Lauryn Allgood is being honored as a Star of Life for her contributions to quality improvement across her organization. Lauryn’s Quality Enhancement Program Director marked her as a standout contributor when Lauryn joined a committee tasked with mitigating or eliminating risk. When that leader moved into a new position, she transitioned Lauryn to lead the committee and continue the project to completion.
Lauryn accepted the challenge evincing an ingrained desire to lead and an innate knack for being a leader. She impressed her colleagues with her ability to learn, think critically, problem-solve, and—most importantly—ask the right questions. By the time Lauryn had completed the companywide project, her efforts had impacted every single flight crew member in the Air Evac organization. She has helped foster a culture of continuous improvement that is not limited to improving patient care but touches all areas of operations and all people.
Lauryn is a skilled clinician who holds a Master’s degree in Nursing and is committed to providing care at a moment’s notice. This makes her service outside the designated scope of a flight nurse all the more noteworthy. She reflects the best values of the company and is an asset on the job and off.
Madelyn Clesi has been an EMT with Acadian Ambulance for more than two years. She is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and currently works in Baton Rouge. She serves as a Field Training Officer and is also in school to earn her Paramedic certification.
Madelyn was nominated as a Star of Life and Acadian’s EMT of the Year because of her willingness to help students, new hires, and coworkers. She genuinely wants to help make people the best they can be. “Her humanity is what drives her,” said her Operations Manager, Justin Cox.
Madelyn is also a member of the Louisiana National Guard, to which she credits her focus and solid work ethic.
Another Operations Manager, Hallie Stewart, noted, “Madelyn is well spoken, relatable, and funny. She exhibits emotional intelligence and strategy when addressing uneasy subjects.”
Victoria Danton is a native of Watson, Louisiana, and has been with Acadian Ambulance for six years, beginning as an EMT. She now serves as a Paramedic in Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish, and additionally as a Field Training Officer, Associate National EMS Academy Instructor, and Explorer Post Advisor. She has a love for small communities, and has worked in Donaldsonville for more than five years.
Victoria is known among her colleagues and company management for her professionalism, compassion, clinical knowledge, and mentorship. She is a consistently high performer in employee and clinical metrics, and she leads others by example. She is passionate about what she does and has a desire to help the company improve at the little things to keep it at its best.
Victoria’s husband, Joey, is also an Acadian Paramedic. Victoria is currently a student at Nicholls State University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in health science, with the goal of becoming a physician assistant.
Southwest Louisiana native Tyler Weaver has served as an EMT with Acadian Ambulance for almost five years. Tyler works out of Lake Charles and was previously partnered with fellow Star of Life, Paramedic Mike Richard.
Tyler enrolled in college to study nursing but found that he was not called to work in a hospital setting. Instead, Tyler earned his EMT certification and has enjoyed every moment working for Acadian.
Tyler has established himself as a courteous, compassionate, and professional patient care provider. He has a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and attention to detail, which have earned him respect from Acadian’s management team as well as Tyler’s peers, patients, and customers.
In addition to his EMT role, Tyler is also a new hire preceptor.
“A motto I try to live by every day is something an old school medic once told me: ‘To know one patient felt better due to my actions makes it all worth it,’” Tyler says.
Tyler is currently attending Acadian’s National EMS Academy to earn his Paramedic certification, with plans to remain at Acadian for the duration of his career.
Tyler has one young son. He is also an avid scuba diver and has visited the Bahamas, Costa Rica and the Cayman Islands.
Acadian Ambulance Paramedic Michael D. Richard originally joined the company in 2008 as an EMT. Mike later advanced to the Paramedic level. After spending a few years pursuing other career opportunities, Mike came back to Acadian in 2015. In 2017, Mike became a Critical Care Transport Paramedic working in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and in 2018, he was promoted to a Paramedic Field Supervisor position. While in Lake Charles, Mike was ambulance partners with EMT Tyler Weaver.
Currently, Mike operates a Rural Responder Sprint Truck in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, and handles some of the area’s governmental relations. Mike also serves as a preceptor and mentor for new hires.
Acadian Operations Manager John DuBose says, “Not only is Mike good at his job, but he makes others around him want to do better. He leads by example and challenges employees to always do the right thing.”
