Marguerite “Rita” Stroyny has been an EMT since 2000 and began her career with Community Care Ambulance (CCA) in 2001. Rita does not back down from any challenge she faces, and during her CCA career she has been deployed to assist in Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Harvey (2017), and Hurricane Michael (2018).

Rita delivers her best to each and every patient she meets, as well as to her community. She organizes benefits and fundraisers, such as a drive to stuff stockings for the military at Christmas and a benefit for a coworker who faced a family tragedy. In February 2019, Rita was recognized by Ashtabula City Council for going above and beyond for children who were affected by a devastating house fire.

Being involved in a profession that helps individuals in their greatest hour of need is a perfect fit for Rita, and her selflessness has positively affected the lives of many. Rita enjoys spending her personal time four-wheeling and camping with family, including her eight grandchildren. CCA is privileged to recognize Rita as a 2019 AAA Star of Life.

John Smith initially applied to Community Care Ambulance (CCA) for a Wheelchair Technician position. During John’s interview, CCA recognized his passion for caring for others, and his dedication after many years in the industry. Instead of bringing John on board as a Wheelchair Technician, CCA invited John to join the team as our Hospital Coordinator within the Marketing Department.

John began his career in the industry more than 25 years ago as a Wheelchair Technician, then advanced into a Supervisor role. For fifteen years, John collaborated with various organizations and associations to assist in teaching Wheelchair Technician courses within the state, covering topics ranging from customer service to crew and patient safety.

From John’s very first day at CCA, he has proven himself to be invaluable. John’s impeccable customer service, dedication to a job well done, and care delivered to patients is inspiring. John always has a smile on his face, even in moments of stress. John always goes above and beyond for his fellow co-workers, customers, and patients. Additionally, John works at night and on weekends, filling in where needed as a Wheelchair Technician.

John has now been part of CCA for two years in his role of Hospital Coordinator. Due to his diligence and dedication, John has been instrumental in building relationships with the staff at our local University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center. Everyone at Ahuja knows John, from the Manager of the ER, to the ladies that work in the gift shop, and John is considered part of the family.

John has dedicated his life to serving others through medical transportation as a Wheelchair Tech, Supervisor, and now as Hospital Coordinator. John is humble, kind, reliable, and goes the extra mile every day for all of our patients. John carries with him a sense of pride, respect, and integrity for his job. It is for these reasons that Community Care Ambulance is proud to recognize John as a 2017 Star of Life.

Kenneth “Ken” began serving his community through EMS in 1989 as an EMT and Firefighter, but quickly accelerated to an Advanced EMT that same year. In 1993, Ken expanded his knowledge once again and became a Paramedic. Shortly after becoming a Paramedic, Ken became an instructor with the American Heart Association. In 2001, Ken became an instructor with the National Rifle Association with the intent to educate youth in accident prevention. To further serve his community, Ken joined the Ohio Military Reserves, and also became a special topics Instructor for the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission. Continually furthering his education, Ken has since become a CICP-Paramedic. Ken strives for excellence in each patient interaction; ensuring their clinical needs as well as emotional needs are cared for to the best of his ability. Education is one the most important jobs Ken does, whether it is educating patients to alleviate fears on what will happen next in their care, mentoring new or less experienced EMT’s and Paramedics, or training for the American Heart Association.

Ken also serves as the President of the IAEP local 252 collaborating with fellow coworkers and the management team at Community Care Ambulance, and is an active member of the Safety/Wellness Committee.

Ken cares deeply about the communities he serves and has a solid rapport with the facilities in the area. Ken ensures his patients are not only cared for clinically, but emotionally as well as he attempts to ease their fears. Last year, Ken stepped up to play the important role of Santa at the Children’s Christmas Party which was a huge success. Ken is dedicated, caring and compassionate in his work. 

Mark Adams, Wheelchair Technician, has worked at Community Care Ambulance in Ashtabula, Ohio for two years. His coworkers are honoring Mark for his self- motivation, his helpfulness to colleagues, his ability to note areas for improvement,
and his enhancement of the workplace for everyone with whom he comes into contact.

Mark goes above and beyond every day for his patients and coworkers. He shows his dedication through helping clean units, spending extra time and attention with his patients, and assisting with PCR routing. No matter the situation, Mark is always polite and professional, and is the ideal representative of everything a Star of Life should be.

When not working, Mark spends his time with his family and chasing all things that swim in the water. Mark had a long career in hospitality until he made a life decision to change career paths to fulfill his passion for helping people.

Dawn has worked for Community Care Ambulance (CCA) in Ashtabula, Ohio for 8 years. Dawn’s daily actions are a constant example of her dedication to her duties and profession. She always puts her patients first and is a voice of experience and reason to many of her coworkers.

Dawn serves CCA as a Critical Care Paramedic, and takes on every task with passion, dedication, and a smile. She assists CCA in making progressive changes by maintaining professionalism, compassion, and respect for her coworkers. Her actions exhibited by her superior performance prove her to be a valued asset to our organization. She has deployed with CCA on natural disasters, and is continually receiving compliments from patients, facilities staff, and management. Dawn is a graduate of Community Care Ambulance’s accelerated Paramedic Program. She began her career as an EMT in 2007, and progressed to Paramedic and then to Critical Care Paramedic.

Dawn is active with her family and glows with pride when discussing her grandchildren. She is a grandmother to four granddaughters, three of which are triplets. Dawn and her husband, John, are celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary in April. Dawn and John often spend warm summer days on their motorcycle, finding adventures and exploring new sites.