Robert Early, NREMT-P/AAS EMS, Redmond Director of Emergency Medical Services, has been named the Stanley Payne Memorial Region One EMS Director of the Year by the Region 1 EMS Council. This annual award is given to an EMS leader that demonstrates a higher quality of service, support for employees to excel and the commitment to improve his or her community.

The EMS Director of the Year must be nominated for the award with at least 75% of staff members submitting a form showing their support for the nominee. These are then evaluated by the Region EMS Office and the title is awarded.

Early has served as the director for Redmond EMS for the past four years and has worked at Redmond for the past 17 years. Early is responsible for all operations, planning, staffing and financial functions for all districts of Redmond EMS. He also assures positive relations with the community, leads team members and operates as a paramedic on the ambulances. Additionally, he serves as the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Redmond. Prior to his current position, he has worked in a several roles at Redmond including EMS Supervisor, Paramedic and EMT.

Early’s Director of the Year award is on the heels of Redmond EMS’s 2009 Service of the Year for Region 1 award and the 2009 Service of the Year for the State of Georgia award. These were earned for ingenuity in service, speedy response times, progress of the service, community benefit and employee satisfaction. Redmond also expanded service to Polk County this year, serving as the 911 provider since July of 2009.

“We are extremely proud of Robert’s achievement. He is 110% deserving of this award,” says Brenda Waltz, Redmond CEO. “His care for our patients and the community is evident in all the work he does on the ambulance, in the office and with his staff. Our congratulations go out to Robert for an honor well deserved.”

Outside of work, Early is a volunteer with the Floyd County SWAT team. He also teaches first aid and CPR in the community. He and his wife Sandy have two daughters and reside in Floyd County near Armuchee.