* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [EMS Graduation Ceremony] [00:00:19] OH, UNIFORM PERSONNEL ATTEND. WHO DETAIL PREPARE TO MARCH ON THE COLORS DETAIL PULSE. UNIFORM. PERSONNEL PRESIDENT. PULSE. ORDER READY? OH, UNIFORM PERSONNEL. EDDIE, Y'ALL MAY BE SEATED. OH, THAT'S REALLY LOUD. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME, I'M ROB LUCRI. I'M THE CHIEF OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, AND I JUST WANTED TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO OUR 2026 ANNUAL AWARD CEREMONY, UM, AND TELL YOU JUST HOW HUMBLED AND PROUD I AM OF THIS ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND EVERYONE THAT'S HERE JOINING US TODAY, UM, TO RECEIVE RECOGNITION FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. AND TO ALSO THANK THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT JOIN US HERE TODAY THAT SACRIFICE THEMSELVES, SACRIFICE THEIR FAMILY IN ORDER TO DO THIS NOBLE PROFESSION OF SERVICE. THIS TRULY IS A GROUP EFFORT BETWEEN ALL OF US HERE AT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF BOSTON AND TRAVIS COUNTY IF IT WASN'T FOR THE ABSOLUTE AMAZING STAFF THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR ORGANIZATION. AND THIS YEAR IS PARTICULARLY NOTABLE FOR US AS WE RECOGNIZE OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. JANUARY 1ST, 1976, AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS BEGAN RESPONDING TO THE FIRST 9 1 1 CALLS HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND HERE WE ARE 50 YEARS LATER, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF SUCH AN AMAZING AND WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION THAT IS NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED AND THAT TRULY REPRESENTS THE GREAT WORK THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY DO [00:05:01] THIS YEAR. AS WE THINK BACK ON THE PAST 18 MONTHS, HAS BEEN A TRULY, TRULY TREMENDOUS YEAR. IT HAS BEEN A YEAR OF SUCCESSES, BUT IT HAS ALSO BEEN A YEAR OF TRAGEDY. AND AS WE THINK THROUGH WHY WE'RE HERE AND WHAT IT IS THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, IT BRINGS TO MIND THE NEED TO TAKE PAUSE AND FOR ALL OF US TO RECOGNIZE HOW CHALLENGING IT CAN BE TO BE A PART OF THIS INDUSTRY AND THIS ORGANIZATION FROM TIME TO TIME. YOU ALL HAVE FACED TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES AND SITUATIONS THAT ARE UNFATHOMABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED, THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE SEEN AND THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE ARE THINGS THAT ARE TRUE AND SPECIAL AND OUTSTANDING AND ARE TRUE TO US HERE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND IN THIS ROOM. BUT ALL TOO OFTEN CAN BE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN TO THOSE WE LOVE AND TO THOSE WE SURROUND OURSELVES. AND SO I TAKE PAUSE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AWARD CEREMONY THIS YEAR BECAUSE AS I LOOK BACK ON YEARS, AND WE HAVE MANY INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THIS CITY AND THIS COUNTY, AND I THINK BACK ABOUT OTHER YEARS THAT WE'VE SEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE IN AUSTIN AND IN CENTRAL TEXAS IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS IS UNPARALLELED AND IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WORK THAT EVERYONE AT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS DOES EACH AND EVERY DAY. AND I'M SO PROUD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN YOU ALL HERE TODAY TO BE YOUR CHIEF AS WE RECOGNIZE THE GREAT WORK THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU DO. WE'RE EXCITED ONCE AGAIN TO WELCOME BACK A FAMILIAR FACE TO THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS AWARD STAGE. KRISTEN CURRY HAS BEEN BECOME SOMETHING OF A TRADITION HERE AT OUR AWARD CEREMONY, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE HER BACK WITH US AGAIN THIS YEAR. SHE BRINGS THE PROFESSIONALISM YOU, YOU EXPECT FROM AN ACCOMPLISHED BROADCASTER ALONG WITH THE HUMOR AND PERSONALITY THAT HAVE HELPED MAKE THESE CELEBRATIONS SO ENJOYABLE OVER THE YEARS. KRISTIN BEGAN HER BROADCASTING CAREER IN 2013 IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS, FORECASTING EVERYTHING FROM DUST STORMS AND TORNADOES TO ICE STORMS AND HIGH WINDS. HER CAREER LATER TOOK HER TO ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO WHERE SHE SPENT SEVERAL YEARS AS A MORNING METEOROLOGIST COVERING WEATHER ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST. TODAY, KRISTEN CALLS AUSTIN HOME AND WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT SHE CONTINUES TO MAKE TIME TO JOIN US AS WE RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF AUSTIN. TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING BACK OUR MC FOR THIS YEAR'S AWARD CEREMONY. KRISTEN CURRY. ALRIGHT, Y'ALL. BY HUMOR YOU MEAN YOU GUYS LAUGHING AT ME WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THE FEMMES PROGRAM AND LEARNED THAT THAT ABBREVIATION IS NOT SAID WITH LETTERS. SO I AM EXCITED TO BE BACK WHAT YEAR THREE, YEAR FOUR, UM, WITH Y'ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME BACK. AS I'VE MENTIONED IN YEARS PAST, UM, I'M A DAUGHTER OF A FIRST RESPONDERS, SO I UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE FAMILIES MAKE. GET A LITTLE IDEA OF WHAT Y'ALL GO THROUGH, UH, EACH AND EVERY DAY. NOT JUST FROM EXPERIENCE WITH DAD, BUT ALSO COVERING THE BIG EVENTS ON LOCAL NEWS. AND IT WAS, I THINK, A VERY HARD YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF, UM, HERE IN THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY AREA. BUT WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS EVENT, IT'S SOMETHING I PUT ON MY CALENDAR EVERY TIME I GET THAT EMAIL BECAUSE IT'S HIGHLIGHTING THE LITTLE MOMENTS THAT ARE SO IMPACTFUL, CELEBRATING THOSE MIRACLES Y'ALL DO DAY IN, DAY OUT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, AND I'M, I'M SO EXCITED TO BE BACK WITH Y'ALL THIS YEAR. SO LET'S GET STARTED ON THAT CELEBRATION. WE ARE GONNA BEGIN WITH YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNITION. THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AS THESE CERTIFICATES ARE PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE ASK THAT THOSE PRESENT TO PLEASE JUST STAND AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED. SO WITH FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE. BRANDON ADCOCK, LUIS RE, RICHARD ANDRA. VAL ROKA GURA. RYAN CABRERA, CHRISTOPHER KANE. SAMUEL CASTILLO. JASON COLE. HECTOR CRUZ OTTE. JOSEPH DRAPER, BRIAN DURAN, ERIC FERNANDEZ, [00:10:01] RAUL FLORES, RYAN GALLO. BIANCA GARCIA, ALEJANDRA HERNANDEZ ARIAS. ASHLEY KRAMER, STEVEN KRAUSE. CINDY LOPEZ, LINDSAY LOPEZ, RAMON LOPEZ, KATHLEEN MCLAUGHLIN, BEATRICE MORALES, KYLE MORRIS, WILLIAM NELSON, DOMINIQUE OLIVAREZ. SARAH ORANA. CHRISTOPHER PANDO. CHRISTOPHER, OR EXCUSE ME, SEAN PERRY. REBECCA RASMUSSEN, CHRISTOPHER REYES, ANDREW RODRIGUEZ, OSCAR SALINAS TIANO. AUSTIN SCOTT. JEFFREY SCOTT, DENISE SILVA, ESTELLE SLAR, ERIC STEVENS, ANNA VILLALOBOS, AND HAROLD WELCH. FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE. PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. ALRIGHT, AND MOVING ON TO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE. PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE PRESENT. KATHLEEN ANDRADE, CHARLES ARMSTRONG, ADAM BALBOA, CAMILLE BROWN, ROB BURROWS, ROSS COPELAND, CHRIS EMIC, MARK ESCO, ISMAIL ESTRADA, RILEY FLANAGAN, MARSHALL RASCONE, TYLER GREEN, TRAVIS R HOLLAND. JARED ISAACS, RYAN, JAMES, SHANNON KOSER. KEVIN WICK. MARCOS, LARA, KIRSTEN LAROSE, HUNTER LAWLESS. MATTHEW LIDER, OSCAR MAGUANA, MARCUS MAYS, COURTNEY MEYER, JEFF MOORE, BRANDON PALMER, JAKE PALMER, TRENTON P*****K, PAULA RODRIGUEZ, LINDSEY RUTLEDGE, GARNER THOMPSON, TYLER WELDON, AND SAM YARRINGTON. 10 YEARS OF SERVICE. PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. 15 YEARS OF SERVICE. PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE PRESENT. TABITHA BARRACK, JUSTIN CHANDLER, DANIEL CUMMINGS, JC FERGUSON, AARON CASTELLA, NATHAN HARE, MATT HICKS, GREG HINK, PATRICK JACOBSON, MICHAEL MASON, RICHARD MURRAY, TAYLOR NEIL, TONY SMITH, TARA SPENCER, KAITLYN THORNHILL, AND BEN YASUI. PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. 20 YEARS OF SERVICE. KELLE BANKS, ANGELA CARR, JASON CASTLEBERRY, JOHN CONSTANTINO, JAMES DIO, BO DURHAM, JOHN EATON, MARK FLORES, WALTER FINCH, BRIANNA GUERRERO, ARIEL JEWEL, ANDY JOHNSON, GREG KINSEL, AARON RA, ERIC LANCASTER, CHRIS LESTER, MARK LYNCH, JONATHAN MILBURN, AMELIA MARDA, KEITH NOBLE, ROGER PATTERSON, ERIC RICHTER, MICHAEL SASSER, STEVEN SCHILLER, DOUGLAS SCHOLTZ, SHERRY WALKER, AND ROBERT YAGER. PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. 20 YEARS Y'ALL AND 25 YEARS OF SERVICE. HECTOR GARCIA, WES HOPKINS, ED JOHNS, MARK IKA, JARED ROGERS AND RICK SMITH. DID I BUTCHER THAT ONE? OKAY. IT'S USUALLY, I'M SO SORRY. 