Welcome to Day 2 Of The EMS Leadership Summit

Thats Not Leadership: Breaking the Myths That Lead to Burnout

Featuring Dr. I. David Daniels, Ph.D., CSD

About the Session:
This presentation will take a look at the evolution of leadership and identify outdated practices that have masqueraded as leadership, but they are actually bullying. narcissism or psychopathy.

About the Speaker:
Dr. I. David Daniels is an occupational health and safety professional and thought leader, the Founder and CEO of ID2 Solutions, LLC, and the host of the Psych Health and Safety USA podcast. He is the author of Psychosocial Hazards Are Real, which is one of the first books to examine psychological health and safety from an occupational health and safety perspective.

Dr. Daniels holds a Bachelor of Science in Fire Services Administration, a master’s degree in human resources management, and a Ph.D. in Occupational Health and Safety. 

Mission Accomplished. How Pittsburgh EMS Stopped the Revolving Door

Featuring  Amera Gilchrist, Chief of EMS

About the Session:
What does it take to create an EMS organization where people want to work—and stay? In a candid conversation, Chief Amera Gilchrist shares her experience and what led to the transformation of Pittsburgh EMS into a fully staffed department with a waiting list.

Through a focus on culture, well-being, and professional standards, her team has redefined what’s possible in recruitment and retention. Attendees will gain practical insights into creating an environment where people are enrolled in the mission and committed to excellence.

About the Speakers:
Amera Gilchrist is the Chief of EMS for the Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS — and the first African American and the first woman to hold this prestigious title. With 26 years of dedicated service, Chief Gilchrist has made an indelible mark on Pittsburgh’s EMS community. Starting as an EMT in 1999 and quickly advancing to paramedic within 9 months, her journey has been one of resilience and determination.
 
Because of the hardships she endured while obtaining her certifications in the field of pre-hospital care, she has made it her personal mission to remove those barriers for those wishing to enter this career field.

Mission-Driven Leadership for High-Pressure Environments

Featuring Dr. Chris Cebollero

About the Session:
This class is based on my new book, The Art of War for Leaders. This class is a practical overview that translates Sun Tzu’s timeless strategy into real-world leadership tools for today’s supervisors, chiefs, and executives.

Drawing on lessons from military service, EMS command, and executive leadership, this session shows why many teams struggle not from lack of effort, but from poor positioning, unclear priorities, and avoidable conflict. Leaders will learn how to think ahead, manage energy, read their environment, and design systems where problems are prevented instead of fought.
 
This is not about aggression or theory it is about judgment, preparation, and disciplined leadership that builds stronger teams, reduces friction, and delivers better results.

About the Speaker:
Chris Cebollero is an EMS leader, author and advocate. Chris is recognized as an international leadership specialist, multi number 1 best selling author, and is a sought after motivational speaker. Chris completed his Doctorate in Business Administration, and has his MBA with a Human Resources Concentration.

Utilizing Your Communication Toolkit, Old Tools & New

Featured Panel: Mark Tenia, Rob Lawrence & Alexia Jobson

About the Session:
Effective communication builds community trust. This session, “Utilizing Your Communication Toolkit, Old Tools and New,” explores how EMS leaders can blend traditional PR strategies—like media pitching and social media planning—with modern tools like AI. You’ll learn to streamline your outreach using platforms like Canva while navigating the ethical risks and limitations of artificial intelligence. Discover how to maintain a consistent, human-centered voice in an evolving digital landscape.

About the Speakers:
Alexia Jobson is a seasoned communications expert with over 25 years of experience. She serves as the Director of Public Relations and is the Chair of the American Ambulance Association’s Communications Committee. A graduate of the Reynolds School of Journalism, she is also a Nationally Registered EMT and certified dispatcher, bridging the gap between frontline operations and public engagement.

Mark Tenita is an experienced broadcast journalist and the Public Relations Manager for the Richmond Ambulance Authority. A returning summit speaker, he specializes in using storytelling to promote prehospital providers. Mark is dedicated to helping EMS agencies leverage modern communication tools to increase industry awareness and community trust.

Rob Lawrence is the Director of Strategic Implementation for PRO EMS and Prodigy EMS. With a global leadership background, he has served as COO for ambulance services in Virginia, California, and England. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the California Ambulance Association and President of AIMHI, bringing a wealth of expertise in EMS operations and strategy.

From Excellent Provider to Effective Supervisor.
Building Leadership Capacity Inside EMS Agencies.

Featuring Audrey Halpern

About the Session:
EMS professionals are frequently promoted into supervisory roles based on clinical expertise rather than leadership preparation. Without structured support, new supervisors often struggle with accountability conversations, expectation setting, peer-to-leader transitions, and team alignment—factors that directly influence morale and retention.

This session introduces practical strategies agencies can use to prepare providers for leadership responsibilities before and after promotion. Participants will explore approaches to strengthening communication confidence, reinforcing workforce professionalism, and creating clearer advancement pathways that support both supervisor effectiveness and workforce stability.

This session is designed for EMS leaders, field training officers, and command staff seeking scalable ways to strengthen leadership readiness across their organizations.

About the Speaker:
Audrey is a leadership development consultant with 18+ years of experience helping organizations strengthen supervisor readiness, communication consistency, and workforce professionalism across healthcare and public-sector environments. She specializes in preparing technical professionals for leadership roles before and after promotion. Her work supports EMS agencies in building leadership pipelines that improve retention, alignment, and long-term workforce stability.