What Arrowhead EMS Association does

Arrowhead EMS Association (AEMSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1985 and headquartered at 4219 Enterprise Circle, Duluth, Minnesota. It operates as the statutorily designated lead EMS planning organization for Northeast Minnesota's seven counties (Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis) plus Douglas County, Wisconsin, an area of 21,214 square miles covering roughly 327,000 residents and approximately 80% volunteer-provided EMS delivery. AEMSA serves more than 200 member agencies, including ambulance services, fire and rescue departments, hospital emergency departments (Level I-IV trauma centers), law enforcement agencies, air medical providers, and training institutions such as Hibbing Community College.

The organization's product surface is built around interconnected programs: Regional EMS System Support and EMS Relief Grant distribution under the Minnesota EMS System Support Act; an owned communications infrastructure including 800MHz radio towers and participation in the state ARMER system; the Arrowhead Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team, operational since 1990; the Northeast Healthcare Preparedness Coalition (NHPC) funded through HHS/ASPR via the Minnesota Department of Health; an Opioid Antagonist Program launched in 2015; the Northeast Regional Trauma Advisory Committee (NERTAC) and its DMIST patient-handoff protocol; a member training-equipment lending library; and two annual events, the AEMSA Conference & Expo (scheduled through its 46th edition, January 20-24, 2027) and the UnderOneRoof emergency preparedness conference.

AEMSA's revenue model is a hybrid of tiered subscription-style membership dues ($30-$8,500 across categories including ambulance services, hospitals, fire and law enforcement departments, training institutions, and individuals), state-appropriated base funding under the EMS System Support Act, EMS Relief Account distributions derived from seat-belt violation fines, federal HPP pass-through funding administered by the Minnesota Department of Health, and transactional revenue from conference registration and sponsorship. Operations are run by a small staff (1-10 employees) under Executive Director Adam Shadiow (MBA, MEP), Finance Director Pamela Kuschner, and supporting coordinators, with public administrative oversight of designated funds provided to the Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Name

Arrowhead EMS Association

Legal name

Arrowhead EMS Association

Website

https://arrowheadems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arrowhead EMS Association is a 501(c)(3) regional EMS planning organization founded in 1985, serving more than 200 member agencies across seven Northeast Minnesota counties and Douglas County, Wisconsin via training, communications infrastructure, CISM, and disaster preparedness programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Medical Services Planning

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Fire Protection (922160), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations & Dispatch (HLAJAGAC), Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB), Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR) (BPADADAA), Emergency Medical Services (EMS) & Ambulance Services (BPAIAGAC)

Keywords

• Regional EMS planning
• Emergency medical services
• Critical incident stress management
• Healthcare preparedness coalition
• EMS training coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Minnesota City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees collected from EMS agencies, hospitals, fire departments, law enforcement, training institutions, and other organizations based on category and size (e.g., ambulance services pay based on call volume tiers ranging from $45 to $765).
2. Government Grants - EMS System Support Act: Base funding from the Minnesota Legislature through the EMS System Support Act (established 1985) to develop, maintain, and improve the regional EMS system with emphasis on emergency trauma and cardiac care.
3. EMS Relief Account Distribution: Ninety percent of Minnesota's Emergency Medical Services Relief Account (funded by seat belt violation fines) is distributed to eight Regional EMS Systems; AEMSA receives a portion to support personnel education, training, equipment, and operational expenses.
4. Healthcare Preparedness Funding (HPP): Federal funding through HHS/ASPR administered by Minnesota Department of Health to improve medical surge capacity and community/hospital preparedness for public health emergencies.
5. Conference and Event Fees: Revenue from annual conferences including registration fees, exhibitor fees, and sponsorship opportunities. The AEMSA Conference & Expo and UnderOneRoof conferences generate revenue while providing education to EMS professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arrowhead EMS Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit regional EMS planning organization that coordinates emergency medical services across seven counties of Northeast Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin. It delivers EMS system support, training resources, communications infrastructure, critical incident stress management (CISM), healthcare preparedness coalition coordination, opioid overdose response programs, trauma advisory services, and member-focused conferences for over 200 member agencies.