25 YEARS. YOU DESERVE TO GET YOUR NAME. COR IKA. CALL IKA. THAT'S IT Y'ALL. I'M TELLING YOU, I READ NUMBERS ON MAP, NOT NAMES. OKAY. 30 YEARS OF SERVICE. HARDEST NAME ERIC, JACK. BASQUE YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE. WE ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EMPLOYEES WHO RETIRED IN 2025. IF YOU'RE IN ATTENDANCE, PLEASE STAND AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED NICK BAKER. SHE, RICK CHEEKS, HEATHER COY, LISA DEMAYA, FREDDIE GARCIA, BRIAN GREEN, JEFFREY GATON, ANDY JOHNSON, KEVIN HARNER, DANIEL CRASHER, ROBIN CRASHER, CHRISTOPHER KIROS, EDWIN RY REYES, MATTHEW SCHICKEL, SARAH THORNTON, [00:15:01] FRANK URBAN DONOVAN, VAN ZA, AND ELIZABETH HINK. PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. ARE ANY OF THEM HERE? THEY'RE SOMEWHERE ON THE BEACH, RIGHT? YOU'RE RETIRED. GET A DRINK. OKAY. WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PAST AND CURRENT MILITARY PERSONNEL AS WELL, WHO SERVE NOT ONLY THE CITY BUT OUR NATION. WE APPLAUD THEM FOR THEIR SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THEIR MILITARY SERVICE. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO DEPARTMENTAL CITATIONS. THE DEPARTMENTAL CITATIONS RECOGNIZE SPECIFIC EVENTS OR MILESTONES RELATED TO THE CONDUCT AND PERFORMANCE OF EMS OPERATIONS. WE BEGIN WITH THE UNIT CITATION. NOW, THIS IS GRANTED FOR UNIT ACHIEVEMENTS IN SUCH AREAS AS INNOVATION, EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, PROJECTS AND UNIT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OR OTHER APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS. IT MAY BE AWARDED TO ANY TEAM STATION, COMMAND DISTRICT, ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT, OR AN ENTIRE SHIFT. SO THESE PEOPLE, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ME JOIN ON STAGE. YOU CAN COME DOWN THIS WAY, TAKE YOUR PICTURE, SHAKE HANDS, AND THEN YOU'LL COME UP THIS WAY. SO FOR OUR FIRST AWARD, IF YOU'LL JOIN ME UP HERE ON STAGE, ALEX BAKER, ADAM BALBOA, RANDY CHABRA, JAMES COLEMAN, JOHN DONAHUE, TIM HAGGERTY, JUSTIN HINMAN, NANCY MONSON, DOMINIQUE OLIVAREZ, KENNY PALES, KATE PITMAN, TRENTON P*****K, KEVIN RUN, BRENNAN STUTZMAN, MATTHEW WINES, AND LORETTA W WONG. NOW THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDIC RESPONDER TEAM IS BEING RECOGNIZED WITH THE UNIT CITATION FOR ITS OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO THEIR WORK AS MENTAL HEALTH PARAMEDICS AND SUPPORTING THE BUPRENORPHINE FIN BRIDGE PROGRAM, THE CHPR TEAM HAS EXPANDED ITS ROLE AS A LS SINGLE RESPONDERS WITHIN THE 9 1 1 SYSTEM. THEY RESPOND DIRECTLY TO CALLS THROUGH C FOUR, HELP PRESERVE AMBULANCE RESOURCES BY MANAGING APPROPRIATE CALLS INDEPENDENTLY, INDEPENDENTLY, AND SUPPORT SYSTEM, SURGE DISASTER OPERATIONS, AND CRITICAL INCIDENTS THROUGH THEIR FLEXIBILITY, CLINICAL EXPERTISE, AND COMMITMENT TO SERVING WHEREVER THEY ARE NEEDED. THE CHPR TEAM HAS BECOME AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE TO PATIENTS AND THE SYSTEM. PLEASE JOIN US AND RECOGNIZE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDIC RESPONDER TEAM FOR THE UNIT CITATION. COME AROUND THE FRONT. PERFECT. GOT IT. CONGRATULATIONS. DURING THE HISTORIC FLOODING OF JULY, 2025, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS PERSONNEL DEPLOYED TO KERRVILLE AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AS PART OF THE STATEWIDE DISASTER RESPONSE. TODAY, WE RECOGNIZE TWO TEAMS WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS WERE CRITICAL TO THAT MISSION. JOINING ME ON STAGE, PHIL BARQUE, ROSS BUMP, JAMES ANI, RYAN CABRERA, ROSS COPELAND, TOM FERGUSON, ERIC GORDON, PATRICK JACOBSON, BRADLEY LINES, JACOB REDING, DARREN ROGERS, CRAIG SMITH, JOSHUA, TOM, THE U. THIS UNIT CITATION RECOGNIZES OUR SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAM, WHICH DEPLOYED TO THE KERRVILLE AND HUNT AREAS AS PART OF THE STATEWIDE RESCUE RESPONSE, OPERATING IN EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS. THESE PERSONNEL PROVIDED SPECIALIZED BOAT BASED RESCUE CAPABILITIES AND SUPPORTED SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE FLOOD AFFECTED REGION. PLEASE GIVE THEM A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THANKS Y'ALL. MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT [00:20:01] AWARD. WILL THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE, PLEASE JOIN ME ON STAGE, RICKY AGUILAR, SCOTT ANDERSON, PHILLIP QUE, JESSICA BLACK, ALAN CLARK, JOHN EATON, CHRISTOPHER EMEK, ROMAN FLORES, ERIC GORDON, TIMOTHY HAGGERTY, JACOB HELENE, MATTHEW HIGGINS, JUSTIN HINMAN, ARIEL JEWEL, PAUL KLEIN, ERIC LANCASTER, CHRISTOPHER LESTER, MELODY MALONE, RAY MLE, DARREN NOACK, KEITH NOBLE, TRENT AND P*****K. NATHAN RASMUSSEN, JAY REMSON, ERIC RICHTER, STEVEN SCHILLER, RICK SMITH, ADAM STEMPEL, QC TRAN. NOW THIS UNIT CITATION RECOGNIZES THE AMBULANCE STRIKE TEAM DEPLOYED THROUGH THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TASK FORCE SYSTEM OPERATING ACROSS MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES. THE TEAM PROVIDED EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE, MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, INNER FACILITY TRANSPORTS AND SUSTAINED MEDICAL COVERAGE THROUGHOUT THE EXTENDED DISASTER RESPONSE. THEIR ADAPTABILITY AND PROFESSIONALISM ENSURE CRITICAL MEDICAL RESOURCES REMAINED AVAILABLE DURING AN UNPRECEDENTED AT EMERGENCY. PLEASE GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WHO WOULD YOU? OKAY, WE'RE GOOD. WE SQUEEZE IN NICE AND TIGHT SO WE CAN GET ALL YOUR FACES UP THERE. THERE YOU GO, AS AWESOME. BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. MOVING ON TO INDIVIDUAL CITATIONS. THESE ARE GRANTED FOR SINGULAR ACHIEVEMENT IN SUCH AREAS AS INNOVATION, EFFICIENCY, EFFECTIVENESS, INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS AND PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OR OTHER APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS. WILL COMMANDER JC FERGUSON AND CLINICAL SPECIALIST ROBERT YAGER, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT. SOMETIMES A CALL FOR HELP COMES FROM HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD. WHEN CS YAGER RECEIVED A CALL FROM AN INDIVIDUAL IN TEXAS REPORTING THAT A FRIEND IN THE NETHERLANDS WAS POTENTIALLY OVERDOSING, HE STAYED ON THE LINE WITH THE CALLER WHILE COMMANDER FERGUSON WORKED TO LOCATE THE APPROPRIATE POLICE CONTACT IN THE NETHERLANDS AND NAVIGATE THE INTERNATIONAL DIALING PROCESS. THROUGH THEIR TEAMWORK, RESOURCEFULNESS, AND DETERMINATION, THEY HELPED CONNECT A PERSON IN CRISIS WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY. THEIR EFFORTS DEMONSTRATE THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO HELPING THOSE IN NEED HAS NO BORDERS. WELL DONE WILL CLINICAL SPECIALIST, VIRGINIA WRANGLE HERNANDEZ, PLEASE JOIN ME ON STAGE CS WR HERNANDEZ DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL CALL TAKING SKILLS BY ADVOCATING FOR A PATIENT, MAINTAINING COMMUNICATION WITH A DIFFICULT CALLER, AND ENSURING THE INFORMATION BEING RELAYED ACCURATELY REFLECTED THE SITUATION. SHE ALSO RECOGNIZED AND CORRECTED A DISCREPANCY IN THE INFORMATION BEING COMMUNICATED BY ANOTHER AGENCY. HER ATTENTION TO DETAIL, CONFIDENCE IN HER ASSESSMENT AND COMMITMENT TO ACCURATE COMMUNICATION HELPED KEEP EVERYONE INVOLVED. SAFE. VIRGINIA'S ACTIONS ARE AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVOCATING FOR BOTH CALLERS AND RESPONDERS. PLEASE GIVE VIRGINIA A RVO PLUS WILL MEDIC DWAYNE RAMOS. PLEASE JOIN ME. MEDIC RAMOS, BEING RECOGNIZED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CITATION FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM, COMPASSION, AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE HE CONSISTENTLY BRINGS TO HIS WORK. A SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED EMT MEDIC RAMOS IS THE KIND OF TEAMMATE WHO MAKES EVERYONE AROUND HIM BETTER. HE ANTICIPATES THE NEEDS OF HIS PARTNERS, COMES PREPARED, AND HELPS ENSURE EVEN CHALLENGING CALLS RUN SMOOTHLY. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, IMPORTANTLY, HE APPROACHES PATIENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WITH COMPASSION AND RESPECT. HIS COMMITMENT TO HIS COWORKERS EXTENDS BEYOND PATIENT CARE. ON HIS OWN TIME, DWAYNE CREATES AND SHARES STATION STICKERS WITH CREWS SIMPLY AND HIS WORDS QUOTE, TO HELP MORALE FOR HIS COMPETENCE, [00:25:01] TEAMWORK, COMPASSION, AND COMMITMENT TO MAKING THE DEPARTMENT A BETTER PLACE FOR THOSE AROUND HIM. WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE MEDIC RAMOS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CITATION CLINICAL SPECIALIST. WES ROGERS, CLINICAL SPECIALIST. WES ROGERS IS BEING RECOGNIZED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CITATION FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO CLINICAL EDUCATION AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF HIS PEERS. ALTHOUGH CURRENTLY CREDENTIALED AT THE PL FIVE LEVEL CS ROGERS HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE WELL BEYOND THE EXPECTATIONS OF HIS POSITION. HE IS REGULARLY INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PL SIX LEVEL TRAINING AND HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN EDUCATING CRITICAL CARE COHORTS IN DELIVERING ADVANCED CONTINUING EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT. CS ROGERS BRINGS BOTH EXPERTISE AND HUMILITY TO HIS WORK FREELY SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE TO STRENGTHEN THE CLINICIANS AROUND HIM, AND ULTIMATELY