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Meet the GEMSA Board MembersExecutive BoardChairman |
Board Member
President - Educators Division
Jeff has worked in EMS for 24 years and has been teaching for the last 10 years. He has worked in urban and rural settings, for private, hospital-based and fire-based services. He is currently the Training Officer for Habersham County Emergency Services, a recently combined department incorporating Fire and EMS. He has been involved with GEMSA for the past 3 years and was a member of the 6th Leadership Class. He believes strongly in education, no matter what the age of the student. As the EMS industry continues to grow and move forward, he believes expanding our educational horizons and opportunities will play an extremely strong role in the product we deliver.
Board Member
Vice President - Educators Division
“Becky” started her career as an Emergency Room Clerk at Newton General Hospital in Covington, GA in 1973. She decided that she needed more training and enrolled in the EMT program at DeKalb Tech in 1976. Becky had found her calling as she loved the excitement and enrolled in the Paramedic course at DeKalb Tech. She was only one of two females in the class.
After graduation from paramedic class in 1977, Becky was hired by Athens General Hospital EMS. She was the first female and paramedic who was hired by that service. After several years, she worked her way back to the Covington/Conyers area and worked for Newton General EMS and Rockdale EMS.
Becky worked at Rockdale Hospital for 5 years as an LPN, then left to work for a private physician. She still missed working EMS and went back to work for National EMS. In 1986, she started working for one of the largest EMS services in Georgia, DeKalb EMS. While working there, she spent 2 years in training, but still missed the street. She went back to working the streets of DeKalb County. She had been teaching for DeKalb Tech part-time since 1986 and was still doing that while working EMS full-time. A full-time teaching position came open and she was hired by her mentor Marian Wilderboar.
Becky continued to work at DeKalb Tech/GPTC until April 2018 when she retired with 30 years of service. She was recruited by Newton Fire Service and is working as their EMS Coordinator. Becky is the past President of the Georgia EMS Association Educators and sits on the BOD for GEMSA. She is past Chairman of the Board of the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation and was very involved in their camp that helps injured children. She was the 2004 Instructor of the Year for Region 3 EMS. She holds an Associate Degree in Emergency Medicine from Eastern New Mexico University, Roswell NM. Becky is working on other educational endeavors and enjoys walking, music, and reading.
Dr. Stokes has been involved in EMS in the State of Georgia since 1996. He is currently a nationally registered paramedic, board-certified emergency physician, and is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Stokes is the EMS medical director for several EMS agencies in Georgia, including Navicent Health EMS, Air Evac Lifeteam (Georgia), and Monroe County Emergency Services. He is an at-large member of the Region 5 EMS Council, is a practicing emergency physician at Navicent health, and is the emergency department trauma liaison for the Navicent Health Trauma Service. Dr. Stokes advocates for the advancement of prehospital care in all areas and is proud to serve as the president of the medical director’s division of GEMSA. Dr. Stokes lives in Macon with his wife, Debbie, and is a proud father of four children.
Nick launched his EMS career in 1992, when he joined a volunteer EMS agency in southwestern Virginia. Three years later, he relocated to Georgia and began serving with the Georgia Army National Guard, CareLine EMS (later American Medical Response) and Mountain Park Fire & Rescue.
In 1998, he embarked on a career with Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services where he currently holds the rank of EMS Division Chief. Nick earned his Bachelor of Science—in Emergency Management—and Master of Public Administration degrees from Jacksonville State University.
A graduate of the 2015 GAEMS Leadership Course, Nick considers it both a privilege and an honor to serve on the GEMSA Board of Directors. Nick lives in Marietta with his wife Emily and their two children: Ben and Ian.
Board Member
Craig has been employed with Coweta County Fire Rescue for 17 years and currently serve as a District Chief. The service provides 24 hour Fire/EMS coverage where they transport about 10,000 patients a year. He also works part-time for AirMethods as a flight paramedic. These great experiences as well as working previously at private EMS agencies have made him very well rounded. Some major accomplishments throughout his career include becoming a father of three kids and being blessed with a wonderful wife. He also writes and maintains the protocols their personnel use at Coweta Fire. Currently he heads up projects that include ISO review, equipment purchasing, and CQI. He has been a practicing paramedic for the last 12 years. He is also a certified critical care paramedic (CCP-C) and flight paramedic (FP-C). He is an instructor in all AHA disciplines, PHTLS, and Fire Instructor. In 2017, he completed the GEMSA leadership course.
Rafe Waters began his EMS career in 1999. He is a Level III EMS instructor, and served as the Director of EMS Programs at Swainsboro Technical Collegeand Director of Tattnall EMS. In 2014, he began work as a Flight Paramedic with Air Evac Lifeteam 95 Statesboro, later he was promoted to Director for Air Evac Lifeteam 91 Vidalia. He is the Senior Program Director for the northern air bases in Georgia.
Rafe is a graduate of Southeastern Tech, Ogeechee Tech, and has degrees from Albany State College, and the University of West Georgia. In addition to his EMS background he is also a Registered Nurse. He is also a graduate of the 2013 GEMSA Leadership Course. Rafe currently serves as Chairperson for the GA EMS Leadership Alumni.
Rafe currently lives in Statesboro, and he is married to Dana. They have one daughter Delaney.
For inquiries about membership, event and exhibitor registrations, or publications, contact:
Mary Napier, Communications Specialist
229-231-2109 or communications@georgiaemsassociation.com
For inquiries about grants, trainings and other association programs, contact:
Cathy White, Program Coordinator
678-283-4542 or program@georgiaemsassociation.com
For any and all questions, suggestions or concerns about GAEMS programs and association related matters, feel free to contact:
Kim Littleton, Executive Director
229-402-2240 or director@georgiaemsassociation.com