July 19, 2016 - Albany, GA - Albany Technical College’s Healthcare Technology division will hold the summer 2016 Capping and Pinning ceremony on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, beginning at 6pm, in the Kirkland Conference Center.
Almost 60 students will be capped and pinned in the following programs: Practical Nursing, Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician, and Paramedic Technology.
Keynote speaker will be Charles Proctor, owner of Gold Star Emergency Medical Services, and former Program Chair for the Paramedic Technology program at Albany Technical College. Proctor began his career as a Paramedic in Valdosta in 1986 after attending Valdosta Technical College (Wiregrass Georgia Technical College), and quickly went through the ranks at South Georgia Medical Center EMS. He was a Captain with the department and became the Training Officer. He started teaching Paramedics and EMT’s at Valdosta Technical College (Wiregrass Georgia Technical College) and Moody Air Force Base in 1992.
Continuing his education and leadership roles and obtaining a master’s degree in education from Valdosta State University, Proctor went on to produce a training film that teaches the general public how to do CPR called “CPR – Learn to Save a Life,” which was sold in Wal-Mart stores. He was asked to teach EMT’s at Albany Tech in 1999 and after great success with the program, the college asked him to open a new paramedic program in 2001.
Proctor and his business partner, Todd Hockman, opened Gold Star EMS in Albany in June of 2010 with three ambulances and 12 employees. The company continues to grow and now has locations in Albany, Thomasville, Bainbridge, and Americus. With over 100 employees and 25 ambulances, Gold Star is now the largest Emergency Medical Service in Southwest Georgia.
Additional Coverage: WALB
