Megan Overbeck is being recognized for her outstanding clinical excellence, diligence, and dedication to the EMS profession. In 2023, Megan responded to an impressive 1,993 calls and transported 1,559 patients, averaging 5.5 calls per day. During this period, she performed a remarkable 3,942 procedures, which included 767 IVs, 165 12-leads, eight intubations, and two needle decompressions. Additionally, she administered critical treatments, including DuoNeb, Fentanyl, and TXA.

Megan’s dedication to patient care is reflected not just in the volume of her work but in the quality of her results. She responded to 47 cardiac arrests in 2023, transporting 27 patients and achieving ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) in 13 cases, including six clinical saves. Her success rate in cardiac arrests—27.7% ROSC and 36.4% of all cardiac arrests her operation responded to—far exceeds national averages, demonstrating her exceptional clinical skills and ability to make a life-saving difference.

Megan’s commitment to excellence and her extraordinary outcomes make her a deserving honoree for her contributions to the EMS profession.

Michael Mitchell earned his EMT certification from Waubonsee Community College, where he was recognized on both the Dean’s and President’s lists. While his ultimate goal is to become a police officer, Michael began his EMS career in February 2024.

Michael and his partner are being recognized as Stars of Life recipients for their life-saving actions during a critical incident. While stopped at a red light, they were approached by an off-duty police officer carrying a pediatric patient who had been shot. Thanks to their quick response, the crew was able to initiate life-saving measures and transport the infant to the nearest trauma center. This event highlights Michael’s dedication and skill in emergency medical services, demonstrating his commitment to providing exceptional care in the most challenging situations.

Diamond Hall, an Emergency Medical Technician with Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Illinois, is being recognized for her exemplary dedication to public service and her remarkable life-saving actions. A graduate of Oak Park River Forest High School, Diamond went on to complete her EMT training at Illinois Central College, where she was a member of the honors society and earned two academic scholarships. Her commitment to public service extends beyond EMS, as her ultimate goal is to become a police officer.

Diamond and her partner are being honored as Stars of Life for their swift and heroic response to a critical situation. While stopped at a red light, an off-duty police officer approached their ambulance carrying a pediatric patient who had been shot. Thanks to their quick thinking and immediate life-saving interventions, Diamond and her team were able to stabilize the infant and transport them to the nearest trauma center. This incident is a powerful example of Diamond’s skill, composure, and dedication to Emergency Medical Services.

Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service is proud to recognize Diamond Hall as a 2024 Star of Life for her unwavering commitment to saving lives and serving her community.

When a premature baby, born at 27 weeks’ gestation, was in respiratory distress, Dakota Shadwell’s expertise and training on the Bubble CPAP helped save the infant’s life.

It happened when Dakota and his partner, Kelly Hamill, were called to help a patient who had been taken to a local emergency department in a rural area that did not specialize in obstetric or neonatal care.

Once there, Dakota and Kelly delivered excellent patient care to not just one, but two patients—the mother and her baby—until additional specialty help arrived. The baby, who weighed just two pounds, would go on to receive additional care from a ground pediatric specialty team while Dakota and Kelly transported the mother by air to another regional health facility.

Kelly Hamill is being honored for her impressive ability to pivot the focus of her care and successfully utilize her training on a new lifesaving technology for infants.

Kelly’s dedication and flexibility were recently demonstrated when she and her partner were dispatched to a rural hospital for what they thought was a call for a mobile EMS response for an adult female transport. However, they ended up providing care and resuscitating a baby as well.

Kelly and her partner, Dakota Shadwell, worked together to stabilize both the mother and the baby, who was born prematurely at 27 weeks’ gestation and weighed only two pounds. They utilized Bubble CPAP technology designed specifically for such small and fragile patients. Their skillful employment of this new advanced system allowed the baby to go from a distressed respiratory condition to a stable one.

The pair then continued to treat the baby, increasing blood glucose, attempting UVC, and obtaining peripheral IV access. They stayed with the baby until a ground pediatric specialty team arrived, then transported the mother by air to another regional hospital.

