Introduction

AmeriCare Ambulance is proud to have some of the finest personnel in the EMS field. Our Corporate Structure is extremely sound with a diverse group of dedicated professionals working hard to continue our outstanding growth.  AmeriCare has grown solely on its own merits and not by buying other companies and their contracts for service. AmeriCare Ambulance Service provides a very comprehensive key management team with a combined total of over 100 years experience in management and supervision of ambulance operations.  The excellent reputation that we have established within the pre-hospital care communities of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties can be directly attributed to the vision and dedication of this key management team who sustains an operationally and financially sound organization while maintaining the highest level of patient care possible.

Mike Summers – President and Chief Executive Officer

Mike is proud to be the 100% owner/operator of AmeriCare MedServices, Inc. d.b.a. AmeriCare Ambulance Service.  He maintains a very active role in ALL ASPECTS of daily operations of the company and ensures that all personnel are performing their jobs at peak performance.  Mike takes pride in the company and requires all field managers to maintain, at a minimum, their EMT certification in order to work in the field when needed and to truly know what the needs of the field personnel are.  He still fills ambulance shifts, mans ambulances, runs calls, responds to disasters and requests from FEMA, monitors dispatch, and routinely stays in touch with the daily rigors of operations through direct involvement.  Mike believes heavily in Quality Assurance and strives for high quality in all aspects of AmeriCare’s service levels.

Mike began his career in EMS early in life when he became a fire explorer in Seal Beach, CA, his home town, and later, at the age of 16, moved into a volunteer role at a high desert fire department/search and rescue squad.  As early as 15 years old, Mike received his Advanced First Aid from the American Red Cross along with his CPR certificate.  Mike went on to receive his Winter Emergency Care certification (WEC) and worked locally as a ski patrolmen.  At 18, Mike received his Emergency Medical Technician and Private Pilots License and has held and maintained them since that time.  Mike then turned his efforts to the police academy and finished in the top 10% of a class of 102 at the Goldenwest College Police Academy receiving his full Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) Certificate.  Mike continued schooling to receive his degree in business and then went on to law school.  During all these periods (other than during the full time police academy), Mike worked full time as an EMT gaining experience and working a variety of positions in EMS including trainee, EMT, Field Training Officer, Field Supervisor, Operations Supervisor, Operations Manager, and Division Manager, until finally he saw a window to serve as a president/CEO and begin his own company in late 1995. During the course of his tenure as president/CEO, Mike has continued working in the field and on his continuing education.  Mike has attended classes at the invitation of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and achieved several levels of Incident Command System (ICS) training.  Mike has personally lead, and/or AmeriCare has sent, strike teams and or otherwise responded to several disasters such as Hurricane Katrina/Rita, Hurricane Ike, Firestorm 2007 & 2008 (on several fronts), among hundreds of local disasters and constantly stays at the ready with vehicles, equipment, and man power to lead strike teams at a moments notice ANYWHERE in the continental U.S. or beyond at the request of US officials.  Mr. Summers is and has always shown a willingness to serve and to go above and beyond any goal.

   In 1994 and 1995, during a period of conglomeration and corporate takeovers of ambulance services in California, including the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, the industry had lost touch with two main areas: 1.)The   customer and patients’ needs should be paramount and, 2.)Employees had become a numbers and not seen as assets to a company.  Mike realized the goals of these organizations were strictly profit and the opportunity was ripe for a company that remembered that service came first and realized the importance of employees and the need to hold them in high regard!  In late 1995, Mike began working on starting “AmeriCare” which was to be his idea of a true Ambulance Service that actually served its customers, patients, and employees.  On May 6, 1996, corporate status was filed for in California and AmeriCare MedServices Inc. was born.

  Mike Summers started this company from the ground up with a handful of dedicated employees he had worked with in the EMS field over the past couple decades.  Mike started the operation and has dedicated his life to the goal he first started with: old-fashioned service.  This was something that NO companies were doing and had long since been forgotten in the industry. Mike’s approach greatly received and today each and every employee gives sincere respect to everyone we meet and we still surprise many with just a simple "thank you, have a nice day."  Mike wants to have people working for AmeriCare that are happy doing what they love and that share his goal of customer satisfaction.

Jim Karras – Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Jim joined the AmeriCare team in September 2012.  He brings over thirty-one (31) years of EMS experience including twenty-five (25) years serving in leadership roles.  Jim has managed emergency and non-emergency ambulance service operations in over) markets throughout California and Texas.  He remains a nationally-registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) and holds state EMT certifications in both California and Texas.

Jim is active in several of the industry’s trade groups and serves on many boards, commissions, committees and task forces, all of which are focused on the betterment of the provision of pre-hospital patient care.  He maintains memberships in multiple national, state and local EMS councils and associations and is committed to working to continuously enhance the educational and personal growth opportunities for all EMS personnel working in this profession.

At AmeriCare, Jim will assist the CEO in leading the company’s management team to assure that each of the company’s departments have the resources needed to continually deliver the quality service for which AmeriCare has become known for.

Steve Gross – Operations Manager

Steve is one of the founding members of AmeriCare Ambulance and has been with the company since its inception. Steve currently serves as an Operations Manager. He performs many administrative functions for the Company. Steve has twenty-four (24) years of experience in the EMS industry, twenty (20) of those in a managerial capacity. He began his career as a field level EMT and rose through the ranks performing the duties of a Field Training Officer, Field Supervisor, Communications Supervisor, Director of Operations and Operations Manager. He carries out all managerial responsibilities in accordance with the organizations policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning, directing work, appraising work, performance reviews, rewarding and disciplining employees, addressing complaints and resolving problems. In addition, he ensures that the services provided to our customers are maintained at the highest level of quality and that any needs or concerns are promptly addressed. Currently, Steve is pursuing his nursing degree and looks forward to furthering his career in emergency medicine in an emergency room. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children and playing softball.

