Carlie Bush supports the GMR workforce in the role of VP, HR Service Delivery. Carlie is passionate about finding new ways to create efficiencies for the business while also impacting the employee experience. With 17 years at GMR, Carlie was a founding leader of our HR Shared Service function implemented 10 years ago that has proven year over year added value to the company. Carlie’s background includes recruitment, benefits, employee relations, training, employee development & technology upgrades and innovation.
Jessica Olsen serves as the VP of Talent Acquisition within HR at Global Medical Response. She’s responsible for leading executive, corporate and field recruitment at GMR, which spans roles across all 50 states, and oversees the talent attraction and talent operations functions for the organization. Prior to that, Jessica managed DISH Network’s talent attraction and talent operation teams within HR. In past years, she’s held roles responsible for public relations, corporate communications, and marketing programs across aerospace, manufacturing and high-tech industries within large public and private organizations. Jessica is active in various recruitment leadership groups and holds a Master of Communications from the University of Denver.
Danielle joined LifeLine EMS, as the Chief Operating Officer, in early 2022, relocating from the East Coast. From Boston, Danielle comes to LifeLine as a dynamic executive with progressive leadership experience in developing and implementing advanced EMS strategies on a local, national and international level. Since choosing EMS as a second career in 2007, Danielle has delivered success across program development, education/training, communication, marketing, talent management, strategic partnerships, growth/scale and community engagement. A true change agent, skilled at forging lasting professional relationships critical for converting challenges to opportunities and successes. Recognized as a decisive leader with a deep understanding of business priorities and a unique ability to combine strategy development and thought leadership with implementation and operational execution. Credentialed as an instructor and coordinator of more than ten internationally recognized certification courses including serving as an American Heart Association Community Training Site Coordinator. Currently an affiliate faculty member for the NAEMT course, Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) and TECC. Danielle has held previous positions including; Director of Pro EMS Center for MEDICS, Vice President Strategic Initiatives and Performance Improvement, and Chief Strategy Officer. Her most favorite and meaningful role is that of a Paramedic. Danielle continues to consult nationally as an expert in the tactical medicine space and leadership education. She currently serves as the Co-Chair for the California Ambulance Association Education Committee and as the Secretary on the Southern California Ambulance Association Board of Directors.
Meredith A. Lambroff-Brown is an established healthcare and emergency services professional, currently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Armstrong Ambulance Service in Arlington, Massachusetts. Her extensive career reflects a strong background in business development, marketing, and operations, underpinned by a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of New Hampshire. Meredith’s role over the years has spanned from Chief Business Officer to Director of Business and Network Development at Armstrong, alongside previous positions at Visiting Nurse and Community Health, Inc., and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Her pragmatic leadership and commitment to operational excellence have made her a valuable asset in driving organizational improvements and fostering growth within the healthcare sector.
Edward Van Horne is known throughout the industry for his innovative approach to EMS system design and focus on clinical excellence.
Van Horne began his career as an EMT, later becoming a Nationally Registered Paramedic, and has held numerous roles in the Emergency Medical Services field. Prior to being named president and CEO, Van Horne served as the CEO of AMR’s South Region where he directed operations from Florida to Arizona. Van Horne also served as AMR’s Vice President of Business Development for the West Region and from 2002 to 2005 he served as the Director of Operations for AMR in San Bernardino County, CA.
His leadership has earned wide respect throughout the industry for his handling of emergency medical communications and operational components during major catastrophic events—most recently, the unprecedented back-to-back hurricanes, wildfires and nationwide mass casualty incidents. Under Van Horne’s leadership, AMR serves as the prime contractor with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Van Horne also has a history of success developing operational and sponsorship relationships with multiple major national teams including the Dallas Cowboys, the San Diego Padres, Miami Dolphins, INDYCAR and NASCAR among others.
He holds a bachelor of science in Health Systems Administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology and earned his MBA in Business Administration.
Rob Lawrence has been a leader in civilian and military EMS for over a quarter of a century. He is currently the director of strategic implementation for PRO EMS and its educational arm, Prodigy EMS, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and part-time executive director of the California Ambulance Association.