Danny Neczek is a skilled EMT and 20-year veteran at MedEx Ambulance. Danny functions as an Operations Supervisor, and will soon complete his training as an ambulance mechanic as well.

On the evening of March 6th, while supervising MedEx’s South Base, Danny suffered full cardiac arrest. Ironically, the team was celebrating National Employee Appreciation Day with pizza.

Fortunately, Danny was surrounded by five EMTs and three Paramedics. The MedEx team immediately reacted and began resuscitative measures on Danny. Danny was down for 22 minutes when the team finally got a pulse back. Danny was rushed by a MedEx crew to the University of Illinois Hospital, where he was placed in a hypothermic coma. Miraculously, 10 days later, Danny was discharged from the hospital with NO lasting effects from the incident.

Today Danny has returned to full active duty, and serves as a walking and talking reminder of the importance of what EMS does each and every day.

Janet Brooks began her career with Superior Air-ground Ambulance Service, Inc. back in December 1992. After spending her early professional career in Food Service, which included management with K-Mart and McDonald’s, she grew unhappy with the inability to do what she really wanted to do—follow in the footsteps of her mother, a cardiac nurse, and help others. 

As a small child Janet would find all types of small, wounded animals and bring them to her mother to see how they could help them heal. Some lived and some died, but that didn’t deter Janet.

At the age of 15 she became “Candy Striper” volunteering her Saturdays to deliver mail and flowers to sick patients at the hospital where her mother worked. After her shift was over, she would go up to her mother’s unit, where (under supervision) she was allowed to help care for patients.

Janet volunteered this way for two years, during which she learned how to perform CPR. It was impossible to predict how this training would pay off in the future, until…

While camping on vacation in Rapid City, South Dakota, tragedy struck. Janet witnessed a young female being pulled from the pool in an apparent drowning.  Janet swiftly swam to the other side of the pool, jumped out of the water, and asked if anyone knew CPR. Janet was met with blank stares and asked someone to call 911. Janet, now 18, tried to remember her CPR training from 3 years back. She performed chest compressions and gave mouth-to-mouth the best she could until the young victim began to cough up pool water. Janet quickly turned the victim onto her side so she wouldn’t aspirate and covered her up with towels to keep her warm. In the distance, Janet heard the wail of the sirens of the inbound ambulance. The victim was then taken to the waiting ambulance and was quickly whisked away.

That is when the shock hit Janet. With the assistance of her friend’s father, Janet was taken to their camper shaking uncontrollably. Doubts ran through her min. “What if I didn’t perform CPR correctly? Did I do more harm than good?” But she guessed doing something, even imperfectly, was better than doing nothing at all.

Once she calmed down, Janet called home to tell her family how her vacation was going so far. She was able to see the Black Hills from their campsite. She was going to see Mt Rushmore and that she had just saved a drowning victim. Her mother began to cry and was grateful her daughter was where she needed to be at that time and place. Janet’s mother contacted the volunteer office and thanked them for requiring that hospital volunteers learn CPR. Janet still has the article that was written about her in the hospital’s newsletter.

Janet attended a local Community College where she has an associate degree in criminal justice. Her desire was to further her schooling, but money was in short supply. So, Janet began to work at McDonald’s on campus. Janet worked her way up to Assistant Manager in just a few short years. Janet worked for Mcdonald’s for 12 years and was also working part-time at a local K-Mart.

