Cheryl Smith

Cheryl Smith serves as Operations Administrator and Paramedic with Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (EASI), where she has dedicated more than three decades to caring for patients, leading teams, and mentoring generations of EMS professionals.

Cheryl’s journey with EASI began on October 1, 1993, when she joined the organization as what she affectionately describes as a “green EMT,” eager to learn and help others. She earned her Paramedic certification in 1995 and became one of EASI’s first Supervisors the following year. Her leadership responsibilities continued to grow when she was named Assistant Operations Manager in 2003. She later advanced to Operations Director before transitioning to her current role as Operations Administrator in 2025.

Throughout her career, Cheryl has earned recognition for her dedication to EMS and the people she serves. She was honored as an Arkansas Star of Life in 2007, received EASI’s President’s Award in 2011, and was named Paramedic of the Year in 2016. Together, these honors reflect a career characterized by service, leadership, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to others.

Cheryl’s greatest impact, however, may be found in the people she has influenced along the way. Over more than three decades, she has worked alongside and helped shape generations of EMS professionals. To many within EASI, Cheryl is far more than an administrator or colleague. She is a trusted mentor, friend, and source of guidance and encouragement. Affectionately known by many as “Ma” or “Nanny B,” she holds a special place within the EASI family.

When asked what she loves most about her work, Cheryl summarizes a remarkable career in just five words: “Helping the one in need.” That simple philosophy has guided her from the ambulance to organizational leadership and continues to define the way she serves others.

Cheryl’s legacy can be seen not only in the patients she has cared for, but also in the countless EMS professionals she has encouraged, mentored, and helped develop. Through more than three decades of service, she has remained committed to the fundamental purpose that first brought her to EMS: helping people when they need it most. Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. is proud to recognize Paramedic and Operations Administrator Cheryl Smith as a Star of Life.