Care Ambulance management team is committed to serving communities by providing clinical excellence, response time reliability, economic efficiency, and partnering for the future. A biography of each member of the management team is detailed below.

Jon Colin, President, Chief Executive Office

Mr. Colin joined LifeStar Response in 1997 as Director of Corporate Development. In 1998 he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining LifeStar he was President and CEO of Environmental Services of America. Mr. Colin has over twenty years in senior management of public and private corporations.

Mr. Colin is a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maryland.

Danny Platt, President (Ambulance Operations)

Mr. Platt joined LifeStar Response in 2000 as the Mid-Atlantic Director of Operations. In August of 2003 he was appointed Vice President, responsible for operations in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Alabama.

A hands on leader, Mr. Platt guides the organization in providing patient centered, client focused and fiscally responsive services. He has established a model that is built on open communication and analysis of client needs that positions Care Ambulance and LifeStar Response to meet the challenges in today’s healthcare environment.

Mr. Platt began his carrier as a municipal fire fighter and Emergency Medical Technician progressing to become a paramedic and EMS instructor. He was instrumental in the development a private EMS training academy. Mr. Platt has extensive experience in managing and developing medical transportation services. Beginning as a service line manager of Critical Care Transportation services, he has served as an operations manager, program director and senior executive. 

Cheryl Kosciuk, Chief Financial Officer

Ms. Kosciuk joined the LifeStar Response organization as the Chief Financial Officer of the New Jersey division. In 2002 she was appointed CFO of Care Ambulance. Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, Ms. Kosciuk is responsible for the organization’s accounting, financial statements and business analysis. Additionally, she works closely with financial institutions that support the organization and is responsible maintaining the leasing arrangement for capital equipment and vehicles. 

Ms. Kosciuk has expertise in developing internal control procedures and implementing administrative policies and procedures.  Working closely with the human resources department she is responsible for payroll process, employee benefit selection and administration.

A graduate of Farleigh Dickenson University, Ms. Kosciuk, has previously served as a Controller and an Accounting Manager in the technology and environmental service sectors.  

Douglas Tisdale, Regional Vice-President

Doug Tisdale began working at Care Ambulance in 1992. After being promoted to Paramedic Supervisor he transferred from the Montgomery operation to Dothan Alabama. After several years with the company Mr. Tisdale became the President and COO of a not for profit ambulance service in south Alabama. In 2005 Mr. Tisdale returned to Care Ambulance and was promoted to Paramedic Supervisor. In 2008 he was promoted to Area Manager of the Montgomery, Elmore, Macon, Autauga and SABIC operations. Mr. Tisdale was promoted to Area A Paramedic for over 17 years, he is an Instructor in ACLS, BCLS, First Aid, PEPP, PALS, EVOC, GEMS and a Regional Faculty Member for ITLS. Mr. Tisdale is married with 4 children residing in Shelby County Alabama.

In 2010 Mr. Tisdale was promoted to Regional Vice-President. His responsibilites include the states of Alabama and Georgia.

Hazel Owens, Director of Human Resources

Ms. Owens joined Care Ambulance in 2003. A key member of the administrative team she is responsible for the development and implementation of human resources polices and procedures as well as recruitment and retention efforts. Ms. Owens has an extensive background in business and personnel management in both the public and private sectors.

Ms. Owens received her undergraduate degree from Auburn University and her Master of Public Administration degree from Auburn University at Montgomery. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Charles Boone, Chief Compliance Officer

Mr. Charles Boone joined LifeStar Response in 1999 through the purchase of Maryland Ambulance Service.  Mr. Boone was operating as the Training Coordinator for Maryland Ambulance Service and transitioned to a similar position when joining LifeStar Response.  Since joining LifeStar Response Mr. Boone has held such positions as Training Coordinator, Dispatch Supervisor, Baltimore Operations Manager, Clinical Manager, and currently serves as our Chief Compliance Officer and Clinical Manager.