The day Janet witnessed a cat being hit by a car changed her life. A woman standing on the side of the street picked up the cat and began to run toward the local Fire Department. Janet, who was driving by in her car, yelled to the woman to get in and she would then drive them to an area animal hospital. Sadly, the cat—who belonged to the woman’s daughter—died of a broken back. Janet then asked where her daughter was, trying to make small talk to take the uncomfortable silence away while driving the woman and the dead cat to their animal hospital 30 minutes away. The woman said that her daughter worked at the local zoo and that she should call her. Janet informed the woman that she should wait until her daughter came home from work to inform her that her pet had been killed. The woman agreed and thanked Janet for helping her out in her time of need. The woman asked Janet what she did for a living and Janet told her she worked for McDonald’s but was unhappy due to her being passed over as a Store Manager. Janet asked the woman what she did for a living and the woman stated she was going to school to become an EMT. Janet always wanted to work on an ambulance but had no idea how to go about doing so. The woman then told Janet that she had what it took to become an EMT, she helped a stranger in her time of need. She told Janet that if she was serious about a career change, she would talk to her instructor and get Janet into the next class. Janet enrolled in the next EMT class.

Following her hire, Janet worked hard at Superior. After her day shift, she would volunteer her time on an ALS rig so she could learn as much as possible.

Janet was the first station manager to have a station at a local hospital where she attended their Paramedic program. Janet was in the 1996-1997 Paramedic class, all the while running a station. Once she graduated, she stepped down as a manager to begin her career as a Paramedic.

Janet tested into one of Illinois’ most prestigious EMS systems, Northwest Community Hospital. Janet is a FTO and a Paramedic Preceptor. Janet was also an EMS Coordinator working between NWC and Superior.

Janet has been influential in helping save the Company thousands of dollars with the development of the pack system. Janet and her former station manager were tired of throwing away dirty supplies and began to use Seal-A-Meal to package supplies to help keep them clean and organized. Superior adapted the program and uses it to this very day.

Janet works a 24-hour shift and serves at special events like concerts, sporting events, and the Chicago Marathon. In 2004, Janet was part of a deployment for then President-Elect Barack Obama’s Inauguration to head to Washington D.C. to provide EMS services while the D.C. paramedics took care of the events at the Capitol. Janet has worked on several movie shoots and an episode of Extreme Home Makeover.

Janet is a team player when it comes to helping new station managers become acclimated to the station and the crew members. She takes on the role of making sure the station has the supplies needed. In fact, Janet is known at her station as Momma Jan. She makes sure that the station is clean, that rigs are stocked appropriately, and reminds the crews to be safe and have a great day.

Janet enjoys listening to music, concerts, and jigsaw puzzles. When Janet isn’t working, she is at home with her wife of 12 years and their two rescue dogs. Janet and her wife are very active with their church. They prepare meals for the food and housing insecure in their community. They serve meals for the PADS Interim Housing Center. As well as two senior complexes for food insecurity with the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Janet also volunteers at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Marco Patino NRP, LI, is a dedicated and accomplished healthcare professional who embarked on his career with Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service, Inc. in February 2017. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for serving his community, Marco has made significant contributions to the field of emergency medical services (EMS) in Illinois.

Currently, Marco Patino holds the position of Paramedic and serves as an integral part of the Superior Leadership team as the Manager of Education for Illinois. In this role, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and a strong commitment to improving the quality of EMS education and training in the region. Marco’s dedication to teaching and his role as a support structure for EMT classes have made him a respected figure in the EMS community.

One of Marco’s notable achievements has been his involvement in implementing EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) programs in high schools throughout Illinois. By introducing these courses, he has played a crucial role in educating the next generation of EMS professionals and raising awareness about the importance of emergency medical services.

What makes Marco’s journey even more inspiring is the fact that he is a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient. Despite the challenges and uncertainties that come with this status, Marco has shown remarkable resilience and determination in pursuing his career in healthcare. He not only serves as a role model within the EMS field but also advocates passionately for the rights and opportunities of DACA recipients. His advocacy work sheds light on the importance of inclusive policies and support for individuals who, like him, have made significant contributions to their communities.

In addition to his demanding leadership responsibilities and advocacy efforts, Marco remains deeply connected to the field of clinical practice. He actively schedules himself for ambulance shifts multiple times a week, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to providing hands-on care to patients in need. This dedication ensures that he stays connected to the realities of pre-hospital care, which, in turn, informs his leadership and educational roles.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Marco Patino values and cherishes his time spent with his two children, Layla and Troy, as well as his beautiful wife Sabrina. These relationships are a source of strength and inspiration, driving him to excel both personally and professionally.