Rob is a member of the EMS1 Editorial Advisory Board and a frequent contributor. In his EMS One-Stop podcast, Rob breaks down takeaways from industry news and events, and tackles the challenges that face today’s EMS leadership. He is joined by a host of top names in EMS, who share their experience and insights into how to advance EMS.
Chris has been with Bell for over 20 years, and has been Director of Operations since March of 2008.
He became an EMT in 1999 and a paramedic in 2004. His entire EMS career has been spent in Milwaukee, beginning with two years of full-time ambulance work, followed by various supervisory and management roles which led to his current position. In this capacity, Chris oversees all aspects of the operation of the company, from licensed ambulance personnel, maintenance of the fleet and facilities, to supplies and equipment. Chris enjoys working with other EMS leaders to further the interests of this unique industry.
Chris is the President of the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin, having first been elected to the board in 2011, where he strives to increase the quality of EMS in Wisconsin. In 2017, Chris was appointed by Governor Scott Walker to the Wisconsin EMS Board. Chris was re-appointed to the Board by Governor Tony Evers in 2021, and again in 2023. In January 2022, Chris joined the Board of Directors of the American Ambulance Association, representing Region III.
Wayne Jurecki is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Bell Ambulance. He has been with Bell for over 30 years and initially started doing data entry in the billing office. During his time at Bell he has worked in the Accounting, Human Resources, and Information Technology Departments. In 2003 he became Bell’s Vice President and in 2011 became Chief Operating Officer.
Wayne has been involved with the American Ambulance Association since the early 1990s and has been very active in the Association for the last 15 years. He served as a Director for Region 3 of the Association for six years, a member of the Medicare Regulatory Committee and a frequent speaker at both the Reimbursement and Annual conferences. As of January 2023, Wayne is the newest Secretary of the American Ambulance Association.
Scott A. Moore, Esq. has been in the emergency medical services field for over 32 years. Scott has held various executive positions at several ambulance services in Massachusetts. Scott is a licensed attorney, specializing in Human Resources, employment and labor law, employee benefits, ambulance service reimbursement, and corporate compliance matters. Scott is the Human Resources & Operational Consultant to the American Ambulance Association (AAA) and frequently lectures at EMS conferences. In addition, Scott created Newton 360, a performance feedback and operational efficiency mobile platform designed specifically for EMS agencies.
Scott is a licensed attorney and is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State of Illinois, the State of Texas, and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. In addition, Scott holds certifications as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Society for Human Resources Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), and Certified Ambulance Compliance Officer (CACO). Scott has been a Site Reviewer for the Commission on the Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) for many years and currently serves on the CAAS Panel of Commissioners. In addition, Scott is currently serving on the Board of Directors for The Savvik Foundation, The Code Green Campaign, and the Employers Against Domestic Violence.
Scott earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Salem State College and his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. Scott maintains his EMT and is still affiliated with the Fire Department in his hometown. Scott is a member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, the National EMS Management Association, the International Association of EMS Chiefs, the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Northeast Human Resource Association.
Brian is the Medicare Consultant to the American Ambulance Association and is a frequent author and lecturer on EMS issues at State and National EMS Conferences. Brian is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Columbia School of Law.
Rachel B. Harracksingh is President of Life Ambulance Service, Inc. in El Paso, Texas. Rachel has an MBA and Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Rachel served as past Region 4 Director for the American Ambulance Association and has served as past President of the Texas Ambulance Association. Additionally, she has served as the Legislative and Reimbursement Chair for TAA. Rachel is the recipient of the Texas Ambulance Association’s prestigious Joe Brown Humanitarian Award, Outstanding Volunteer Award Association and the Walter Schafer Award from The American Ambulance Association.
Samantha Hilker is a seasoned professional in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) field, currently serving as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the American Ambulance Association. Samantha has dedicated herself to advancing the standards and impact of EMS for over 15 years. Armed with a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, Samantha brings a unique blend of academic insight and practical experience to her role. As a licensed paramedic, she has not only demonstrated her commitment to the well-being of others but has also excelled in the dynamic and high-pressure environment of emergency response. Samantha’s expertise extends beyond traditional paramedic duties. She has actively contributed to the improvement of EMS quality, specializing in project management and implementation. In a rapidly evolving field like EMS, Samantha Hilker is a dynamic professional, dedicated to the ongoing enhancement of emergency medical services and the betterment of the communities they serve.