IMPROVE THE CARE TO PROVIDE TO PATIENTS FOR HIS DEDICATION TO EDUCATION, CLINICAL EXCELLENCE, AND THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF HIS PEERS. WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE CLINICAL SPECIALISTS WEST ROGERS WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CITATION WILL CLINICAL SPECIALIST. NICOLE THORNTON, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT. WHEN CS THORNTON ANSWERED A CALL INVOLVING AN INFANT IN CARDIAC ARREST JUST ACROSS THE COUNTY LINE IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY, SHE FACED A CHALLENGE OF MANAGING A CRITICAL TIME-SENSITIVE EMERGENCY WHILE COORDINATING THE TRANSFER TO ANOTHER AGENCY. CS THORNTON REMAINED CALM AND CONTINUED GUIDING THE CALLER THROUGH CPR WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY GETTING WILLIAMSON COUNTY ON THE LINE. HER ABILITY TO BALANCE LIFESAVING INSTRUCTIONS WITH INTERAGENCY COORDINATION UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE WAS EXCEPTIONAL. CS THORNTON EXEMPLIFIED THE COMPOSURE SKILL AND DEDICATION IT TAKES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN EVERY SECOND COUNTS, PLEASE GIVE HER A RED APPLAUSE. COMMANDER GABE WEBER, PLEASE JOIN ME. COMMANDER WEBER IS BEING RECOGNIZED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CITATION FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THE C FOUR TEAM. WHEN COMMANDER WEBER JOINED C FOUR FOUR YEARS AGO, HE STEPPED INTO AN UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT AND TOOK THE TIME TO LISTEN, LEARN, AND UNDERSTAND THE WORK. SINCE THEN, HE HAS HELPED REFINE PROCESSES, USE DATA TO DEMONSTRATE C FOUR'S IMPACT AND SUPPORT THE PROGRAM'S CONTINUED GROWTH. COMMANDER WEBER IS A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR HIS TEAM AND A LEADER WHO CONSISTENTLY PUTS HI THEIR WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS AHEAD OF HIS OWN. HIS QUIET COMPETENCE AND TEAM FIRST APPROACH HAVE HELPED BUILD A STRONG, COHESIVE GROUP WHOSE WORK CONTINUES TO REDUCE UNNECESSARY AMBULANCE UTILIZATION AND IMPROVE PATIENT CARE. FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY AND COMMITMENT TO BOTH HIS TEAM AND THE MISSION OF C FOUR, WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE COMMANDER GABE WEBER WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CITATION CLINICAL SPECIALIST, HUNTER WESSIN. PLEASE COME TO THE STAGE WHEN CS WESSIN RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE INVOLVING AN OPEN LINE AND A FEMALE SOUNDING CALLER WHO APPEARED TO BE EXPERIENCING SHORTNESS OF BREATH. SOMETHING TOLD HER THE SITUATION WAS MORE SERIOUS AND IT INITIALLY APPEARED. RATHER THAN ASSIGNING A LOWER PRIORITY RESPONSE, CS WESTON TRUSTED HER INSTINCTS AND UPGRADED THE CALL TO A HIGHER PRIORITY RESPONSE. WHEN M 16 ARRIVED ON SCENE, THEY FOUND A PATIENT IN CARDIAC ARREST AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN CPR CS. WESTON'S. SOUND JUDGMENT AND DECISION TO DECISION TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF THE PATIENT INSURED A FASTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE, HELPING GET LIFESAVING CARE TO THE PATIENT SOONER. HER ACTIONS DEMONSTRATE HOW A DISPATCHER'S INSTINCTS AND DECISIONS CAN MAKE A CRITICAL DIFFERENCE IN THE FIELD. PLEASE GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. CLINICAL SPECIALIST, MATTHEW WINES, IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME JOIN ME. CS WINES IS BEING RECOGNIZED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CITATION FOR HIS COMPASSION, CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES', MOST VULNERABLE PATIENTS. AS A MEMBER OF THE CLINICAL NAVIGATION DIVISION, CS ONES LOOKS BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF EACH PATIENT TO UNDERSTAND THE MEDICAL, BEHAVIORAL, HEALTH, AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES THEY FACE. HIS ABILITY TO BUILD TRUST AND IDENTIFY MEANINGFUL SOLUTIONS HELPS CONNECT PATIENTS WITH HEALTHCARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HOUSING, SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. CS WINES IS ALSO A TRUSTED TEAMMATE AND QUIET LEADER WHO CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATES SOUND JUDGMENT, INTEGRITY, AND PROFESSIONALISM. HE WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH COLLEAGUES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHILE KEEPING THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENT AT THE CENTER OF EVERY DECISION FOR HIS COMPASSION, DEDICATION TO THE LASTING SOLUTIONS AND COMMITMENT TO EXCEPTIONAL PATIENT CARE. WE ARE [00:30:01] PROUD TO RECOGNIZE CLINICAL SPECIALISTS, MATTHEW WINES WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CITATION, THE MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT AND DISASTER MITIGATION CITATION RECOGNIZES EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS IN RESPONDING TO AND MANAGING MASS CASUALTY INCIDENTS OR DISASTERS. THESE EVENTS DEMONSTRATE AND DEMAND EXTRAORDINARY TEAMWORK, ADAPTABILITY, PROFESSIONALISM, OFTEN UNDER DANGEROUS AND RAPIDLY CHANGING CONDITIONS. THIS CITATION HONORS THOSE WHOSE ACTIONS HELP BRING ORDER TO CHAOS, PROTECT LIVES, AND SUPPORT THE SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT AND RESOLUTION OF THESE CRITICAL INCIDENTS. WILL THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE, PLEASE JOIN ME ON STAGE, SCOTT ANDERSON, AMANDA BAKER, PHILIP BELLA, BAR BARQUE, MICHAEL BELLEVUE, ADAM BOSTON, BOSTIC, RAJIV CLARK, JORDAN CROUCH, JOHN DELONG, BO DURHAM, THOMAS FERGUSON, TIM FUENTES, HECTOR GARCIA, ALAN GARDNER, MALLORY GORDON, TYLER GREEN, KIMBERLY GRIFFITH, MELISSA HALL, SHELBY HINMAN, ERIC JAKI, MICHAEL KANE, GREG KINSEL, SCOTT LEWELLEN, ELLIE MARTIN, MICHAEL MASON, KAY AND PRUITT. JACOB REDING, NATALIE RIEGER, LARRY RICE, SPENCER SLETTEN, AND CRAIG SMITH. THE RESPONSE TO THE DEVASTATING JULY, 2025 FLOODING IN NORTHWEST TRAVIS COUNTY REQUIRED AN EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT ACROSS MANY PARTS OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. WHILE MANY OF OUR PERSONNEL WERE ON THE FRONT LINES, CONDUCTING RESCUES, PROVIDING PATIENT CARE, AND COORDINATING EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, MANY OTHERS PLAYED EQUALLY IMPORTANT ROLES BEHIND THE SCENES FROM COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMAND STAFF TO FLEET LOGISTICS AND MANY SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHO KEPT RESOURCES, OPERATIONAL AND RESPONDERS EQUIPPED. THIS WAS TRULY A DEPARTMENT-WIDE EFFORT. TODAY WE RECOGNIZE ALL THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS RESPONSE, THEIR COLLECTIVE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND WILLINGNESS TO SERVE UNDER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES, EX EXEMPLIFIES THE STRENGTH OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY ROLE AND FULFILLING THE MISSION. PLEASE GIVE THEM A HUGE RUN OF APPLAUSE. MOVING ON TO THE STORK CITATION, AWARDED AND RECOGNITION OF AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS PERSONNEL WHO ASSIST IN THE SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY OF A BABY IN THE PRE-HOSPITAL SETTING, DEMONSTRATING CLINICAL SKILL, COMPASSION, AND PROFESSIONALISM WHILE HELPING SAFELY WELCOME A NEW LIFE INTO THE WORLD. THIS IS OFTEN A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT FOR EMS PERSONNEL. SO CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS A LOT OF NAMES ON THAT LIST. , PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THE PHOENIX CITATION RECOGNIZES EMS PERSONNEL WHOSE EXCEPTIONAL CLINICAL SKILL, RAPID DECISION MAKING AND COORDINATED RES RESUSCITATION EFFORTS HELPED RESTORE LIFE TO A PATIENT EXPERIENCING CARDIAC ARREST. THIS AWARD CELEBRATES THEIR DEDICATION, TEAMWORK, AND COMMITMENT TO GIVING PATIENTS A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE. AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES, I WANNA DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SHEER NUMBER OF NAMES YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE. EACH ONE REPRESENTS A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, A PATIENT GIVEN ANOTHER CHANCE, AND THE EXTRAORDINARY SKILL AND DEDICATION, THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. THE VOLUME OF RECIPIENTS IS A POWERFUL REFLECTION OF THE LIFE-SAVING WORK HAPPENING ACROSS THIS DEPARTMENT EVERY SINGLE DAY. BEHIND EVERY NAME IS A PATIENT, A FAMILY, AND A STORY THAT MIGHT HAVE ENDED DIFFERENTLY WITHOUT THE CARE PROVIDED BY PERSONNEL. PLEASE GIVE THOSE NAMES AROUND VPL. THE LIFESAVING CITATION IS GIVING AND RECOGNITION OF EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS TAKEN BY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES THAT DIRECTLY RESULT AND SAVING A LIFE AND ARE KEEPING THE PATIENT FROM HAVING A DETRIMENTAL OUTCOME. THE PATIENT WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THEIR ILLNESS OR INJURY WITHOUT THE ACTIONS OF AUSTIN. TRAVIS COUNTY EMS PERSONNEL NOMINATED CLINICAL SPECIALIST, BRIAN DURAN AND CLINICAL SPECIALIST SEAN PERRY. WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME ON STAGE, CS DURAN AND CS PERRY ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL CLINICAL CARE, TEAMWORK, AND