Board of Directors

Maura Hughes

Chair

Boston MedFlight, Massachusetts

Ms. Hughes is a non-profit executive with over 25 years’ experience in non-profit and healthcare industries. She is a CPA and graduate of Merrimack College with a BS in Accounting. She also holds an MBA in Finance from Bentley University.

Ms. Hughes is a nationally recognized expert on critical care transport consortium models and critical care transport billing. She has provided expert advice to regulators as it relates to transport reimbursement and is asked to comment on proposed legislation as it relates to regulation of critical care transport and payment for services. She also provides advice to other air medical services considering creation of transport consortiums and advice on transport billing and operations.

Ms. Hughes joined Boston MedFlight in 1998, and served as their Chief Financial Officer for 18 years and Chief Executive Officer for the past four years. She is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Financial Executives International, Massachusetts Society of CPAs, Bentley Executive Club, and serves on various non-profit boards. Prior to her tenure at Boston MedFlight she served as a Certified Public Accountant with AAFCPAs as an auditor specializing in non-profit audits.

Board Term Expires 2029

Brian A. Doughty

Vice Chair

HealthNet Aeromedical Services, Inc., West Virginia

Brian serves as the Vice President for Business Operations / Chief Financial Officer for HealthNet Aeromedical Services, Inc. (HealthNet), a not-for-profit aeromedical company headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia.  Brian has been with HealthNet since March 2012, and previously worked for Arnett & Foster, PLLC (now known as Baker Tilly).  At HealthNet, Brian’s areas of responsibility include finance, business development, payroll and benefits, human resources, and information technology.  Brian is a graduate of West Virginia University with Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Management Information Systems.

Brian is an Executive Board Member and President of the Board for the Buckskin Council Boy Scouts of America.  In June 2020, Brian was appointed to the West Virginia Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (EMSAC) by West Virginia’s Governor Jim Justice. He is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Kanawha Valley and 2017 graduate of Leadership West Virginia. Brian also volunteers for various civic and charitable organizations.

Board Term Expires 2028

Dennis Mack, MPA, CMEL, EMT, CMTE

Secretary

Atrium Health/MedCenter Air, North Carolina

Dennis is the Director of Operations for MedCenter Air at Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC. Prior to joining MedCenter Air, Dennis was the Communications Manager for WakeMed Air Mobile in Raleigh, NC. Dennis began his career in the air medical industry with Keystone Helicopter in 1994. Dennis’ other past experience includes a former police lieutenant, an A&P Technician, and he is a commercial rated pilot. Dennis is the President of the North Carolina Air Medical Association (NCAA) and is a ten year veteran of the USAF where he flew air medical missions during the Operations Just Cause and Desert Storm. Dennis received his undergraduate degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and his graduate degree in Public Administration with an Emergency Management concentration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Board Term Expires 2029

Richard (Dick) Whipple

Treasurer

Mercy Flights, Oregon

Dick has amassed nearly four decades of experience in the air medical and EMS industry. His career spans 20 years as a care provider in ground 911 systems and as a flight paramedic. Over the years, he has held various administrative positions and led multiple safety initiatives. Currently, he is an active member of the safety committee for the Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA) and a staunch advocate for Just Culture and High Reliability operations.

Board Term Expires 2028

William Beninati, MD

Intermountain Medical Transport, Utah

Bill Beninati is a critical care/pulmonary physician serving as CMO for the Intermountain Virtual Hospital consisting of the integrated functions of Flight and Ambulance Services, TeleHealth, Clinical Command Centers, and Outreach. The Virtual Hospital is transforming care in the region by bringing Intermountain’s resources to bear, in real time, to support rapid access to specialty care, and keeping care local whenever that is the best option. For those patients who need rapid transport to advanced care, the air medical rescue and critical care transport program operates 50+ aircraft, 20+ ground ambulances. The program conducts complex missions including pediatric, neonatal specialty and high-risk Ob transport, advanced respiratory support, mechanical cardiac support, rotor wing IFR, lift hoist rescue, and international jet service. Dr. Beninati has 31 years in air medical transport, including 13 years of service as the Air-Force-level clinical leader for Critical Care Air Transport Teams with transport experience on five continents and three combat deployments. He is co-editor of the textbook Aeromedical Evacuation.

