Gordon EMS Names EMT and Paramedic of the Year for 2016

Ken Trammell, pictured center, was recognized as the 2016 EMT of the Year presented by Gordon EMS. Also pictured are Deputy Director Donald Bowen, left, and Director Courtney Taylor, right.

Marcus Desmond, pictured center, was recognized as the 2016 Paramedic of the Year presented by Gordon EMS. Also pictured are Deputy Director Donald Bowen, left, and Director Courtney Taylor, right.

Members of the Gordon EMS team were recently honored at the 2016 Gordon EMS Service Awards Banquet held at Trinity Baptist Church.

According to Courtney Taylor, director of Gordon EMS, among the 10 categories of awards presented during the evening were the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) of the Year Award , which was presented to Ken Trammell , and the Paramedic of the Year Award , which went to Marcus Desmond .

I feel blessed to be called the director of Gordon EMS because of each [employee], said Taylor in the ceremony's opening remarks. For almost nine years, I have held this title, and year after year, I have been made aware that I work for some of the best people in the business. You are more than employees to me. You are my friends and my family.

Trammell was chosen as EMT of the Year from multiple nominations submitted by peers across different shifts. Those nominations are later reviewed by an awards panel of judges from Gordon Hospital, who do not know or work closely with them. They make the final decision for EMT of the Year, Taylor explained.

Excerpts from Kens nominations stated that he is a person of exceptional character, willing to do whatever he can to help our service, and always has a smile and kind word for all those encountered, he added. One nomination said that Ken gets that our purpose is to serve our patients with everything that we have and to do it in a professional and compassionate manner.

Paramedic of the Year Marcus Desmond was described as making an impact for Gordon EMS well beyond the local level.

Excerpts from his nomination included that Marcus has exceptional paramedic skills, is a take charge and get-it-done kind of guy, serves and represents Gordon EMS with pride around the state of Georgia and at national events, and has become the go-to person for our region and state when public safety brothers and sisters have fallen as he is also the Region 1 EMS Honor Guard Commander, said Taylor.

The Rookie of the Year Award, which is presented to individuals that best represents excellence in the performance of their duties in their first year of service with Gordon EMS, went to Paramedic Sarah Laymon .

Other awards presented included:

Length of Service Award (presented to individuals for the length of time they have served in public safety in five-year increments): Dusty Johnson , 5 years; Kelsey Henderson , 5 years, Alex Henderson , 5 years; Adam Dortch , 10 years; Eric Boling , 10 years; Derek Harp , 10 years; Stephen Whitfield , 10 years; Matt Hutcherson , 10 years; Carra Rau , 10 years; Marcus Desmond , 20 years; Harold Tillery , 20 years; Stacey Koonce , 25 years; Tad Helms , 30 years; and Jim Kretchman , 35 years.

New Life Award (presented to EMS personnel who assisted in the delivering of a child in the field): Amber Bradford and Jennifer Kilgore .

Heart Saver Award (presented to individuals who played an integral part in a cardiac arrest where the patient survived to leave the hospital): Marcus Desmond and Ashley Jackson .

110% Award (presented to an individual who goes above and beyond on a continual basis): EMT Jennifer Kilgore .

Leader of the Year Award (presented to an individual who was nominated by their peers as a leader in the service): Deputy Director Donald Bowen.

Education Award : (presented to an individual who helped to lead on educational opportunities by assisting with the delivery and improvement of classes offered): Mark Bramblett .

About Gordon Hospital

Founded in 1935, Gordon Hospital is proud to be a member of Adventist Health System. With 46 hospitals in 10 states, Adventist Health System is a faith-based healthcare organization headquartered in Altamonte Springs, Florida. A national leader in quality, safety, employee engagement, and patient satisfaction, Adventist Health Systems more than 78,000 employees maintain a tradition of whole-person health by caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of every patient.