Cindy Burbage, Owner & Director of American Heritage Ambulance, Ladson, SC, is the proud recipient of the “South Carolina Emergency Medical Services Director of the Year” award. She was recognized amongst many, including her peers and colleagues, and was presented with a plaque at the South Carolina EMS Symposium Reception in Myrtle Beach, SC on March 31, 2012.
Cindy is a positive role model. She expects nothing more from others than she expects of herself. She is assertive and holds a high standard not only for her profession but for her Ambulance Service as well. She is a dedicated, honest professional. A Native American, originally from Roxboro, North Carolina, Cindy has been an active part of the medical community in South Carolina since 1988. In addition to her degree in nursing, she holds Bachelor’s in Marketing and a Masters in Business. She was the previous Director of Operations for Rural Metro Ambulance, South Carolina, before purchasing the company and turning it into American Heritage Ambulance, where she remains active in the medical and EMS community today as Director and CEO.
With over 20 years of medical and management experience, she served as the Executive Director for the American Red Cross Blood Services, Southeast Region and has been a key motivational speaker at various lectures for the United States Air Force (Charleston Base), SC EMS Symposium and the SC Leadership Conference. She was recognized by the SC Commission for Minority Affairs in 2010 as “the entrepreneur who demonstrated outstanding performance as a business owner and stands as a beckon of light to future business owners and the community”. She supports and actively participates in many functions including but not limited to: SC Special Olympics, Department of Veterans Affairs Charleston, RELAY for Life and the American Heart Walk. She also sponsors community events regarding healthcare awareness.
Cindy believes in maintaining a positive attitude even in the midst of adversity, doing the right thing even when no one is watching, always doing a good job while at work and at the end of the day going home to be with her family. Family has always been and continues to be a priority for her. She is a proficient, valuable leader and Director. For Cindy, it’s not always about her; it’s about putting others before herself to assure that complete satisfaction is achieved for her employees, patients and the communities she serves. She is known for “never giving up and always going the extra mile”. She is committed, motivated and determined. She has come a long way from the days of farming tobacco on her father’s farm to achieving the American Dream. With all that she does, she continues to keep a smile on her face while standing behind and offering words of encouragement to those she loves and leads.
Cindy states: “I am honored to be named the SC EMS Director of the year. I have not achieved this alone but through the help of my fellow Director’s who were willing to take me under their wing, through my employees, my management team and my family; and most of all through the man upstairs who has answered many prayers and provided me with the wisdom, strength and knowledge to carry on. God bless you all”.
American Heritage Ambulance has been in business since 2004, providing emergency and non- emergency ambulance transportation. We have 100+ employees and complete approximately
15, 000 transports a year.
Cindy is the first women, first private ambulance company Director and the first Native American to receive the “SC Director of the Year” award.