What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

I have been an active member of SMEMSIC and it's Board of Directors for many years. I have demonstrated consistent support of SMEMSIC and am recognized internationally as a committed EMS Educator. I believe I have and will continue to provide the necessary leadership our organization. I am always looking at ways to better serve EMS by working smarter not necessarily harder.

David Maatman Biography:

I have been in EMS since 1981 and an active IC for 20 plus years. My primary EMS education focus is CEU and providing high fidelity patient simulation. I am currently the ITLS of Michigan State Coordinator; serve on the international ITLS Editorial Board, the Chapter Support Committee, and the Global Development Committee. I am a frequent presenter at local, state, regional, national and international conferences. Have been published multiple textbooks and a subject matter expert for distance learning programs through Brady/Prentice Hall publisher.

What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

I am a 25 year Society member, and I've served either on the Board or a committee throughout my membership, including my current position as Secretary. Due to my tenure (I'm old), I think I can offer the Board a sense of context and institutional memory about decisions made by prior Boards of Directors, and the this can help to guide current decision-making processes. In addition, I have served many years as one of two Society EMSCC representatives, including 2 consecutive terms as EMSCC Chairman. During my tenure as EMSCC Chairman, both PA 375 and Trauma Systems legislation were developed, debated, and sent to the legislature where they were subsequently passed. As your EMSCC representative I've had the pleasure of forming many productive relationships with our partner EMS organizations. I welcome the opportunity to continue to serve the Society as a member of the Board of Directors.

Wayne Snyder Biography:

I am married with 2 children in college (please send money!).
EDUCATION
- B.A. English, Arizona State University
- Master of Public Administration, University of Michigan
- EMTP, I-C, Madonna College
EMPLOYMENT
- Captain, Monroe Fire Department (retired) 1979-2005
- EMS Coordinator, Monroe County Medical Control 1988-Present
- Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Mercy Memorial Hospital

What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

My compassion and professionalism are the greatest gifts that I can offer to the IC society. Having served as board member and several committees, I will continue to serve as a proactive voice for the membership. Great communication paired with honesty and compassion for the betterment of EMS education is also what I offer.  I will use my experience that I have gained from sitting on several state EMS committees and hope to bring better communication between the EMS community to and from the state. I support excellence in EMS education and am dedicated to the profession. I am also pursuing my Master's degree in Healthcare Education and feel that will be beneficial in many ways to the Board and Society.

Maria Byrwa Biography:

She started her EMS career in 1995, as an EMT, and has been involved in EMS education from the beginning.  She obtained her Associates Degree in EMS through Oakland Community College, has served as a full time Paramedic, a Firefighter and Auxiliary Police officer in Metro Detroit. She has taught at OCC and Kalamazoo Valley Community College throughout her EMS career. She graduated with dual BS in Public Safety Studies and EMS and is currently pursuing her MAed at MSU. She has served on a medical mission trip to Guatemala. She is the Project Coordinator at Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies for two EMS for Children’s Targeted Issues Grants, MI 1st STEPPs and MI PE2DS, involving simulation and pediatric EMS education and research. She was appointed the National Association of EMS Educators liaison to the EMSC national organization, currently serving a 2 year term.

What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

Vision, Leadership, and diplomacy.

Jim Rinehart Biography:

Current Manager of the Northwest Regional Medical Control Authority, the largest medical control in the State of Michigan geographically, having 7 counties and 43 licensed EMS agencies. Jim has 25 years of EMS experience and has had the opportunity to work in almost every field of EMS. Jim has worked as a Street Paramedic in the urban setting, Medical Dispatcher, a Field Training Officer, EMS Driving and Safety Coordinator, EMS Operations Manager, EMS School Director, Regional Preparedness Coordinator, Medical Reserve Corps Unit Leader and an Educator. A graduate from Davenport College Paramedic Program, Jim also holds a BS in Biology and a MPA in Public Administration from Grand Valley State University. Jim has also been a Little League Baseball Coach for the last 11 years and last year took his 13 year old and All-Star team to the State of Michigan top-8 finals. Going for a repeat in 2011 and win. “SEMPER FI

What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

I consider it a considerable honor to be the current Region 1 Representative on the Society board. I have learned a considerable amount from many, many Society members, and I certainly see that continuing. The Society is a very well respected orgainzation, and is often drawn upon to help shape the future of EMS in Michigan. Given that fact, I believe it is important that we remain a strong, professional organization with outstanding leadership. I believe my current involvement as a board member, as well as working on the Education Committee, EMSCC, and the IC Objective Task Force have prepared me to help lead the organization and to represent its members in the future.

Eric Smith Biography:

My real job is in management in Montcalm County's Emergecny Services Department, where my primary job is training and education. I have worked there since 1995. When not there, I have a couple of other jobs, including teaching Criminal Justice and Emergency Medicine at the local college, and I have my own little Public Safety training and consulting company. I pass my summers by traveling the US fishing pro bass tournaments and traveling Michigan playing for a semi-pro baseball team. My winters are spent playing in hockey leagues (and complaining about the cold).