Mike is known for his remarkable work ethic, exemplary Paramedic skills, positive attitude, and leadership. Mike regularly receives compliments from governmental officials, firefighters, and police officers for his professionalism and kindness.
Mike played bass in a band for six years when he was younger and says The Beatles and Led Zeppelin are his two favorite bands. Mike is married and has four young sons. In his free time, Mike and his wife enjoy exploring coffee from micro-roasters across the country.
Alex Durio joined Acadian Ambulance in 2008, as an EMT-Basic in their New Orleans, LA, operations. Soon thereafter, he realized that EMS combined his passion for medicine with his love of public service, and he began paramedic school. After completing his certification in 2010, he returned to his hometown of Lafayette, LA, to work for Acadian’s “Hub City” operations. He has certainly thrived in this role, and was recently named as Acadian’s 2014 Louisiana Paramedic of the Year. In December 2011, Alex placed his EMS career on hold to join the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Gone for nearly a year, Alex returned to Acadian and picked up right where he left off. Because of his service to our country, Alex was awarded the Paramedic of the Year Commendation Medal in 2013 by the Attakapas Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. Alex is an avid outdoorsman, and spent many years in the Boy Scouts of America. He is currently enrolled in the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, pursuing a degree in mathematics.”
Callie Callais majored in geophysics at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, but during her college tenure, decided a desk job was not for her. She found her calling in Gretna, LA, where she enrolled in the National EMS Academy and graduated in the fall of 2011 as an EMTBasic. She is currently Acadian’s 2014 Louisiana EMT-Basic of the Year. Callie works in Acadian Ambulance’s Orleans operations, and often assists with large-scale New Orleans events such as the Jazz & Heritage Festival and Voodoo Music Experience.When she isn’t working, she enjoys Mardi Gras, camping, hiking, and concerts. She is still quite fascinated by rocks, and enjoys traveling and bringing back different minerals for her collection.”
Taylor is a Mamou High School graduate. He was raised with strong family values. Both of his parents are extremely hard working and successful in everything they do. This background led him to success in his job at Franks Casing Crew in Lafayette, Louisiana. He began as a shop hand and worked his way up to a completion supervisor. The time away from his family led him down a new career path. This is where his story with Acadian Ambulance begins.
Taylor has been employed by Acadian since August 2016 as an EMT Basic working out of Evangeline Parish in Ville Platte. Taylor arrives to work on time, and completes his daily duties without hesitation. He works well with his partner to ensure his station and unit are in mint condition and ready for what the day might bring. Taylor is an excellent Basic and has a “can do” attitude with any task assigned to him. He has a hunger for knowledge, and is currently in a Paramedic class.
Taylor is a Louisiana man, through and through—hard working with good Southern values, family-oriented, and dedicated to providing for his family. He is married to Krysten and is father to 2 beautiful children; stepson Jayden and baby daughter Brylee. Taylor enjoys coaching Jayden’s baseball team. He is an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoys woodworking, gardening, and working around his family farm.
His partner and the Acadian family have nothing but amazing things to say about Taylor as a person and an employee. He is highly respected by his co-workers and team members in the medical community. His peers write that he is driven and passionate, and strives to be better tomorrow than he was today.
Family, faith, and hard work form the foundations of Taylor’s upbringing. Those traits are very evident in his work here at Acadian Ambulance.
Taylor says, “I was lucky enough to be put with a long time employee that knows the Acadian Way. I can only hope to make such an impact on my patients throughout my career as he has with his.”
We are proud to share with you Taylor Walden, Star of Life and Acadian Medic of Year from Central Louisiana.
Jerret was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, lived in New Orleans as a child, and moved to Central Louisiana when he was 14. He has called Alexandria home since then.
Jerret is a Navy veteran, serving from after he graduated high school in 2006 until 2009. He trained to be a Hospital Corpsman and became a field medic. His duty station was with the 1st Battalion 8th Marines for two years. He later deployed for seven months to the forward operating base in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Jerret speaks of having a great “feel of community” while in Iraq, helping civilians and young children who were injured and needed medical attention. He received a Commendation medal after his tour in Iraq.
