Jeffrey Howe

Director

Jeff has been the Director of American Professional Educational Services since 2000. His dedication to emergency medicine has encompassed various related works. He began his EMS career in 1991, with the East Greenwich Fire District, in Rhode Island. As an EMT-Basic, Jeff respectfully earned the rank of Captain, while voluntarily serving the Fire District for 15 years. At one time, he was the Training Coordinator at Roger Williams Medical Center, as well as the Emergency Cardiovascular Program Coordinator for the American Heart Association. He was employed as the Special Projects Director for Rhode Island Ambulance for many years, also.

Currently, Jeff is a Training Officer for the Rhode Island DMAT Team, in conjunction with the Department of Health & Human Services. He is a licensed EMT-Cardiac for the state of Rhode Island and an EMT-Intermediate in Connecticut. He is a certified Instructor for Weapons of Mass Destruction, Terrorism Awareness, and several OSHA programs. In addition, Jeff is also the Director of Training, Education, & Safety for American Ambulance Service.

Jeffrey resides in Warwick, Rhode Island, with his wife and son. During his leisure time, he enjoys skiing, reading, vacationing in warm climates, and spending quality time with his family.

Ken Fargo

Deputy Director

Mr. Fargo is a 2002 Graduate of Charter Oak State College. He joined American Professional Educational Services with more than 25 years of experience in the health and safety field. Ken retired from the University of Connecticut Police Department as a Master Sergeant, and is also a military veteran who once served as a Combat Medic. He continues to serve our country today as a Chief Petty Officer in the Naval Reserves.

In 2005, Ken accepted his current position as the Deputy Director of Development, Quality Assurance and Safety. He shares his vast knowledge of EMS in the capacity of an Instructor for the American Heart Association, also. Mr. Fargo takes great pride in his successes of working diligently to implement many new programs at American Professional Educational Services. He believes in providing a superior product to all of our customers.

Ken resides in Griswold, CT, with his wife and daughter. Together, they enjoy camping and quality family time.

David Miller, NREMT-P, EMS-I

EMS Program Director

Mr. Miller has a strong family background in Emergency Medical Services, growing up with his grandfather and great grandfather. Both had long and distinguished histories in EMS in Massachusetts.

David’s devotion to the EMS field spans many years. He started his career with fire services at a young age, as a volunteer firefighter. He earned his Basic and Cardiac certifications while still in high school. In 1993, he began educating the community in EMS knowledge. Later, he earned the title of EMS Coordinator while employed as a full-time firefighter with the East Greenwich Fire District, in Rhode Island. During his career there, David organized the Department’s first Dive Team, developing and implementing its training and standard operating guidelines. After more than 21 years of service, he retired at the rank of Captain in May 2008. In addition, David continued to enhance his own knowledge in Technical Rescue, Rope Rescues, and Dive Rescue Operations. For many years, David also worked for a major dive company as a Response Diver, where he logged hundreds of hours in emergency settings.

In 2001, David joined American Professional Educational Services, as an EMT Instructor. He pursued his certification as a Paramedic in 2006, and successfully finished at the top of his class. He quickly earned the respect of his peers and became the EMS Program Director shortly thereafter.

To date, David holds Instructor certifications in the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut. As the EMS Program Director, he strives to provide the best educational experience possible for all of his students, teaching them the skills they need to pass their National EMT Exam, as well as to provide each of them with the proper tools to function in the field once they are licensed.

Currently, David lives in West Warwick, Rhode Island, with his wife. In their spare time, they enjoy boating, traveling, and spending time with their Australian Shepards, Mickey and Sydney.

Damian M. Rickard, NREMT-P, EMS-I, EMD-Q

Special Operations Program Coordinator

Damian has been involved in Emergency Medical Services, in Southeastern Connecticut, for more than a decade, in commercial and volunteer capacities. He has an extensive background in Public Safety Telecommunications, EMS Management, and patient care practiced as a Paramedic/Paramedic Preceptor.

Currently, Mr. Rickard is the Director of Operations at American Ambulance Service. He is certified by the state of Connecticut as an EMS Instructor, and is an avid Instructor of Advanced Hazardous Materials Life Support, as well as many American Heart Association classes. In addition, Damian is an Instructor of Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness, through the National Center for Domestic Preparedness, as well as a Certified Telecommunicator. He is a member of the National Academy of Emergency Dispatch and the National Association of EMS Educators.

Residing in Norwich with his wife, Andrea, Damian takes great pleasure in spending time with his beautiful daughter, Aubrey. He also enjoys a hobby of photography.

Shelly Howe

Community Program Coordinator

Shelly joined our Team after 18+ years in the Early Childhood Education field. She spent the last five of those years in a supervisory capacity as a Center Director. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from SUNY College at Oneonta, an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Herkimer County Community College, and currently holds a Rhode Island Teacher Certification.

Shelly has been affiliated with American Professional Educational Services for six years as a CPR/First Aid/ AED Instructor. She is also a BLS Training Center Faculty Member.

Today, Shelly is responsible for all of the community-based CPR programs. When she is not busy at work, Shelly enjoys skiing with friends, swimming, reading, and traveling with her husband, Jeffrey, and their son, Jack. Together, they reside in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Pam Smith, R.N.

Nursing Assistant Coordinator

Pam is the Certified Nurses Aid Program Coordinator for American Professional Educational Services. Pam has 31 years of nursing experience, including 20 years in long-term care. Throughout these years, Pam held positions as Director of Nursing Services, Director of Education and Employee Health, ICN and Nurse Manager. In addition, she has worked on the Rehabilitation Unit and Float Pool at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, New London Pediatric Group and Shoreline Immunology. She is also certified in Infection Control and Clinical Research.

Today, Pam resides in Mystic, CT, with her husband, Joseph. She has four children and four grandchildren.

Sean Trainor, NREMT-P

ACLS/PALS Coordinator

Sean has been involved in emergency medical services for more than ten years. His experience includes volunteer, private ambulance, and hospital-based paramedic services.

In 1999, Sean successfully graduated from Three Rivers Community College and decided to pursue a career as a Paramedic.

Currently, Sean works at Windham Community Memorial Hospital with a Paramedic Intertcept Vehicle. He provides pre-hospital advanced life support to the city of Willimantic, as well as sixteen surrounding communities. He has been with American Professional Educational Services for many years as an instructor for Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

Sean resides in Moosup, CT, with his wife and daughter.