Maria Bianchi, CAE, has served as the CEO of the American Ambulance Association (AAA) since 2002 and has worked in non-profit health care management for more than 30 years. She has represented the Association on several National Task Forces and Committee and currently sits as a voting member of the Federal Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s Emergency Services Sector. Her expertise in such areas as Board governance, strategic planning and fundraising lends itself well to working with associations of all types including individual membership organizations and trade associations.
Maria also has served as the Chair of Community Health Charities of the National Capital Area, a non-profit organization of 67 local and national charities that raises money through workplace giving campaigns. In addition, she is a sought-after speaker and has presented at numerous local and national conferences, including the National Downs Syndrome Society where she presented on Board and Volunteer Relationships and Development. Maria has been integral in the strategic planning process to several external organizations including Women in Government Relations, The Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine and the Emergency Department Practice Management Association.
Prior to joining AAA, Maria worked for the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America in a variety of senior management positions. She received her Bachelor of Arts and master’s degrees from George Washington University’s School of Education and Human Development.
Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) defies stereotypes. Yes, she was a jet fighter pilot, but if you think you know her based on that, you’d be wrong. A leader, a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame – she even has a Star Trek Federation starship named after her, the USS Malachowski (NCC-1619). Nicole’s distinguished 21-year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling greatly to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed. Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent. Nicole’s empowers people with three key beliefs: failure and risk is the price of entry for achieving something great; sometimes you need to yield to overcome; and her personal mantra – “Nobody wants to lead a scripted life.”
Nicole brings her experience to the stage and holds audiences spellbound with an easygoing authenticity of someone who’s achieved greatness. She’s been a member and leader of exceptional teams. She has faced overwhelming challenges and adversity and has come out on top.
While other high school students were practicing for their driver’s license, Nicole was accumulating flight time. She was sixteen years old when she took her first solo flight and from that point on there was no stopping her. While in high school, she joined the Civil Air Patrol and participated in Air Force Junior ROTC. Nicole’s professional story began when she earned her commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996. Following graduation, she attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) at Columbus AFB, MS and began her career as a pilot. Competitively selected to fly combat aircraft, she was among the first group of women to fly modern fighter aircraft. As a career pilot, she served in combat as an F-15E Flight Commander, Evaluator, Instructor Pilot and Flight Lead.
Over her 21-year career, Nicole achieved the rating of Command Pilot with over 2,300 flight hours in six different Air Force aircraft. She was also selected to fly as Thunderbird #3 with the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron – the first woman to fly on any Department of Defense military jet demonstration squadron. Colonel Malachowski has served as a mission ready fighter pilot in three operational F-15E fighter squadrons and has flown over 188 combat hours, including her proudest moment as a fighter pilot: leading the first fighter formation to provide security for Iraq’s historic democratic elections in 2005.
On the ground, Nicole was a White House Fellow, class of 2008-2009, where she served on the Presidential Transition Support Team (PTST) while assigned to the U.S. General Services Administration. The White House Fellows Foundation and Association awarded Nicole the 2019 IMPACT Award for demonstrating both remarkable achievement and transformational contributions in her field, as well as a sustained commitment to the White House Fellows program. Nicole also served two high-level staff assignments at the Pentagon – one in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD P&R) as well as the Secretary of the Air Force Office of International Affairs (SAF/IA). She also served as the Executive Director of the White House’s national ‘Joining Forces’ initiative where she directly advised former First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on all topics relating to service members, veterans, and military families to include employment, education, mental health, veterans’ homelessness and more.
Nicole’s operational F-15E assignments include two tours of duty at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom as well as one operational assignment to Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. She has also served alongside the United States Army 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea, as an Air Liaison Officer. During her second assignment to Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, she had the honor of commanding the 333rd Fighter Squadron, leading an elite cadre of F-15E Instructors in the training of the next generation of combat aviators. Further, she was responsible for resources totaling over $1.1B and the execution of a $119M annual flying hour program.
