Our Team

Suhas Uppalapati
Chief Executive Officer
AmeriPro Health

Suhas is a highly experienced business leader with expertise spanning various industries, including health care, financial services, insurance, hospitality, government, real estate, strategy consulting and technology. He is the owner of multiple businesses, has held numerous senior executive positions and has served on prestigious boards throughout the United States.

Suhas holds an M.B.A. from Duke University, an M.S. in Computer Science from George Mason University and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

He is a proud father of two daughters: the elder one is a student at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and the younger one is a student at Duke University. His wife, a distinguished oncologist, presides over a large practice.

Suhas enjoys mountain and road biking, kayaking, global travel with his family and supporting various charities.

Larry Richardson
Chief Business Officer
AmeriPro Health

Launching his career as an active-duty U.S. Marine, Larry devoted eight years to distinguished service before transitioning to the EMS sector where he worked as a licensed critical care and nationally registered paramedic.

With over two decades of experience in a diverse range of public and private administrative roles, Larry specializes in operations, government affairs, business development, strategic planning and revenue management.

Larry earned his MBA from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. He also has a master’s degree in finance from the University of Miami and a bachelor’s degree in applied sciences from Clayton State University. Additionally, he holds numerous certifications from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Texas A&M University, American Heart Association and National Association of EMTs.

Larry has been married to his wife for 17 years, and they have two children who play competitive baseball and softball. Larry’s wife also has 21 years in public safety and serves as the chief of staff for a large Metro Atlanta fire and rescue department. Larry enjoys spending time with his family, playing softball and baseball, and cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs and the Miami Hurricanes.

Marvin McLellan
Chief Operating Officer
AmeriPro Health

With over thirty years of leadership experience in medical transportation and post-acute healthcare strategy, Marvin serves as AmeriPro Health’s chief operating officer. His diverse career includes senior leadership roles at Air Methods Corporation, heading MediFlight Oklahoma’s critical care transport service for OU Medical Center and roles at TransCare New York and Northwell Health.

Prior to joining AmeriPro in 2019, he was the director of business development for Lacuna Health, a technology-driven patient care management startup within Kindred Healthcare. His diverse experience also includes serving as vice president of business development at Medical Life Holdings, and roles as associate administrator and market director of business development for Tenet Healthcare.

Marvin holds a bachelors in business administration and is currently pursuing an MBA in international healthcare administration at the University of Cumbria. Additionally, he holds his fireground officer certification and paramedic licensure.

David Grayson
Vice President, Revenue Cycle & Billing
AmeriPro Health

David brings more than 35 years of multi-faceted EMS experience, holding roles as an administrator, consultant, educator, paramedic and dispatcher. Apart from EMS, David stands as a seasoned entrepreneur, investing in various business ventures. Notably, he founded and led CareMed EMS in Oxford, Mississippi, for six years before its integration into the AmeriPro family.

David served multiple terms as the president of the Mississippians for Emergency Medical Services, the largest EMS association in the state. He also serves on the Mississippi EMS Advisory Council, Mississippi Trauma Care Advisory Committee, Mississippi Stroke Care Advisory Committee, Central MS EMS District Board of Directors, and is the advisory committee chairman for the Coahoma Community College paramedic program. Additionally, he is currently an adjunct faculty at Columbia Southern University.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Business Administration from Millsaps College and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Business Administration Degree in Finance from Sacred Heart University.

Away from work, he enjoys college sports, travel, sailing and volunteering with several community organizations.

Matthew Thompson
Medical Director
AmeriPro Health

Dr. Matthew Thompson, MD, FACEP, is an emergency physician, telemedicine pioneer and innovator driven by a passion for overcoming care barriers both personally and professionally. His profound interest in technology inspired him to complete an ultrasound fellowship post his tenure as chief resident at the University of Arizona. He continues his emergency medicine practice in Florida, which continually fuels his motivation to develop innovative solutions.

As the co-founder, chief medical officer and chief operating officer of Telescope Health, Matthew aims to enhance care access, patient outcomes and quality of life through technology, innovation and human connection. He’s deeply invested in innovative problem-solving, transitions of care, health equity, and telehealth solutions tailored to patients’ unique social health determinants.

