KEMSA administrators society BALLOT 2026 - Nominees

See voting instructions on the bottom of this page.  Voting closes Friday, Aug. 14 at noon.

Candidates (in order by position and alphabetical by last name)

Chair

Monika Heller
Reno County EMS 

I consider it a great honor to be part of Kansas EMS and a member of the Kansas EMS Association.  I have spent more than half of my life dedicated to EMS and providing care to my community through a variety of ways.  With a shift in my career goals over the past several years, I have been pursuing opportunities that will allow me to broaden my knowledge and skillset and make bigger impacts to Kansas EMS professionals and the EMS profession as a whole.  Through serving on the KEMSA board, I feel I have been able to offer my experience and knowledge to others and contribute to the growth and success of Kansas EMS.  I am goal driven, self-motivated, and have a willingness to learn.  I am passionate about our profession and fully appreciate every opportunity that I am given to meet and work alongside other passionate professionals.

Vice Chair

Melissa McCaslin

EagleMed

I am writing to express my continued interest in remaining actively involved with the KEMSA Administrator Society. Over the past several years, my participation in KEMSA has provided invaluable opportunities to collaborate with EMS leaders across Kansas, share ideas, and work together to strengthen our profession and the services we provide to our communities.

As a Program Manager with EagleMed/AMR in Wichita, I have greatly benefited from the relationships, educational opportunities, and collective experience offered through the Administrator Society. The exchange of knowledge among EMS administrators has helped me improve operational processes, address regulatory and compliance challenges, enhance workforce development initiatives, and ultimately improve patient care within our organization.

I believe the Administrator Society plays a critical role in bringing together EMS leaders from agencies of all sizes to discuss common challenges, develop innovative solutions, and advocate for the future of emergency medical services in Kansas. Whether through meetings, workshops, legislative discussions, or leadership development opportunities, the Society continues to provide a forum that strengthens our profession and encourages collaboration.

I remain committed to contributing my experience and perspective to the group and supporting the Society’s ongoing efforts. I look forward to continuing to serve alongside fellow EMS administrators and helping advance the goals and mission of KEMSA. It would be an honor to remain involved and assist in any capacity that supports the success of the Administrator Society and the broader Kansas EMS community.

Thank you for your consideration and for the dedication each of you brings to advancing EMS throughout our state. I look forward to continuing our work together.

Secretary

Jessica Baker, Paramedic
TECHS

Kansas EMS has shaped my entire career. I started as an EMT in 2009, became a paramedic, worked in the field for years, and eventually moved into leadership roles focused on quality improvement, education, compliance, and system development. I've worked at the provider level, supported statewide EMS initiatives, and collaborated with hospitals, regulators, educators, and EMS agencies across Kansas. Those experiences have given me a broad view of where we've been and where we still have work to do.

Until recently, I served as the Director of Clinical Excellence and Compliance for EMS Unlimited, where I oversaw clinical quality, regulatory compliance, education, and operational improvement. Before that, I managed the Kansas Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program, where I had the opportunity to work with EMS agencies, hospitals, and partners across the state to improve pediatric emergency care. Today, I am serving as a Paramedic at Techs EMS, with concentration on compliance and community paramedicine. Every role I've held has reinforced the same lesson: progress happens when people communicate well and stay engaged.

That's one of the reasons I'm interested in serving as Secretary for KEMSA. It might not be the loudest position on the board, but it's one of the most important. Good records matter. Clear communication matters. Following through on the details matters. Honestly, that's how organizations build trust. And if you've ever tried to figure out what happened at a meeting six months later, you know exactly why.

I've spent much of my career organizing information, writing policies, documenting decisions, and making sure important conversations don't disappear after the meeting ends. I'm detail-oriented without losing sight of the bigger picture. I also believe board members should be approachable. If someone has an idea, a concern, or just wants to talk through a challenge their service is facing, they should know they can pick up the phone.

Kansas EMS is changing. We're facing workforce shortages, increasing clinical complexity, reimbursement challenges, and growing expectations from our communities. 

At the same time, we have an incredible group of providers and leaders who genuinely care about moving the profession forward. I want to continue being part of that work, not because I have all the answers, but because I believe good ideas come from listening to the people doing the job every day.

It would be an honor to serve as Secretary of the Kansas EMS Association. I would bring experience, accountability, and a genuine commitment to supporting the mission of KEMSA and the EMS professionals who make that mission possible.

How to vote:

1) Read the biographical information about the candidates and why they want to be on the Educators Society Board. You will only get to vote for one person in each position.

2) Take a few seconds to vote using our electronic ballot (available until Aug. 14 at noon)
Note: Members must login to vote since you must be a verified KEMSA Member and a member of the Administrators Society for your vote to be counted!
If you have never logged in, you can activate your account by clicking on the login button at the very top right corner of this website.  On the login screen, click the "forgot password" link.

Enter the e-mail address we have on file, and it will provide you with directions via e-mail about setting your password. Then come back and login to gain access to your profile information, events, and your membership information. If you have trouble, contact kari@kemsa.org.

Voting closes Aug. 14 at noon.