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Year: 2024

Christopher DiBona

Chris oversees clinical development, quality assurance, education and research associated with pre-hospital medicine at Brewster Ambulance Service in Weymouth MA. Brewster Ambulance Service currently operates 350 vehicles from 30 locations, 7 municipal 911 contracts and over 450,000 transports annually. He has over twenty six years of pre-hospital care and clinical experience. After moving to Denver, Colorado, to deepen his experience with a career in EMS, he returned to Massachusetts and worked for multiple non-transport, hospital- based advanced life support services along the South Shore.

Chris also worked for ten years with Boston MedFlight as a flight paramedic and was previously the Tactical Medical Element Leader for the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council and the FBI Boston SWAT Advanced Life Support Division and current tactical medical element leader for the Quincy police Swat, marine unit and dive team. Chris is a graduate of Northeastern University and has extensive training in Advanced Trauma Life Support and Fundamentals of Critical Care Support for adult and pediatric patients.

Mickey Schulte

Who We Serve

Savvik serves the entire public safety sector: EMS, fire departments and fire rescue, law enforcement. Additionally, hospitals, clinics, schools and other related agencies with products and services.

Save Time & Money

Savvik has already put in hundreds of hours into each competitively bid process and selected vendors and programs that you can trust. We do this for you at no charge. With all of the work already being done, all you have to do is select what you need and when you need it.

Group Power Buys – We leverage the buying power of our entire group to get the best deals we can on core products to help drive deeper discounts to our members. Buy just what you need and save by pooling your purchases with your peers nationwide. All of this at no additional cost to you.

Savvik also gives back a portion of our proceeds back to the public safety industry to support programs and initiative that keep all of us strong. By supporting Savvik with your purchases you are also helping the industry thrive!

Unmatched Value

Savvik has outstanding contracts with reputable vendors. These contracts will help save your agency valuable resources, but that is not all. Savvik will also provide you with service after the sale. We pride ourselves on customer service both before and after all Savvik purchases. We will help you with any discrepancies in billing, equipment failure, vendor relations, finding products, and much more. Savvik is a one-stop buying group that meets all your needs. We want to provide you with the right products – the right services – at the right price!

The chances are you know someone who has achieved significant cost savings as a member of Savvik. We’d like to add you to our growing list of members with success stories.

Revenue Sharing

A portion of our proceeds is returned back to our State and National Association partners every quarter. We share our proceed with our 49 plus partners based on purchase volume on the program they were purchased under. Just for buying the products you need at our discounted costs, you are helping your organization grow stronger! Help us support you! If you don’t find what you are looking for contact us and we will try to set up a buying program for it. When we work together everyone wins!

Investing in Our Industry

An amazing result of our success was the formation of the Savvik Foundation in 2000. Savvik invests in the industry! Savvik’s excess revenues are returned to regional, state and national Public Safety associations as well as being donated to organizations like the Savvik Foundation through grants so that they can complete the mission of leading industry efforts in such areas as safety, efficient operations, education, research and national consensus building. We have also been at the forefront in building the guidelines for community paramedicine.

Savvik and the Savvik Foundation are dedicated to improving the general wellbeing of the Public Safety industry as a whole. Our effectiveness increases with the commitment from our vendor partners to provide Savvik members with quality products and services at the industry’s best prices.

Competitive Bid Process

Savvik contracts for many of our Public Safety supplies and services through a competitive bidding or quotation process, ensuring the best pricing on quality products and services. Savvik competitive bidding procedures ensure full and fair competition, and, therefore, relieve our members—even many of our public members—of the obligation to conduct their own competitive bidding process.

Savvik Buying Group Competitive Bid Process

Adam Heinz

Adam began his career with REMSA Health in 2002 as an emergency medical technician (EMT), and since then, has held a variety of leadership roles, including clinical development manager, director of clinical communications and most recently executive director of integrated healthcare. During his time with REMSA Health, Adam has worked to expand and progress clinical protocols for our out-of-hospital healthcare providers, participated in developing alternative care pathways so patients can safely receive treatment at the right place, at the right time, for the right cost, and led the creation of the Washoe County COVID call center during the early part of the pandemic. In his role as COO, Adam oversees the primary operations of the organization related to ground ambulance services and deployment, the Regional Emergency Communications Center, clinical services and the Center for Integrated Health and Community Education.

Adam holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno and a master’s degree in business administration. He maintains his certification as a Nationally Registered Paramedic (NRP), is certified as a Nevada State EMS Instructor, and as an Advanced Emergency Medical Dispatcher (AEMD). He represents the American Ambulance Association (AAA) on the board of the directors of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).

Ben Wasmund

Ben Wasmund has been the Director of Operations at Lakes Region EMS since 2011. Prior to becoming the director, he held numerous roles within this organization including, EMT, Paramedic, Field Lead, Supervisor and Manager. Ben has more than 24 years of diverse experience in emergency medical services and has held positions in EMS operations in both paid and volunteer EMS organizations. He began his career in a small rural BLS ambulance service and through the years helped to advance this service to a combination full time/volunteer ALS system. He recently celebrated over 24 years with this department where he still works as a Paramedic. In addition to his volunteer and front line EMS experience, he has been a firefighter and has worked and trained in the Fire and Rescue arena including: Vehicle Extrication, High Angle Rope Rescue, Dive Rescue Operations and Tactical EMS. Ben brings his leadership experience as a Director and personal experiences of working at all levels of systems as a volunteer working for different EMS systems across multiple states.