Nicole earned a Master of Arts, with honors, in National Security Policy from American Military University and a second Master of Arts, with highest distinction, in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. While there, she earned the Admiral Stephen B. Luce Award as the class honor graduate, the first Air Force officer in the history of the Naval War College to do so. Nicole has received several prestigious honors in recognition of her significant contributions to various endeavors, including the 2023 Award of Inspiration from The Ninety-Nines, Inc.®, an international organization of women pilots who are dedicated to encouraging and inspiring people to chase their dreams, whether in aviation directly or in other arenas.
As Nicole continues to recover from her neurological tick-borne illness, she embraces any opportunity to educate others about her medical journey and gains energy from educating others about this growing epidemic. She is on the Board of Directors at the LivLyme Foundation and is a Patient Advisory Board Member of The Dean Center for Tick Borne Illness. In November 2020, Nicole was announced as one of 2020’s “Mighty 25” by We Are The Mighty for her passionate advocacy on behalf of veterans’ health. The Mighty 25 is a recognition bestowed each year to change makers in the veteran, active duty, and military family space.
Colonel Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) was born in Santa Maria, CA and graduated high school in Las Vegas, NV. She and her husband Paul have twin children; son Garrick and daughter Norah. Paul is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former F-15E Evaluator Weapons Systems Officer.
Immediate Past President, American Ambulance Association
Randy Strozyk brings to Global Medical Response more than 34 years of experience in EMS operations and management. He has been part of the American Medical Response leadership team for 16 years and currently serves as the company’s Executive Vice President of Operations.
Strozyk earned his EMT/Paramedic certification and worked on an ambulance while studying microbiology at Washington State University. He later earned an MBA from California State University. He has been heavily involved in the American Ambulance Association for nearly two decades and is the current president of the organization.
Prior to joining Sellers Dorsey, Mason served as Chief of Staff for a State Representative in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, advising the Representative on policy matters, developing and implementing legislative and policy initiatives, and overseeing all constituent requests and office operations. In this role, he fostered and honed strong working relationships with large and small businesses, advocacy organizations, and government entities at the local, state, and federal levels.
Mason has served on the Board of Directors of the Liberty City Democratic Club, the National Campaign Board of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, and the Executive Committee of the Temple Law Alumni Association.
Current Responsibility
Mason leads the firm’s business development and expansion of its EMS finance offerings to ambulance providers across the country. Having advanced through various roles of progressive responsibility since joining Sellers Dorsey, Mason continues to provide strategic guidance to clients in Medicaid financing and revenue maximization, Medicaid managed care, provider policy and reimbursement, and developing strategies to drive value in health care, with key focus in business development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning.
Mason brings extensive experience in government, public policy, and legislative affairs to his client and business expansion engagements. He has helped clients garner millions of dollars of additional federal funds through his work directing Medicaid financing initiatives in New York, Mississippi, Colorado, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Chase started off as a wheelchair van driver over 16 years ago when he got his first look into EMS at Superior. Chase then went on to become an EMT, dispatcher, lead instructor, Director of Education, and now the General Manager of Illinois Operations.
As General Manager, Chase has been instrumental in reshaping the culture of EMS at Superior Ambulance. Chase has been at the forefront alongside the executive team at Superior to bring diversity to EMS in the areas he serves. Chase’s view of safety as not a part-time commitment but a genuine full-time commitment has helped reduce accidents and patient incidents.
Chase sits on the Superior’s retention committee, Field Training Officer and training committee, policy and procedures committee, Leadership training committee, and employee appreciation committee. Chase has devoted his career to ensuring the people around him continue to excel in their work, live, and play areas.
In 2021 Chase was nominated as one of the AAA’s 40 Under 40. He has since become a member of the AAA Workforce Committee. Chase also sat on the North Lawndale employment network as a representative for Superior Ambulance to help bring jobs to the North Lawndale area in Chicago, creating over 45 jobs for people in the community.