KC Robbins exemplifies servant-leadership by helping her crew members and coworkers meet the demands of the day. As someone who is always looking for new ways to improve and expand protocols, KC is often busy either filling in as a Supervisor and Field Training Officer in McDonough County, Illinois, or training staff in Buchanan County, Iowa, which is home to a new operation she helped to found. Her devotion to her job has taken her to many places across the nation, including New York City and Florida for COVID-19 response support, and Washington, D.C. for the 2021 Inauguration of President Biden, where she served as strike team leader.

KC’s consistent desire to help is reflected in her willingness to travel and serve at operations other than her own, particularly when those operations are severely short-staffed. She has worked many 100-hour weeks providing yearly training sessions for both McDonough County and Buchanan County operations. She also ran a COVID vaccine clinic in Chicago for Pfizer for five to six weeks with little to no assistance or guidance. KC is a self-motivated individual who is driven by her passion to help others in any way she can.

Jose A. Salas (“Joe”)  began his career in EMS in 1992 as an Emergency Medical Technician. In 1994, he transitioned to EMS dispatch with Advanced Medical Transport, which eventually became AMR of Illinois. In March 1997, Joe began his journey at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Illinois, Inc., where he worked in the Communications Center as an EMS Dispatcher for seven years. He then transferred to Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Indiana, Inc. and was promoted to Dispatch Supervisor. Joe became the Dispatch Manager in 2020, and is responsible for Superior’s Indiana and Ohio Communications Centers. Joe provides exceptional leadership to Dispatchers, Customer Service Representatives, and On-site Coordinators: all working together as a solid team.

Joe is a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) through the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch. He participates in many of the national EMD conferences, particularly the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) Navigator, to keep current and knowledgeable on key changes and critical information regarding EMD. He has helped implement and train dispatchers in system status management, which is still in use to this day.

Recently, Superior Ambulance of Indiana relocated its dispatch center into a new state-of-the-art facility. Not only was the move inherently difficult, but we had to close one dispatch center and reopen another, all while still providing exceptional customer service to our 911 communities and hospital systems. Joe was instrumental in ensuring this seamless transition.

In 2020, the Superior Ambulance of Ohio was created. The biggest challenge was taking two completely different companies (Columbus Connection and CEMS), which had their own cultures and identities, and remolding them into a new Superior culture. Time, patience, and communication were essential to accomplish this monumental task while continuing to provide exceptional customer service to the 911 community and hospital systems we serve.

Joe is a servant leader who purposefully uses active listening to make sure that collaboration is achieved. His personal mission statement is “Coming together is the beginning; Keeping together is the progress; Working together is the success.” Joe’s colleagues describe him as driven and passionate about his job and his personnel, and assert that “he spends a lot of time developing individuals in the dispatch center.” Joe aspires to lead both his teams through the ACE accreditation. His goal for his employees is to give them the tools they need for success in both their personal and professional lives.

In his free time, Joe enjoys spending time with family and friends. He is a proud father of three. His oldest daughter is involved in social work and his other daughter is in her last year of nursing school. His son is still deciding which college to attend. Joe is also proud of his Native American heritage. His father was a Lakota Sioux Chief. Joe is active in the Native American Nation and frequently attends events in the community. He also volunteers at the National Gathering of American Indian Veterans’ annual event at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois. It is an event held over three days that honors veterans and military personnel of all cultures, eras, and branches in the Native American style.

Denyse Viger has been a licensed Paramedic for twenty-two years and an EMS Instructor/Coordinator for seventeen years in the state of Michigan. She holds provider and instructor certifications for multiple American Heart Association and National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians programs (ACLS, PALS, CPR-BLS, PHTLS, AMLS, and GEMS).