Product overview

Arrowhead EMS Association operates as a regional EMS planning organization serving Northeast Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin since 1985. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs and services including: EMS Programs (Regional EMS System Support, EMS Relief Grant, and Communications infrastructure), Arrowhead CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management), HPP-NHPC (Northeast Healthcare Preparedness Coalition), Opioid Antagonist Program, NERTAC (Northeast Regional Trauma Advisory Committee) with associated DMIST Protocol and Fall Prevention Resources, Training Equipment lending, and two major annual conferences (UnderOneRoof and AEMSA Conference & Expo). These services collectively support EMS providers through education, guidance, system development, and coordination for improved emergency medical care quality in the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EMS Programs Regional EMS system support services including training, disaster preparedness guidance, communications system information, grant coordination, equipment for training and field use, medical direction, legislative support, critical incident stress debriefing, and public awareness programs for seven counties of Northeast Minnesota.
• Arrowhead CISM Team Critical Incident Stress Management team providing support to emergency service personnel through group stress debriefings, small group or one-on-one defusings, and crisis management briefings.
• HPP-NHPC Northeast Healthcare Preparedness Coalition Coalition facilitating collaborative planning, training, exercises, and coordination of resources among healthcare, public health, emergency management, EMS, and response agencies for disaster preparedness and medical surge capacity.
• Opioid Antagonist Program Program to purchase and distribute opiate antagonists (Narcan kits) and educate and train EMS personnel in their use for opioid or heroin overdose response.
• NERTAC Northeast Regional Trauma Advisory Committee Committee advising and making recommendations to the State Trauma Advisory Committee for regional modifications to statewide trauma criteria, focusing on performance improvement, education and outreach, and disaster preparedness.
• Training Equipment Lending Program Collection of training equipment available for member agencies to borrow for use during trainings, including airway management, medical, pediatric, CPR, trauma, and miscellaneous equipment categories.
• AEMSA Conference & Expo Annual EMS educational conference and expo, one of the largest and most comprehensive EMS educational experiences in Minnesota and the Midwest, providing knowledge for managing, treating, and assessing traumatic and medical emergencies.
• UnderOneRoof Emergency Preparedness Conference Annual emergency preparedness conference addressing challenges common among emergency preparedness and emergency management professionals in the Northeast region, covering emergency management, EMS, community sheltering, volunteer management, emergency communications, and healthcare preparedness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of regional EMS provided by volunteers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SafeTech SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides EMS Leadership Academy training program hosted at Sugar Lake Lodge in Cohasset, MN. AEMSA calendar promotes the 'Foundation in Leadership' program designed for current and emerging EMS leaders ($500 fee).
• Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for the annual AEMSA Conference & Expo. The 46th Annual conference is held at the DECC in Duluth, Minnesota, January 20-24, 2027.
• St. Luke's DuluthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrauma education partner offering ATLS, TNCC, ENPC, PALS, ACLS, BLS, PEARS, and ECG courses through NERTAC coordination.
• Essentia HealthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealthcare partner offering Advanced Traumatic Life Support and community education classes including BLS CPR Provider Course as part of NERTAC trauma education coordination.
• St. Louis County Emergency Communications CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner24/7 answering service for CISM team deployment requests. Coordinates CISM team activation following critical incidents for emergency responders across the region.
• Chisholm AmbulanceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for EMS for Children Pediatric Simulation Educational Opportunity training events, demonstrating partnership for hands-on training delivery.
• North Shore HealthminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHost venue for EMS for Children Pediatric Simulation Educational Opportunity training events at Grand Marais location.
• Sugar Lake LodgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConference venue for EMS Leadership Academy and Women in Leadership training programs hosted by SafeTech Solutions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Central Minnesota EMS Region: One of Minnesota's other eight Regional EMS Systems under the same EMS System Support Act framework, performing identical planning, coordination, training, and grant administration functions for a different geographic region — directly comparable in mandate, revenue model, and stakeholder mix.
• Minnesota Ambulance Association: Statewide trade association representing ambulance services across Minnesota — directly comparable as a membership-based nonprofit serving EMS providers, with overlapping member base but a statewide (vs. regional) remit and a stronger advocacy/lobbying posture.
• Northwest Minnesota EMS Region: Sister Regional EMS System serving Northwest Minnesota under the same statutory framework — analogous scope, funding model, and program portfolio, serving as a near-twin peer for benchmarking regional performance and best practices.
• Southwest Minnesota EMS Region: Another of the eight designated Regional EMS Systems in Minnesota, providing identical regional EMS planning, training, communications, and preparedness services — directly comparable in structure, revenue mix, and stakeholder composition.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO): National membership organization for state-level EMS officials that sets standards, advocates for federal EMS funding, and convenes the regional/state EMS ecosystem AEMSA operates within — broader scope but directly relevant as an industry umbrella and policy counterpart.
• American Ambulance Association: National trade association representing ambulance services and EMS providers across the U.S. — comparable as a membership-driven advocacy and education body serving the same customer base (EMS agencies) but with national rather than regional scope.
• NAEMSP (National Association of EMS Physicians): National professional association for EMS physicians and medical directors — relevant peer as a membership organization supporting EMS medical direction, education, and research that intersects with AEMSA's medical direction and training programs.
• International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC): National membership association for fire chiefs and emergency services leaders that addresses EMS integration, workforce, and policy issues overlapping AEMSA's fire/EMS coordination role — broader scope but directly relevant to AEMSA's fire department member segment.

Others

• ImageTrend: Leading vendor of EMS data management, ePCR, and reporting platforms used by regional EMS systems and member agencies — adjacent as a technology partner that AEMSA member agencies rely on for compliance and performance reporting.
• ESO Solutions: EMS data, analytics, and research software vendor serving fire departments, EMS agencies, and hospitals — adjacent technology provider in the same stakeholder ecosystem, with products supporting trauma registry and EMS quality reporting that AEMSA coordinates.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ArrowheadEMS
• Facebookfacebook.com/166792576665816

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arrowhead EMS Association