Member Spotlight: Tom Edminson, MBA, CEMSO, NRP
Tom Edminson, MBA, CEMSO, NRP
COTS Board Member
COTS Emergency Services Steering Committee Representative | Interfacility Transport Leader
January 2026
Where were you born and/raised? I was born and raised in West Chicago (Western Suburb of Chicago Illinoi)
What was your first job? My first job was at the age of 14, I started bagging groceries at a local grocery store.
You have two weeks off and a plane ticket to go anywhere, Where would you go? Somewhere warm :) I would most likely head off to board a cruise with my wife. Would also love to spend a couple weeks touring Italy.
What would you like your fellow COTS partners to know about you? ? I am currently living in Columbus while my family is still living in Minnesota. This as you can imagine creates some challenges however it is working well at this point.
What made you decide to be a physician/nurse/EMT/emergency manager (whatever your chosen career path)? I started working with the Fire Department in South Carolina right after I graduated high school, and that sparked my interest as a first responder. As time went on, I fell into the Emergency Medical Services side and focused on Paramedicine.
What hobbies do you participate in your free time? ? Honestly, I don't have a lot of free time per say, thus don't really have any hobbies I am drawn to.
What’s the best career advice you ever received? "The details matter" this is advice that really fits in any industry, job, career etc. Paying attention to the details truly matter and will ultimately help form a good organizational culture.
What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter season? Defiantly anything besides shoveling snow!
What’s something about your background that people wouldn’t guess? I have been in two movies, both were very small roles in very much unknown movies, I played a paramedic in both.
What was the first concert you attended? Honestly I don't really recall what my first one was, I think it was a George Straight Country Music Festival. This had multiple different very well know performers.