Denyse began her career as a Paramedic at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Michigan, Inc. in March 2013. For seventeen years prior to her start at Superior, Denyse served in the roles of Instructor and Clinical Coordinator at Henry Ford College – EMS Division. Denyse holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Siena Heights University, where she majored in Health Care Management and Paramedic Technology.

Throughout 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Denyse became the Program Director of Superior’s EMS School, Life Support Training Institute (LSTI). In this role, she immediately faced the challenges of an EMS staffing shortage brought on by the pandemic, as well as those from the large acquisition of another service. Although her experience and expertise are extensive, nothing could have prepared her for the hardships she faced in this context. Through it all, Denyse was able to lead the school’s painstaking change of ownership and CoAEMSP/CAAHEP accreditation transition, all the while maintaining the daily operations of the largest accredited EMS school in Michigan, as well as LSTI’s two satellite locations in Toledo and Grove City, Ohio.

In her role, Denyse precisely aligns her professional duties with the operational needs of the company. She provides vital leadership as she trains EMS practitioners in Michigan and Ohio, and her hard work is crucial for maintaining quality EMS staffing levels in order to keep ambulance services deployed. Her impressive management of the EMT and Paramedic programs, of the American Heart Association training, and of continuing education requirements for NREMT and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Bureau of EMS, Trauma, and Preparedness contributes to the overall success of Superior. Most importantly, Denyse’s work assures the highest quality of care delivered to patients and she is dedicated to this mission.

Denyse also serves as the Chairperson for Superior’s Professional Standards Review Committee, working collaboratively with other key members and the Agency Medical Director, to review clinical standards at Superior.

In her personal time, Denyse enjoys spending quality time with her family. She is the proud mother of three. Her oldest daughter, Alizabeth, is working on her BSN degree while also employed as an ER Technician. Her two sons, Ryan and Robert, are both Paramedics at Detroit EMS. Denyse’s hobbies include Spartan Races as well as playing and coaching football. She also enjoys traveling, sightseeing, and learning new things.

Bruce Troutman has played an active role in EMS for the last eighteen years. He began his career at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service, Inc. in 2002 as an EMT, while simultaneously studying psychology at Loyola University Chicago. He quickly developed a passion for the ambulance service industry and prehospital care. He obtained his Paramedic license in 2004 and then advanced to his first leadership role as a Station Manager after college. By 2006, he had completed training to become a Critical Care Paramedic and transitioned to the Critical Care Transport Team.

While serving on the Critical Care Team, Bruce discovered that transporting critically ill patients was his passion. He quickly became one of the team’s leading clinicians and educators. Demonstrating effective leadership in operations, a passion for advanced education, and a desire to raise the standards for patient care, Bruce worked in multiple leadership roles including CCT Assistant Manager, Clinical Coordinator, and Clinical Manager. Bruce’s primary focus has always been to ensure that critical care providers deliver high quality care to their patients. In his clinical leadership roles, he developed new orientation, continuing education, and Critical Care Paramedic curriculums. He also formalized the division’s quality processes into a multi-disciplinary quality management program to include collaboration with hospital stakeholders.

Throughout his career, Bruce has frequently sought opportunities to make himself a better provider, educator, and leader. He maintains instructor certifications in ACLS, PALS, and PHTLS. He also obtained certifications in Pediatric and Neonatal Critical Care, EMS Education, and as a Medical Transport Executive; and, in 2013, he cross-trained in flight operations. After becoming a Flight Medic, Bruce served a term on the Board of the International Association of Flight and Critical Care Paramedics. Bruce returned to school in 2016, and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Olivet Nazarene University and his RN license.

In 2018, Bruce was promoted to Director of Flight Operations and Assistant Director for the Critical Care Division. His clinical expertise and experience, along with his exacting standards, strategic mindset, commitment to excellence, and unmatched work ethic have proven invaluable to the Critical Care and Flight programs. Under his leadership, the Critical Care and Flight Team’s scope of practice has increased; ground and air teams have further integrated; new protocols, policies, and procedures have been developed; and services have expanded. Bruce’s hard work paid off when he led his flight division to achieve CAMTS accreditation in November 2019.

