Operations Manager Steve Zapata
Steve was born in Dallas Texas, raised in Scottsdale Arizona since the age of six, and was a graduate of Scottsdale High in 1978. Steve married his wife Lauri in 1999. They have two adult daughters, Jaime & Jennifer, from Lauris’ previous marriage and two grandsons, Caden & Landon, born in 2006. They keep their home in rural Pinal County where they enjoy their seclusion in their time off, having several pets to keep them company.
Steve Zapata has been employed in EMS since 1982, where he began his career as an EMT with Southwest Ambulance. While at SWA, Steve was an active member of the company during its largest period of growth in the valley. Duties and activities while with SWA include CPR Instructor, Driving Instructor, Field Supervisor in Glendale, Duty Officer for Central Operations, Scheduling Director for Maricopa and Pinal County, District Manager for the cities of Tempe, Chandler, Casa Grande, Florence and Coolidge. Steve stepped out of management in 1992 to upgrade to paramedic. He then stayed active with the company during his spare time as a new medic serving as the Business Manager in the union (IAFF, Local I-60). Steve left SWA in 1995 while serving as the District Manager for Casa Grande, Florence and Coolidge.
After leaving SWA, Steve spent about a year working for Canyon State Ambulance in Payson and Globe, and a year working for PMT Ambulance in East Maricopa County.
Familiar with Gila River EMS from his work in Pinal County, Steve eagerly sought employment with the department when GREMS hired for staffing of the second West End Ambulance in December of 1997. Over the past nine years that Steve has worked for GREMS, he has served as a Field Supervisor, CPR Instructor/IT and Operations Manager. Duties as an Operations Manager have included supplies, special events, hiring, and training. While with GREMS, Steve has received training in Leadership, Critical Incident Stress Management, Emergency Public Information, Freeway Incident Management, WMD Operations, Exercise Development, EOC interface, Incident Command, Bioterrorism Planning, Emergency Management for Tribal Governments and CPR IT Instruction.
Steve currently serves GREMS in the newly created position of EMS Manager over policy and procedure development. This includes pursuing the departments’ goal of becoming an accredited Ambulance Service.