After his service in the Navy, Jerret went on to work at Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria. He spent three years supporting surgical services as a scrub tech and cleaning surgical instruments, then decided to enroll in the next EMT Class at NEMSA.
Jerret was hired by Acadian. He went through a rough period of time, both personally and professionally, and there was a separation of employment with Acadian. During that separation he became a Paramedic. Life lessons learned during this time helped mold Jerret into the man he is today.
Jerret was then rehired by Acadian. Within six months, he was promoted to Alternate Operations Supervisor/Paramedic Field Supervisor. He took on the challenge of the Critical Care Transport class in October 2015 and now works as a Critical Care Medic on U261.
Jerret received nominations from his peers across our seven-parish area for the Paramedic of the Year for Central Louisiana. That is testimony to his professionalism, teamwork, and dedication to what he does as a Paramedic and a PFS.
Jerret is a single “hands-on” father to three daughters and a son. He faces daily challenges being a mediator and helping the children balance emotions while traveling between two households. Jerret spends time and is involved in his children’s school activities, but he doesn’t stop there. Church is also a huge part of their lives. The family attends his grandmother’s church, where his father is a deacon and his uncle is the choir leader. Jerret and his children participate in church activities.
Jerret is a humble, professional, lead-by-example Paramedic. He sets a benchmark for others to achieve. He is able to communicate and assist others in creating a more enjoyable and positive workplace.
Jerret said about his nomination:
“There was a point in school where individual awards and trophies were my benchmark. As an adult and Paramedic, I now understand that it takes a community to be successful. I owe my nomination to the very ones who voted for me, as I am a piece of every medic and every basic I have encountered.”
Jackson County Paramedic Coty Peardon is known as an “A-team player” who always steps up to help out. Often, Coty volunteers before he is even asked. Coty has also been the recipient of many local, state, national, and departmental awards, commendations, and titles.
When Coty was 16, he joined an EMS scouting group called Venturing that offered camping, whitewater rafting, and ambulance ride-alongs. There, Coty learned the true merits of teamwork while finding his calling to help others, and a passion for EMS was born.
After graduating high school, Coty enrolled in Northwestern Technical College’s EMT-Intermediate/BS program, in Georgia’s prestigious EMS Region 1. During the yearlong EMT program, Coty worked full-time as a cardiac monitor technician, obtained his AHA BLS instructor certification, and still graduated with honors.
While continuing to work full-time as an EMT and attend Paramedic school, Coty made time to develop additional skills. Coty achieved his National Senior Firefighter, Fire Apparatus Operator, and Paramedic Rope Rescue certifications before graduating with honors and receiving the Excellence in Advanced Airway Award.
Coty hasn’t slowed down since joining the Acadian Ambulance team in November 2015. Within a few months, Coty obtained his Critical Care Certification, once again landing among the top in his class.
Coty is currently helping to revamp the new-hire process in Jackson County, establishing an Acadian Explorers Post, and creating an EMS competition. Coty is also actively pursuing his flight paramedic certification.
Acadian is proud to recognize Coty as our Louisiana/Mississippi Paramedic of the Year as well as an AAA Star of Life.
Tyler Niblett decided as a teenager that he had a mission in life to serve and to help others.
Tyler’s father, Craig, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when Tyler was 14, and died six weeks later after a very short and traumatic battle. Tyler remembers with fondness and gratitude some of the outstanding caregivers who had an impact on him during this difficult time. These health care providers helped Tyler understand and cope with what was going on around him, and they cared for his dad as if he were their only patient. Their passion and skill led Tyler to decide that he, too, would become a caregiver who would make the same impact in the lives of others.
At age 16, Tyler became an Explorer with Mobile Fire and Rescue, marking the beginning of his career in EMS.
In 2013, Tyler balanced his duties at the fire department with enlisting and training in the Army National Guard. Tyler also started a “Share the Road” fundraiser and organized a 12-week bowling league that raised money to help pay for a family friend’s medical expenses following an accident.
When Tyler graduated from high school, he was given the “Heart of a Servant” award, the highest honor given by his school in recognition of volunteer service to the community.
