Meet Our Leadership
Executive Leadership
Richard Zuschlag
March 28, 1948 – June 5, 2024
Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Richard Emery Zuschlag, along with Richard Sturlese and Roland Dugas, founded Acadian on September 1, 1971.
He initially served as Secretary-Treasurer and was later named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, a post he held until his death on June 5, 2024.
Our friend, mentor, and leader Richard fought the hard fight that so many with cancer and its complications have endured. While we mourn our extraordinary loss, we are comforted in knowing that he is no longer suffering. He is now in the loving arms of his Lord, in whom he had unwavering faith.
Richard was a much loved and admired agent of change, not only in the state of Louisiana but across the nation. The lives he affected through his vision, generosity, inspiration, and leadership are countless. Whether a friend, employee, peer or patient, all of our lives were changed due to his undeniable determination to make a difference.
His legacy endures through his beautiful family, and in every life saved, every patient helped, and in every battle he waged to ensure that all people had access to high-quality medical care. He never backed down when fighting for the things he loved most: his family, his employees, and the communities he served.
His legacy also lives on in the company he tirelessly worked 53 years to grow and nurture. Acadian Companies is not just a successful organization but also serves as an example of how servant leadership, high integrity and unwavering determination create success, not for one, but for all.
We will forever be changed, forever be grateful, and forever be better because of who Richard was and the lessons and legacy he has left us. He treated everyone with respect and was constantly striving to bring people together for the greater good. It is up to all of us to honor this legacy by living and leading by his example and his faith. Because of Richard, Acadian is stronger than ever, and in his honor, we will carry on his life’s work.
Eddy Dupuis
Chief Executive Officer
Eddy joined Acadian in 2007. He oversees Acadian’s accounting and budgeting functions, as well as financial and income tax reporting processes. He maintains banking relationships and serves as the principal officer regarding merger and acquisitions. He also provides direction for Acadian’s health insurance plan, 401(k) and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
Eddy is a certified public accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants. Prior to his appointment as CFO, he served as an executive vice president, where he provided financial oversight and guidance to several divisions of Acadian Companies, including Safety Management Systems, Acadian Total Security, Acadian Air Med and Executive Aircraft Charter Service. He graduated cum laude from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Allyson Pharr
Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer
Allyson has oversight responsibility for the legal & risk management, governmental affairs and public relations departments. She joined Acadian in 2001 as associate general counsel and now serves on the company’s executive committee, which has operational oversight for the administrative affairs of the organization as a whole.
Allyson received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1990 and her Juris Doctorate in law from Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, in May 1993. She is admitted to practice law in the states of Texas and Louisiana and in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana and the Eastern District of Texas. She is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.
Blaise Zuschlag
Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer
Blaise governs Acadian’s administrative, financial, and operational activities. He also plays an integral role in strategic initiatives including acquisitions, innovation, and governmental relations. Blaise joined Acadian Companies in February 2013 and has held roles as a business analyst, director of administration, and chief of staff. Prior to Acadian, he served as an advisor for JP Morgan Chase’s Private Bank.
A native of Lafayette, LA, Blaise earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Louisiana State University and an International MBA from Tulane University. He is a graduate of Leadership Lafayette Class 24 and serves on the LSU Board of Supervisors, First National Bank of Louisiana Board of Directors, AT&T Healthcare Advisory Board, and the Louisiana Committee of 100.
Blaise serves on numerous local nonprofit boards including Evangeline Area Boy Scouts Swamp Base Campaign, Holy Family Catholic School Advisory Committee (present Chairman), Love Our Schools, and the One Acadiana Executive Committee (Chairman 2023). Outside of his day-to-day work, he also plays a pivotal role in the management of the Zuschlag Family Foundation.
Justin Back
President of Acadian Ambulance
Justin began his career in the Australian army after graduating from the Royal Military College and served for eight years. During this time, he served in command roles in Iraq and Afghanistan, working closely with U.S. and coalition forces.
After his military service, he entered the maritime industry and was based in Singapore for five years. During this time, he worked primarily in West Africa, South America and the subcontinent in business development and project management roles. Justin moved to the U.S. to work as a project manager in the domestic onshore oil and gas industry before joining Acadian in June 2013 as vice president of fleet operations. He later served as VP of Operations for Acadian Ambulance’s Texas, Tennessee and Louisiana operations, as well as VP of Integrations. Justin has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Cross University and an MBA from LSU.