What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

Though I am relatively new in the IC arena, only having my IC license for a little over five years, I have over 26 years’ experience in EMS, as well as nearly 19 years as a paid on call firefighter and nearly 15 years in law enforcement. With this background, I feel that I would be able to represent not only the career EMS only members, but the fire and police based EMS members as well. I have worked my way up from the trenches starting out as a volunteer advanced first aider on the ambulance, to obtaining my EMT, EMT-S and EMT-P licenses, eventually being promoted to Operations Manager and then up to obtaining my current position as Executive Director of Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service (SMCAS) in April of 2008 . Since obtaining my IC license in 2005, I have worked as an Adjunct Faculty member with Kellogg Community College for two years and presently with Southwestern Michigan College for the past three years. I was also instrumental with re-establishing an EMS educational program here at SMCAS, training several area police and firefighters as Medical First Responders, EMT's and some up to the level of EMT-S. I have always been pro education and have promoted it not only within our EMS organization, but within the local police and fire agencies as well. Again, I know I am relatively new as far as being an IC goes, but with my background and experience, I feel that I can bring some added ideas and insight to the table.

Timothy Gray Biography:

I am currently the Executive Director of Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service (SMCAS) in Niles, with over 26 years of EMS experience, holding current Michigan Paramedic and Paramedic IC licenses. I am also an Adjunct Faculty member teaching in the Health and Human Services Department at Southwestern Michigan College. I currently hold NREMTP and CCEMTP certifications, AHA instructor certification in BLS, ACLS and PALS, as well as other instructor credentials in NAEMT and other programs. I also have nearly 19 years of active duty in the fire service (retiring as an on call paid firefighter for the City of Buchanan Fire Department in 2008) and nearly 15 years of experience in the law enforcement field (retiring in 1999 due to a work related injury). I am currently single and love spending time with family and friends, traveling, outdoor activities and sharing my knowledge and experiences in public safety with others.

Joseph Karlichek

Candidate

What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

I want to continue serving in the capacity as your Region 2 representative. Listening to the membership and moving forward with new ideas and innovation is expected and needed. My first two years have been fast and a great learning experience while building relationships with those who pursue quality in what we do not only as an organization but as individuals. Please help me continue my representing you for another term. Thank you.

Joseph Karlichek Biography:

I began my career in Public Safety in 1991 by joining the Flushing City Fire Department while attending college. I acquired my EMT license in 1997 and immediately began to work for a local EMS company. In 2000 I acquired my Paramedic license and began working for an additional EMS company as a Paramedic in the field. I was a clinical instructor for Genesys Regional Medical center’s EMS programs for many years and also worked for Bishop International Airport Crash Fire Rescue Team for several years as part-time firefighter. I acquired my EMSIC license in 2007 and was an instructor for Genesys EMS Education for a short time. I am co-owner and the Chief of Operations for STAT EMS, Inc with executive oversight of ambulance, wheelchair, fleet, and EMS Education center. I currently reside as Region 2 Board member on the State of Michigan EMS IC Society, alternate for SMEMSIC EMSCC, Board Member of the Genesee County Medical Control Authority (GCMCA), Protocol Committee member, Professional Standards Review Organization, and Education Committee member. I have also served on numerous ad-hoc committees through the GCMCA. I am a lifelong resident of Genesee County and have resided in Flushing, MI now for 34 years. I am married and have three daughters. My hobbies include waterfowl and deer hunting, World War Two re-enacting, gardening and reading.

What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

I have been a member of the Society since 1992, and the Region III representative for the last two years. I have a deep sense of commitment to education and involvement in EMS. I also strive for improvement in not only the service I provide, but in myself, and feel that my involvement in the Society fulfills that commitment.

Bob Cesario Biography:

My history with EMS goes back to the late 70's, and extends from the private sector to fire based services. I have been an instructor coordinator since 1992 and a member of the Society very shortly after I received my license through the encouragement of Linda Honeycutt when she was still a member of the Society. She felt the Society would be a great resource for my efforts as an instructor, and she was right. Linda, of course, is the Director of Health Professions eLearning at Elsevier, and although I don't aspire to achieve what Linda has for herself, I do hope that my membership and involvement with the Society lends to my success and growth.

Kevin Wilkinson

Candidate

What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

I have long been an advocate of raising the EMS industry standard of care through training and the foundation of a strong education for our profession. I believe the best way to industry leading care is providing an industry leading education. The IC is an integral part of the foundation I speak of and I believe it would an honor to serve on the Board of Directors that represents Instructors charged with such a great mission.

Kevin Wilkinson Biography:

I am currently the Administrative Manager for Livingston County EMS. I have served the EMS industry in various positions beginning as an EMT in 1985 and a licensed paramedic in 1991. I currently sit on the MAEMT board of directors, serve on the EMS Expo committee and represent Livingston County EMS at the Washtenaw/Livingston County Medical Control Authority. I have lectured at various EMS conferences and I have spent some time as a flight paramedic. I have a great passion for our industry and consider myself lucky to have had such a wonderful career in EMS.

What do you feel you have to offer our membership by serving on the Board of Directors?

Continued representation of not only the Instructor Coordinators, but the EMS community across the Upper Peninsula.

Dennis Karuzas. Biography:

Paramedic Instructor Coordinator from the Marquette General School of EMT.