For Immediate Release
Lieutenant Governor Juras, DPHHS Honor Emergency Medical Services Responders
Contacts:
- DPHHS: Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757, jebelt@mt.gov
HELENA, MT — Lieutenant Governor Kristen Juras and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials honored Montana Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel from Belgrade, Gardiner, Hamilton, Kalispell, and Lewistown during an awards ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda Tuesday, May 19.
“Every day, emergency medical providers across Montana step up to deliver life-saving care exactly when our citizens need it most,” Lt. Gov. Juras said. “I am honored to recognize these professionals and their families for their incredible dedication to EMS and the personal sacrifices they make to keep us safe.”
In attendance were representatives from Lewistown Fire Rescue, Bitterroot Health Ambulance, the Central Valley Fire District, and Flathead County Emergency Medical Services.
They were joined by City of Missoula EMS Medical Director Dr. Mike Kremkau and Shari Graham, the EMS Systems Manager for DPHHS.
In addition, Governor Greg Gianforte proclaimed May 17-23 as Emergency Medical Services Week, and Wednesday, May 20, as EMS for Children Day.
In 2025, EMS services were requested more than 162,000 times, with more than 8,500 requests for children experiencing illness or injury.
Nominated by their peers, awards were presented to:
Volunteer EMS Provider of the Year Award, Brian Godbey, Senior Firefighter-EMT, Lewistown Fire Rescue. This award honors a volunteer EMS provider who is exemplary in his/her quality of patient care and dedication to their community.
Godbey was nominated by Brett Garber, a paramedic/firefighter with the Bozeman Fire Department.
Garber states: “Brian was off duty when his quick instincts led him to discover an aircraft crash near Roundup. He provided critical lifesaving care to a pilot who had only moments to live. This heroic intervention highlights Brian’s exceptional awareness and clinical courage, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to saving lives even when off duty.
What makes Brian especially deserving of this recognition is that this level of service is typical for him. It is who he is. He has spent countless hours away from his own family to protect and help others. He dedicates his time to training, readiness, fundraisers, community support efforts, and rescue work because he truly believes in helping people.”
Career EMS Provider of the Year Award, Sara Monroe, paramedic, Bitterroot Health Ambulance. This award is for a career EMS provider who exemplifies quality of care and dedication to the community.
Monroe was nominated by William Torres, Jr., Director of EMS & Emergency Preparedness at Bitterroot Health.
Torres states: “Sara has demonstrated exceptional leadership by creating evidence-based Treatment Guidelines for Bitterroot Health Ambulance. Her work ensures local providers have access to clear, national-standard protocols, reflecting her deep commitment to clinical excellence and professional integrity.
As a dedicated and highly skilled Career Emergency Care Provider, Sara exemplifies excellence in patient care, leadership, and unwavering commitment to her community and the EMS profession. Throughout her career, Sara has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of clinical excellence. Her approach to patient care reflects not only technical expertise, but also compassion, integrity, and a deep understanding of the critical role EMS plays in the health care continuum.”
EMS Service of the Year Award, Central Valley Fire District, Belgrade. The EMS Service of the Year recipient exhibits dedication to improving patient care through education, injury prevention, community awareness, medical director involvement, and collaboration with surrounding EMS services.
In May of 2025, individuals at Central Valley Fire District were thrust into a situation that is unprecedented at a state level: one of their shift’s own captains suffered a cardiac arrest in the apparatus bay, and they were forced to provide resuscitation and transport.
This complex resuscitation required decisive action and skill far beyond standard expectations. Thanks to their rapid intervention, the captain achieved a return of spontaneous circulation and was able to go back to work only months later with no neurological or physical deficits.
The responders who successfully resuscitated their Captain were:
- Briana Scherrer, Paramedic
- William Kutylo, EMT
- Nicholas Tucker, Paramedic
- Ashley Coulthard, Paramedic, and
- Joe Doidge, Paramedic
This incident highlights the exceptional quality of these providers, who deliver Montana’s highest level of EMS care every shift. While these individuals deserve immense praise for saving one of their own, their success also stands as a testament to the Central Valley Fire District's elite standard of service.
Central Valley Fire District provides a comprehensive fire-based EMS delivery model for the community and the broader Gallatin County region. In addition to 911 emergency response, CVFD supports interfacility transports, flight team coordination, community education, CPR training, special event EMS planning, regional response coordination, and backup ambulance coverage during peak system demand.
Central Valley Fire Chief, Jay Wittwer said, “CVFD’s EMS program reflects a strong commitment to clinical quality, operational readiness, regional collaboration, and compassionate care for the communities we serve. This award is a direct reflection of the work being done every day by our crews, leadership team, medical director, and labor partners.”
EMS Supporter of the Year Award, Alan Browne, paramedic and Flathead County EMS Program Manager, Kalispell. This award honors an individual(s) who has demonstrated exceptional support for EMS, EMS agencies, and the broader EMS system.
Browne was nominated by Mari Anderson, RN, American Heart Association Training Coordinator and Flathead County EMS Board Member; Dave Mangold, PA-C, Flathead County Assistant EMS Medical Director; and Shanoa Nutt, LT/AEMT at West Valley Fire and Rescue and Flathead County Health Department Clinical Nurse.
Anderson states: “As the EMS Program Manager for Flathead County, Alan serves as the key liaison between the County Commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office, and the many EMS, FIRE, and law enforcement agencies across the county. His responsibilities are extensive: managing EMS funding, coordinating training, and representing the system in numerous meetings to ensure smooth, efficient operations. In addition to these duties, Alan shares on-call responsibilities for the Office of Emergency Services, one of the only three people who do so, and still finds time to serve as a volunteer paramedic.”
Mangold states: “Alan has the difficult job of managing the county EMS levy budget and dealing with all the legal documents to keep Flathead County EMS operating within budget and within the parameters of the law. He is a strong advocate for the agencies and responders in Flathead County. I cannot imagine all the different people who would be required to do all the jobs Alan does by himself. When I saw this year’s theme, “Improving Outcomes, Together,” I could not imagine a more qualified and deserving candidate than Alan Browne.”
Nutt states: “Alan is the backbone of EMS education and training in Flathead County. He coordinates training opportunities, organizes instructors, manages supplies, and ensures that providers across the county have access to continuing education. His dedication to professional development has helped strengthen the skills and confidence of countless EMS providers. Through partnerships with local hospitals in Kalispell and Whitefish, he has also helped bring educational opportunities to our region, including organizing conferences such as the annual Subzero Summit.”
EMS for Children Supporter Award, Juanita Beuter, RN, Park County School Nurse, Gardiner. This award recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated excellence in providing pediatric EMS care and/or education. The recipient is an outstanding role model for colleagues while consistently demonstrating commitment to high-quality, professional EMS care to the pediatric patient.
Beuter was nominated by Kelly Little, EMSC Program Manager, Helena.
Little states: “Juanita is a long-standing member of the DPHHS EMSC Advisory Council, contributing to statewide pediatric emergency care initiatives since 2014.
Her work on the OPI School Safety Committee was instrumental in modernizing antiquated first aid guidelines for Montana schools, bridging the gap between school health and EMS response to ensure student safety.
A dedicated advocate for public health, Juanita has also bolstered infectious disease preparedness by providing critical measles education to EMS transport services. Locally, she leads vital safety programs in Park County, including National Night Out events, ATV safety education, and distracted-driving awareness, demonstrating a deep commitment to protecting the lives of children and families.”
Tags: Public Health and News