COMPASSION DURING A LIFE-THREATENING OBSTETRICAL EMERGENCY. THAT ONE I'M GONNA LEARN ABOUT [00:35:01] RESPONDING TO A MOTHER EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT BLOOD LOSS. FOLLOWING A HOME BIRTH, THE CREW QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION. CS DURAN DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY PATIENCE AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY, TAKING THE TIME TO ADDRESS THE PATIENT'S CONCERNS WHILE CLEARLY COMMUNICATING THE CRITICAL NEED FOR INTERVENTION. HIS COMPASSIONATE APPROACH EARNED THE PATIENT'S TRUST AND ULTIMATELY SECURED CONSENT FOR LIFESAVING BLOOD TRANSFUSION. SEE, AS PERRY PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH PROACTIVE PREPARATION, CLEAR COMMUNICATION, AND METICULOUS COORDINATION OF CARE, HIS EFFORTS ENSURED THAT CRITICAL EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES WERE READY, ALLOWING THE TEAM TO DELIVER TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT TOGETHER. CS DURAN AND CS PERRY DEMONSTRATED THAT LIFESAVING CARE REQUIRES NOT ONLY CLINICAL EXPERTISE, BUT ALSO COMPASSION, RESPECT, AND EFFECTIVE TEAMWORK. THEIR ACTIONS EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. PLEASE JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING CLINICAL SPECIALIST BRIAN DURAN AND CLINICAL SPECIALIST SEAN PERRY WITH THE LIFESAVING CITATION CLINICAL SPECIALIST, MCKENNA RATIN AND MEDIC CHRISTIAN SLATTERY. WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME ON STAGE IF YOU ARE HERE? CS RATIN AND MEDICAL SLATTERY ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND RAPID INTERVENTION DURING A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY. UPON ENCOUNTERING AN UNRESPONSIVE PATIENT EXPERIENCING SEVERE INTERNAL BLEEDING ASSOCIATED WITH A CONFIRMED MISCARRIAGE, THE CREW QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THE CRITICAL NATURE OF HER CONDITION AND IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED BLOOD PRODUCTS. THEIR ABILITY TO IDENTIFY THE SEVERITY OF THE HEMORRHAGE AND I INITIATE LIFESAVING INTERVENTIONS WITHOUT DELAY WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL IN PREVENTING A POTENTIALLY FATAL OUTCOME. THROUGH THEIR SWIFT ASSESSMENT, DECISIVE ACTIONS AND COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PATIENT CARE, THEY DEMONSTRATED THE CLINICAL EXCELLENCE THAT DEFINES AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. PLEASE JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING CLINICAL SPECIALIST MCKENNA RATIN AND MEDIC CHRISTIAN SLATTERY WITH THE LIFESAVING CITATION. I'LL NOW BRING UP THE CHIEF AND HAND IT OUT TO YOU. THANK YOU, KRISTEN. IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU JOIN US HERE EACH AND EVERY YEAR DEPARTMENT AWARDS ARE USED BY AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS TO RECOGNIZE THOSE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THAT WARRANT RECOGNITION AND HONOR BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE PUBLIC. THEY'RE ALSO USED TO RECOGNIZE EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE BY INDIVIDUALS AND UNITS RELATED TO EITHER SPECIFIC EVENTS OR LONG-TERM PATTERNS OF PERFORMANCE. THE OUTSTANDING TRAINER AWARD RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUALS WHO DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS PROFESSIONALS. THIS YEAR'S FOUR RECIPIENTS HAVE CONSISTENTLY GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT THEIR TRAINEES, STRENGTHEN CLINICAL AND OPERATIONAL READINESS, AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR DEPARTMENT. CAPTAIN JEFF HARGRAVE HAS MADE AN EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT ON EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE WORK IN THE PARAMEDIC PROGRAM AND BEYOND. EVEN WITH THE DEMANDS OF HIS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES, HE CONSISTENTLY STEPS FORWARD TO ASSIST WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION ACADEMY INSTRUCTION AND FIELD TRAINING. HE REGULARLY VOLUNTEERS HIS TIME, INCLUDING ON DAYS OFF TO SERVE AS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER AND TO HELP CADETS AND CANDIDATES SUCCEED. HIS WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE WHEREVER NEEDED REFLECTS A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO THE GROWTH AND SUCCESS OF HIS COLLEAGUES. CONGRATULATIONS, CAPTAIN HARGRAVE, OUR SECOND RECIPIENT, THE COMMUNICATIONS ACADEMY. CAPTAIN ESMI HARVEY HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO PREPARING NEWLY HIRED CADETS FOR SUCCESS ON THE COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONS FLOOR THROUGH TIRELESS WORK, ATTENTION TO DETAIL, AND A COMMITMENT TO THE ENSURING EVERY CADET HAS THE RESOURCES AND PREPARATION THEY NEED. THIS CAPTAIN PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SERVE AS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IN OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. CAPTAIN HARVEY, CAPTAIN HUNTER LAWLESS BRINGS AN INFECTIOUS ENTHUSIASM FOR EMS AND EDUCATION TO EVERY TRAINING OPPORTUNITY. WHETHER WORKING WITH A NEW CADET AN A LS CANDIDATE OR A STUDENT, HUNTER TRANSFORMS EVERYDAY PATIENT ENCOUNTERS INTO VALUABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THROUGH [00:40:01] CREATIVE SCENARIOS, ENGAGING DISCUSSIONS, AND HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION. HE CHALLENGES TRAINEES TO THINK CRITICALLY AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE HIS POSITIVELY. HIS POSITIVITY, THOROUGHNESS, AND DEDICATION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MAKES HIM AN EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATOR AND ROLE MODEL. CONGRATULATIONS, CAPTAIN KATIE LORENZ HAS BECOME ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MOST TRUSTED CAPTAIN KATIE LORENZ HAS BECOME ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MOST TRUSTED AND DEDICATED TRAINERS. WHEN CADETS ARE A LS, CANDIDATES NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. CAPTAIN LORENZ IS CON IS CONSISTENTLY AMONG THE FIRST ACADEMY STAFF TO TURN TO. SHE ROUTINELY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND DEVELOPING INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING PLANS, COORDINATING ADDITIONAL PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES, AND FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO HELP TRAINEES BUILD THEIR SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE. HER PATIENCE, COMMITMENT, AND UNWAVERING INVESTMENT IN THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS HAVE MADE HER AN INVALUABLE PART OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM. CONGRATULATIONS. THE SHINING STAR AWARD RECOGNIZES AN EMPLOYEE BASED ON OUR CITY'S PRIDE, VALUES OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ENGAGEMENT, RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, AND ETHICS AND INTEGRITY. TODAY, WE RECOGNIZE GARRETT HADIN WITH THE SHINING STAR AWARD FOR HIS OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS SYSTEM. THROUGHOUT HIS FOUR YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT, GARRITY USE IS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN EMS, EXCUSE ME, IN EMS SAFETY TO STRENGTHEN DEPARTMENT PRACTICES, IDENTIFY POTENTIAL RISKS, AND DEVELOP PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS THAT PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES, PATIENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH HIS ATTENTION TO DETAIL, THOUGHTFUL USE OF DATA AND PROACTIVE APPROACH TO PROBLEM SOLVING. GARRETT HAS MADE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TO BUILDING A STRONGER CULTURE OF SAFETY ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT. HIS RELIABILITY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND DEDICATION TO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT EXEMPLIFIES THE CITY OF BOSTON'S PRIDE VALUES. PLEASE REC, PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING GARRETT DEAN WITH THE SHINING STAR AWARD. THE OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARD IS GRANTED ORGANIZATIONAL UNITS WHICH HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES BY EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE OR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT THAT CLEARLY SHOWS AND THE TEAM'S PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS. OUR INNOVATIVE APPROACH WILL COMMANDERS, AMANDA BAKER, ADAM BOSTIC, MALLORY GORDON, KIMBERLY GRIFFITH, AND MELISSA HALL. JOIN ME ON STAGE AS DEVASTATING FLOODWATERS SWEPT THROUGH THE NORTHWEST TRAVIS COUNTY AND EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JULY 5TH, 2025, A GROUP OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS DISTRICT COMMANDERS WERE FACED WITH A RAPIDLY EVOLVING DISASTER, REQUIRING EXTRAORDINARY COORDINATION, ADAPTABILITY, AND LEADERSHIP. AS WATER RESCUES INCIDENTS MULTIPLIED THE COMMAND TEAM QUICKLY REPOSITIONED RESOURCES, ESTABLISHED INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURES, AND COORDINATED WITH RESCUE TEAMS TO SUPPORT THE EVACUATION OF RESIDENTS TRAPPED BY RISING FLOOD. FLOOD WATERS WITH ROADWAYS WASHED OUT AND ACCESS ROUTES CHANGED BY THE MINUTE. COMMANDERS WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY