147. Alan DeYoung, CEO of WEMSA, on Free EMS Education, Advocacy, and In Person Membership Visits
Update: 2025-07-10
Description
What happens when the people we count on to save lives… stop volunteering? How can associations support vital, yet undervalued, professions in today’s economy?
In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Alan DeYoung, Executive Director and CEO of the Wisconsin EMS Association (WEMSA). Alan discusses:
- The persistent challenge that EMS in Wisconsin is not legally mandated, leading to gaps in emergency care access across the state.
- A new state reimbursement program that will make EMS education free for Wisconsinites, removing financial barriers for individuals and employers alike.
- How WEMSA advocates for EMS through legislative efforts, including Alan becoming a registered lobbyist to deepen his influence and connections.
- The role of community-led initiatives, such as HOAs training members as first responders in rural areas.
- Why Alan believes being an outsider to the EMS profession strengthens his unbiased leadership and operational support role.
- How WEMSA uses tech stack reviews and system automation to maximize the impact of their small team.
- The importance of in-person member visits for member engagement, advocacy, member retention, and program development.
- A creative, non-dues revenue initiative to help EMS departments cover more of their costs by recovering patient insurance information that is often not collected in the rush of an EMS call.
- Why associations that implement education or industry-specific programs are more likely to thrive long-term.
References:
- WEMSA Website
- 2022 Associations Thrive interview with Alan DeYoung
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