Despite his full-time leadership roles, Bruce loves clinical practice and ensures he is always scheduled on an ambulance or helicopter a few times a month. In his personal time, Bruce lives a quiet life forty miles southwest of Chicago and enjoys spending quality time with his family, especially his niece and nephews.

Mirinda Richardson has worked in the ambulance service industry for sixteen years and began her career at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Michigan, Inc. in March 2007, first in the role of Receptionist and soon after, Scheduling Coordinator.

In 2018, Mirinda was promoted to Scheduling & Licensing Manager. In this vital role, Mirinda has demonstrated herself to be highly capable of ensuring that the EMS schedule is filled with the appropriate staff, which is crucial to keeping ambulance resources deployed. Mirinda also works in concert with the Superior Education Department to schedule newly trained EMT students for clinical shifts before they enter into full-time positions at Superior. Further, Mirinda is responsible for monitoring licensing credentials for all EMS personnel, along with handling vehicle and agency licensing with the State of Michigan. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Mirinda has tirelessly assured the staffing of EMS personnel during this unprecedented and challenging time.

Mirinda continuously proves herself to be an instrumental leader at Superior, especially at a time when staffing shortages in the industry have presented serious challenges for ambulance services. Her position requires dedicated and constant attention. She always stands up to the enormous task of managing the deployment schedules of 300+ EMS employees, in addition to clinical shifts for 30-50 EMS students throughout the year, and new-hire orientation “third-ride” shifts, along with managing the staffing coverage for large special events, such as the Detroit Lions games. Mirinda also joins operations on-site at Ford Field where she functions as Stadium Supervisor and Dispatcher for Superior personnel at events.

Mirinda is well known for her friendly, composed demeanor, and her positivity and exceedingly strong work ethic serve as an example for everyone with whom she interacts. Mirinda is a mild-mannered, thoughtful professional whose strength lies in her dependable, strong character. She was a key contributor to Superior of Michigan achieving CAAS accreditation in November 2017 and she is easily recognized as a highly valued member of the Superior team.

In her personal time, Mirinda enjoys spending quality time with her family and is a proud mother of three. Her son, Justyn, recently completed service in the U.S. Navy with the rank of Petty Officer Second Class, after being stationed at the Norfolk Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia. Mirinda lives in New Baltimore, Michigan with her two daughters: Mia, a college student, and Adrianna, who is in middle school.

Tiffany Petyo has been in EMS for eighteen years, ten of which she has been a Paramedic. She has worked at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service for the last six years, and has worked her way up to being a manager for the past two years.

She loves to mentor newcomers and work with seasoned professionals. She has had the opportunity to work with some of the best EMTs and Paramedics in the profession. Tiffany would love to continue to learn and grow in this industry and could not imagine not working in this profession.    

Tiffany is married with four children, who have all supported and encouraged her throughout her career. She is an avid Cubs fan and enjoys going to games with her family. She hopes to continue to do what she loves for many years to come and is truly honored and humbled for this award and experience. 

Dave Holleman began his EMS career with Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service, Inc. in August 2000. He currently serves as a Paramedic, and is part of the Superior leadership team as a manager within the Special Events Division. Dave is an integral part of a team that is involved with many sporting events, concerts, festivals, and the Chicago Marathon.

While still providing excellent patient care at many events working as a Paramedic, Dave has the additional responsibility as Disaster Response Manager, a role he has thrived in since 2009. As Manager of the Special Response Team, Dave ensures that all responders are properly credentialed and meet all qualifications to be able to assist on a national response.

Dave has been on ten deployments to date, recently taking a group of 25 employees to New York to help with the COVID-19 response in March 2020. At a time when little was known about the pandemic, Dave and his team knew they could at least assist in providing excellent patient care while also giving some relief to other responders.

