Community Corner
Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. (WVAC) Announces Election of New Executive Operating Committee
Chris joined WVAC in 1997. He started as a driver and, over the years, became an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and then an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Chris served four years as Treasurer of WVAC and was the catalyst for Wilton’s achievement of the HEARTSafe community designation from the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the American Heart Association. In June 2013, Chris was elected President of WVAC.
“During my term as President, I am committed to leading the positive growth of WVAC with the management teams, both past and present, as well as maintaining the financial health of WVAC with constructive fiscal management,” Chris says.
Through encouragement of participation of all WVAC members in the success of WVAC as one of the best EMS volunteer ambulance organizations in Fairfield County, Chris aspires to the goal of continuing and strengthening WVAC’s partnership with the Town of Wilton's elected and appointed officials, the Police Department, the Fire Department, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
In his current professional life, Chris is a small business owner selling and servicing Automated External Defibrillator (AED) devices. He also provides American Heart Association First Aid, CPR/AED training up to the Basic Life Support level and assists lead instructors with EMT courses.
Chris has lived in Wilton with his wife since 1977 and has two grown children.
Patrick York, Vice President:
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Patrick began his service with WVAC in 2010 and has been in charge of radio communications at WVAC since 2011. During his term as Vice President, Patrick is committed to ensuring that the organization runs smoothly with all of the executive positions working in a cohesive fashion.
“It is vital to our success that we provide the membership with proper leadership, adequate training, and with the best equipment. These key elements will help us provide the absolute best services to the citizens of Wilton,” Patrick says.
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In January 2013, Patrick graduated from the University of New Haven with a BS in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Law Enforcement Administration.
Patrick has been a Wilton resident since 1996.
Brian Heffernan, Treasurer:
Brian has been a member of WVAC for 7 years and has been an EMT since he was 16 years old, serving on several rescue and first aid squads in New Jersey prior to joining WVAC.
As Treasurer, Brian will strive to maintain WVAC’s fiscal stability, revenue growth and fundraising in hopes of purchasing a "new home" for WVAC in the future.
“My vision is to preserve our assets, keep the Corps financially viable and invest for a new building fund, equipment and vehicles to serve the community of Wilton. I also want to make this a great place to be and volunteer,” says Brian.
After previous experience as treasurer at VanDoren Johnson Co., an electrical distributor in New Jersey, Brian moved onto his current career in pharmaceuticals and has worked at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals for the past 15 years.
Brian lives in Wilton with his wife and three children, all of whom are very supportive of his volunteer work.
Robert Storck, Secretary:
For the past five years, Robert has been an active member of WVAC. Robert started volunteering at WVAC in 2008 after completing his EMT course in New Hampshire where he served as a member of the Mountain Search and Rescue Team.
“As Secretary, I hope to be able to keep the Corps well informed about all of the current issues that are taking place at WVAC. As a member of the Executive Committee, I will work to grow the current membership of the Corps,” Robert says.
In addition, Robert maintains a goal of having everyone who lives or works in the Town of Wilton certified or at least trained in CPR.
Robert graduated from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland in 2012 with a degree in Behavioral Neuroscience. While there, Robert was a varsity rower, a member of Phi Delta Theta, worked as an athletic trainer and volunteered on the Kent and Queens Anne’s Rescue Squad as an EMT. In his service to the Kent and Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Robert served as a member of the Dive Rescue Team and flew on the State Trooper run Life Flight helicopter.
Robert lives in Wilton and is looking forward to continuing his education in medicine in the coming years.
WVAC is committed to continuing community outreach and education, by offering Hands-Only CPR training on a regular basis. In alignment with Wilton’s HEARTSafe community designation, WVAC is looking forward to sponsoring the Hands for Life Wilton event. These events can double the survival of cardiac arrest victims in our community. Hands for Life®, a new health education effort, will work to help Wilton become a truly heart safe community, embracing the American Heart Association’s challenge to educate a greater percentage of our residents and workforce on how to save lives with CPR
The mission of the Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps is to provide the highest quality pre-hospital emergency care, both physical and emotional, and emergency transportation to the appropriate healthcare facility to the town of Wilton, Connecticut. We are committed to active participation within our community, to serve as role models and to effectively utilize all our available resources to provide the highest level of service possible to meet the needs of our community both now and into the future.