Shawn Baird

Shawn is the VP of State Affairs and Strategic Advocacy for AAA. He has been a paramedic, ambulance service owner, and recently CEO of a multi-state service. Shawn served on NEMSAC and GAPBAC and is currently Chair of the National Payment Reform Group formed by AAA and other stakeholder organizations.

Tristan North

Tristan North is Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the AAA and leads the legislative and regulatory policy efforts of the organization. He has been advocating on EMS and ambulance policies for over 25 years and has a deep understanding of the political and legislative process. Tristan began his career on Capitol Hill as a staff member for the House Committee on Financial Services.

Jamie Pafford-Gresham

President, American Ambulance Association

At Pafford Medical Services, Jamie Pafford-Gresham oversees the collective fulfillment of her company’s vision, mission and core values. She also ensures the financial and operational effectiveness of the company’s ground and fixed-wing ambulance operations in Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Jamie is a recognized national EMS leader who is uniquely qualified to address all providers’ ambulance fee reimbursement issues — especially those of rural EMS providers.

Angela McLain-Johnson

Angela McLain-Johnson, MA, CHC, RHIA serves as the CRO/CCO at Pafford Medical Services.  Angie’s more than 25 years of experience in healthcare financial services has focused on the strategic development and management of revenue cycle operations to include; comprehensive patient account management, revenue performance improvement and implementation of monitoring controls and strategies. In addition, Angela also has extensive experience in all elements of healthcare compliance and accreditation in both the hospital and EMS industry, ensuring organizational business practices exceed regulatory standards and support the provision of excellent patient care. Angie holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, focused on health care reimbursement, and has an advanced degree in Health and Human Services. She has used her experience and expertise in healthcare finance and healthcare management to help establish EMS industry standards through active roles on multiple state and national boards; serving as with the Oklahoma Ambulance Association and as Region 4 Director with the American Ambulance Association

Aarron Reinert

Aarron is nationally known as a facilitator, master teacher and expert in EMS leadership, management, financial viability, system design and applied best practices in rural and small-town EMS systems. Aarron has worked in EMS for over 30 years and is the executive director and chief of EMS for a critical care ALS ambulance service in a suburban, rural and super-rural region of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Aarron understands the unique challenges facing small-town ambulance and first-response services. Using the tools of deep listening, facilitation and strategic planning, Aarron helps ambulance services, communities, boards, associations, counties and states build sustainable and reliable EMS that strikes the necessary balance between finance, customer service, employee/volunteer satisfaction and community awareness. Aarron’s recognized understanding of current EMS issues has led to his appointment as chairperson of the National EMS Advisory Council by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and election to serve as President of the American Ambulance Association. Aarron’s skillset and expertise are regularly in demand in his roles as facilitator, EMS management consultant and lecturer.

Alexia Jobson

Alexia Bratiotis Jobson leads initiatives to strengthen engagement, elevate brand visibility, and foster meaningful connections through strategic communication. With more than 25 years of experience in business and communications, Alexia brings a wealth of expertise to her role.

She holds the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR), a credential that reflects her professional competence, commitment to ethical standards, and mastery of progressive PR practices. In addition to her communications credentials, Alexia is a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician, a certified emergency medical/fire dispatcher, and a proud graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno’s Reynolds School of Journalism.

Alexia serves as Chair of the American Ambulance Association’s Communications Committee and contributes to the AIMHI Public Relations Committee, helping advance the voice and visibility of EMS nationwide.

Mike Taigman

During his more than four decades in EMS Mike has focused the majority of his career on helping make things better. A popular conference educator, author of more than 600 articles in professional journals, and a multi decade Associate Professor in the graduate program in Emergency Health Services Management at the University of Maryland Baltimore County he’s focused on helping professionals save more lives, reduce suffering, and be more effective leaders. He’s shared his perspective in 48 of the 50 states, most of the Canadian Provinces, Israel, Palestine, Australia, and throughout Europe. Mike is the Improvement Guide for FirstWatch helping partner organizations make meaningful improvements by organizing and leveraging their data. He is also the facilitator for EMS Agenda 2050.

Steve Wirth

Steve Wirth is a founding partner of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth. In a distinguished four-decade public safety career, Steve has worked in virtually every facet of EMS – as first responder, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, flight paramedic, EMS instructor, fire officer, and EMS executive. He was one of central Pennsylvania’s first paramedics. Steve brings a pragmatic and business-oriented perspective to his diverse legal practice having served for almost a decade as senior executive of a mid-sized air and ground ambulance service, helping to build the company from the ground up.

Matt Zavadsky

Matt is an EMS/Mobile Healthcare Consultant with PWW | Advisory Group, focusing on assisting local communities, EMS agencies, fire departments, ambulance services, hospitals and other healthcare organizations in evaluating and improving their EMS and mobile healthcare delivery systems. Prior to joining PWW|AG, he served as the Chief Transformation Officer for MedStar Mobile Healthcare, the Public Utility Model EMS system serving Fort Worth and 13 other cities in North Texas where he helped guide the development and implementation of innovative programs with healthcare and community partners to transform the role of MedStar in the healthcare system and community. Matt has a master’s degree in healthcare administration, with a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Data Management. He is a past President of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), is currently their South-Central Region Director and chairs their EMS Economics Committee. He also chairs the Education Committee for the Academy of International Mobile Healthcare Integration (AIMHI), an association comprised of high-performance and Public Utility Model EMS systems across the United States.