Scott Domingue
President of Safety Management Systems
Scott Domingue is the president of Safety Management Systems, bringing more than a decade of executive experience to the company. Under his leadership, SMS has diversified its offerings to encompass not only servicing the oil and gas industry, but emergency response markets as well. Through Scott’s guidance, SMS has consistent yearly growth results. SMS was ranked 23rd on the prestigious 2021 LSU Top 100 list, which recognizes the 100 fastest growing LSU graduate-owned or LSU graduate-led businesses in the world. Scott also provides executive leadership for Acadian Total Security, Acadian Health, and Acadian Federal Resources.
Scott is a graduate of Leadership Louisiana and Leadership Lafayette, and was a past chair for the Board of Directors of United Way of Acadiana. He is a member of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and the Young Presidents’ Organization, a global leadership community of chief executives.
Dana Neucere
Chief Financial Officer
Dana’s career spans more than 35 years within the healthcare industry, working for many high-profile organizations. She most recently served as Chief Financial Officer at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge. She has served as the Chief Financial Officer at Tenet Healthcare/Coast Healthcare Management, New Century Health, and Monarch Healthcare. She has also held roles as a Partner at Tatum LLC, and Executive Director at Keck School of Medicine – University of Southern California. She has been involved in all aspects of financial management. She is adept in facilitating new programs and practices and seeing all organizations to their peak performance potential in an ever-changing environment. Dana holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University.
Acadian Ambulance Leadership
Justin Back
President
Justin began his career in the Australian army after graduating from the Royal Military College and served for eight years. During this time, he served in command roles in Iraq and Afghanistan, working closely with U.S. and coalition forces.
After his military service, he entered the maritime industry and was based in Singapore for five years. During this time, he worked primarily in West Africa, South America and the subcontinent in business development and project management roles. Justin moved to the U.S. to work as a project manager in the domestic onshore oil and gas industry before joining Acadian in June 2013 as vice president of fleet operations. He later served as VP of Operations for Acadian Ambulance’s Texas, Tennessee and Louisiana operations, as well as VP of Integrations. Justin has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Cross University and an MBA from LSU.
Troy Guidry
Vice President
Service Area:
- Louisiana: Central Louisiana, Hub City, Ouachita and Southwest Louisiana areas
Troy joined Acadian in 1981 and has worked as an EMT, paramedic, paramedic field supervisor, operations supervisor, operations manager, director of operations and senior director of operations. He has assisted in all of Acadian’s expansions since 2004 and is the ambulance strike team leader for all Louisiana Rural Ambulance Alliance (LRAA) deployments. Troy serves as a Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) committee member and has a long history of serving in fire and law enforcement roles throughout Acadiana. He is a native of Arnaudville, Louisiana, and a graduate of Teurlings Catholic High School.
Tim Burke
Vice President
Service Area:
- Louisiana: Bayou, Capital, Northshore and Orleans areas
- Mississippi: Jackson and Harrison Counties
Tim has financial and operational responsibility for all Acadian operations in Southeast Louisiana and Jackson and Harrison Counties in Mississippi. Tim joined Acadian in 2003 after spending 17 years at a major urban medical center, where he worked in many capacities, including as controller. He last served as the senior director for clinic operations.
Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Loyola University and an MBA from the University of New Orleans. He is a CPA, a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). He is also trained in the National Incident Management System (NIMS) from FEMA. He is a member of the Metropolitan Ambulance Council (MAC) for Greater New Orleans.
Jay Lewis
Vice President
Service Area:
- Houston, Southeast Texas, Tennessee
Jay Lewis joined Acadian in April 2002 and has worked for Air Med as well as the Lafayette and Beaumont communication centers. He most recently worked as Air Med’s Flight Line Supervisor.
Jay began his Acadian career as an EMT in 2002, and became a paramedic two years later. Over the course of his career, he has worked as a field paramedic, dispatcher, flight paramedic and operations manager. He also holds certifications as a critical care paramedic and a certified flight paramedic.
Ron Quaranto
Vice President
Service Area:
- Texas: Central Texas, North Texas and South-Central Texas areas
A native of Massachusetts, Ron has been in the EMS industry for 34 years. He most recently served as executive vice president of operations for Cataldo Ambulance Service, and he has worked with Brewster Ambulance Service, Call9 and AMR over the years. Ron has been a member of the Metropolitan Boston Emergency Medical Services Council (Region IV), was appointed BOD as the Prehospital ALS Manager/Director, and served on the boards of the Massachusetts Ambulance Association and American Ambulance Association.