SAFE APPROACHES, COORDINATE AMBULANCE STAGING, AND ENSURE PATIENTS AND EVACUEES RECEIVE THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEEDED. RECOGNIZING THAT MANY RESCUE RESIDENTS HAD NOWHERE TO GO. THE TEAM ESTABLISHED A FRIENDS AND RELATIVE CENTER AT A NEARBY HEV COORDINATING TRANSPORTATION, REUNITED FAMILIES, AND SECURING SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE OPERATION COMMANDERS COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE INCIDENT LOCATIONS, ADJUSTED LOCATIONS OF RESOURCE OF RESOURCES AS CONDITIONS CHANGED AND ENSURE CONTINUITY OF LEADERSHIP THROUGH SHIFT TRANSITIONS, THEIR INITIATIVE, SOUND JUDGMENT, AND SEAMLESS COORDINATION DURING AN UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUS EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATED CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF STRONG LEADERSHIP AND DISASTER RESPONSE. PLEASE JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING COMMANDERS, AMANDA BAKER, ADAM BOSTICK, MALLORY GORDON, KIMBERLY GRIFFITH, AND MELISSA HALL WITH THE OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARD FOR THEIR EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE DURING THE JULY, 2025 FLOODS. YOU GUYS DID PHENOMENAL WORK. THANK YOU ALL. IT CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED. WHAT A GREAT AND WONDERFUL JOB YOU GUYS DID THAT MORNING, JULY 5TH, 2025, AS CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IMPACTED CENTRAL TEXAS, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS. SWIFT WATER RESOURCES WERE HEAVILY COMMITTED TO RESCUE OPERATIONS ALONG SANDY CREEK. MEANWHILE, CONDITIONS WERE RAPIDLY DETERIORATING IN THE COW CREEK AREA WHERE MARBLE FALLS FIRE CHIEF MICHAEL PHILLIPS HAD BEEN REPORTED MISSING. [00:45:01] WHEN AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS REQUESTED ASSISTANCE, WASHINGTON COUNTY EMS, CHIEF, KEVIN DURAMIS, AND SWIFT WATER BOAT TEAM MEMBERS, RYAN MILLER AND RYAN SWAR RESPONDED, WITHOUT HESITATION DEPLOYING FROM BRENHAM THROUGH SEVERE WEATHER AND HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS TO SUPPORT THE REGIONAL RESCUE EFFORT. THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS TO ASSIST IN THE SEARCH FOR CHIEF PHILLIPS JOINING RESCUE CREWS OPERATING IN DANGEROUS FLOOD CONDITIONS. THE TEAM JOINED THE ONGOING SEARCH EFFORTS AND COMMITTED THEIR SPECIALIZED SWIFT WATER RESOURCES TO LOCATING A MISSING FELLOW PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONAL. FOLLOWING THAT MISSION, THE TEAM RESPONDED TO AN RV PARK, THREATENED BY RAPIDLY RISING FLOOD WATERS, RECOGNIZING THE IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THOSE THAT WERE TRAPPED. CHIEF DUR, RAMUS, MILLER, AND SWAR INITIATED RESCUE OPERATIONS AND SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED 25 INDIVIDUALS FROM THE FLOODED RV PARK. THEIR DECISIVE ACTIONS PLACED THEM DIRECTLY INTO A DYNAMIC AND HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT, BUT RESULTED IN THE RESCUE OF NUMEROUS RESIDENTS AT RISK. THE TEAM LATER ASSISTED THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD WITH EVACUATIONS AT A FOSTER CARE FACILITY, THREATENED BY FLOODWATERS, DEMONSTRATING THEIR ABILITY TO WORK SEAMLESSLY ALONGSIDE LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY EMS SWIFT WATER BOAT TEAM DURING THE JULY, 2025, CENTRAL TEXAS FLOOD RESPONSE DEMONSTRATED AN EX EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT TO MUTUAL AID AND TO AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. WHEN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS REQUESTED ASSISTANCE, CHIEF DURAMIS, RYAN MILLER AND RYAN SWO RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT HESITATION, BRINGING DESPERATELY NEEDED SWIFT WATER CAPABILITY TO AN ALREADY OVERWHELMED OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT, WILLINGNESS TO RESPOND ACROSS JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES AND READINESS TO ACCEPT WHATEVER MISSION WAS PLACED BEFORE THEM DIRECTLY STRENGTHEN OUR RESPONSE CAPABILITY AT A CRITICAL TIME. AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS IS DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE SUCCESS OF OUR OPERATIONS DURING THIS HISTORIC FLOOD EVENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO THE SAME DEGREE WITHOUT THE DEDICATION, COURAGE, AND IMMEDIATELY SUPPORT OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY EMS SWIFT WATER BOAT TEAM. PLEASE HELP ME RECOGNIZING CHIEF KEVIN DURRAS, RYAN MILLER AND RYAN SWAR. THANK YOU. THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUALS WHO EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE, DEDICATION, AND CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. IT HONORS THOSE WHOSE ACTIONS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE EXPECTATIONS OF THEIR ROLE, REFLECTING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY, AND COMMITMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE. CAPTAIN JOHN EATON IS BEING RECOGNIZED WITH THE MERITORY SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION. DURING THE DEVASTATING JULY, 2025 FLOODS IN KERRVILLE AND HUNT TEXAS, SERVING AS A STRIKE TEAM LEADER FOR DEPLOYED AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS PERSONNEL. CAPTAIN EATON WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING MULTIPLE CREWS ACROSS LARGE AND COMPLEX DISASTER AREAS. HIS TEAM SUPPORTED SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE, MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR RESCUE PERSONNEL, AND LOCAL 9 1 1 COVERAGE, OFTEN WORKING SIMULTANEOUSLY IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. THROUGHOUT THE EXTENDED DEPLOYMENT, CAPTAIN EATON DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARILY EXTRAORDINARY ADAPTABILITY, CONTINUALLY ADJUSTING RESOURCES TO MEET, CHANGING OPERATIONAL DEMANDS WHILE MAINTAINING ACCOUNTABILITY, OPERATIONAL READINESS AND COORDINATION WITH PARTNER ENTITIES. EQUALLY IMPORTANT WAS HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF HIS PERSONNEL, ENSURING THAT THEY HAD THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, AND REST NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN THEIR MISSION. FROM THE INITIAL DEPLOYMENT THROUGH THE FINALIZATION OF RESOURCES, CAPTAIN EATON'S STEADY LEADERSHIP AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE SUCCESS OF THE TEAM'S OPERATION DURING ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING DISASTER RESPONSE IN RECENT TEXAS HISTORY, HIS DEDICATION, SOUND, JUDGMENT, AND COMMITMENT TO BOTH HIS PERSON, PERSONNEL, AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVED EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. PLEASE JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN JOHN EATON WITH THE MERITORY SERVICE AWARD. THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD IS GIVEN TO EMPLOYEES WHO CONSISTENTLY OVER TIME DEMONSTRATE AND DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY OR DEPARTMENT. THAT IN TURN REFLECTS POSITIVELY ON THE EMPLOYEE AND THE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN BRENDAN KSKY IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. AS I HEAR, HE IS ENJOYING A MUCH DESERVED VACATION IN PORTUGAL, HOWEVER, I'LL RECOGNIZE HIM ANYWAY. CAPTAIN KSKY IS RECOGNIZED WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION, AND LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS CADET, UH, CADET DRIVER TRAINING PROGRAM. FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, CAPTAIN KLASKY [00:50:01] HAS SERVED AS PROGRAM'S LEAD INSTRUCTOR AND DRIVING FORCE, TRANSFORMING IT INTO A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MODEL FOR EMS DRIVER TRAINING. THROUGH THIS, THROUGH HIS CREATIVITY, ENTHUSIASM, AND COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, HE HAS ELEVATED THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION AND ENSURED THAT GENERATIONS OF CADETS THAT ENTER THE FIELD WITH THE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE, AND JUDGMENT NECESSARY TO OPERATE SAFELY. BEYOND DEVELOPING AN EXCEPTIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM, CAPTAIN MCCLUSKEY HAS MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON COUNTLESS CADETS AND FELLOW INSTRUCTORS FOSTERING A CULTURE OF PROFESSIONALISM, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SAFETY THAT EXTENDS WELL BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND DRIVING COURSE. HIS DEDICATION TO PREPARING OUR PERSONNEL AND PROTECTING THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE REFLECTS THE VERY BEST OF AUSTIN. TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. CAPTAIN MARK LYNCH HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM FOR MANY YEARS, BRINGING A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND COMMITMENT TO THE TEAM AND ITS MISSION. AN ACCOMPLISHED MOTORCYCLE INSTRUCTOR AND DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE MOTOR UNIT. CAPTAIN LYNCH HAS BUILT STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTNER AGENCIES, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LOCAL HOSPITAL SYSTEMS. HIS EXPERIENCE AND INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE MAKE HIM AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE, HELPING THE TEAM NAVIGATE COMPLEX EVENTS WHILE DRAWING ON LESSONS LEARNED OVER YEARS OF SERVICE. BUT WHAT TRULY SETS CAPTAIN LYNCH APART IS HIS COMMITMENT TO THOSE AROUND HIM. HE'S OFTEN FIRST TO ARRIVE, HELPING NEWER TEAM MEMBERS PREPARE THEIR EQUIPMENT, UNDERSTANDING THEIR ASSIGNMENTS, AND FEEL CONFIDENT IN THEIR ROLES, WHETHER COORDINATING A MAJOR EVENT, PARTICIPATING IN A MOTORCADE, OR HELPING OUT A NEW TEAM MEMBER. HE APPROACHES EVERY RESPONSIBILITY WITH A CALM DEMEANOR, A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, AND A SMILE. CAPTAIN LYNCH'S DEDICATION TO THE SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM. HIS COLLEAGUES AND THE COMMUNITY EXEMPLIFIES THE VERY BEST OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY. MS. IT IS OUR HONOR TO RECOGNIZE HIM WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD. CAPTAIN DOUG SCHULTZ IS RECOGNIZED WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS OF AUSTIN. TRAVIS COUNTY, EM S'S C FOUR PROGRAM. AS THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF THE TEAM, CAPTAIN SCHULTZ HAS BEEN A PART OF C FOUR SINCE ITS EARLIEST BEGINNINGS. WHAT STARTED AS A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT TO THE MEDICAL OPERATIONS CENTER? DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EVOLVED INTO A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM FROM MANAGING PUBLIC SAFETY, SICK CALLS, AND COVID RELATED 9 1 1 CALLS TO SUPPORTING EXPANDED OPERATIONS DURING WINTER STORM URI, DOUG HELPED LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT EVENTUALLY BECOME C FOUR. OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, CAPTAIN SCHULTZ HAS PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THE PROGRAM'S GROWTH, HELPING TRAIN NEW TEAM MEMBERS, DEVELOP OPERATIONAL PROCESSES, AND STRENGTHEN CLINICAL OVERSIGHT AS C FOUR EXPANDED ITS CAPABILITIES, HIS EXPERIENCE, INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE C FOUR BECOMING A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CALL NAVIGATION. AS CAPTAIN SCHULTZ TRANSITIONS TO A NEW ROLE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, HE LEAVES BEHIND A LASTING LEGACY AND A PROGRAM THAT HE HELPED BUILD FROM THE GROUND UP. HIS DEDICATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE NOT ONLY STRENGTHENED C FOUR, BUT HAVE HELPED HIM TRANSFORM HOW AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS SERVES OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING CAPTAIN DOUG SCHULTZ WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD. GREAT WORK. I'LL ASK DR. ESKA TO JOIN ME. THE CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD IS GIVEN BY THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND THE DEPARTMENT FOR ONGOING EXCEPTIONAL DELIVERY OF, OF OR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF PRACTICE OF MEDICINE WITHIN THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS SYSTEM, CLINICAL SPECIALIST, NICOLE THORNTON. IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE JOIN US ON STAGE. THE CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR RECOGNIZES AN INDIVIDUAL WHO EXEMPLIFIES EXCELLENCE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHING THROUGH CLINICAL JUDGMENT, COMPOSURE UNDER PRESSURE, AND AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PATIENT CARE. THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENT CLINICAL SPECIALIST, NICOLE THORNTON, DEMONSTRATED ALL OF THOSE QUALITIES WHEN SHE ANSWERED A CALL INVOLVING AN INFANT AND CARDIAC ARREST JUST ACROSS THE COUNTY LINE IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY. RECOGNIZING THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION, NICOLE FACED THE CHALLENGE OF COORDINATING WITH ANOTHER AGENCY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY MANAGING HIGH STRESS, LIFE-THREATENING CALL WITHOUT HESITATION. SHE CONTINUED GUIDING THE CALLER THROUGH CPR WHILE GETTING WILLIAMSON COUNTY ON THE LINE AND ESTABLISHING A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY. NICOLE'S ABILITY TO REMAIN CALM, PRIORITIZE THE PATIENT'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS, AND MANAGE MULTIPLE CRITICAL TASKS AT ONCE, EXEMPLIFIES THE VERY BEST OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHING. IN MOMENTS LIKE THESE, THE PERSON AT THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE CALL IS OFTEN A LIFELINE FOR SOMEONE EXPERIENCING THE WORST MOMENT OF THEIR LIFE, NICOLE DEMONSTRATED THAT EXCEPTIONAL DISPATCHING REQUIRES MORE THAN FOLLOWING A PROTOCOL. IT REQUIRES SOUND, JUDGMENT, CONFIDENCE, COMPASSION, AND THE ABILITY TO ACT DECISIVELY WHEN EVERY SECOND MATTERS. PLEASE JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING CLINICAL SPECIALIST THORNTON, OUR [00:55:01] EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND DEDICATION TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE TO OUR COMMUNITY CLINICAL SPECIALIST, AMY KRAMER AND MEDIC BRIAN MZ. WILL YOU JOIN, UH, JOIN US ON STAGE IF YOU'RE HERE, ASHLEY, I'M SORRY. ASHLEY KRAMER. MY APOLOGIES. CLINICAL SPECIALIST KRAMER AND MEDIC M ARE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY CLINICAL CARE, TEAMWORK AND COMPASSION. DURING AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHALLENGING OBSTETRICAL EMERGENCY, RESPONDING TO A REPORT OF AN OBSTETRICAL EMERGENCY, THE CREW WAS IMMEDIATELY PRESENTED WITH A NEWBORN IN CRITICAL NEED OF CARE. AS THEY WORKED TO ESTABLISH TO STABILIZE THE WARMED INFANT, THEY LEARNED THAT THE MOTHER WAS ALSO IN LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION, RECOGNIZING THE URGENCY OF BOTH PART OF PATIENT'S NEEDS. CLINICAL SPECIALIST KRAMER AND MEDIC MUNI QUICKLY DIVIDED RESPONSIBILITIES, COORDINATING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WHILE ENSURING NEITHER PATIENT WENT WITHOUT CARE. DESPITE THE TRAGIC OUTCOME FOR THE MOTHER, THE CREW REMAINED FOCUSED ON PROVIDING THE NEWBORN WITH EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR SURVIVAL. DURING A LENGTHY TRANSPORT TO DELL CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER NORTH, THE CREW WENT TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS TO MAINTAIN THE BEATTY'S BODY TEMPERATURE, INCLUDING THE USE OF SKIN TO SKIN WARMING. BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL, THE NEWBORN WAS PINK, CRYING STRONGLY AND HAD STABLE VITAL SIGNS. FACED WITH AN EMOTIONALLY DIFFICULT AND RAPIDLY EVOLVING EMERGENCY. CLINICAL SPECIALIST, KRAMER AND MEDIC MUNI DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL CLINICAL JUDGMENT, ADAPTABILITY AND COMPASSION, THEIR DECISIVE ACTIONS AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THEIR PATIENTS. EXEMPLARY THE BEST OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. PLEASE JOIN US IN RECOGNIZING CLINICAL SPECIALIST KRAMER AND MEDIC MUNI WITH THE CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD. OH, NOW TURN THE, TURN THE PODIUM OVER TO DR. MARK ESCOT, THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THANK YOU, CHIEF. WAIT, HE'S GOT ONE MORE. STANDBY. SORRY. I GOT ONE MORE. I THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE TOO. CHIEF . THANK YOU. CLINICAL EXCELLENCE BEGINS LONG BEFORE A PATIENT REACHES THE HOSPITAL AND SOMETIMES BEFORE EMS EVEN ARRIVES ON THE SCENE. WHILE SPEAKING WITH A CALLER, CLINICAL SPECIALIST, CATHERINE PHILLIPS RECOGNIZED THE SUDDEN DETERIORATION IN THE PATIENT'S CONDITION AND QUICKLY IDENTIFIED THAT THE PATIENT HAD LIKELY GONE INTO CARDIAC ARREST. WITHOUT HESITATION, SHE UPGRADED THE CALL INITIATED CPR INSTRUCTIONS AND ENSURED THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES WERE RESPONDING. THANKS TO HER QUICK THINKING AND CLINICAL JUDGMENT, THE PATIENT WAS ALREADY POSITIONED ON THE FLOOR FOR RESUSCITATION AND FAMILY MEMBERS WERE PREPARING, UH, TO BEGIN CHEST COMPRESSIONS. WHEN EMS ARRIVED, THE PATIENT ULTIMATELY ACHIEVED RETURN OF SPONTANEOUS CIRCULATION AND OUT AN OUTCOME MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART BY CLINICAL SPECIALIST PHILLIPS DECISIVE ACTIONS. HER ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY ACT QUICKLY AND GUIDE OTHERS THROUGH A CRITICAL SITUATION EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF CLINICAL EXCELLENCE. WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE CLINICAL SPECIALISTS, CATHERINE PHILLIPS WITH THE CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD, AND NOW I'LL HAND THE PODIUM OVER TO DR. SCOTT. THANK YOU, CHIEF. