Lancaster County Emergency Medical Services Director Lanny Bernard has been elected to a national EMS association's board of directors. Bernard, 53, joined the National EMS Management Association last year and will fill a vacant position on its board of directors. He will serve a one-year term, beginning in January. "I'm not well-known nationally, but I felt like I had a lot to offer," Bernard said of his decision to run for a board position. "It is always exciting when one of our outstanding employees is recognized by his peers on the national level," County Administrator Steve Willis said. "This goes to show that Lancaster County employees are truly the best of the best." NEMSMA represents more than 1,500 members who hail from all types of emergency medical services in the United States, Canada and other countries. NEMSMA's mission is to improve EMS performance by discovering, developing and promoting best practices in EMS management.

Bernard will join eight board members in governing the membership association of EMS administrators and others who share an interest in advancing the professionalism and skills of emergency medical services managers. The board will also work NEMSMA members on a leadership agenda, with a push toward a standardized career ladder and training within EMS agencies. "We're a new industry," Bernard said. "EMS was started in the 1970s. There are no standardized jobs or training."

The board position won't require a lot of travel for Bernard, which is why he chose to join NEMSMA. He'll attend a national EMS show in Atlanta in October 2009. Bernard, a Rock Hill native, began working for York General Hospital Ambulance Service in Rock Hill in 1977. He was hired by Lancaster County EMS in 1987. He was named EMS director of the year in 2006 by the S.C. EMS Network.

Bernard has lived in Indian Land for the last 20 years. He and his wife, Sandra, have a daughter, Kara, and granddaughter, Jaslyn. Bernard is board chairman of United Way of Lancaster County, and serves on the county's Health and Wellness Commission and state EMS associations. He's a member of Higher Ground Church.

Contact senior reporter Jenny Hartley at jhartley@thelancasternews.com or at (803) 283-1151.