Our Team

Person wearing helmet and headset in a vehicle.

Shannon Hillis, B.S., B.A., RN, NRP, CEN, TCRN, CFRN, F-PC, SAR Tech II

Shannon Hillis has a career spanning more than 36 years in emergency medical services and over 21 years as a registered nurse. I have dedicated my life to advancing emergency care, education, and service throughout Arkansas. My career began at age 16 as a member of my local volunteer fire department and has evolved through roles as a firefighter/EMT, paramedic, educator, registered nurse, and Flight RN/Paramedic, providing both ground and air medical care in rural and metropolitan communities.

I hold Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology, Biology, and Chemistry, along with four associate degrees, including Associate of Science degrees in Emergency Medical Services and Nursing. My professional credentials include Nationally Registered Paramedic, Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN), Trauma Certified Registered Nurse (TCRN), Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN), Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C), and SAR Tech II.

Passionate about advancing education for first responders, I founded the Northwest Arkansas Fire EMS Education Consortium, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in 2023. The organization's mission is to bring cutting-edge medical and technical rescue education to emergency service providers across Arkansas. Through the development of two highly successful regional fire and EMS conferences, I introduced the K9MEDIC program to Arkansas, expanding access to specialized education in the emergency care and transport of injured working dogs.

My commitment to K9 medicine is both professional and deeply personal. As a lifelong rescuer of shelter dogs with complex medical and behavioral issues, I immediately recognized the importance of K9MEDIC training. That passion became even more meaningful when my own working dog, Sully, survived two life-threatening medical emergencies requiring aggressive resuscitation. Today, Sully serves alongside me as both a demonstration K9 during training programs and a PTSD service dog for first responders.

Building on that experience, I partnered with an exceptional multidisciplinary team to establish ArK9MEDIC, a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) and fully accredited K9MEDIC affiliate dedicated to providing education and support for working K9 teams and the first responders who serve alongside them throughout Arkansas. Through education, collaboration, and advocacy, I remain committed to strengthening both human and canine emergency care while preparing responders for the unique challenges they face in the field.

Protecting those who protect us. ArK9MEDIC

Search and rescue worker with a German Shepherd dog outdoors.

Steve Wolverton

Steve Wolverton is the Vice President of Arkansas K9 MEDIC, the state’s licensed 501(c)(3) affiliate of K9 MEDIC. The national K9 MEDIC program brings together special operations tactical medicine, veterinary medicine, and emergency medical services in the care of K9's injured in the line of duty. Wolverton leads course delivery and program development for the Arkansas affiliate, training law enforcement and SAR K9 handlers, tactical operators, and the medical professionals engaged in the field care of working K9's. He also instructs nationally for K9 MEDIC headquarters. Wolverton retired from the U.S. Army in 2025 as a Sergeant First Class after 25 years of service, the last 18 as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D) with 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He spent most of his operational career on ODA 2234, a Military Freefall team, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and joint operations alongside allied Special Operations Forces (SOF) in Europe. Before retirement, he served with the 2/20th SFG(A) Training Detachment (DET 22), providing medical coverage and instruction for Special Forces Readiness Evaluations and candidate training. In Arkansas, Wolverton serves with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office as a SWAT operator and tactical medic, a Tactical Flight Officer (TFO), and a certified K9 handler with his partner, K9 Floky. He is the Medical Officer for Benton County Search and Rescue and supports Arkansas Task Force 1, where he helped develop rotor-wing K9 hoist and high-angle rescue protocols. He is a Registered Nurse, Tactical Paramedic, and Advanced Tactical Practitioner, and serves as COO of Infinite Outcomes, Inc., a healthcare IT consultancy.

Smiling female healthcare professional with glasses and stethoscope.

Avery Wilson

Avery Wilson is the Secretary of Arkansas K9 MEDIC, the state’s licensed 501(c)(3) affiliate of K9 MEDIC. The national K9 MEDIC program brings together special operations tactical medicine, veterinary medicine, and emergency medical services in the care of K9's injured in the line of duty. Wilson serves as Arkansas K9 MEDIC’s primary liaison with local veterinary clinics, coordinating its veterinary partnerships while overseeing its administrative and recordkeeping operations. She also instructs nationally for K9 MEDIC headquarters. Wilson brings nearly 15 years of veterinary experience across general practice and emergency care. Her involvement with Arkansas K9 MEDIC grew from a longstanding commitment to the medical care of working K9's — particularly those injured in the line of duty or operating in austere field environments. Beyond Arkansas K9 MEDIC, Wilson supports the training of local Search and Rescue (SAR) K9 teams, working with handlers and their dogs on the operational readiness their missions demand. Her focus across these roles remains the medical readiness and protection of working dogs.