The day after finishing high school, Tyler left for basic training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Returning home, Tyler registered at Fortis College to obtain his EMT certification and returned to the Mobile Fire Department as a volunteer.
In 2015, Tyler completed his EMT course and passed NREMT on the first attempt. Tyler faced challenges finding a position because he was only 19, and many EMS organizations were unwilling to hire an EMT younger than 21. Tyler did not let this stop him—with drive, diligence, and quite a bit of that Tyler-charm everyone knows, he landed his first position with Newman’s Ambulance. Shortly afterward, Tyler joined Acadian.
Tyler will mark his two-year anniversary with Acadian in July 2017. Tyler is enrolled to begin Paramedic training at Acadian’s National EMS Academy and is a volunteer with the St. Elmo’s Fire Department.
Tyler serves his community with passion, whether at work, at home, or in volunteer service.
Acadian Ambulance Service is proud to recognize Tyler as a Star of Life as well as Acadian’s Louisiana/Mississippi EMT of the Year.
Allison Salamoni was chosen as Acadian’s 2016 EMT of the Year for the Louisiana/ Mississippi operations. Allison has been employed with Acadian since 2012 and is stationed in Plaquemine, Louisiana.
Allison received her EMT training through Acadian’s National EMS Academy. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University’s Fire and Emergency Training Institute, where she received firefighter and hazmat training which she put to use while working as a firefighter with the Port Allen Fire Department. Allison also graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a bachelor’s degree in General Studies and a minor in Family and Consumer Sciences.
In her first year with Acadian, Allison and her partner were dispatched to an older man’s house for a fall. They assumed they would just be helping the patient back up, and would then carry on with their day. Instead, they ended up walking into any patient’s worst nightmare. The patient lived alone, and his neighbor had not seen him get his mail in a few days and decided to check on him. The neighbor found him wedged between his bed and nightstand, and immediately called 911. The patient had been stuck there for three days, incapacitated, on the floor. Allison and her partner assessed the patient and found him to be severely dehydrated. Allison cleaned him up, and got him into the best position of comfort she could at the time. She and her partner began to transport and pushed through the morning rush-hour traffic of Baton Rouge. Allison say she will forever remember this call, as all she could think about was her own family as she cared for him. This is one of those calls that reminds her day-in and day-out of why she does this job.
Acadian can count on Allison to represent the team in the most professional manner. She has served as one of the Governmental Relations Coordinators for the Baton Rouge area. She has also been a champion for wellness and fitness and serves on the safety committee. She genuinely cares about her patients.
Allison is an avid runner and competes in marathons. Her other hobbies include strength training and cooking.
Sarah Young was selected as Acadian’s 2016 Paramedic of the Year for its Louisiana/Mississippi operations, and has been employed with Acadian since March of 2014. She is stationed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Born in Juneau, Alaska, Sarah later moved to Washington State and began her EMS career at a fire-based EMS service. She attended paramedic class in Idaho. When she travelled to Baton Rouge for her clinical ride time, she soon decided that she wanted to make Baton Rouge her home.
Sarah has an amazing attitude and is a great employee and clinician. She sets the tone of the day by leading by example. She is a great leader for her co-workers and is a mentor every day on the job. As a safety and wellness committee member, Sarah is also a strong advocate for EMS safety.
Sarah remembers her most memorable call, hands-down, as the first time that she delivered a baby. She says, “Sometimes we are unable to save our patients despite our best efforts, but with childbirth you get to be there as a life is just beginning. It is such an incredible feeling to help a mother bring her little one into this world. To be there for their first moments and then to see the joy come across the mother’s face as she sees her baby for the first time, is incredible and unforgettable.”
To Sarah, being a paramedic means having the honor to serve her community and to be able to assist those in need. She says, “It is not something I take lightly, because that moment is the scariest time for a patient, and we have the ability to assist them through it and treat them with our skill set. I treat each patient as if they were a family member of mine, because they deserve the same kindness and compassion that we show to our loved ones when they are in need.” Sarah loves that her job allows her to “work within a dynamic team of first responders and other medical personnel to have a positive outcome for our patient. We are stronger together.”
When not working, Sarah enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, and loves being outdoors.