Beau Andrepont
Senior Director of Operations
Service Area:
- Louisiana
Beau Andrepont serves as Acadian Ambulance’s Senior Director of Operations. Beau joined Acadian in 1992. He has previously served as Director of Operations for our Central, North and South-Central Texas markets, Operations Manager for North Texas, Operations Coordinator for our Hub City market, Operations Supervisor in St. Landry Parish, Paramedic and EMT. Beau oversees daily operations metrics for the ambulance division, works closely with state Directors of Operations, promotes employee retention and career development, and oversees the movement of company resources during disasters and similar events.
Porter Taylor
Director of Operations
Service Area:
- Louisiana: Bayou, Capital, Northshore and Orleans areas; Mississippi: Jackson and Harrison Counties
Porter serves as the Director of Operations for Louisiana and Mississippi. He has previously served as Vice President of Operations, Operations Manager, Community Relations Supervisor, Paramedic Field Supervisor, paramedic, EMT, and runner as well as with Acadian Air Med. In addition to managing ground operations, Porter works closely with the State of Louisiana in disaster preparedness, response, and evacuation.
Rusty Wood
Director of Operations
Service Area:
- Texas: Central Texas, North Texas, South-Central Texas
Rusty Wood serves as Director of Operations for the Texas region. He joined Acadian in 2009 and has served as an Operations Manager, Quality Improvement Coordinator, Business Development Coordinator, Operations Coordinator, and paramedic. He has been a paramedic since 1996.
Rusty works closely with Acadian’s Director of Operations to support our Texas Operations Managers and works with our Texas Regional Vice Presidents to promote operational efficiency and vision.
Eric Thibodeaux
Director of Operations
Service Area:
- Texas: East Texas
Eric’s EMS career spans nearly two decades. Born and raised in Eunice, Louisiana, he pursued higher education at the University of Mississippi and McNeese State University. In 2004, he began his journey in emergency medical services at NEMSA in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
In 2005, Eric joined Acadian Ambulance as an EMT-Basic in the Lake Charles area, later obtaining his EMT-P license. After marrying his wife, Anya, the couple moved to Iota, Louisiana, where he actively contributed to the community as a volunteer firefighter and member of the auxiliary police force.
In 2012, he was promoted to operations manager for the North Central Texas district, eventually serving as the director of operations for both the central and north Texas operational areas. In late 2018, he relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, to take on the role of regional director. Currently residing in Houston, Texas, he serves as the director of operations for Texas East.
Chad Doucet
Director of Operations Planning
Chad Doucet began his career at Acadian Ambulance in 1992 and transitioned to the dispatch team in 1996, where he has remained ever since. Chad now serves as the Director of Operations Planning, continually driving initiatives that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Acadian’s services, both internally and externally.
Chad is passionate about leveraging technology to improve every aspect of operations and ensure Acadian stays in good care. He fosters an encouraging environment, always seeking to empower his staff to grow and succeed.
Chad remains committed to the company’s mission, using it in his daily operations. His dedication and reliability make him a huge asset to the Acadian team.
Rebecca Ozdych
Director of Operations – Texas Communications
Rebecca Ozdych serves as the Director of Operations – Texas Communications at Acadian Ambulance, overseeing dispatch centers in Dallas, Bastrop, Bexar, Pasadena, and Beaumont. She first received her paramedic certification at San Jacinto Community College, later continuing her studies in Biology and Chemistry at Texas State University.
Rebecca started her career as a paramedic shortly after Acadian expanded into San Antonio and Austin in 2006. Her transition into dispatch was quick, leading to a promotion to a full-time supervisor role. In 2015, she advanced to operations coordinator, followed by another promotion to operations manager in 2021. In July 2024, she achieved her current position as Director of Operations – Texas Communications.
Rebecca leads by example and ensures her dispatchers have the support they need to succeed. Being a leader, she values the responsibility of overseeing patient care. Her journey from field medic to director of operations shows her hard work and dedication.
Matt Guillory
Director of Communications, Louisiana & Mississippi
Matt Guillory oversees communications operations for Acadians Companies’ Louisiana and Mississippi regions, including managing Unit Hour Utilization (UHU) and serving as Emergency Response Operations Coordinator (EROC), where he coordinates hospital and local evacuations.
Matt began his career at Acadian as an EMT on a ground ambulance in New Iberia, Louisiana, after earning his certificate through the National EMS Academy. Shortly after, he had steady growth within the communications department, having held roles such as Alternate Supervisor, Operations Supervisor, Operations Coordinator, Operations Manager, and now Director of Operations.
With his strong commitment to servant leadership and a passion for helping others, Matt has dedicated himself to guiding and developing the people under him. Outside of Acadian, Matt serves his community as a Captain of the Broussard Fire Department, where he has volunteered for 16 years.