Woman with sunglasses and black dog outdoors.

Amy Czerak

Amy Czerak serves as a K9 Handler with BCSAR and is a certified member of Arkansas K9 MEDIC, bringing together specialized training in tactical canine care and field response. She holds certifications in Wilderness First Aid, CRASE, and NASAR, equipping her with the skills necessary to support search and rescue operations in demanding environments. Her work focuses on the safety, readiness, and effective deployment of working K9’s in the field. In addition to her operational role, Amy is the CEO of a cocktail brand and a property management company, where she leads business operations, client relations, and strategic growth. Her leadership reflects a strong commitment to professionalism, organization, and service across both her civilian careers and her work in search and rescue.

Cody Hughes

Cody Hughes is a paramedic and Captain with Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) in Little Rock, Arkansas, with 14 years of EMS experience. He is a Specialized CLEST Instructor, PHTLS Instructor, and TECC Instructor with experience in tactical medicine and operational K9 deployments. His work with law enforcement canine teams led him to become a K9MEDIC Instructor, where he now helps educate first responders in evidence-based canine emergency care. Cody is passionate about advancing operational medicine through realistic, evidence-based training and interdisciplinary collaboration. MEMS enables his work with K9MEDIC, allowing him to provide canine emergency medical training throughout Arkansas while strengthening the capabilities of first responders and working dog teams.Our instructors are experienced professionals in their respective fields, and are passionate about teaching and helping others succeed. They bring real-world knowledge and practical skills to the classroom, ensuring that our students are well-prepared for their future endeavors.

Brandon Myers, BS, CVT

Brandon Myers, graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Medical Technology. He has worked in the veterinary profession for more than 15 years, including over 7 years in emergency medicine. Brandon currently serves as a Credentialed Veterinary Technologist at Veterinary Emergency Group in Rogers, Arkansas, where he is pursuing specialization in Emergency and Critical Care. He has a particular passion for anesthesia and analgesia and is dedicated to advancing patient safety, pain management, and the delivery of high-quality critical care.

Outside of clinical practice, Brandon is an active member of Benton County Search and Rescue, where he works alongside his German Shepherd, Mina, who is currently training in tracking and trailing. In his free time, he enjoys running, fitness, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with his fiancée, Harley, and his stepdaughter, Sedona.

Keith Davis

Keith Davis is the Director of Operations and a Paramedic with Med-Tech EMS, where he is dedicated to advancing emergency medical services through leadership, education, and operational excellence. He also serves as the Conway County Coroner and has more than 14 years of experience in fire and EMS. Keith is a certified EMT, NAEMT, AHA, K9 Medic, and IFSAC Instructor who is passionate about developing the next generation of first responders and improving patient care across Arkansas. Outside of his professional roles, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and their family, as well as hunting, camping, and enjoying time on the lake.

Tim Brenner

Tim Brenner brings nearly four decades of working K9, law enforcement, tactical, and public safety experience to Arkansas K9 MEDIC. A K9 handler since 1988, Tim has handled and worked with five K9s trained across multiple disciplines, including patrol, tracking, evidence recovery, narcotics detection, explosives detection, and accelerant detection. His extensive experience with working dogs provides a practical handler-focused perspective on K9 deployment, training, operational readiness, and the challenges handlers and their K9 partners face in the field.

Tim’s public safety career includes service as a Sheriff’s Deputy, SWAT operator, and law enforcement K9 handler, as well as experience as a firefighter and EMT. His background spans tactical operations, officer safety, emergency response, K9 deployment, and handler development.

Tim continues to serve in Search and Rescue and brings his combined K9, tactical, and emergency-response experience to Arkansas K9 MEDIC, where he helps prepare law enforcement, military, Search and Rescue, and other working-K9 teams for real-world operations and emergencies involving their canine partners.