Bruce Shade has been involved in emergency services since 1972, starting with Granger Township, Medina, Ohio, as a volunteer firefighter/EMT. He worked for the City of Cleveland from 1975 until his retirement in 2006. In Cleveland, he progressed through the ranks, starting as a paramedic, and then he was promoted to supervisor, commissioner of EMS and finally assistant safety director. He also served as a part-time paramedic/firefighter for the City of Willowick for ten years and the City of Willoughby for 11 years, where he is still employed. After his retirement he formed his own Homeland Security and emergency preparedness consulting company and contracted with local city and county health departments, hospitals and emergency management agencies on various projects. Then from 2010 until 2013 he worked as Director of Operations for Community Care Ambulance in Ashtabula, Ohio. He currently works as Assistant Safety Service Director for the City of Elyria. Since 1977, Mr. Shade has worked as an EMT and paramedic instructor at Lakeland Community College and Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), where he continues to teach. He has also lectured at local, regional, statewide and national EMS conferences. Bruce is a published author of numerous EMS related materials and textbooks including Mosby’s EMT-Intermediate Textbook and Fast and Easy ECGs.He has held numerous offices in the National Association of EMTs, the Instructor Coordinator Society, and several local associations. He is the former chairperson of the Ohio EMS Board.He received an Associate Degree of Applied Science in EMS from Cuyahoga Community College in 2000.