Our Team

Mike has over 30 years of practical and instructional experience in the EMS, Fire, Police, and Marine fields. Mike has been an EMS-I with the Echo Hose Training Center for over eight years. In addition to teaching, Mike has served as a Law Enforcement Officer for over 30 years, including time in the Emergency Service Unit as an EMT-T and Sniper. He also serves as Marine Division Captain for the Storm Ambulance/Rescue Corps in Derby CT. and is the Chairman of Special Events for the EMSPro Expo.

Cindy started her EMS career when shortly after completing her EMT program at Echo Hose Ambulance in 2013.  Cindy spends her day working Full-Time as a Para-Educator in Special Education for the City of Shelton and her evenings volunteering as an EMT with Echo Hose Ambulance. In addition to her experience as an educator, Cindy is also Phlebotomist and a Sign Language Interpreter.  Cindy’s background and love for teaching extended beyond her full-time job as she advanced her training as an American Heart Association CPR Instructor and completed her State of Connecticut EMS-Instructor Certification in 2019.

In addition to Cindy’s responsibilities as an Instructor with Echo Hose Ambulance, Cindy serves a Lieutenant with the ambulance service and is the lead coordinator for community events and education.  Her responsibilities include coordinating community outreach projects and community education such as CPR, First Aid, Bleeding Control, and Ambulance demonstrations for Children’s Programs. Cindy loves giving back to her community, providing Pre-Hospital Care and providing educational opportunities that promote a healthy community.

In her spare time Cindy enjoys volunteering for the Dragon Fly Project which provides people comfort who lost a loved one by sending anonymous cards filled with words of support and memorial keychains.  In addition, Cindy loves the outdoors, hiking, biking, skiing and rollerblading.

Zeke began his EMS career as a volunteer for Ansonia Civil Defense (Now Ansonia Rescue Medical Services, ARMS) in 1974 serving in both the rescue and ambulance (EMS) divisions.  He earned his EMT certification in 1980 and shortly after his EMS-I credentials. Over the years Zeke has operated in the volunteer, commercial, industrial and executive protection aspects of EMS.  He served as an Assistant Rescue Chief for eighteen years, training officer, and Assistant Chief Driver. 

Over the many years of his EMS career, Zeke has participated on several EMS related boards, as well as emergency planning groups and alike.  During much of his career, Zeke has followed his passion teaching countless EMS classes helping to build the foundation of thousands of first responders. He is a lead Instructor for the Echo Hose Ambulance Training Center, as well as remains a member and training consultant of ARMS, is affiliated with Griffin Hospital Valley Parish Nurses programs and oversees a state licensed R-1 EMS 1st response team in an industrial setting while maintaining certifications as an EMT, EMS-I, CPR-BLS-I, EVO-I, STB-I.  Zeke looks forward to assisting you in your EMS ambitions.

Cate Sadlier, an award-winning Paramedic and Emergency Medical Services Instructor, brings her years of industry experience and drive to this training center and other area programs. Beginning her career as a Firefighter with Trumbull Center, as their first female driver, she went on to graduate from Springfield College with a Bachelor of Science in EMS Management.

Cate has held several leadership roles over the last 25 years within her field, including a celebrated career as an educator and Paramedic leader in human resources, operations and clinical oversight. After an internship with FDNY EMS, she has worked across the entire state with leading EMS Agencies and Education Centers in the region.

Paul’s career in emergency services started over 30 years ago. He graduated from UNH with his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and a Graduate degree in Business Administration. He has worked and volunteered in many facets of public safety.  

He brings compassion, enthusiasm and dedication for the profession to each class. Paul is a Connecticut EMS-Instructor and has been involved in EMS education since 2003.  Along with being an CT EMS Instructor, Paul holds numerous credentials within the Public Safety field. He also remains active as an EMT with several EMS services within the Valley.

Cindy started her EMS career in 2014 where she began volunteering with Weston EMS. Cindy’s love for EMS and Education led her to obtaining her AHA CPR Instructor certification and then her State of Connecticut EMS Instructor certification in 2019. After taking her EMS Instructor program at Echo Hose Ambulance, Cindy joined our team of highly talented instructors.   

Cindy, like all of our instructors, brings a different skill set besides her EMS Experience to the classroom.   Cindy is Clinical Nutritionist in private practice, specializing in Longevity and Epigenetics. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Connecticut majoring in Psychology; and completed her graduate studies at New York University, receiving her Masters of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition Therapy.

Cindy continues to volunteer for the town of Weston as an EMT, where she is also their Training Officer. She thinks the best thing about being an EMT is the instant gratification of making someone’s day a little better.  When Cindy isn’t working, she loves spending time with her two teenagers who she adores. She also loves to cook and spending time with her family. 

Stephen James Johnson is a public safety leader with diverse experiences across all public safety disciplines. He is a communications center manager, emergency medical technician at the rank of lieutenant, and an EMS instructor.  Stephen began his EMS career in 2006 where he began to volunteer at Echo Hose Ambulance after completing his EMT class. 

Stephen is an ordained pastor and emergency services chaplain and is thoroughly trained in critical incident stress management and peer support. He is the owner of SJJ, LLC, a public safety consulting and training firm. He has received legislative appointment to the Connecticut Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board. Stephen has his M.A. in Theological Studies, B.A. in Psychology, and B.S. in Criminal Justice. He leads and maintains membership in several professional organizations.

