About our Team
Our team of exceptionally trained emergency responders include 4 levels of providers and over 100 years of experience in total. Rest assured, when you need our care, you will be in good hands.
Meet our team below!
Meet our Leadership
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Director and Critical Care Paramedic
Heather has been with HCEMS since 2009 and had been in EMS since 2008, where she volunteered with Winfield Fire & Rescue. Heather doesn’t like to think of a hometown as she was in a nomadic house when she was young. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. Heat
Director and Critical Care Paramedic
Heather has been with HCEMS since 2009 and had been in EMS since 2008, where she volunteered with Winfield Fire & Rescue. Heather doesn’t like to think of a hometown as she was in a nomadic house when she was young. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. Heather rose through the ranks at HCEMS by show of patience and achieving a masters degree in business administration.
Dr. Samir Patel, MD
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
Medical Director
Dr. Patel has been HCEMS’s medical director since 2024. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his wife and two daughters #girldad! His hobbies include cycling, running, soccer, and ice hockey. He decided to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine after a personal experience involving a family member with an emergency.
Wesley O'Connor
Wesley O'Connor
Wesley O'Connor
Operations Supervisor and Critical Care Paramedic
Wesley has worked at HCEMS since 2008 and been working in EMS since 2004. He volunteers with New London Fire and Rescue. Wesley started his career as an Army medic. In his free time, he enjoys hunting and fishing.
Jacob Warning
Wesley O'Connor
Wesley O'Connor
Training Supervisor and Critical Care Paramedic
Jake has been with HCEMS since 2013 and working in EMS since 2009. He previously volunteered at Hills Fire Department from 2011-2014. He enjoys artifact/fossil hunting, metal detecting, and playing on his PlayStation.
Meet our Emergency Medical Technicians
Jeff Beavers
Stephen Carrithers
Jeff Beavers
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Jeff has been with HCEMS since 2005 and been working in EMS since 1995. He has volunteered with Mt. Pleasant Fire since 1977. In his free time, he enjoys going to the Ozarks to enjoy his vacation home. Jeff started working in public safety to give back to his community.
Eric Benge
Stephen Carrithers
Jeff Beavers
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (A-EMT)
Eric has been with HCEMS since 2014 and worked in EMS since 2003. He volunteered on MPFD for 12 years. In his free time, he likes to golf, bike, or hangout with his daughter.
Stephen Carrithers
Stephen Carrithers
Stephen Carrithers
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Stephen has been with HCEMS since 2023 and in EMS since 2020. In his free time, he likes to play video games and hangout at home. He hopes to one day go to PA school.
Aaron Dorothy
Stephen Carrithers
Stephen Carrithers
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Aaron has worked with HCEMS since 2022 and worked in EMS since 2021. He volunteers with Mount Pleasant Fire & Rescue since 2018. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his family and watching their sports. Aaron also enjoys most winter sports, including ice skating, ice hockey, and jet skiing. Aaron started working in EMS thanks to J. Beavers and K. Derby.
Sophie Kongable
Sophie Kongable
Sophie Kongable
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Sophie has been with HCEMS since 2023 and has been a first responder since 2021 with Winfield Fire and Rescue. In her free time, Sophie enjoys golfing, photography, and cooking. Sophie started working in EMS because of a few community mentors that helped her along her journey, and hopes to have a long la
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Sophie has been with HCEMS since 2023 and has been a first responder since 2021 with Winfield Fire and Rescue. In her free time, Sophie enjoys golfing, photography, and cooking. Sophie started working in EMS because of a few community mentors that helped her along her journey, and hopes to have a long lasting and fulfilling career as a first responder with HCEMS.
Kurtis Olson
Sophie Kongable
Sophie Kongable
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Kurtis has worked at HCEMS since 2023 and been in EMS since 2019. Previously, he has worked at Area Ambulance Service and is currently a volunteer with Ainsworth Fire Department. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his family and dog, fishing, camping, and riding his motorcycle.
Craig Shetler
Sophie Kongable
Arlo Walljasper
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Craig has been at HCEMS since 2021 and working in EMS since 2014. He has worked at various services in the area including WCAS and in Jefferson County. When he isn’t working, he likes to spend time hunting/fishing with friends or family.