Mr. Boone has been in EMS since 1988, starting out as a Medic in the U.S. Army, eventually earning his flight wings through Operations Desert Storm as a flight medic.  Mr. Boone has participated in various leadership roles both in and out of the military environment.  Mr. Boone was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and was the recipient of several various medals to include the U.S. Army Air Medal for services in Desert Storm.  Mr. Boone is currently a Nationally Registered Paramedic, holding state certifications in Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia.  Mr. Boone is currently an MICRB Level II Instructor and holds instructor credentials for CPR and BTLS.  He is also a licensed Virginia ALS Coordinator.  Mr. Boone currently teaches an EMT-Basic program for the University of Maryland at Baltimore County and assists in coordinating the continuing education for our Advanced and Basic Life Support providers.

Steve Hemby, Training Coordinator 

Mr. Hemby began his EMS career in 1988 as a First Responder and Volunteer Firefighter. He came up through the ranks as a licensed Ambulance Driver, Basic EMT and Intermediate EMT. He was the first Paramedic to work in Russell County, Alabama.

When CARE Ambulance initially began in Montgomery Alabama, Mr. Hemby was one of the first three Paramedics hired. He worked with CARE full-time and part-time for 10 years, and came back to CARE in 2005 as company training officer.

Mr. Hemby holds American Heart Training Faculty status in BCLS, ACLS, and PALS. Mr. Hemby also holds instructor certification in BTLS, EVOC, and all levels of EMT and Paramedic. Mr. Hemby is a licensed Paramedic in Alabama and Georgia. He has trained and recertified hundreds of First Responders, EMT’s and Paramedic’s during his career.

Jim Taylor, Director of Administrative and Support Services

Mr. Taylor began his EMS career in 1988 as an EMT. He has served his communities in a variety of roles from volunteer Fire and Rescue, EMS and law-enforcement.

Mr. Taylor began work with Care Ambulance in the Montgomery Alabama dispatch center in 2003 as a dispatcher. Mr. Taylor was promoted rapidly to Dispatch Supervisor and then Communications/Billing/IT Manager. Mr. Taylor holds an Advanced Class amateur radio license and has a strong background in electronics and computing. Mr. Taylor’s education has focused on information technology and he has owned his own technology companies in the past. Mr. Taylor has a passion for using technology to increase operational efficiency while reducing cost. In his current role, his responsibilites include Facilities and Asset Management, Purchasing, Technology, Communications, and Billing

Dennis Poole,   Operations Manager

Mr. Poole joined the LifeStar Response family in January 2008 as Manager for Dallas and Lowndes counties. in Alabama. In March 2008 he promoted to Operation Manager for the operations in Perry, Lowndes, Dallas, Montgomery, Tallassee, and Tuskegee. He has prior experience managing other EMS services. A Paramedic since 1995, he has held an EMT license since 1988. Over the years he has served as an EMS captain for Marengo County and managed other EMS operations in Lowndes, Perry and Dallas county. I have certifications as an instructor in ACLS, PALS, ITLS, CPR, EVOC, and EMS instructor I. Currently hold licenses for both Alabama and Mississippi. I am P.O.S.T. certified Police officer in the state of Alabama. Served as a police officer in Greensboro, AL from 1988 until 1992.

Mike Sandell, South Alabama General Manager

Mike Sandell joined our Lifestar Response family back in early 2005 coming from the management team of Medstar EMS in Baldwin County Alabama. Mike has 28 years of EMS experience both in field operations and in management. Mike served as the Area GM over most of our Alabama operations before returning home to Baldwin County in mid 2007.

Mike later returned to our Lifestar Response family in late 2008 as the Area Manager over our Troy, Ozark and Dothan operations in Alabama. Mike serves on a number of committees and boards including several EMS advisory committees at Faulkner State and Bishop State Colleges.

Tara Sessions,  Dothan Area Supervisor

Ms. Sessions began her career in EMS at Care Ambulance in 2001 as a dispatcher. She worked in communications for 2 years and was promoted to Communications Supervisor in 2003 where she handled the day to day communication issues. In 2006 Ms. Sessions was promoted to Area Supervisor over the Dothan operations where she oversees the daily operation of 4 ambulances and the operation of the communication center in Dothan.