Cindy began her EMS career shortly after taking her EMT class with Echo Hose Ambulance at Fairfield University in 2009.  Once certified Cindy joined Echo Hose Ambulance as a volunteer EMT and continues to serve today as an Executive Board Member.  Cindy graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology and entered a career of marketing and sales for over 20 years before transitioning to EMS.  Once she began to work on the ambulance, she was hooked, and her love for providing emergency care to those in need was overwhelming.  Cindy spent hundreds of hours giving back to her community and training new EMT’s as they entered the ambulance service.  She continued her training and became a certified American Heart Association CPR Instructor and her EMS Instructor Certification in 2020. 

Cindy also found a love for Emergency Preparedness and became very involved with the Fairfield Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) where she now leads the organization as the President.   Cindy lives in Fairfield with her husband and two sons and enjoys the culinary arts.

Robert started his EMS career in 2012 as a volunteer with Echo Hose Ambulance every Saturday evening while working as a self-employed Home Improvement Contractor. His dedication, desire for learning, and work ethic earned him the rank of Lieutenant in 2018 and was charged with overseeing the Special Operations and Emergency Preparedness functions of Echo Hose Ambulance.

In 2019, Robert was hired as a full time EMT Field Supervisor for Echo Hose Ambulance.  With a strong motivation for volunteerism and community education, Robert began working with the Echo Hose Ambulance Training Center by teaching civilian level training including “Stop the Bleed” and “You are the help until help arrives”, Fostering relationships and working directly with organizations such as The Naugatuck Valley Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).

Robert advanced his training and completed his AHA CPR Instructor course and in 2020 completed his State of Connecticut EMS Instructor certification.  In addition to EMS Training, Robert has more than 20 year’s experience as a martial arts instructor.  This allows him to bring that skill set into the classroom during our Situational Awareness and EMS Safety programs that brings a unique style and perspective to the Echo Hose Ambulance Training Center’s team.

Mark Franzese became an EMT in 1991, at which time he became a member of Wolcott Volunteer ambulance. Mark went on to become an EMT-Intermediate in 1992, and a Lieutenant and then a Captain as well as member of the Board of Directors for Wolcott Volunteer Ambulance. After twenty-five years of service, Mark retired from the volunteer ambulance as a life member in 2012.

Mark became an American Heart Association BLS CPR Instructor. He then went on to become an instructor trainer for the AHA, a community Training Center Coordinator for St. Mary’s hospital and then Basic Life Support Regional Faculty for a period of twelve years. Mark is now an AHA BLS-I as well as AHA Training Center Faculty for Trinity Health of New England / EMS.

In 1999, Mark was invited to join Campion Ambulance Service, Inc. as the training coordinator and establish a training division, as well as teaching EMT courses and providing in-service training for the company’s clients, and community outreach health programs for the City of Waterbury. 

Mark has remained with Campion Ambulance Inc. until October 19, 2019. Campion ambulance was purchased by Trinity Health of New England, at which time Mark Franzese was asked to remain as the Training Coordinator and take on the duties as the companies Infection Control Officer for Trinity Health of New England / EMS.

In 2012, Mark became a State of CT EMT practical skills examiner and in 2013, Mark joined the Echo Hose Ambulance Training Center Team.

Scott Goldin has been an EMT since 1994 and an EMT Instructor since 2005.  In 1994, Scott became a member of Echo Hose Ambulance Corp, where he held position as a Line Officer for several years.  Scott started in Emergency Services when he became a member of Huntington Fire Company #3 in 1992.  Today, he continues to serves as a Firefighter a 2nd Lieutenant of the Fire Company. Scott received his certificates in Firefighter 1 (in 1996), Firefighter 2 (in 2001) and Fire Instructor (in 2004).  In 2007, he became a State Fire Station Evaluator.

Scott worked as the EMT Program Coordinator at Bridgeport Hospital from 2007 through 2016, where he also taught CPR & First Aid courses. Scott is a State of Connecticut State Practical Evaluator and a Board Director of the CT EMS Society of Instructors. 

Scott holds an Associate’s Degree in Architectural Engineering and has worked in the architectural field for the last twenty years. He is a lifelong resident of Shelton, with his wife.  In his spare time, Scott enjoys bowling and playing golf.

Walter spent his career with the United States Post Office as an Electronic Technician for over 30 years after serving four years in the US Navy. While working at the Post Office, Walter was trained as a CPR First Responder leading a team that would respond to emergencies at the Post Office.  

While serving on the Post Office Emergency Response Team, Walter became certified as an EMT in 1999.  Soon thereafter, he began to volunteer with Thomaston EMS and also worked for Campion Ambulance. 

Walter continued his EMS education and completed the Advanced EMT certification and then in 2012 attended Capital Community College and completed the CT EMS Instructor certification.  Shortly after being certified, Walter began teaching with the Echo Hose Ambulance Team. 

In addition to working, volunteering and teaching, Walter enjoys skiing. Walter was able to combine his love for skiing and EMS and is a member of the Ski Patrol Team at Mohawk Mountain as well as being a member of the National Ski Patrol.