Stephanie Carlson – Director of Finance

Stephanie manages the company’s finance operations including: accounts receivable, accounts payable, accounting and cash management.  As a member of the executive management team, Stephanie participates in the ongoing management of the company’s strategic business plan initiatives.   Stephanie joined AmeriCare over ten (10) years ago first serving in the billing department.   She remains up to date on the latest trends in medical reimbursement by attending various industry seminars and conferences.  She is focused on compliance issues and works with our management team so that the company continues its vigilance in complying with the ever-changing medical reimbursement rules and regulations. 

On the accounts payable side, Stephanie works closely with our managers to ensure that  vendors we do business with continue to provide us with quality products and services at fair and competitive pricing and that they are reimbursed timely for the goods and services the company purchases each and every day.

Stephanie works with the company’s outside CPA firm to ensure our accounting practices are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that our financial statements are published to reflect an accurate account of the company’s financial condition and within the required timeframes.  

Ryan Merchant – Managing Director

Ryan has been an EMT since 2003 and joined the AmeriCare Team in April 2007.  Ryan serves as the Managing Director of AmeriCare and leads the various department managers through all facets of the company including: operations, communications, fleet services, accounts receivable, training and quality assurance.  Having worked both in the field and dispatch, Ryan has direct hands-on experience and knowledge that he draws upon every day to serve as a resource to those whom report to him.

Knowing the importance of maintaining the company’s high standards, Ryan often interfaces with the frontline supervisors and field care providers to ensure the company’s policies and procedures are well understood and embraced by our employees.  He often works on an ambulance to evaluate first-hand how the company is ticking from the field vantage point so opportunities for continuous improvement can be identified and enhancements implemented.  Ryan works closely with the CEO, COO and the Directors as the company facilitates its short-term and long-term business plan.   

Brett Selter – Director of Business Development

Brett serves as the Director of Business Development and has over twenty (20) years in the EMS industry. Brett is responsible for and oversees Business Development, Customer Service, Marketing and Contracting for AmeriCare Ambulance.

Brett has played a pivotal role and has been instrumental in the growth and quality of contracts and facility oversight. Having managed the Business Development in the South Bay, Mid Cities, Los Angeles City, Orange County and San Diego, the projection of growth has exceeded our anticipation and we look forward to continued growth and the ability to offer other areas exceptional ambulance service in the near future.

Jami Shepherd – Director of Operations

Jami is the Director of Operations for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties. She has been working in EMS since 2000, starting as an EMT. Through hard work she moved up to FTO then worked her way through various management positions over the years. She has worked for several different local ambulance companies during her career.

Jami has been with AmeriCare Ambulance since April 2007. She has a degree in early childhood education and is currently working on getting her BA in Business Management. She has completed all ICS classes, as well as many other training classes that help her to be up to date with all aspects of the EMS system.

Joan Roe – San Diego Administrative Manager

Joan is our San Diego Administrative Manager. Joan has been with AmeriCare Ambulance since 2006. Joan brings with her over ten (10) years of administrative experience. She was an office manager for three years in Yuma, Arizona before working at AmeriCare Ambulance. Joan started out as an administrative assistant and has worked her way up to the managing position. Joan oversees the San Diego Division and has a variety of duties. Some of her responsibilities include testing, interviewing, hiring, creating and maintaining employee files, vehicle files, San Diego payroll, ensuring all EMT certifications are kept current, rewarding and disciplining employees, issuing pagers and uniform vouchers, overseeing scheduling, ordering of supplies and customer service. Joan received “Employee of the Month” in February 2007 in the San Diego Division. Joan feels very fortunate to be working for AmeriCare Ambulance with so many wonderful co-workers from management to the field personnel.

Jeff Cramer – Risk Control Manager

Jeff has been working in EMS for over thirteen (13) years. He has been a member of the AmeriCare team since 1997 and has served several departments such as in the field as an EMT/FTO, in Operations as a Field Supervisor, and in Communications as a dispatcher and Communications Manager. He now serves Operations as the Risk Control Manager and Safety Committee Chairman.

Joseph Diaz – Administrative / IT Site / Site Manager

Joseph is involved in the company in many ways. First and foremost, Joseph provides technical support for the various technologies employed in the company’s Communications Centers located in each of our Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Division headquarters locations.  In collaboration with our  Director of IT Services, Joseph is involved in the technological improvement of the company, including the design an maintenance of the company’s web site, electronics systems design,  configuration and implementation of new technologies for the Communication Center, Security and HIPAA compliance, Maintenance and much more.

Luis Perez –- Fleet Manager

Luis Perez has been with AmeriCare since 2003. He was AmeriCare’s first Maintenance Tech and therefore he assisted in creating our current fleet program. With hard work, he worked his way up the chain and is now our Fleet Manager. Luis has over fifteen (15) years of experience as a mechanic and continues his education by attending AAA safety classes and Ford Motor updates yearly.

Christine Rodriguez - Billing Supervisor

Christine joined our team in November of 2002, when AmeriCare brought our billing in house. She came to us with three (3) years of ambulance billing experience from American Medical Response. Within a year of working for us, she excelled in all billing aspects and was offered the position of billing supervisor and specializes in contract billing, facilities and collections. Christine has both a certificate in medical billing and coding and is currently applying for her CCS (certified coding specialist) certification.