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF THESE NEXT THREE ARE ARE HERE, BUT WE'RE GONNA READ THEIR STUFF ANYWAY. WHO'S GOING FIRST? DO WE HAVE A SLIDE FOR HIM? PERFECT. ALRIGHT, SO THE NEXT RECIPIENT IS MARSHALL FRASCO, AND FIRST, LEMME SAY IT'S CHALLENGING ENOUGH WITH A TEAM OF TWO, UH, TO MANAGE CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS IN THIS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE. UH, MARSHALL HAD BEEN UP ALL NIGHT RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES, AND WHILE WORKING ON LITTLE REST, GOT THE NEXT CALL, EXCEPT THIS CALL WAS TO HELP A DOCTOR OUT OF A VERY STICKY SITUATION. THIS PATIENT PRESENTED TO AN OUTSIDE FACILITY WITH TROUBLE BREATHING AND WAS FOUND TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT AIRWAY SWELLING FOR THE NON-MEDICAL PEOPLE. THAT'S REALLY SCARY FOR US. UH, WHEN THE ORIGINAL FACILITY WAS UNABLE TO MANAGE THE SITUATION, THEY CALLED IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, TO HELP STAB, STABILIZE, AND TRANSPORT THIS PATIENT TO THE HOSPITAL. MARSHALL RASCON WITH HIS BRAND NEW PARTNER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE TO FIND A CRITICAL PATIENT WITH AN IMMEDIATELY LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION. MARSHALL'S PARTNER PROMPTLY IDENTIFIED AND CALLED FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, UH, AS HE REALIZED THAT THEY WOULD NEED THEM, AND MARSHALL, UH, CALMLY STEPPED INTO THE CHAOS, STARTED MANAGING THE PATIENT. UH, HE ENDED UP PERFORMING A COMPLICATED SURGICAL AIRWAY WHERE WE PUT THE BREATHING TUBE TO THE NECK, UH, AND WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL, WHILE ALSO MANAGING THE PATIENT WHO WAS NOW IN CARDIAC ARREST. IT'S COMPLEX ENOUGH MANAGING A TYPICAL 9 1 1 SCENE WITH MULTIPLE EMS AND FIRE RESOURCES, BUT TO MANAGE A SCENE THAT'S THIS COMPLEX WITH THE RESOURCES AFTER A PHYSICIAN HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE THE PATIENT SUCCESSFULLY, TAKES EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, STELLAR COMMUNICATION ABILITIES, AND [01:00:01] MASTERFUL SEEN PRESENCE. CAPTAIN FRESCOE CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL CARE, EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL LEADERSHIP, AND EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL MENTORSHIP. THIS CALL IS ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES OF THE TRULY OUTSTANDING CLINICAL WORK THAT HE PROVIDES TO THIS COMMUNITY. HIS SERVICE BRINGS CREDIT TO HIM. CREDIT TO AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, AND CREDIT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN. CONGRATULATIONS TO MARSHALL, WHEREVER YOU ARE. ALRIGHT, NEXT UP ON THE LIST IS HUNTER LAWLESS, AND I'M REALLY QUITE SAD HE IS NOT HERE. UH, WHEN I THINK OF HUNTER, THE FIRST THINGS THAT COME TO MIND ARE THAT YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE. ALSO, HUMILITY AND HOW GENERALLY, UH, WELCOMING HE IS. HE'S ALWAYS SUPPORTING A SMILE, NEVER MET A CHALLENGE THAT HE WASN'T WILLING TO TAKE ON, AND DEMONSTRATES EXCELLENCE IN EVERYTHING. HE PURSUES THOSE QUALITIES ALONE. MAKE HIM AN EXCELLENT CLINICIAN LEADER AND TRAINER. I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW MUCH I RESPECT HIM AS A PERSON, AS A FATHER, AS A TEAMMATE, AND AS AN EMPLOYEE. HOW HIS WORK AND, AND FEEDBACK TO HIS CADETS AS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER DEMONSTRATES NOT ONLY HIS PERSONAL DRIVE, BUT HIS COMMITMENT TO THE CADET, TO THIS DEPARTMENT AND TO THE COMMUNITY. NOW, I WASN'T GONNA READ THIS PART, THIS IS A, BUT I I'M GOING TO NOW. THIS IS A QUOTE FROM HOLLY CRAIGHEAD, SIMPLY PUT, HE'S GOOD PEOPLE, EVEN IF HE IS FROM EAST TEXAS, AND HIS GRAMMAR SUCKS. , THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE KINDA LOVE THAT YOU FEEL WITH HUNTER. UH, CAPTAIN LAWLESS IS CONSISTENTLY KNOWN FOR EXCELLENCE IN EVERY ASPECT, BUT ON THIS PARTICULAR MORNING, HIS ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND CLINICAL ASTUTENESS SAVED A YOUNG WOMAN'S LIFE. SHE CALLED FOR A RELATIVELY LOW ACUITY SOUNDING SYMPTOMS, BUT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRITICALLY LOW BLOOD PRESSURE. HUNTER QUICKLY DEVELOPED A BROAD DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND USING AN ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TOOL OF A BEDSIDE ULTRASOUND IDENTIFIED A RARE BUT LIFE-THREATENING COMPLICATION, WHICH WAS A RUPTURED SPLEEN. HE RAPIDLY CALLED FOR AN EMS COMMANDER TO PROVIDE A UNIT OF WHOLE BLOOD, AND WHILE, WHILE ON THE WAY TO THE, THE HOSPITAL AND PROVIDED ADDITIONAL LIFE-SAVING MEASURES WHILE WAITING FOR THAT BLOOD TO ARRIVE. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR HUNTER LAWLESS' DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY AND QUICK TREATMENT, THIS PATIENT MAY NOT HAVE SURVIVED. AND FOR THAT WE RECOGNIZE, UH, HUNTER LAWLESS WITH THE CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD. CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, NOW UP IS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR AWARD. UM, BEFORE I GO ONTO THAT, I KNOW THERE'S A FEW OF THE CIVILIAN STAFF IN THE ROOM. I WANNA GIVE THEM A QUICK ROUND OF APPLAUSE. CHIEF, IF, IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOU SEE ALL THE FOLKS IN UNIFORM AND THEN THERE'S TONS OF 'EM IN THE BACKGROUND THAT MAKE EVERYTHING WORK. MAKE SURE THE SUPPLIES GET HERE AND THE IT STUFF WORKS AND THAT WE'RE ORGANIZED. UH, SO THANK YOU TO ALL THEM. UH, SO THE, THE MOTTO OF THE AUSTIN CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER IS IT'S LATIN, SO BEAR WITH ME. SA KWA DER. THIS MEANS TO BE, RATHER THAN TO SEEM, THIS MOTTO WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT EMBRACES A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE. IT WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT EMBRACES A COMMITMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT EMBRACES A COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE RATHER THAN JUST TO SEEM EXCELLENT. THIS COMMITMENT IN THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE NOT ONLY INVOLVES TEACHING AND TRAINING OF OUR CLINICAL STAFF, BUT MENTORSHIP, QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, AND FIELD SUPERVISION. THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE ALSO INVOLVES INNOVATION OF SYSTEM DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND A CONSISTENT ASSESSMENT OF EFFICACY, EFFICIENCY, AND STRIVING TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE. IT TAKES PEOPLE WHO ARE ACCOUNTABLE, WHO ARE WILLING TO ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS, WHO TAKE ON DIFFICULT TASKS, WHO OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO MAKE THE SYSTEM BETTER FOR OUR PATIENTS AND OUR CLINICIANS. AND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IS NIKKI ALSTON. WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HER TODAY WITH THIS AWARD FOR HER DEDICATION, EXPERTISE, AND COLLABORATE LEADERSHIP, COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP. OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS, EMS COMMUNICATIONS HAS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN NUMEROUS LARGE SCALE INITIATIVES, AND COMMANDER ALSTON HAS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL. NIKKI HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HELP MAKE OUR COMPLEX EMS SYSTEMS SAFER, MORE EFFICIENT, AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR PATIENTS. FROM THE EXTENSIVE OVERHAUL OF CALL DETERMINANTS TO REDUCE LIGHTS AND SIRENS, USES TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RIGHT SITE TELEHEALTH SERVICES TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF BLS UNITS AND THE INTEGRATION OF EMS CONTROLLERS, COMMANDER AL HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL [01:05:01] IN ADVANCING ALL OF THOSE INITIATIVES. SHE'S AN EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNICATOR WHO CONSISTENTLY KEEPS THE BIGGER PICTURE AND FOCUS. JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, SHE ACTIVELY BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS DIVISIONS, DEPARTMENTS, AND EMS SYSTEMS, RECOGNIZING THAT MEANINGFUL PROGRESS DEPENDS ON COLLABORATION AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO PATIENT CARE. FOR HER OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION TO CLINICAL EXCELLENCE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO IMPROVING OUR EMS SYSTEM, WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT COMMANDER NIKKI ALSTON WITH THE 2026 MEDICAL DIRECTOR AWARD, AND I THINK IT GOES BACK TO CHIEF NOW. THANK ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I HATE SCRIPTS, AND SO I'LL PROBABLY GET TO GO OFF SCRIPT HERE IN A SECOND. THE CHIEF'S AWARD IS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S HIGHEST, HIGHEST RECOGNITION, RECOGNIZING INDIVIDUALS WHO EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. THIS YEAR, I'VE SELECTED TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DEVOTED COUNTLESS HOURS, OFTEN SACRIFICING VALUABLE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, WHILE CONTRIBUTING THEIR EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE, AND LEADERSHIP TO ADVANCING THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS PROGRAM AND ENSURING ITS CONTINUED SUCCESS. CAPTAINS ROSS COPELAND AND BRAD LYONS HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE OUR RESCUE TACTICAL AND CASTED TEAMS HAVE THE TRAINING EQUIPMENT AND READINESS NECESSARY TO OPERATE IN SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS IMAGINABLE. RECOGNIZING IN AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE PIPELINE OF QUALIFIED SPECIAL OPERATIONS RESPONDERS, THEY DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE PRE-ENTRY TRAINING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BETTER PREPARE CANDIDATES FOR THE DEMANDS OF THE RESCUE OPERATIONS AND ENSURE A STEADY PROGRESSION OF CAPABLE PERSONNEL INTO THESE CRITICAL ROLES. THEY