Key Personnel

Susan M. Safran, RN, MSN is a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from UNC-Greensboro in 1977 and completed her Masters in Critical Care as a Cardiovascular Clinical Nurse Specialist in 1988 at Duke University. She founded CPR Consultants, Inc. in 1988. Susan is a volunteer with the American Heart Association and chaired the AHA NC Advocacy Committee from 2001 to 2004. She is the AHA representative, on the NC Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council, having served since 2002. She was one of the recipients of the 2002 Triangle Area Women in Business award.

William (Bill) R. Blankenship Jr., was born in Washington D.C. on August 16, 1965. He lived in Maryland until he was 12 years old, then his family moved to where he currently resides in Apex, North Carolina. They have lived there for 27 years and have no plans to leave. He is married to his lovely wife Lori and they have three children, "all girls," Ashleigh 12, Myranda 10, Kaila 8. He works for the Town of Chapel Hill Fire Department were he holds the position of Fire Captain. Emergency Services has been a major part of his life. He started at the age of 14 with the Apex Junior Rescue Squad were he volunteered for several years and reached the certification of EMT-I. When he turned 16 he volunteered with the Morrisville Volunteer Fire Department were he served for many years as a volunteer and a paid employee reaching the rank of Assistant Chief. He was hired in December of 1993 with the Town of Chapel Hill Fire Department where he still serves today.

During his many years in the emergency services he has gained a wealth of experience and obtained many certifications:

• NC Firefighter II
• NC EMT
• NC Rescue Technician
• NC Fire Instructor II
• American Heart Association CPR / First Aid Instructor
• National Safety Council (Green Cross) Instructor
• Swiftwater Rescue Technician II / Instructor
• North Carolina State Fire Inspector Level II