Meet the Team

It’s not luck


It’s great volunteers
and support from the community

It’s training and more training

It’s commitment — and dedication to the
mission of being there for Lyme residents

24 hours a day. Every day. All year long.

It’s the quiet pride in
knowing we help
when help is needed most


Meet your neighbors who selflessly volunteer their time and talent to make sure everyone in Lyme can sleep at night, knowing that if there’s a medical emergency — we’ll be there.

Day or night. Fair weather or foul.


Use the alphabetical menu to navigate the pictures below or just scroll through

We will be adding a brief bio for each crew member


ACTIVE RESPONDERS

Steve Olstein
Chief of Service

Steve joined Lyme Ambulance in 2018, first qualifying as a driver then earning certification as an EMT in January 2019. “I was seeking an activity where I could have a direct and immediate impact on people’s lives… I can’t express how rewarding it is to help people when they need it most.” A Marine Corps veteran and business executive with extensive experience in management, Steve was elected Chief of Service and appointed to the Board of Directors in June 2019. (Read our interview with Steve)

Ariana Eaton
Deputy Chief

Ariana joined Lyme Ambulance in 2016 as a Driver and in 2017 completed her EMR certification.  Her background as a senior care coordinator helped fuel her interest in EMS.  She is Deputy Chief of Service and an active Board member. “When I joined LAA I joined a ‘family’ — a family of amazing, dedicated volunteers.” (Read our interview with Ariana)

Colleen Atkinson
EMT – Training Officer

Doug LoPresti
EMT – Training Officer

Paul Ahnell (Retired)
EMT Emeritus

Though Paul retired in 2022, he will always be an important part of the Lyme Ambulance family — not just because he was one of the top responders for more than ten years, but because of his extraordinary commitment to patient care and the inspiration and encouragement he provided to new LAA recruits.

Jackie Alix
EMT

An 11-year resident of Lyme, Jackie is a dog breeder and Vice Chairman of CT Delta Waterfowl. She’s also a Corrections Officer at the York Correctional Institute in Niantic. She chose to join Lyme Ambulance because, “helping others comes naturally to me, and this will expand my ability to help those in crisis. She was certified as an EMT in 2020.

Heidi Bill
EMT

A retired cardiac nurse, Heidi has volunteered as a Lyme Ambulance EMT for 18 years. She values self sufficiency, growing and preserving her own fruits and vegetables, and rumor has it she loves to knit too 🙂 Asked for her thoughts on joining LAA: “There are some wonderful people who give time and energy to help folks in town and they are an inspiration to me. If you like where you live and want to keep it that way, volunteer!”

Carter Courtney
EMT

Tom Darna
EMT (previous Chief of Service)

As an experienced EMT, Tom is keenly aware of the importance of rapid response in a life-threatening medical emergency. That, coupled with his commitment to community service, helps explain why Tom has volunteered his time and talent to the town of Lyme for more than two decades, providing skilled aid and caring support when people need it most. No wonder Tom was twice elected Chief of Service.

Carie Tonovitz
EMT

After traveling the world, Carie and her husband and their three children (and dogs and cats) settled in Lyme. Building on her background in healthcare and nutrition, Carie transitioned to EMS and was certified as an EMT in 2020.

Heather Bannister
EMT

Heather and her husband and three dogs have lived in Lyme since 2018. In addition to being a full-time lawyer, Heather answered the call for volunteers and joined Lyme Ambulance. She was EMR-certified in 2021 and recently received certification as an EMT. “It’s great being part of a team that helps people when they need it most.”

Jason Howell
EMR

Certified in 2021, Jason was motivated to train as an EMR after being first on the scene of an accident: He wanted to learn how to do more than just call 911 and provide what comfort a bystander could. A master carpenter, avid hiker, and organic gardener, Jason credits his early training as a lifeguard with teaching him the importance of staying calm and knowing the steps to take in an emergency.

Dan Labriola
EMT

For Dan, public service is a family tradition. His father was a police officer and Deputy Fire Chief. Dan is a certified EMT and joined Lyme Ambulance in 2001. He’s also a certified security officer and a carpenter. Dan is married with three daughters, and in his free time, he enjoys boats, motorcycles, cars — and helping people.

Ed McCusker
EMR

Ed’s belief in service has guided his life choices, from a career in education, to almost 40 years with the Lyme Fire Company, to joining Lyme Ambulance in 2009. Longtime Lyme residents, Ed and his wife, Marie, have been active volunteers throughout because, “Volunteering is what makes this town work.”

Tracy McKee
EMR

Tracy joined Lyme Ambulance in 2020 as a Driver and then completed her EMR certification. Her experience on the Foundation Board of Overlook Medical Center and her own experience with the healthcare system as a mother and patient motivated her to become involved in EMS.

Erik Eisensmith
Driver Training Officer

We couldn’t do what we do without our great Support Crew

Jerry Ehlen
Quartermaster

Judy Brault
Hospitality

Beverly Crowther
Historian

Stan Sankow
Community volunteer