HAVE ALSO CHAMPIONED EFFORTS TO STANDARDIZE EQUIPMENT AND STRENGTHEN JOINT TRAINING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, ENSURING RESPONDERS ARE PREPARED TO WORK SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER WHEN IT MATTERS. BOTH THEIR EXPERTISE, COMMITMENT, AND ADAPTABILITY HAVE HELPED SHAPE SOME OF OUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAMS AND STRENGTHEN OUR DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. PLEASE JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENTS OF THE CHIEF'S AWARD, CAPTAIN ROSS COPELAND AND BRAD LINES. AND BEFORE I MOVE ON, WE'RE GONNA ADD ONE LITTLE THING TO THE PROGRAM, BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE IN THIS DEPARTMENT THAT CAN SAY THEY'VE PUSHED ME OUT OF A WINDOW, AND THESE TWO GENTLEMEN ARE SOME OF THE ONLY ONES. SO THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS PROGRAM. UH, IT'S AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. UM, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURE CONTINUITY AND TRAIN OTHERS AND BRING UP A NEW GENERATION OF RESCUERS IS IS ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL. AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO, I'M GONNA GO, AS I SAID, A LITTLE BIT OFF SCRIPT JUST 'CAUSE I WANNA RECOGNIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS. BACK IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, THEY WERE RECOGNIZED IN OKLAHOMA BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SEARCH AND RESCUE WITH THE HIGGINS AND LANGLEY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR THEIR EFFORTS RESPONDING TO THE JULY 4TH FLOODS. SO I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM HERE, AND WE'RE GONNA PRESENT THEM WITH THEIR PLAQUE. COME ON UP. SORRY. JOINING THEM IS RYAN BERRA. CAPTAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU DO. THE XAVIER MCC VALOR AWARD RECOGNIZES AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS PERSONNEL, WHO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY HAVE ACTED IN A MANNER DEMONSTRATING GREAT HEROISM, WHICH CLEARLY PLACES THEM IN AN AT UNDENIABLE RISK FOR LOSS OF LIFE, WHILE BRINGING HONOR TO THE ORGANIZATION DURING THE CATASTROPHIC FLOODING, THE DEVASTATED CENTRAL TEXAS. IN JULY, 2025, SIX MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS SWIFT WATER RESCUE TEAM DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE, SELFLESSNESS, AND HEROISM IN THE FACE OF UNIMAGINABLE DANGER. IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF JULY 5TH, THE FLOOD WATER SURGE THROUGH THE SANDY CREEK AND COW CREEK AREAS OF NORTHWEST TRAVIS COUNTY. THESE RESCUERS FOUND THEMSELVES OPERATING IN SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IMAGINABLE UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS, WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY, VIOLENT CURRENTS AND DEBRIS MOVING THROUGH THE WATER, THEY WORKED TIRELESSLY TO REACH RESIDENTS TRAPPED INSIDE HOMES THAT WERE RAPIDLY BEING OVERTAKEN BY FLOODWATERS. [01:10:02] USING INFLATABLE RESCUE BOATS, TEAM MEMBERS MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO NAVIGATE THE DANGEROUS CURRENTS AND REACH THOSE IN NEED. DURING THESE EFFORTS, ONE OF THEIR BOAT SUSTAINED DAMAGE AND BEGAN TO DEFLATE SEVERELY COMPROMISING THEIR ABILITY TO CONTINUE THE RESCUE BY BOAT. BUT THE DANGER TO THOSE TRAPPED INSIDE THEIR HOMES WAS GROWING BY THE MINUTE, AND TURNING BACK WAS NOT AN OPTION. RECOGNIZING THAT LIVES REMAINED IN IMMEDIATE JEOPARDY. THESE SIX RESCUERS MADE THE COURAGEOUS DECISION TO ENTER THE RAGING FLOODWATERS THEMSELVES. THEY FORGED AND SWAM THROUGH THE POWERFUL CURRENTS, NAVIGATING FLOATING DEBRIS, UNSTABLE STRUCTURES, AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TO REACH RESIDENTS WHO HAD NO OTHER MEANS OF ESCAPE. SOME OF THE PEOPLE THEY ENCOUNTER WERE STILL TRAPPED INSIDE THEIR BEDROOMS AS FLOODWATERS CONSUME THEIR HOMES. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE CURRENT WAS SO POWERFUL THAT ENTIRE HOUSES WERE LIFTED FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS AND CARRIED BY THE WATER. WITH RESIDENTS STILL INSIDE EVERY MOMENT CARRIED SIGNIFICANT RISK. THE RESCUERS FACE NOT ONLY THE THREAT OF BEING SWEPT AWAY THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRUCK BY DEBRIS OR CAUGHT BENEATH SHIFTING STRUCTURES. YET THEY CONTINUED FORWARD, RELYING ON THEIR SPECIALIZED TRAINING, EXTRAORDINARY PHYSICAL ENDURANCE AND COMPLETE TRUST IN ONE ANOTHER. THEIR ACTIONS THAT MORNING WENT FAR BEYOND THE NORMAL EXPECTATIONS OF DUTY. WHEN THEIR EQUIPMENT WAS COMPROMISED, THEY ADAPTED. WHEN CONDITIONS DETERIORATED, THEY PERSEVERED. AND WHEN OTHERS FACE THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THEIR LIVES, THESE RESCUERS WILLINGLY PLACE THEIR OWN LIVES AT RISK TO BRING THEM TO SAFETY. THEIR HEROISM REFLECTS THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE RESCUE PROFESSION, THE WILLINGNESS TO GO WHERE OTHERS CANNOT. TO CONFRONT DANGERS, OTHERS MUST ESCAPE, AND TO STAND BETWEEN THOSE DANGERS AND THE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES DEPEND ON THEIR ACTIONS FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY BRAVERY, EXCEPTIONAL TEAMWORK, AND SELFLESS COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING LIFE UNDER THE MOST DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS OUR DISTINCT HONOR TO PRESENT THE XAVIER MCCLOW VALOR AWARD TO PHIL BARAR, CAPTAIN TOM FERGUSON, CLINICAL SPECIALIST HECTOR GARCIA, COMMANDER MALLORY GORDON, CHIEF JACOB REDING AND CHIEF CRAIG SMITH. THREE OF TODAY'S RECIPIENTS HAVE SINCE, SINCE TAKEN ON LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH NEWLY FORMED NEIGHBORING EMS SYSTEMS, CARING WITH THEM THE EXPERIENCE, EXPERTISE, AND COMMITMENT TO SERVICE THAT HELPED DEFINE THEIR CAREERS AT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. WE'RE PROUD TO SEE THEM CONTINUING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR OWN REGION, AND WE'RE ESPECIALLY PLEASED TO HAVE THEM BACK WITH US TODAY AS WE RECOGNIZE THEIR EXTRAORDINARY ACT ACTIONS. CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOU TO COME JOIN. IT CAN'T BE SAID ENOUGH JUST HOW MUCH YOU ALL EXEMPLIFY THE VALUES OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. YOU TRULY PUT YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE. AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT GETTING THAT PHONE CALL THAT MORNING WAS ONE OF THE MOST TERRIFYING MOMENTS AS A CHIEF TO KNOW THAT YOU ALL WERE PUTTING YOUR LIVES ON THE LINE AND WE'RE ABLE TO, TO COME TOGETHER AND, AND SAVE ALL THE LIVES THAT YOU DID, ALONG WITH ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE. SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PERSEVERANCE. AS WE CLOSE, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE WHAT THIS AWARD CEREMONY IS ALL ABOUT. I, IT'S ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A TRADITION. IT'S ABOUT SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A FORMALITY. IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION, THE COMPASSION, AND THE EXCELLENCE OF ALL THE MEDICS AND SUPPORT STAFF AT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, TO ALL OF THE AWARDS RECIPIENTS. I CONGRATULATE YOU ON PHENOMENAL WORK, AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THIS PAST YEAR AND ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE UP HERE, AND KNOW THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS PAST YEAR IN AUSTIN, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO RECOGNIZE OUR NEEDS, TO CARE FOR OURSELVES AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER. THESE THINGS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED HERE WILL CONTINUE WITH US AND WILL BE WITH US AND OUR MINDS AND OUR BODIES FOR YEARS TO COME. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO KEEP AN EYE ON ONE ANOTHER AND USE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. YOU REPRESENT TRULY THE BEST IN EMS. YOU [01:15:01] REPRESENT A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU DO IS ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY. I THANK ALL OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS THAT HAVE JOINED US HERE FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT OF YOUR FAMILY AND ALLOWING US TO HAVE THEM IN OUR LIVES DESPITE THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY GIVE. AND OF COURSE, I WANT TO THANK KRISTEN CURRY FOR JOINING US AGAIN THIS YEAR. IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU, UH, IT IS ALWAYS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND I THANK YOU TO OUR AWARDS COMMITTEE FOR THE TIME THOUGHTFULNESS IN THE DETAIL OF PUTTING THIS AWARD CEREMONY TOGETHER. AND AGAIN, THANKING EVERYONE WHO JOINED US HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY THE AWARD RECIPIENTS. THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS. I'M SO HUMBLED AND SO PROUD TO BE YOUR CHIEF. UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, ANOTHER GREAT YEAR. THERE'LL BE REFRESHMENTS IN THE LOBBY AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STAY AND SOCIALIZE AND SEE ONE ANOTHER. AND FROM THAT, WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.