About the team

Jared Apperson, President, has worked professionally in EMS since 1997. He started as a ski patroller, then went on to get his EMT-Basic certificaton, became a firefighter, and then in 2001, became a paramedic. He has worked in just about every aspect of the profession possible – including the fire service, law enforcement, private ambulance and air ambulance.

John Bostwick, Vice President, has worked as a firefighter and paramedic for 23 years. He was medically retired due to PTSD in 2014. He started as a volunteer firefighter just before his 18th birthday, and soon after got his EMT-Basic and worked on an ambulance. Eventually he went on to paramedic school and was hired into the fire service. 

"All I ever wanted to do was be apart of a team and serve my community. I am proud to be a part of the Managing the Ghosts team. It's time we stop ignoring the effects of human tragedy on our first responders."

Kim Fitzpatrick-Voss, Secretary, is an Army veteran who became hooked on EMS after training in Wilderness First Aid in 2006 and serving as medical support for backpacking groups in California. She became an EMT in 2008, a paramedic in 2014, and left the field in 2015 due to PTSD. She began her relationship with PTSD at the age of 13, after the suicide of her older brother. Kim has lost a total of 11 friends and family to suicide. Kim is committed to changing the "silence=strength" mentality in our field.

Valenda Apperson, Treasurer, is currently the CFO of a non-profit agency that offers Therapeutic Mental Health Clinical services to children ages 2 to 24.  She has been with this agency for over 9 years, previously, working at the Mendocino County Department of Mental Health for 5 years. She has been an account/bookkeeper/receptionist/administrative assistant for over 45 years, and has both an accounting and business administration degree.

"Working for a Mental Health agency brings an acute awareness of mental health illness that most people are fortunate enough to avoid in their lives. PTSD can affect anyone, any age, at any time, and is a real illness. PTSD triggers can randomly appear, without warning; and these ghosts don’t just go away over time. The healing process requires therapeutic services, provided by skilled professionals, and the patience and support from family and friends. Fortunately, there are numerous, devoted MFT’s and LCSW’s, that tirelessly give themselves to their work and their clients every day. The ghosts are real, whether you are only 3 years old and have witnessed a violent crime, or are 44, and have experienced the passing of a life. Let’s work together, to manage the ghosts, and begin healing our souls."