SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Mohawk Ambulance Service is proud to announce that two of its employees are being honored this year by the American Ambulance Association (AAA) with a Star of Life medal, the highest award that an emergency medical service worker can receive. Wendy Becofsky and Rebekah Garcia will be among the 90 EMS workers from around the country to receive the recognition at the Association’s 19th annual event held in Washington, D.C. June 11 – 13.
Wendy Becofsky has been with Mohawk for more than 30 years, not only developing Mohawk’s first in-house collections department, but also the company’s first front-end verification department. Wendy’s exceptional leadership skills led to her promotion to business office manager in 2004. Four years later, she was appointed as compliance officer for Mohawk. Wendy has held leadership roles in the American Ambulance Association (AAA) and the United New York Ambulance Network (UNYAN). She was the chairwoman of the AAA Medicare Regulatory Work Group and continues to be an active member of this group. In addition, she has been the Reimbursement Chairwoman for UNYAN since 2010.
Rebekah Garcia joined Mohawk Ambulance Service as an EMT following 
several years as an Albany Medical Center ED patient care technician. In the three short years since joining Mohawk, Rebekah has come to embody the core spirit of the job. She challenged herself to complete her certificate of Paramedicine at Hudson Valley Community College. She now serves as a paramedic and is a well-respected field training officer for newer employees. Her exemplary work has earned her the company’s Distinguished Service Award.
“Wendy and Rebekah have proven to be exceptional leaders and role models, and have become invaluable members of our family,†said James P. McPartlon III, president of Mohawk Ambulance Service. “We are extremely proud of both of them and congratulate them on this special recognition and achievement.â€
Becofsky and Garcia join 15 other Mohawk Ambulance servicemen and women who are Stars of Life recipients. Other past award winners include first responders who served following the September 11th attacks, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and other national disasters.
AAA represents hundreds of ambulance services across the United States which provide emergency and non-emergency care and medical transportation to more than 75 percent of the U.S. population. The Association’s annual Stars of Life awards publicly recognize and celebrate the achievements of its members.
About American Ambulance Association:
Founded in 1979, the American Ambulance Association promotes health care policies that ensure excellence in the ambulance services industry and provides research, education and communications programs to enable its members to effectively address the needs of the communities they serve. The AAA represents ambulance services across the United States who participate in serving more than 75 percent of the U.S. population with emergency and non-emergency care and medical transportation services.