Air Services Leadership
Michael Sonnier
Vice President of Air Services
Mike joined Acadian in 1990 as an EMT and was certified as a paramedic in 1992. Mike has worn many hats at Acadian, working on ground ambulances and offshore locations as a paramedic, at Acadian’s Communication Center as a supervisor, and Air Services’ coordinator for Acadian’s Fixed-Wing division before becoming an operations manager.
While at Acadian, Mike has won many awards, including Communications Specialist of the Year in 1997 and Telecommunicator of the Year in 2006.
Mike attended Louisiana State University and University of Louisiana at Lafayette before entering the EMT/paramedic program at the National EMS Academy.
Marc Creswell, FP-C
Air Med Program Director
Marc began working with Acadian in 1990 in Abbeville, Louisiana. He worked in human resources, education, communications, and was the first training officer for Air Med Services. He now manages the day-to-day operations of the Air Med’s rotor-wing division, Operational Control Center and other operational issues under the directions of Air Med Services.
Marc trained at Acadian through the in-house paramedic class and was named Paramedic of the Year in 2007. Marc’s air medical experiences have offered content in several documentaries on the Discovery Channel and National Geographic.
Sherri Wells, FP-C
Operations Manager, Air Med-Rotor Wing
Sherri joined Acadian in 1997, working in Hammond, Louisiana, as an EMT. She became a paramedic in 2001 and joined the Air Med division in 2005. Throughout her time at Acadian, Sherri has been involved in many aspects of the company, including the ground division, education, public relations and air operations. Sherri is a Paramedic Flight Supervisor for Air Med’s rotor wing division and oversees personnel and daily operational issues.
Sherri attended LSU-Eunice and received her Associate Degree in Emergency Medical Services with a Certificate of Technical Studies in Safety. She was nominated for Air Med paramedic of the year in 2013 and 2018.
Shaun Templet, FP-C
Quality Improvement Supervisor, Air Med-Rotor Wing
Shaun joined Acadian in 2004, working in Houma, Louisiana as an EMT. He became a paramedic in 2006 and a CCT medic in 2009. Shaun became an alternate flight paramedic in 2012 and took a full time position in the department later that same year. Shaun has worked in the dispatch center and helped with many educational roll-outs within the company. He continues to do adjunct work with the National EMS Academy.
As Quality Improvement Coordinator, Shaun oversees clinical performance and documentation. He has an Associate of Science degree from the Nicholls State University College of Nursing and Allied Health.
Medical Directors
Charles Burnell, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Burnell is a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Medicine and is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He serves as lead over other associate medical directors across Acadian’s service areas. Dr. Burnell reviews on-scene medical procedures and procedures between medics and emergency room physicians. He oversees training and continuing education programs at NEMSA, as well as Acadian’s wellness and quality enhancement programs.
Dr. Burnell spent 13 years at Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he was the emergency department director. Before becoming medical director in 2010, Dr. Burnell worked closely with Acadian for 16 years, including during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where he served as the director of air transports of patients from the Superdome.
Dr. Burnell graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Biochemistry at Louisiana State University. He was involved in the formation and certification of Stroke Center of Excellence at Our Lady of Lourdes RMC as the Emergency Department (ED) Stroke Team director and was instrumental in the formation of ED staffing corporation. He served as the ED director at Acadiana Acute Care Associates, LLC. He is part-owner and medical director of a private maritime security company, OSS GLOBAL (Oceanic Security and Salvage Global), with security operatives throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and East African Coast.
Emily Kidd, M.D.
Texas Medical Director
Dr. Kidd oversees the company’s clinical operations throughout the state of Texas. She has an extensive background in clinical emergency medicine and emergency medical services (EMS) and is very familiar with both Bexar County and Houston, having served as the assistant medical director and interim medical director for the San Antonio Fire Department and the assistant medical director for the Houston Fire Department’s Division of EMS.
She is double-board certified in EMS and emergency medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. She is an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Department of Emergency Health Sciences, at San Antonio and worked at Christus Santa Rosa City Center and Methodist Hospitals.
Dr. Kidd has experience in disaster preparedness, public health and medical emergency management at the local, regional, state and federal levels. Since 2006, she has been a sitting committee member on the Governor’s EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Committee. She also is a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Advisory Council.
Dr. Kidd served her internship and residency at East Carolina University, received her doctor of medicine degree from the University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center and her bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M University.
Ameen Jamali, M.D.
