News

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Mohawk Ambulance Service is pleased to announce the promotion of two employees to senior leadership positions. David Gardner has been promoted to assistant director of operations and Nathanael Hakes has been promoted to assistant director of communications.

Gardner has more than 22 years of experience in emergency services. He joined Mohawk Ambulance in 2011 and quickly moved up the ranks, serving as an EMT, supervisor, station leader, and most recently, regional manager. In his new role, he will be responsible for planning, organizing, and providing administrative direction to all Mohawk Ambulance EMTs and Paramedics, and will implement and enforce all policies, procedures, and standards.

Prior to joining Mohawk Ambulance, Gardner worked as an EMT at Empire Ambulance in Troy, and was with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as a Public Safety Officer and Sergeant. He served with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department as a communications officer responsible for emergency and non-emergency call taking and dispatching police, fire and EMS for Saratoga County. Gardner also worked for ten years as a dispatcher for the Town of Waterford Police Department and previously worked as a part-time police officer for the Villages of Ballston Spa, Corinth and the New York State Park Police.

A native of the Town of Waterford, Gardner has been a dedicated volunteer firefighter in the Northside Fire District in the Town of Waterford since 1991. He has proudly served as a volunteer, holding every position in the fire service from firefighter, lieutenant and captain to assistant chief and chief.  A vital part of the team, his dedication and commitment to providing excellent service earned him Mohawk Ambulance Services’ Distinguished Service Award in 2013 and 2014.

Hakes joined Mohawk Ambulance Service in 2002 as a part-time EMT, becoming full-time in 2004. He pursued a position in the communications department in 2006 and earned promotions to communications supervisor, communications chief supervisor and, in 2011, communications department manager. In his new role as assistant director of communications, he will oversee the dispatch/communications center, manage and maintain all the communications equipment in the communications center and in all vehicles, and manage and maintain the electronic Patient Care Reports (ePCR) program.

An interest in emergency services led Hakes to become a volunteer firefighter in 1998 at the Beukendaal Fire Department in Glenville, where he volunteered until 2006. His interest broadened to the medical side leading him to enroll in an EMT class at Schenectady Community College and become a certified EMT in 2002. In addition to working at Mohawk Ambulance as an EMT, he concurrently worked for Ravena Rescue Squad as an EMT/Driver.

A Glenville native, Hakes currently resides in Broadalbin. His dedication and commitment to his work earned him the Mohawk Ambulance Services’ Distinguished Service Award in 2008.

“David and Nathanial are dedicated professionals on our team who are richly deserving of their promotions,” said James P. McPartlon, III, president, Mohawk Ambulance Service. “They have each demonstrated excellent leadership and judgement qualities in their careers with us and we’re proud to have them taking on more responsibility by accepting leadership roles as Mohawk Ambulance continues to grow.”