Executive Director - Advanced EMT

Derek spent his career to date building stronger communities through leadership and service. From Peace Corps to graduate school to Advanced EMT, his work has always centered on bringing people together to solve tough challenges. Along the way, he has worn many hats - mediator, business owner, pilot, executive director, mentor and lifelong learner. 

Outside of the office, his most important role is being an effective partner and parent. Family time and adventuring keep him grounded and remind him why the work matters. When he's not working or with his family, you can find him somewhere around the mountains, on foot, ski, bike or a plane.

Administrative Assistant/Business Manager

Becky is responsible for “running the office”. Her duties and responsibilities include patient billing, accounting, volunteer schedules, record keeping, Privacy Officer and all the miscellaneous activities involved in daily office management. Becky was employed as a bookkeeper at Brook’s Mercantile from 1973 to 1984. She left that employment when the store was sold. She was employed by the Washington State Liquor Store from 1984 – 1988. In 1988 she delivered twin girls and stayed at home with them until 1994, when Aero Methow Rescue Service employed her as an Administrative Assistant.

Community Programs Manager - Advanced EMT

Theresa has been an active volunteer since 1999 and in November 2006 she was hired full time as an EMT and Injury Prevention and Community Education Specialist. Since her employment Theresa has become an Advanced EMT (AEMT) and Child Passenger Safety Technician. She is an American Heart Association Instructor, SEI EMT Instructor, PHTLS Instructor, Secretary/Treasurer of the Okanogan/North Douglas County Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care and Prevention Council and a member of the Okanogan County Injury Prevention Council. Theresa is the contact for public First Aid/CPR/AED classes, Health Care Provider Basic Life Support classes, CPR Anytime, Bike & Pedestrian Safety, Senior Citizen Injury Prevention and assistance with online classes requiring associated skills checks.

Peer Support Lead - Advanced EMT

Byron came to Aero Methow after a 25-year career as a Seattle Firefighter as well as several years as a teacher and coach in Seattle-area schools. He began volunteering with Aero Methow in 2008 as an EMT and was certified as an Advanced EMT in 2010. Byron is an AHA CPR/First Aid Instructor, and an EMT evaluator. He was hired as a part-time employee in August, 2011, and currently serves as the coordinator of Aero Methow’s Peer Support Team. Byron lives in Carlton with his wife, Wendy Braden; they've been married for 50 years and have two adult daughters and 3 grandchildren. Byron says that working with Aero Methow is “one of the most worthwhile things I’ve ever done”.

Fleet and Facilities Manager - Advanced EMT

Marissa became an EMT 2019 with the goal of ski patrolling. She ski patrolled for four seasons in Utah and took her AEMT course in 2020. In the summers of 2022-2024, Marissa worked as a Climbing Ranger at Mount Rainier National Park. As a ranger, she provided SAR/EMS services and worked on the parks’ SAR/Fire helicopter. On her days off, she visited the Methow and fell in love! In the fall of 2023 she moved here full time and began with AMRS in the summer of 2025. She enjoys skiing, biking, trail running, and petting other people’s dogs.

Paramedic

Kevin took his first EMT course in 1976. After a long hiatus from pre-hospital medicine he began volunteering as an Advanced EMT with Aero Methow in 2021. In 2024 he achieved certification as a paramedic in Washington State and is presently a part time employee.

Operations Manager - Advanced EMT

Ruth started volunteering with AMRS in October of 2011 after taking an EMT training course earlier that same year. Ruth volunteered until January of 2014 when she was hired on as a part time employee. With a background in the medical field as a Medical Laboratory Technician she continued her EMS training and became IV certified in the spring of 2013. In February of 2014 she started the Advanced EMT (AEMT) course and took her final exam in October 2014. In 2018 she was promoted to Operations Manager. She is an AHA CPR/First Aid instructor, EMT Evaluator, Peer Support Team member, and Senior EMS Instructor (SEI). Ruth is also a member of Loup Loup Ski Patrol.

Administrative Aid - Paramedic

Nina is a Methow native and graduate of Liberty Bell High School. She started volunteering with AMRS when she was a senior in high school and has been an active volunteer for more than 10 years. She works in the office at AMRS most days assisting with billing and is our Patient Care Coordinator. It’s a rare sight when you see her escape the office but she also enjoys working as an AEMT and continuing to provide great patient care. She is also an active member of the Okanogan County Search and Rescue Team. In 2019 Nina became a certified AEMT. She and her husband Dusty have two great kids and when she is not in the office you can usually find her camping and hiking with her family.

Patient Care Coordinator - Paramedic

Ian took his first EMT course in 2000. After several years of volunteering for an EMS service and Search and Rescue group in his home state of Maryland his life took him in another direction as an instructor, course director, and administrator for Outward Bound, and several years as a technician building prosthetic legs. He moved to the Methow Valley in 2015 with his wife Megan and reconnected with the emergency services world as an active volunteer with Aero Methow, Okanogan County Search and Rescue and through teaching Wilderness First Responder courses. He began working full time for AMRS in May of 2018 and received his Paramedic credential from Washington State in 2020. Ian coordinates our EMS training programs and is the liaison between AMRS and Okanogan County Search and Rescue. Ian is also a Senior EMS and AHA Instructor, peer support team member and manages the website.

Training Team - EMT

Training Team - EMT

Harris is a Louisiana-born-and-raised ruckus-maker who loves to laugh and who cares deeply about people and community. Somehow, he managed to graduate from West Point. Throughout his career, Harris has embraced new opportunities and ideas with enthusiasm, consistently stepping beyond the familiar. He has been an infantry officer, a printing plant manager, an IT geek, an entrepreneur, a budding appliance repairer, and an insurance executive. He dutifully walks his Labradors every morning and sometimes makes his wife muffins. He is father to three fabulous adults and pawpaw to two fiery-haired grandchildren.

Deputy Operations Manager, Community Outreach and Education Specialist - Advanced EMT

Brian was born and raised in the Methow Valley. He became an EMT in 1994 during his senior year of High School at Liberty Bell. In 2020 he became an Advanced EMT (AEMT). After a career as a firefighter, Brian made the jump to full-time AEMT in June of 2023. He and his wife Amber have 3 very active children and can often be found at sporting events, 4-H meetings, or chauffeuring them everywhere. Brian is very active in the Liberty Bell Booster Club, a ski/snowboard instructor at the Loup, and enjoys spending time with his family. He is an AHA Instructor, BLS Evaluator, Community Outreach and Education Specialist, as well as our Deputy Operations Manager.