With his twenty-one years of experience, Dave has consistently seen other opportunities to assist those in need. He has previously organized multiple volunteer opportunities for coworkers including providing meals for families through the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Recently Dave has been a blood donation coordinator, hosting multiple blood drives at our station to help those in our community.

During his free time, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, Jeanette, their two sons, Vince and Jack, and their four rescue dogs.

We are proud to call Dave Holleman one of our own and nominate him as a 2022 Star of Life recipient.

Timothy “Tim” Dunne joined Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Illinois as the Inventory Control Manager in November of 2018. He has since obtained the title of Senior Supply Chain Manager, and oversees the inventory, assets, and purchases for the entire company. Tim’s work ethic is based on the empathy and compassion he has for helping others.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical supplies and PPE became exceedingly difficult to obtain. Tim worked diligently and consistently to locate and secure enough PPE for all of Superior’s employees. Tim was an intricate part in helping instill a sense of safety during a time in which others felt insecure.

Tim gives as much care to his job as he does to his family. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Samantha, and children, Liam, Connor, and Owen.

Superior Ambulance is appreciative to Tim Dunne for all his hard work and is proud to name him a 2022 Star of Life.

Martha Augustine became an Emergency Medical Technician and began her EMS career with Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service of Illinois in 2006. In 2008, she obtained her Paramedic license. For a short time, she worked in Central Illinois, handling 911 and inter-facility response before returning to Superior to assist with the Deepwater Horizon BP (Gulf of Mexico) Oil Spill and with special events. During her EMS work at the oil spill disaster, Martha met her wife.

Martha enhanced her Paramedic credential by attending the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Critical Care course, which allowed her to work as a full-time Critical Care Transport (CCT) Paramedic. In 2016, she became the CCT Station Manager for Illinois, and continued through the ranks to become the Wisconsin and Rockford (Illinois) Regional Operations Manager in 2019. With her excellent leadership skills, Martha was the obvious choice to lead Superior’s Wisconsin operations as General Manager in 2021.

Since then, Superior of Wisconsin has opened seven new stations and has gone “live” with providing ambulance service to ten hospitals and two free-standing emergency departments. Martha has excelled in this role despite major changes during an EMS staffing shortage and the COVID-19 pandemic. On the horizon, Martha will lead the opening of Superior of Wisconsin’s eight stations. It is because of Martha’s fantastic leadership during significant growth and for the way she has faced the challenges in the industry during these unprecedented times that she was selected as a Superior 2022 Star of Life.

While not working on an ambulance caring for patients, leading the Superior team in Wisconsin, or helping with other important initiatives at Superior, Martha surrounds herself with the people, places, and animals she loves. She enjoys fishing (or pretending to fish) and spending time with her family, especially her wife and nieces, doing anything that involves being by a lake in the summer. She recently started obedience classes with her beloved dog, a wire-haired pointing griffon and black lab mix, who aspires to be a therapy dog someday.

Rebecca Hartman has grown up in the emergency medical services industry. She has been part of the team at Abbott for the past decade, but first became involved in EMS when she was 16 years old. As Lead Field Training Officer, Becca oversees trainers, conducts case reviews, and helps mentor team members – all while continuing to work in the field.

After several of her team members were exposed to opiates while responding to calls, Becca took it upon herself to ensure everyone was educated and prepared for this potential exposure. She first initiated a training class for employees, and then contacted several local fire and police departments to begin teaching a class on opiate exposures. She wanted to make sure that as many first responders as possible were aware of the dangers of opiates and of how they can decrease the exposure for first responders.

Another example of Becca’s commitment to her community is demonstrated every Friday when she visits a local elementary school to offer high fives and a boost of encouragement to students starting their day. Several other EMTs and Paramedics have also been convinced by Becca to participate in this simple activity which produces extraordinary reactions from the children. Becca’s positive outlook is inspiring. She has earned the trust, respect and admiration of her colleagues, patients, and community.