Board Term Expires 2029

Kasey Hart, BS, FP-C

University of Utah AirMed, Utah

Kasey Hart began his career in the United States Navy as a Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC), where he was first introduced to medicine through Tactical Combat Casualty Care training. Following his military service, he completed his paramedic education and served as a Deputy Sheriff/Paramedic in a dual-role position, while also serving on a regional SWAT team.

After five years in public safety and emergency medicine, Kasey joined University of Utah AirMed as a Flight Paramedic. He currently serves as the Park City Base Supervisor, overseeing clinical operations, personnel development, and operational readiness for one of the region’s air medical transport bases.

Kasey brings more than 14 years of experience as a paramedic, including 9 years as a Flight Paramedic. He has also spent 7 years teaching point-of-care ultrasound to prehospital providers and has 5 years of leadership experience managing an air medical base. His background combines military service, public safety, critical care transport, education, and healthcare leadership, providing a unique perspective on organizational governance, risk management, and operational excellence.

Board Term Expires 2027

Joseph Kellner

LifeFlight of Maine, Maine

Joe Kellner serves as the CEO of LifeFlight of Maine, where he brings a deep understanding of healthcare policy, and a dedication to building world-class EMS systems to improve healthcare outcomes.

While studying at the University of Maine, Joe approached the local volunteer ambulance service to learn where he could find an EMT course, mostly to acquire some basic skills should they become necessary. The on-duty crew convinced him to do an observation shift on the ambulance, and he was hooked.

Over his twenty-year career, he has worked for EMS agencies of all types, including volunteer, municipal, private, and healthcare system-based. He has served in various roles, including EMS clinician, educator, supervisor, director, service chief, and as the senior leader of Northern Light Medical Transport, one of the largest ambulance services in the State of Maine.

With a strong interest in advocacy and policy, Joe served on the Maine EMS board for seven years under appointments from both Governors Lepage and Mills, including a term as its chair, and now serves as the chair of the Maine EMS Licensing Board. He regularly testifies on EMS issues before the Maine legislature and has advocated nationally on issues facing EMS.

Joe earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Maine in Orono. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a licensed paramedic in Maine. He lives in Windham with his wife, Caitlin, and their two boys, Elliott and Leland.

Board Term Expires 2028

Lynn Lail, BSN, RN, LP, CFRN, CMTE

CareFlite, Texas

Lynn is a dual-certified Registered Nurse and Licensed Paramedic with over 27 years of clinical and leadership experience in the air medical industry. She serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives & Government Relations for CareFlite, a 501©(3)  nonprofit corporation dedicated to high quality patient care and community service in North Central Texas. In this role, she drives strategic partnerships, government affairs, industry engagement, and advocacy initiatives to advance industry safety, clinical excellence, and patient access to definitive care. Prior to her current position, Lynn spent eight years as CareFlite’s Chief Flight Nurse, directing multi-base clinical operations and flight crew performance.

Lynn holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Morningside College and graduated from the Critical Care & Trauma Nurse Internship Program at Parkland Health & Hospital System in Dallas, Texas. She is a Certified Medical Transport Executive (CMTE) and Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) and actively contributes to ACCT’s Policy and Reimbursement Education Committees. Lynn also chairs the Texas Governor’s Emergency Trauma Advisory Council’s (GETAC) Air Medical & Specialty Care Transport Committee, leveraging her extensive critical care and leadership background to promote uncompromised safety standards and clinical excellence statewide.

Board Term Expires 2027

Michael Lawyer, BBA, RN, LP, CMTE

UT Health East Texas AIR 1, Texas

Michael is the Director and Chief Flight Nurse (CFN) for UT Health East Texas AIR 1 based in Tyler, TX. It is a 3 aircraft hospital-based program covering most of northeast Texas. Michael has served in the prehospital industry for 29 years. Michael served in a variety of rolls such as paramedic, county supervisor, EMS QI Coordinator and in 2003 Flight paramedic.  Michael received his nursing degree in 2009 and worked in the ER and ICU while still flying.   In 2015 Michael accepted the CFN position and in 2018 became the Air Operations Director.  Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management.

