Founding Members
Founding Members are those who donated significant gifts during the Memorial fundraising years.
- Atlantic Partners EMS
- Jay & Sue Bradshaw
- Frank Coombs
- Delta Ambulance
- Freeport Fire Company
- Judy Gerrish
- Harris Communications
- Joanne & Stephen LeBrun
- Maine Ambulance Association
- Kevin & Nancy McGinnis
- Ron Morin
- North East Mobile Health Services
- Northern Light Medical Transport
- Rick & Sharon Petrie
- Poland Rescue Benevolent Association
- United Ambulance
- Upper Kennebec Valley Ambulance Service
- Ben Zetterman
Charter Members
Charter members are those who donated $250 or more through 2023.
- Melissa Adams
- Brian Chamberlin
- Downeast EMS/Washington County EMSA
- William Kane
- Kelly Meehan-Coussee, MD
- Michael Mirisola
- Susan Peixotto
- Tim Pieh, MD
- William Reynolds
- Sugarloaf Ambulance and Rescue Vehicles
- The Paramedic Foundation
- Carol Tibbetts
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors are responsible for managing the Maine EMS Memorial and Education site, and overseeing other projects. Director terms are 1, 2, or 3 year depending on the role. All Friends members in good standing are eligible to serve
The Board has regular bi-monthly business meetings and an Annual Meeting in the fall which include elections for open seats. Additional Special Meetings may be held as necessary at the request of the Chair or any two Directors.
Friends members and visitors are welcome at all meetings.
Chair
Andrew (AJ) Gagnon
Caribou
AJ has been a central figure in Aroostook County EMS for many years as a field provider, service manager, regional council president and currently as the department chair of EMS at NMCC. He wanted to be active with Friends as a way to help the public learn more about EMS and to support a strong, sustainable EMS system in Maine for both the providers and patients we serve.
Vice Chair
Carl French
Alfred
Carl has been a full time EMS provider in southern Maine since 1981. During this time he has been a career paramedic/firefighter, service chief, president of the York County Rescue Chiefs Assn., flight and tactical medic, and continues to be a per diem field provider. Carl was a founding member of the Maine EMS Honor Guard and for several years participated in the National EMS Memorial Bicycle Ride.
Treasurer
Kevin McGinnis
Hallowell
Kevin describes himself as being happily retired after 50 years in EMS, but perhaps mostly because he doesn’t understand the meaning of “retire”. During those five decades, Kevin has been a field provider, regional coordinator, service chief, state EMS director, and national leader. To paraphrase an RFK quote, Kevin is known and respected for his ability to dream of things that never were, ask why not, and then make them happen. One long lasting and visible example is the Maine EMS Memorial and Education project, which in 2023 memorialized Kevin as one of the core pillars of EMS in Maine.
Secretary
Joanne LeBrun
Winthrop
Joanne’s involvement began when in college when she was selected to be an EMT with St. Michael’s College (VT) Fire and Rescue. That experience continued well after graduating from college and moving to Maine. Her impressive career with Maine EMS began with a six-month project grant in 1979 and became what she describes as a long and enjoyable career as the regional EMS coordinator for Tri County EMS. Joanne has been actively involved with the MEMS Memorial and Education site since its beginning. She is a founding member and current secretary of the Friends.
Melissa Adams
Bethel
Melissa Adams is a dispatcher, paramedic, and regional EMS manager with the Maine Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. She began her service in public safety more than 20 years ago as a volunteer firefighter and quickly fell in love with emergency services, making her career primarily in emergency telecommunications. Melissa’s passion is serving her community and her profession. She enjoys teaching, facilitating, and making connections to improve emergency services systems and outcomes. She lives in Bethel, Maine, with her spouse, children, and dogs.
Ron Morin
Wilton
Ron Morin has been involved with Maine EMS for over 50 years and left his footprints throughout Franklin County and across the state. He has worked on ambulances as a provider and designer/builder – and in some of the state’s most challenging rural/wilderness settings. Ron is a founding member and current Director of the Maine EMS Honor Guard. Now retired from active field service, Ron continues to help educate providers and the public about the history of EMS and is an active volunteer with Honor Flight Maine.
Rick Petrie
Minot
Rick has been actively involved with the Maine EMS system for over 40 years. During this time, he has worked as a firefighter, EMS provider, regional coordinator, and service chief. Rick has been a provider in several of Maine’s largest cities and smallest towns. Being involved with Friends is an extension of his passion for supporting EMS providers and advancing the system. Rick is a site reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance services and the Chief Operating Officer of North East Mobile Health.
Tim Pieh. MD
Rome
Dr. Pieh is board certified EMS physician and Chief Medical Director of northern New England’s first EMS physician response team: MD-3. He is the assistant medical director of emergency medicine at MaineGeneral Medical Center, and the medical director for several services in Kennebec Valley. His work in EMS began in 1992 as a Basic EMT and has continued with multiple services throughout Maine, Vermont, and North Carolina; including Outward Bound SAR and Duke University EMS. He continues to dedicate his time to EMS and his local community as an active member of Belgrade and Rome Rescues.
Thomas (TW) Williamson
TW served in rural and suburban EMS settings in southern and midcoast Maine for many years, from Licensed Ambulance Attendant through to Paramedic, until his “other job” as a high school educator took his career path from Maine to international schools in Taiwan and Korea. Upon his return to Maine, he re-entered the EMS field as the Lewiston Regional Technical Center EMT Program instructor.