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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT NED THATCHER, COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANAGER AT 908 782-8100 or nedt@whitehouserescue.com

Whitehouse First Aid and Rescue Squad Announces 2007 Leadership

The Whitehouse First Aid & Rescue announces its leadership for 2007. Day to day operations and management of actual calls will be led by Chief George Liothake, Assistant Chief Jeff Herzog, EMS Captain Bob Rainey, Acting Rescue Captain Jeremy Colby, Engineer Lieutenant David Flanagan, and Training Lieutenant Lee Paretti Scotti. The executive leadership is made up of President Lance Booth, Vice President Bea Liothake, Treasurer Bob Rainey, Assistant Treasurer Patti Kousoulis, Recording Secretary Ushma Patel, Corresponding Secretary Laurene Fleming, Chaplain Larry Lelah, Historian Stephanie Becker and Trustees Fred Thomisser, Larry Lelah, Laurene Fleming and Stephanie Becker.

The rescue squad, located on Main Street Whitehouse Station, serves the majority of Readington Township, portions of Clinton and Tewksbury Townships, and half of Lebanon Boro. In the day time hours it also has cooperation agreements with Branchburg and Tewksbury Rescue Squads.

Similar to the entire membership, the leadership of the squad has a diverse background of experience and training. Several of the team members have been serving the community for decades.

Chief George Liothake has been a Firefighter and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for seventeen years. He has served as an officer in various federal, state, and local emergency service agencies and over the years has responded to thousands of emergencies. He has balanced experience in rescue services training as well as public administration and management. George is a newly wed and helps his wife with dog rescue and placements.

Assistant Chief Jeffrey Herzog has been part of emergency services for fourteen years, serving as the Chief of the Whitehouse Squad from 1998 through 2006, providing leadership for thousands of calls including Hurricane Floyd, Y2K events, response to the September 11th attacks, and other localized major incidents. Jeff has extensive rescue services training in various disciplines of rescue services. In addition to serving on various countywide agencies for leadership and management, Jeff is the current President of a central New Jersey marking firm.

EMS Captain Bob Rainey has been a member of the Whitehouse Rescue Squad for three years. He is the squad’s Treasurer in addition to his duties of EMS Captain. His is a Master Technician with the squad’s heavy Rescue Services Unit. Bob is a member of the Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Task Force and participates in the squad’s Rehab Unit, which is called for major incidents for care of fire, police and rescue personnel. Bob is pursuing his CPR/First Aid instructor certification. Bob is an electrical engineer and has two adult children.

First Lieutenant Dave Flannagan has been an EMT for six years working as a critical care transport technician, working neonatal and pediatric intensive care transport, Irvington EMS and a 9-1-1 dispatcher for two counties. Currently Dave is an Emergency Room Technician at Morristown Memorial Hospital and plans to begin paramedic school in 2007. Second Lieutenant

Lee Scotti has been a member and EMT for fourteen years, seven of which she has served as an officer. Lee responded as part of the mobilization to Ground Zero in NYC. Lee is a CPR/First Aid Instructor. She has lived in Readington for seventeen years and has three children. President Lance Booth has been on the squad for ten years.

Lance has served as Treasurer, Chaplain, and EMS Captain. He served during the 9/11 and Hurricane Floyd responses. Lance and his wife have four children and eleven grandchildren.

Vice President Bea Liothake started her EMS career in Huntsville, AL and currently splits her volunteer work between the Whitehouse Rescue Squad and Rawhide Rescue, a central NJ dog rescue non-profit.

Fred Thomisser has been a member since 1980 and an EMT for 26 years. He has lived in the township since 1971. Another community activity that he is actively involved in is Meals on Wheels where Fred is a driver.

Larry Lelah has been a member of the squad since 1995, holding his EMT certification since 1996. During his time with the squad Larry has held EMS Captain, Rig Lieutenant, President, Trustee and Chaplain positions. He has lived in Readington since 1990 and has a Doctorate in organizational leadership. Larry is married with four children.

Ushma Patel has been a member of the rescue squad since 2001 and an EMT since 2002. She is a resident of Readington since 1999 and has three children in high school.

To find out more about the Whitehouse First Aid & Rescue Squad visit www.whitehouserescue.com.