Board Term Expires 2029

Heather Lundeby, RN, MSN, CFRN

Co-Chair, Standards Committee

Sandford Medical Center AirMed, South Dakota

Heather Lundeby is a manager for Sanford AirMed in Fargo, North Dakota overseeing daily operations, education and quality.  She has a 20-year career at Sanford and maintains flight status with the adult team.  Heather is also involved with the CAMTS Standards Committee working with other industry leaders on safety and quality measures for transport accreditation.

Board Term Expires 2028

Kyle Madigan RN, MSN, CMTE

Co-Chair, Policy Committee

LifeFlight of Maine, Maine

Kyle has been involved in the air medical industry for over 20 years, serving in various clinical, and leadership positions. Kyle served on the Board of Directors for the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association culminating in being the President of the association from 2009-2010. Kyle is very honored to be serving on the Board of Directors of ACCT.

Board Term Expires 2027

Amanda McClure, BSN, MHA, RN

Premier Health CareFlight, Ohio

Amanda McClure serves as System Vice President of Throughput and Patient Flow, providing strategic and operational leadership across emergency care, critical care transport, patient flow, and care transitions within a multi-hospital health system. With a clinical foundation in nursing and emergency medicine, she brings a unique health system perspective to the integration of air and ground critical care transport within the broader continuum of care. Amanda is passionate about advancing innovation, operational excellence, and collaboration across the critical care transport industry, with a focus on improving patient access, strengthening partnerships, and supporting the professionals who deliver this essential care.

Board Term Expires 2029

Cherie Pepping, RN, BSN, CEN, PHRN, CMTE

Co-Chair, Education Committee

Superior Air-Ground Ambulance, Illinois

Cherie Leigh Pepping, RN BSN, PHRN, CEN, CMTE, is the Executive Director of Critical Care Services at Superior Air – Ground Ambulance Service, Inc. in Elmhurst, Illinois. After graduating from Northwestern University, Cherie has enjoyed a 30-year career spanning various clinical and leadership positions in healthcare. Cherie joined Superior Air – Ground Ambulance Service, Inc. in 1999 to establish the Division of Critical Care Services. Superior currently delivers Air and Ground Critical Care Transport in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Board Term Expires 2027

James Tanis, MD, FAEMS

Advent Health EMS and Flight 1, Florida

Dr. James F. Tanis is a board-certified Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services physician with extensive
experience in critical care transport, aeromedical operations, clinical education, and physician leadership. He serves
as Medical Director of AdventHealth EMS, Flight 1, and Mission Control, providing medical oversight for a large,
integrated ground and air medical transport system across Central Florida.
Dr. Tanis is actively involved in graduate medical education, serving as faculty for Emergency Medicine residency and
EMS fellowship programs, and as a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine. His
professional interests include critical care transport, medical direction, patient safety, operational leadership, and the
development of evidence-based clinical and educational programs.
He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medical Services (FAEMS), a member of the Board of Directors
of the Association of Critical Care Transport (ACCT), and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at the University of
South Florida. He brings a physician-executive perspective to ACCT, emphasizing collaboration, clinical excellence,
innovation, and the advancement of critical care transport medicine.

Board Term Expires 2028

Kevin Wall, MBA, BSN, RN, EMT

Chair, Communications Committee

Advent Health EMS and Flight 1, Florida

Kevin is a seasoned healthcare professional with extensive experience in emergency medical services and flight operations. He currently serves as the Director of EMS and Flight 1 at AdventHealth Central Florida. Previously, he was the Chief Operating Officer at Pro Care EMS and the Director of Transport Services at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Kevin holds an MBA in Health Care Management from the University of North Alabama and a BSN with a Minor in Biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a Certified Medical Transport Executive (CMTE) and Certified Ambulance Coder (CAC).

He is an active member of the Association of Critical Care Transport (ACCT) and the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA). In 2004, Kevin was honored with the Ground Transport Award from ASTNA. His published work includes an article titled “Critical Care Ground Transport, Another Spoke in the Wheel” in Wings, Wheels, and Rotors.

Kevin’s consulting expertise includes projects for Alpha Sights and Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc., covering rotor wing network development, ambulance manufacturing, and patient transportation services.

Board Term Expires 2027