About our Team
It takes a strong team of medically trained individuals and drivers to serve our community. We are proud of these people
and want you to meet them.
Steven J Harkema
EMS Chief / CCP
(715) 276-1513
Mfd2600@gmail.com
After 20 years of firefighting in the Chicago area, Steve relocated to Riverview where he was hired by Carolyn Smits as our first full time employee. With 35 years of experience, he holds the highest level of field training as a Critical Care paramedic. Currently practicing as an AEMT.
Janet Opiela
Lieutenant - Full Time
AEMT / Billing Services
(715) 276-1513
ltcas40@gmail.com
Janet finds helping people to be gratifying, rewarding and truly enjoys working in this profession. She is honored to be a part of this program. Janet joined in 1978 as an emergency responder, in 1981 she became an EMT and is now certified as an AEMT.
Colleen DeCoster
Lieutenant - Full Time
AEMT
ltcas40@gmail.com
Making a difference in the community has always been important to Colleen. While raising 5 children and running a business, she still found time to volunteer in EMS. Continuing her education, she became an AEMT and eventually Lieutenant. She has been with us for 27 years 9 of them being full time.
Alfred (Fred) Axelrod
AEMT
Smokejumper for the USFS, DNR Forestry Supervisor in Wausaukee and his love of cross country skiing brought Fred to Lakewood. He started as a driver for LTCAS and eventually an AEMT. Has been with us since 2010.
Nick Miller
AEMT - Full Time
EMS runs in Nick’s family so after graduating from Denmark High School, he pursued this career. He is currently an AEMT and has been with LTCAS since 2020. Striving to provide a better service to the community is important to Nick.
Don Young
AEMT - Full Time
Training Officer
Don works with the Ambulance Service as a training officer and medical professional. He currently holds his Advanced EMT license and has worked with us since 2018.
Lorraine Barbier
EMT
Lorra started her career as a CNA then served as a firefighter for 10 years between Mountain and Riverview’s fire departments. She has worked alongside our advanced EMT’s at LTCAS since 2023.
Vicki Pintsch
EMT
Vicki is a local business owner in Townsend and joined our crew when she was expecting her second of three children. Vicki became an EMT in 1981 and has worked with LTCAS for over 40 years.
Curtis Kee
EMR/Driver
Curtis has been in the industry for 20 years and with Lakewood Townsend Ambulance for the last 15 years. Curtis is a first responder as well as a driver and does maintenance on our ambulances.
Todd Yingling
Driver
Serving in the Marine Reserves after graduating from Wabeno, Todd was self-employed 30 years at Yingling Logging. Raised three beautiful children, eight grandchildren and coached little league for 8 years. Currently works for St. Mary's Catholic Church and has been a dedicated driver for LTCAS for the past 6 years.
History
In 1974 the people involved in the ambulance started a private ambulance service. Community Ambulance Service Incorporated as a non stock non profit entity to be run by the corporations internal board. They worked closely with both town boards to meet the need for emergency medical care in each town. The towns paid a portion of the ambulance budget for the contracted service. The balance of the budget came from fundraisers, donations and medical billing.
In 1993, the ambulance changed from non profit non stock to 501c which allowed donations to become tax deductible. Since then the Community Ambulance Service Inc has continued to provide expert EMS care to the residents of both towns while still contracting with each town.