Education By the Sea 2024  |  May 7-10, 2024 |  Port Aransas Civic Center in Port Aransas, Texas

Keaton Mattick, EMS Division Chief, Bexar County ESD No. 2 Fire/EMS

Chief Keaton Mattick has been a Paramedic for 17 years, primarily at fire-based EMS services. He has served as an instructor and Field Training Officer. Currently, he is the Division Chief of EMS Operations for Bexar County ESD 2. He has a passion for helping Paramedics to provide the highest level of care they can for their patients. Chief Mattick obtained his B.A.A.S. from Texas A&M-San Antonio and is pursuing his MPA from Texas A&M University.

Kenneth Pippin, Lieutenant, New Braunfels Fire Department

Kenneth Pippin is a Lieutenant/Paramedic with the City of New Braunfels (TX) Fire Department, currently assigned to the EMS Division. Kenneth is also an Adjunct Instructor with Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) and has presented at multiple national conferences, including EMS World Expo. Lieutenant Pippin holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire and Emergency Services Administration, an associate degree in EMS, and has over 17 years of experience in fire and EMS.

Jeff Morris, Fire Chief/Paramedic, Portland Fire Department

For over 39 years, Fire Chief Jeff Morris has worked in the public safety field as a Police Officer, Paramedic, and Firefighter. He has years of experience helping lead several high-performing fire departments such as The Portland Fire Department, Euless Fire Department, and Dallas Fort Worth Airport Department of Public Safety. Chief Morris has an MPA from Texas Tech University and is skilled in training, strategic planning, and company collaboration.

Michael Hayes, EMS Division Chief, City of New Braunfels

Chief Mike Hayes is the EMS Division Chief for the City of New Braunfels Fire Department. He has been part volunteer, part-time, career, and Department of Defense agencies in the past 24 years within the American Fire Service. He is active in the Texas EMTF as A TFL, ASTL, MIST, MEDL and ASM. Chief Hayes holds a BS in Business Administration as well as a BS in Emergency Health Science and recently complete his MPA from UT Arlington. He is a TX LP, board certified CCP, FPC, and TPC as well as Credentialed CEMSO from CPSE.

Dr. Justin Northeim, Medical Director, BEST EMS/PCHD & Chris Briggs, Deputy Director, PCHD

Dr. Justin Northeim started in EMS at 15 in Cleveland with Life Care Ambulance. He completed his ER residency at Michigan State University. He worked in Minneapolis and then with Questcare Partners in DFW. He is now with IES and serves as the Assistant Director for BEST EMS who provides medical control for over 40 agencies. He holds roles at NCTTRAC and TCU Burnett School of Medicine. He recently earned Texas' 2021 Medical Director of the Year and has recently become IBSC Flight Paramedic Certified.

Deputy Director Chris Briggs has over 20 years of expertise in EMS, currently serving as Deputy Director at Parker County Hospital's EMS Division. Holding an EMS master’s from Creighton and a bachelor's from UTHSC at San Antonio, he's a distinguished leader dedicated to quality care and efficiency. Additionally, Director Briggs serves as a Police Officer in Weatherford, underscoring his commitment to community safety. His dedication to both fields showcases his professionalism and passion.

Richard Maricle, Captain, EMS Education & Training, Bexar County ESD No. 2 Fire/EMS

Richard "Rick" Maricle is the Captain of EMS Training at Bexar County ESD #2 and has a passion for prehospital medicine and critical care. Additionally, he is the President-elect for the National Association for Veterinary Emergency Medical Services and instructs as a Critical Care Instructor for Impact EMS Training - formerly IA MED. His specific EMS interests are ground critical care, physiology, K9 medicine, and continuing EMS education.

Hunter Harbold, Paramedic, EMS Educator, Parker County Hospital District EMS

Hunter R. Harbold, LP, MPA, FP-C, is a medical school student and has served in various roles as a paramedic and EMS educator in the North Central Texas area. He has research interest in stroke care, airway management, and various other aspects of emergency and prehospital medicine.

Suh Hughart, Paramedic, San Marcos Hays County EMS

Suh Hughart, EMT-P, FcEHS has worked in different sectors of EMS including private, hospital based, and 911 ambulance services. Currently she works as a field paramedic and EMS educator for San Marcos Hays County EMS. Suh is faculty at the Centre for Emergency Health Sciences and works as an EMS Instructor for Kyle Fire Department. Suh is a part of the Central Texas Coalition Against Human trafficking and has presented lectures on human trafficking at state and national EMS Conferences.

Shane Beck, EMS Coordinator/Captain, Trophy Club EMS

Captain Shane Beck served as Shift Captain and EMS Coordinator for Trophy Club Fire Department for 27 years. During his 40-year career, he has worked in a variety of EMS systems including rural, hospital based, Private EMS, SSM, aeromedical and fire based. He holds Texas Commission on Fire Protection Advanced FF, Instructor II, Fire Officer II certifications, and National Emergency Medical Services Management Associations Managing Paramedic Officer certifications.