Past Stars of Life Honorees

2014 CCA Paramedics/EMT Awarded American Ambulance Association STAR of Life in Washington D.C.

Community Care Ambulance along with some help from our Federal Congressional Delegation recognized three CCA employees for the outstanding service they provide to the community in their field.

March 25, 2014—For the 8^th consecutive year, Community Care Ambulance (CCA) has joined the American Ambulance Association (AAA) to recognize exemplary medical transportation service providers by traveling to Washington D.C. to celebrate the STARS of Life Program.    Emergency Medical Technician and Infection Control Officer Corey Stickle and Paramedics – Tonya Chance and Jake Rice were three Community Care Ambulance employees chosen to receive this prestigious award through a nomination from their peers and leadership at CCA.

Corey Stickle, EMT. Corey is a superior EMT and has given the EMS profession greater than 14 years of service. He has served many years with Community Care Ambulance as our most requested EMT for transports and an amazing Community Outreach advocate. Corey functions as a mentor and recognized for strong leadership and well respected by his peers. He is focused and committed to doing whatever is best for the patient in the most compassionate and competent manner. Community Care receives positive feedback from patients, co-workers, and various facilities. Corey is a captivating educator, a self-motivator and displays a positive attitude making him an example of a STAR.

For several years Corey has functioned as the Infection Control Officer and DRIVE instructor for all new hire orientations and annual training.  Corey has DJ’d several annual company events, planned several company events and has a passion for Public Relations events such as Safety Town.

Corey is most proud of his family and often shares stories of his Niece Molly and the fun they have.   Corey enjoys musical productions and has played leading and supporting roles in many.  For the few quiet moments in his day you will find Corey and significant other Justin seeking out new food creations and watching their favorite movies. Community Care is very fortunate to have Corey and all of his talents.

Tonya Chance, Paramedic. Tonya has provided CCA with over 13 years of dedicated EMS service and is one of CCA’s many success stories.  Tonya started her EMS Career working as an EMT progressing through the certifications and is now one of our senior Paramedics and field training personnel.  As a vital part of CCA’s patient philosophy Tonya has trained our new hires to smile and always be a patient advocate.  It is through Tonya’s everyday interactions that she was nominated by her peers to be a STAR of Life as her peers see her continuous positive outlook and approach to her career.

Tonya is an avid Harley Davidson rider and has a custom motorcycle that has specialty paint reflecting the pride she has in being a Paramedic.  This was a particularly difficult and meaningful journey for Tonya to become a Paramedic.  During her first attempt at Paramedic school while being a single mom of three children she was volunteering to render care for her ill father who lost his battle with his illness during mid class.  She never regretted spending the time with her father and putting class on hold.  In fact she used this as a goal to finish and become a Paramedic. She was then offered an accelerated program that was conducted over 90 days of full time course work and became a Paramedic.

Tonya’s ability to interact with field staff and always provide a voice of reason with compassion and empathy has earned her the recognition and admiration of her peers. Tonya has the amazing support of her three children and will be sending her youngest off to college in no time and then you will find her riding off into the sunset on her Harley with her fiancé Donnie when not on duty.

Jake Rice, Paramedic. Jake is a charismatic person who displays compassion, education and support to his coworkers and his patients with sincerity and trust. He is able to assist in multiple areas of our organization and consistently is a go to person for just about everything.  Jake is often used as a field preceptor and has been known to spend time in our control center as an EMS Dispatcher.  Jake has gained the admiration from his peers as being a fanatic about station cleanliness and truck cleanliness.   He is a true lead by example individual and is always prepared for whatever adventure is brought his way.   One of Jakes nominations came from his shift partner who describes the countless times she has watched Jake take extra time with patients and the amazing feeling it gives her watching and knowing how he makes it personal to make the patients day better and touch their lives.  This sentiment was repeated through Jake’s nominations and clearly displays why Jake is a STAR.

Jake has been dedicated to the EMS and Fire profession since 2004 when he began as a firefighter at his local Fire Department and then in 2004 as an EMT with Community Care Ambulance.  He became a Paramedic in 2008 and recently completed his Critical Care Training in 2013.  Jake is about to be a proud new father in just a few months with his wife Heather. Jake spends his time away from EMS tending to his farm animals and spending time outdoors with family.

All three individuals have demonstrated excellence in their abilities in EMS and are well respected by CCA and their peers.  These three candidates were nominated knowing they would well represent CCA and all EMS professionals as they visited our nation’s Capitol and met with Congressman David Joyce and our Congressional Delegation to discuss key issues facing EMS.

The STARS of Life is a special program to publicly recognize and celebrate the achievements of these individuals and others from across the US in our nation’s capitol.  CCA would also like to recognize and congratulate the additional 18 team members that were nominated as possible participants in the STARS program in Washington D.C.   The nominees were Gail Deemer, Jim Toth, Matt Urie, Courtney Schroeter, Justin Stuper, Michael James, Dawn Spriggs, Timothy Balogh, Matt Shaughnessy, Blaine Gravens, Tony Sposit, Mike Goodwill, Bill Balog, Chris Matlin, Ed Stitt, Megan Turk, Ashley Shaffer, Paula Shenal.

The STARS, Corey Stickle, Tonya Chance and Jake Rice along with Julie Rose, CCA Executive Director and member of the AAA Board of Directors began their celebration in D.C. by attending a banquet to recognize EMS individuals from across the nation.  These individuals were awarded medals as a symbol of appreciation for all that they have done as leading EMS professionals.

Back home the STARS and CCA will celebrate the nationally recognized EMS week observed May 18^th – 24^th.  National Emergency Medical Services Week is designated to encourage awareness of our nation’s EMS system to the public, and to celebrate and honor our EMS field providers who demonstrate selflessness and consummate professionalism while they dedicate their lives to helping other people.

Community Care Ambulance (CCA) is a private, regional, non-profit organization established in 1994 and headquartered in Ashtabula, with satellite stations in five counties.  CCA provides community 9-1-1 services, critical care transports, and non-emergency ambulance transports in the Northeast Ohio Region.   CCA is proud to employ 280 professionals caring for northeast Ohio.  CCA’s corporate office phone number is (440) 992-7302.

“Community Care Ambulance, providing the highest quality healthcare services to the communities we serve resulting in superior satisfaction”