Arlo Walljasper
Sophie Kongable
Arlo Walljasper
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Arlo has been with HCEMS since 2014 and working in EMS since 2002. He has volunteered at New London Fire & Rescue since 2002. In his free time, he enjoys playing cards, hunting, and fishing with his family and friends. Arlo worked a few odd jobs over the years but joined EMS because he wanted to do something good for his community.
Meet our Paramedics
Toni Beckman
Dakota Connolly
Dakota Connolly
Paramedic
Toni has worked at HCEMS since 2023 and has been in EMS since early 2012. She has previously worked at Superior and Paramount Ambulance services, and is active with the Iowa Army National Guard and an Emergency Care Sergeant. In her free time, she likes to garden and spend time outdoors.
Dakota Connolly
Dakota Connolly
Dakota Connolly
Paramedic
Dakota has been with HCEMS since 2021 and working in EMS since 2020. He works full time at MEDIC EMS of Scott County. In his free time, he relaxes at home. He has worked in EMS since he was 17, but found that working in a nursing home or hospital wasn't for him; he likes working in EMS significantly more.
Jarod Conrad
Dakota Connolly
Jarod Conrad
Paramedic
Jarod has worked at HCEMS since 2022. He volunteers with Salem Fire and Rescue. In his free time, he hunts, spends time with his family, and plays bass guitar in a local band. He grew up in Wayland. He started EMS when Salem Fire and Rescue asked him to take a basic EMS course. He found that he enjoyed EMS so much that he advanced to being a paramedic!
Cody Dill
Dakota Connolly
Jarod Conrad
Critical Care Paramedic
Cody has worked with HCEMS since 2013 and in EMS since 2012. He has worked in healthcare since he was 16 years old in some capacity. He has volunteered with New London Rescue since 2012. He started working in healthcare because he grew up caring for his mother who suffered from MS. He learned that being kind costs nothing.
Alex Fitzgerald
Alex Fitzgerald
Alex Fitzgerald
Paramedic
Alex has worked at HCEMS since 2022 and has been in EMS since 2017. He started his career in EMS with a volunteer fire department in West Branch, Iowa. In his free time, he enjoys trying new restaurants with his partner, cross-stitching, reading, and watching movies.
Matthew Haney
Alex Fitzgerald
Alex Fitzgerald
Paramedic
Matthew has been with HCEMS since 2022 and been working in EMS since 2019. In his free time, he enjoys frisbee golf and trying new restaurants.
Quinn Hansen
Alex Fitzgerald
Craig Lydolph
Paramedic
Quinn has been with HCEMS since early 2024 and has been working in EMS since 2012. He also works at Lisbon-Mt. Vernon Ambulance Service. In his free-time, he likes to reflect on his life.
Craig Lydolph
Alex Fitzgerald
Craig Lydolph
Critical Care Paramedic
Craig has been with HCEMS since 2023.
Sydney Nelson
Michael Swartzendruber
Samantha Schmeiser
Paramedic
Sydney has worked at HCEMS since 2020 which is the same time she became involved with EMS. She previously worked as a paramedic in Texas. She enjoys spending time with her dog, Cooper, and her family. Sydney grew up locally in Winfield, IA.
Samantha Schmeiser
Michael Swartzendruber
Samantha Schmeiser
Paramedic
Sam has been with HCEMS since 2024 she has been working in EMS since 2021 and has previously worked at Burlington Fire Department. She currently volunteers with New London Fire. In her free time, she likes to craft and spend time with her daughters.
Allyson Sperry
Michael Swartzendruber
Michael Swartzendruber
Paramedic
Allyson has worked with HCEMS since early 2023 and been working in EMS since 2019. She volunteers on Danville Fire and Rescue. In her free time, she enjoys playing golf and guitar, when she’s not in school.
Michael Swartzendruber
Michael Swartzendruber
Michael Swartzendruber
Paramedic
Mike has been with HCEMS since 2023 and has been in EMS since 2016. He currently volunteers at Wayland Fire Department. In his free time, he likes to work on his house, make ice cream, and woodwork.