Safety Management Systems Medical Director
Dr. Ameen M. Jamali, MD, FACEP, brings extensive experience and expertise to his role as Medical Director at Safety Management Systems. Currently serving as a Clinical Assistant Professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Jamali combines academic pursuits with hands-on clinical practice, providing care at the Medical Center Hospital Emergency Department in Odessa, Texas.
With positions at prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins, Dr. Jamali has contributed significantly to emergency medicine and tactical medicine. He has provided medical support to various government agencies, including the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Secret Service.
Board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Jamali’s training and education at institutions like William Beaumont Hospital and the University of Toledo College of Medicine have laid the foundation for his clinical skills and leadership abilities.
Dr. Jamali’s involvement in research and international healthcare initiatives, including collaborations with the World Health Organization, reflects his commitment to addressing global health challenges. He is an active member of professional organizations such as the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Stephen Bell, M.D.
Mississippi Medical Director
Dr. Bell has served the Mississippi Gulf Coast for over 20 years as staff physician for Singing River Health System and the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System Biloxi VA. He takes great pride in his affiliation with Acadian Ambulance Service and ensures that our medics have the best in innovation, education, training and oversight.
Dr. Bell is board-certified in Emergency Medicine, a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and serves as a preceptor for William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. After receiving his undergraduate degree in microbiology from LSU, he attended University of Alabama and received a masters degree in molecular biology. He graduated from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, completed an internship in Internal Medicine at Earl K. Long Hospital, and did his Emergency Medicine Residency at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS.
Dr. Bell has served on multiple committees, including the Mississippi Coastal Trauma Region, South District Trauma Performance Improvement, and the Mississippi Department of Health Bureau of EMS.
Corporate Leadership
Scott Domingue
President of Safety Management Systems
Scott Domingue is the president of Safety Management Systems, bringing more than a decade of executive experience to the company. Under his leadership, SMS has diversified its offerings to encompass not only servicing the oil and gas industry, but emergency response markets as well. Through Scott’s guidance, SMS has consistent yearly growth results. SMS was ranked 23rd on the prestigious 2021 LSU Top 100 list, which recognizes the 100 fastest growing LSU graduate-owned or LSU graduate-led businesses in the world. Scott also provides executive leadership for Acadian Total Security, Acadian Health, and Acadian Federal Resources.
Scott is a graduate of Leadership Louisiana and Leadership Lafayette, and was a past chair for the Board of Directors of United Way of Acadiana. He is a member of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and the Young Presidents’ Organization, a global leadership community of chief executives.
Brandon Niles
Senior Director of Acadian Total Security
As senior director, Brandon leads the strategic development of Acadian Total Security. He has been with Acadian since 2010. In 2013, he was named manager of ATS’ monitoring centers in Lafayette and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as one in Chicago, Illinois. He was promoted to operations director in 2016, managing the day-to-day operations. Brandon holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Iowa and a Juris Doctorate from the University of St. Thomas. He holds security licenses in Louisiana, Arizona and Delaware, and currently serves as a director on The Monitoring Association’s board. He is a graduate of the 2013 Leadership Lafayette class and was selected as a Security Systems News Top 20 Under 40 honoree in 2018.
Kelly Delhomme
Vice President of Finance
Kelly joined Acadian in 2002 as a staff accountant. She has served as director of accounting and assistant controller. She manages and oversees all corporate accounting functions for Acadian’s divisions.
Kelly is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 2000.
Joe Lightfoot
Vice President of Human Resources
Joe joined Acadian in May 2001. He has responsibility for compliance with all labor and employment law matters, recruitment and selection, salary and benefits administration, employee record-keeping and employee relations. Prior to 2001, Joe spent ten years in the hospital industry, serving in senior leadership roles at medical centers in Arkansas and Missouri.
He has served in various volunteer roles with the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, United Way of Acadiana, Ascension Episcopal School Board of Trustees, Boy Scouts Explorer Post 108 Council and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Joe earned both an MBA with a healthcare administration concentration and a bachelor’s degree in business administration/marketing from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Randall Mann
Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations
Randall joined Acadian in 2009 as the director of sales and marketing for Acadian Monitoring Services. He was promoted to vice president on the corporate level in 2013. Randall is responsible for developing and implementing marketing initiatives for Acadian’s six divisions. A graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he served in various advertising, marketing and public relations roles in agency and in-house settings for more than 25 years.
Randall is a private pilot and enjoys volunteering in his community. He is active in Lafayette’s Mardi Gras activities and served on the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, the University of Louisiana Alumni Association, Acadian Air Festival, Sertoma Cajun Air Show and Louisiana Honor Air.