade book sales totaled roughly $9.6 billion in 2024, with nonfiction titles accounting for a significant share of growth. Independent publishers have gained ground in recent years by focusing on targeted readerships and direct-to-consumer distribution, a model Davis hopes to replicate. “We want to give writers a platform to speak to families about leadership and responsibility without being filtered by large corporate interests,” he said.
By pairing his own book with a publishing platform, Davis seeks to extend the conversation sparked by Raising Alphas while supporting authors who share similar themes. The move reflects an ongoing shift in publishing toward niche markets and direct audience engagement.
Continuing His Mission Beyond the Firehouse
Davis now balances multiple roles: leading the Raising Alphas Project, managing Choice Press, serving as Director of Administration for Goliath Ventures, and serving as Coach with Central United Soccer Club while overseeing a multi-million-dollar real estate portfolio. He is also active with several philanthropies, including Kai Jeremiah Foundation, Live for Brie Foundation, Mark Nejame's Runway to Hope, and Books & Blankets Charity. These commitments show the continuity between his life in public service and his work in entrepreneurship.
His goals remain ambitious but grounded. “I’m focused on helping families instill courage and moral clarity in their children,” Davis said. “That starts with parents setting the example every day.” By turning a moment of professional conflict into an opportunity to influence families nationwide, Stephen Davis has shifted from a career defined by emergency response to one centered on long-term civic engagement and family leadership.
Contact Info:
Name: Joseph Lawrence
Email: Send Email
Organization: Choice Press LLC
Website: http://choice-press.com
Release ID: 89174340
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