KEMSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS BALLOT 2024 - Nominees
See voting instructions on the bottom of this page.
Candidates (in alphabetical order by last name)
Dave Johnston, Reno County EMS/Hutchinson Regional Medical Center
I am humbly seeking your support for reelection to the KEMSA Board of Directors. It has been an honor to serve, and I am eager for the opportunity to continue contributing to our organization and the broader EMS community.
I am the current EMS Chief for Reno County in Hutchinson, and I bring with me a 34-year history in the Kansas EMS profession. My journey in EMS began as a volunteer EMT in a rural community and has evolved to include roles as a full-time EMS provider, Kansas Army National Guard medic, EMS educator, EMS service director, and an advocate for EMS leadership. Before my tenure in Reno County, I dedicated over 27 years to Sedgwick County EMS, where I held various leadership positions in education, analytics, and operations. My roots in EMS are deeply planted in rural Kansas, where I started my career with Republic County EMS as a volunteer EMT in the community where I was raised. I hold a Paramedic degree from Hutchinson Community College and a business degree from Friends University.
My commitment to advocating for the Kansas EMS profession is unwavering. I served as the President of the Kansas EMS Association for over seven years and I am currently the past president. Through KEMSA, I have organized grassroots movements to successfully lobby for Kansas EMS providers and have championed additional benefits for the survivors of EMS providers killed in the line of duty. Additionally, I serve as the Chairman for the Region III EMS Council and participate on numerous other boards advocating for EMS.
Outside of my professional commitments, I cherish spending time with my wife, Kristen, and our children, Ayden, Adelyn and Emma. Their support and understanding have been instrumental in my journey.
I am passionate about the future of Kansas EMS and believe that my extensive experience, coupled with my dedication to advocacy and leadership, makes me well-suited to continue serving on the KEMSA Board of Directors. I kindly ask for your support in my reelection bid so that together, we can continue to advance the EMS profession in Kansas.
Thank you for your consideration.
Karl Leech, Minneapolis Ambulance Service
My name is Karl Leech, and I'm currently the EMS Director for the Minneapolis Ambulance Service. I have lived in our small town community and rural county all my life, and served in various organizations. In 1994 I became certified as an EMT, and served as a volunteer until 2015, when I accepted a full time position. By the end of 2015, I accepted a position of Assistant EMS Director, and then as Director in 2017. I received my AEMT certification in 2019. Serving as President of Region 4 and on the KEMSA Boardof Directors the past few years has been a great experience for me.
From the time I was put into an Assistant Director position with the service, I've made sure that we have a KEMSA Squad Membership each year. I promote KEMSA whenever I can, and have attended many of the summer conferences, as well as other events sponsored by KEMSA. Due to all the knowledge and support I and our squad have received from KEMSA, I would like to return the favor by serving for another term on the KEMSA Board of Directors. I believe it's possible to continue to be a voice for rural EMS, and still be open to the needs of the urban EMS services. There are currently many challenges for EMS, and I believe KEMSA can help move things forward for EMS in Kansas.
Con Olson, TECHS EMS 
The past three years I have had the honor to serve as the President of KEMSA’s Administrator Society. During that time the society emerged from covid to begin hosting in-person meetings, provide service director trainings at the August KEMSA Conference, hold bi-monthly virtual work sessions, host a multi-day administrator’s course, and advocate for EMS at the state and federal level.
As a part of the KEMSA Board I would continue to work for solutions that we face in Kansas EMS. I have worked for ambulance services of all sizes, volunteer and career. No matter the size or type of the agency we all encounter challenges around staffing & retaining quality providers, supply chain issues that cause shortages of ambulances, medications, and other equipment.
These and other challenges provide us with the opportunity to look to improve the way we provide care to the citizens of Kansas. Expanding EMS into community paramedicine, better supporting our providers in both their physical and mental health are just a couple of examples of how we can and must improve EMS.
Keith Wangerin, Smith County EMS
Hello, my name is Keith Wangerin. I began my career in EMS in 2014 as an EMT and through my journey in EMS, I completed my AEMT certification in 2015, continued my education and completed my paramedic certification in 2017. I obtained my Flight Paramedic Certification in 2020. I have had the great pleasure of learning from and working with some amazing technicians and administrators. In 2023, I was appointed director of Smith County EMS. Being knowledgeable about EMS is an ongoing process and I’m always proactive about seeking new opportunities to develop and grow in my role. I’m very communicative, detail-oriented and like to think of myself as a team player.
I’m passionate about my work and I know how to get the job done. I would describe myself as an open and honest person who doesn’t believe in misleading other people and tries to be fair in everything I do. I’m a hard-working and driven individual who isn’t afraid to face a challenge. As a board member, I would like to help bring more education to the state, be an advocate and voice for the technicians and services, along with being there to support the people of EMS. It would be a great honor to be a part of Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association and assist with providing all of this to the Kansas EMS community. Thank you for your consideration.
Frank Williams, Butler County EMS
I have served the Kansas EMS community for 35 years. I started my prehospital career at Butler County EMS as an EMT and progressed through the ranks to Lieutenant/Paramedic. I have been an active member of the Butler County Rescue Squad, in my hometown of El Dorado, since 1988. I am currently the Chief of this all volunteer team. I obtained my Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing in 1995. After gaining experience in Critical Care Nursing, I started my Flight Nurse/Flight Paramedic career in 1996 working for Life WATCH, then LifeStar of Topeka, LifeTeam/LifeSave, and now serve as the Chief of Butler County EMS. I have served as a KEMSA Board Member for 9 years.
Why I would like to continue serving as a KEMSA Board Member:
I have a passion for prehospital patient care. This passion has provided me the opportunity to work closely with urban, rural and frontier EMS providers from across the Midwest. I bring to the board that kindred spirit of teamwork and collaboration to help overcome the challenges facing our profession. I also recognize that EMS is one of many important elements in the healthcare system. In the leadership position of an EMS Service Director and Rescue Squad Chief, I understand that collaboration, in the multidisciplinary healthcare system of today, is essential to the future of Kansas EMS. Drawing from my education and experience at multiple levels of the hospital and prehospital profession, I feel I have represented the KEMSA membership by carrying the voice of those who have approached me with concerns and recommendations concerning EMS in Kansas. I have been an active participant in most of the planned events and meetings of the board. I would like to continue representing EMS in Kansas by focusing on the best interest of EMS providers, our collaborative healthcare partners and the patients we serve. Thank you for considering my request and I look forward to these opportunities!
How to vote for the 2024 Board of Directors:
1) Read the biographical information about the candidates and why they want to be on the KEMSA board. You will only get to vote for three (3) candidates.
2) Take a few seconds to vote using our electronic ballot (available July 26-August 9 at noon)
Note: Members must login to vote since you must be a verified KEMSA Member for your vote to be counted! If you have never logged in, you can activate your account by clicking on the login button at the very top right corner of this website. On the login screen, click the "forgot password" link.
Enter the e-mail address we have on file, and it will provide you with directions via e-mail about setting your password. Then come back and login to gain access to your profile information, events, and your membership information. If you have trouble, contact kari@kemsa.org.
Paper ballots are available by contacting kari@kemsa.org. You can mail a ballot to be received by Aug. 5 or e-mail in a ballot before the deadline.
Voting closes Friday, August 9 at noon.