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
Heather Kleemeyer, MBA
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.
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.
Casey Grover
Sophie Kongable
Sophie Kongable
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Casey has been with HCEMS since late 2024 and been in EMS since 2009. When he isn’t volunteering with Oxford Fire and Rescue, he likes to spend time in the great outdoors with his kids. He likes working in EMS because of the spontaneity of calls and situations.
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
Craig Shetler
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
Craig Shetler
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.
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.
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.
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.