The Cobb Chamber named Puckett EMS the 2013 Small Business of the Year at the June First Monday Breakfast, and recognized the finalists, Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year, and Small Business Hall of Fame. Puckett EMS was selected from an impressive list of finalists, which included Genesis Elevator Company, LOUD Security Systems, Mopdog Creative + Strategy and RYECO, Inc. Velociteach, the 2012 Small Business of the Year, was also inducted into the Small Business Hall of Fame, joining an impressive list of Small Business of the Year winners since 1982.
The Cobb Chamber established the Small Business of the Year awards in 1982 to honor the important role that small businesses play in the Cobb community and the economy. In 2004, the Cobb Chamber honored a Top 25 to showcase more of these exceptional companies that make Cobb County a great place to live, work and play. In 2012, the Cobb Chamber introduced the Small Business Hall of Fame to honor a history of excellence in small business.
Nominations are accepted annually, giving the community a chance to recognize its favorite small businesses. After being nominated, each company completes a thorough application based on the Small Business Administration standards. The application covers company information, growth, community involvement, employee benefits and adversity, among other criteria. An independent panel of judges composed of business and community leaders reviews the applications and the Top 25 are selected. The Small Business of the Year winner is selected from among the finalists, and participates in the state small business of the year competition.
Throughout June, Chamber INK will celebrate Cobb’s small business leaders, their success and devotion to the community and this prestigious honor. Each day we will post a business profile of one of our 2013 Top 25 Small Businesses. Today, we are excited to reveal and congratulate Puckett EMS as our 2013 Small Business of the Year!
In the Business of Caring: Puckett EMS
Puckett EMS originally began as Puckett Ambulance in 1984, but was sold to a large corporation in 1996. After seeing the demand for patient-focused, quality healthcare, Steve Puckett and Shane Garrison decided to rebuild Puckett Emergency Medical Service in March 2001. They built their foundation on accountability, customer service and professionalism.
Based in Austell, Puckett EMS provides 9-1-1 emergency services and inter-facility transportation. The company currently operates throughout four operating units in Georgia and Tennessee. Puckett EMS remains firmly rooted in its service areas and strives to constantly improve the organization’s service and professionalism, with the slogan “Caring, Commitment, Community.”
Puckett EMS supports its communities by providing not only ambulance service, but also pre-hospital medical expertise and professionalism. The company is also deeply committed to its employees, honoring them as being superior in appearance, attitudes and expectations. The company has 132 full-time employees and 70 part-time employees who serve more than 38,200 clients. Puckett EMS believes its employees are its most critical resource.
This organization is continuously innovative. Puckett EMS believes that in the healthcare industry, it is important to overcome limitations. The company has revolutionized the industry by introducing a customized electronic inventory software, Ambu-TRAK. This software allows EMS companies to track their medical supply inventory. As of 2013, Ambu-TRAK, now Operative IQ, is the largest supplier of inventory control software for Fire and EMS agencies in North America, with more than 3,000 licenses sold. The organization believes growth must be innovative, yet still produce improved patient outcomes over community healthcare.
Puckett EMS is dedicated to its communities. In 2012, employees donated more than 190 hours of community service and more than $31,000 to nonprofit organizations. The company works with many charitable causes, including the Cobb Chamber’s Partners in Education program, The Home Depot National Safety Day, K-Mart National Safety Day, the Make-A-Wish 5K and many more.
Business Profile
Owners: Steven Puckett and Shane Garrison
Industry: Emergency medical services; Healthcare
Year Established: 2001
Location: Austell
Number of Employees: 202
Percentage of Growth in 2012: 19.5%
Did You Know?: Puckett EMS received the EMS Region III Service of the Year Award in 2012!
Website: puckettems.com
Social Media: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/PuckettEMS
