John Karolzak has served as Vice President of Rural/Metro's South operating zone since 2010 and was appointed Acting Vice President of the Company's Southwest operating zone in May 2011. Mr. Karolzak began his career in emergency services more than 25 years ago as a firefighter with Rural/Metro Fire Department in Pima County, Arizona, rising through the ranks to Administrative Fire Chief. In 1992, he was named Market General Manager/EMS Chief for the Company's EMS operations in Southern Arizona. In 1998, he was promoted to Division General Manager for the state of Indiana, and in 2002 was assigned operating divisions in Kentucky and Parts of Ohio. In 2009, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of the South Zone. Mr. Karolzak holds a Master's of Business Administration and Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

As Chief Operating Officer for Rural/Metro's Southwest Zone, Mr. Ryals leads the overall direction Emergency Medical Services for Rural/Metro and Southwest Ambulance operations within the region. Mr. Ryals is also responsible for the Communications Division and the regulatory interface of the companies as well as representing the Corporation in various legislative and regulatory venues. Mr. Ryals, a Certified Paramedic, has over 40 years of experience in the EMS industry. One of the first Paramedics Certified in the State of Arizona, Mr. Ryals has held number of administrative positions in the emergency medical services arena. Prior to his current position of COO & Executive Director of Emergency Medical Services, Mr. Ryals was the Executive Director of Southwest Ambulance, responsible for all aspects of its EMS operations. Prior to his employment with Rural/Metro, Mr. Ryals was the Executive Director of Arizona Medical Transport which included the management of the Survival Flight helicopter and fixed wing medical transportation divisions and AMT ground ambulance division. Mr. Ryals is Presidt of the Arizona Ambulance Association, is Treasurer of the Arizona Emergency Medical Systems, and serves as a board member of the Arizona State Trauma Advisory Board, Arizona State EMS Council Rules Committee, East Valley Partnership. He has been appointed by four different Governors to the Emergency Medical Services Council and is a recipient of the Healthcare Leadership Award from Arizona Business Magazine (2010) and honored with the Health Care Hero Award from the Arizona Business Journal (2011).

As Director of Customer Relations and Contracts for Rural/Metro’s Southwest Zone, Mr. Ford manages existing and initiates new contracts with external customers and the Arizona Department of Health Services’ EMS Division. The team of professionals led by Mr. Ford ensures all customers throughout the region have an advocate who regularly resolves any questions or issues. During his more than 30 years in the Emergency Medical and Fire Services industry, Mr. Ford has worked as a firefighter, EMT, air ambulance manager, customer advocate and Director of Public Affairs before stepping into his current role in 2005. Outside of his responsibilities with Rural/Metro, Mr. Ford is an appointee to the Arizona State EMS Council by the Governor, is an Executive Board Member for Mesa United Way, is a Board Member for Arizona Health Care Association Foundation and East Valley Adult Resources, sits as a Cave Creek Planning and Zoning Commissioner for Town of Cave Creek, Arizona is Past President of Arizona Emergency Services Association, is a member of Regional Emergency Medical System and Arizona State Advisory Council on EMResource, and is a 2009-2010 graduated of Mesa Leadership.

Joe Gibson became part of the Rural/Metro family in 1978 (with the Sun City Rural/Metro Fire Department) and has worked in a variety of aspects of emergency medicine during his career. As the Project Management Director for Rural/Metro’s Southwest Zone, Mr. Gibson is responsible for launching and managing new initiatives throughout the Zone. Outside of his role with Rural/Metro, Mr. Gibson is an appointee of the State of Arizona Emergency Medical Services Council, the Arizona Department of Health Services Central Region Committee on Public Health Preparedness. He also serves as Treasurer for both the Arizona Ambulance Association and Arizona Emergency Services Association. Joe is the Vice Chair of the Central Region’s Arizona Emergency Medical Services Board.

Edward Podol joined Rural/Metro in July 2012 as the Division General Manager over Rural/Metro’s Southwest Ambulance division and the Central Arizona operations after nearly two decade of healthcare industry experience. In his role, Mr. Podol will oversee the Company’s 911-emergency and interfacility ambulance services and operational initiatives throughout Central Arizona. Immediately prior to joining Rural/Metro, Mr. Podol served as Finance Director for American Medical Response in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Podol has also held positions in the finance departments with VHA Inc., a not-for-profit network of community owned healthcare systems, and Kaiser Permanente. He received a Master’s in Business Administration in Finance from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor’s in International Economics from Georgetown University.