He has been recognized by the Jacksonville Business Journal as a Tech Leader of the Year and 40 under 40 business leader and for Telescope Health’s community impact during the pandemic.

Outside the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters. He’s a musician who plays guitar, ukulele and piano. He also enjoys reading, surfing and making espresso.

Dr. Raul Piñon Jr
Medical Director – Alabama
AmeriPro Health

Dr. Raul Piñon Jr., an esteemed emergency physician, leader, consultant and educator, maintains medical licenses across six states: Alabama, Colorado, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas and Wyoming.

With over two decades of experience, Raul, a dual board-certified practitioner in emergency medicine and family practice, began his career as a Major in the United States Air Force. During his service, he held the position of Chief Medical Officer for the Special Operations Command.

Currently, he serves as chief of staff for Vaughn Regional Medical Center, where he’s worked since 2015. In 2020, he was awarded Medical Director of the Year by TeamHealth, and he has served as a board member for the American Board of Physician Specialties since 2022.

He lives in Wetumpka, Alabama, and has been married to his wife, Brittney, for 11 years. They enjoy flying, traveling, motorcycle riding and fishing.

Doug Norton
Director of Operations, Georgia
AmeriPro Health

For over 35 years, Doug has provided strategic planning and leadership to propel business growth and streamline operations within the EMS industry.

Most recently, as VP of operations, he drove the organization to unprecedented revenue and profitability levels despite industry and economic hurdles, while cultivating dynamic, high-achieving teams through coaching and mentorship.

Doug has a talent for identifying and developing the potential in people and organizations. He is considered an innovator in the areas of risk management, operational leadership and system status management (SSM) by industry leaders and healthcare professionals.

Doug lives outside of Athens, Georgia, (Go Dawgs!) and has been married to his wife, Arlana, for eight years. They enjoy boating, fishing and camping with their fur baby, Storm.

Jeff Avinger
Director of Operations, Florida
AmeriPro Health

Jeff began his EMS career in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2010 where he quickly established himself in the private ambulance industry, earning Paramedic of the Year and Florida Star of Life accolades. As a high-level clinician and leader, Jeff has led the development, implementation and oversight of critical care, community paramedicine and sports medicine programs.

Currently, as director of operations for Florida, he oversees patient and crew satisfaction, operational stability and market expansion.

Jeff is a licensed Florida paramedic and earned his critical care certification from the University of Florida in 2013. He is pursuing his Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s School of Nursing.

Jeff lives in St. Augustine, and has been married to his wife, Francine, for 10 years. They enjoy traveling, outdoor recreation and spending time with their three children.

Todd Turpin
Director – Administration, Safety and Compliance
AmeriPro Health

Todd grew up working on cars, so it was only natural he began his career in the automotive industry. He served as departmental manager handling millions of dollars in inventory. After 23 years in the automotive industry, Todd became an EMT and started his second career in emergency medical services.

Todd furthered his education as an advanced paramedic and leveraged his leadership skills in the EMS industry, progressing from field training officer to operations supervisor.

Todd has been married to his wife, Sandy, for six years. They have five children and four grandchildren between the two of them. He loves traveling and spending time outdoors with his family and pets.

Dr. Herschel Kessler
AmeriPro Health

Herschel Kessler embarked on his career as a volunteer EMT at 17, quickly advancing to a paramedic role and earning a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Medicine.

Furthering his education, he spent four years at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Nassau University Medical Center. He then ventured into emergency medicine in Georgia, taking up leadership roles across several hospitals. Since 2015, he has been an EMS medical director.

In his free time, Herschel enjoys spending time with his wife and six children.

David Minton
Chairman, Advisory Board
AmeriPro Health

David, a 34-year UPS veteran, has demonstrated success in leading finance for the world’s largest logistics organization. Serving as vice president of finance, his responsibilities spanned worldwide sales, marketing, corporate communications and domestic operations. He played a crucial role in driving financial results through effective salesforce initiatives, marketing strategies and corporate planning and reporting. Additionally, he served as a senior financial member of the UPS subsidiary, The UPS Store.

David’s diverse experience also includes serving as a loan executive for the Department of Homeland Security and an advisory board member for Ball State University’s Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mississippi College, along with certifications in logistics management from Michigan State and financial concepts from Georgia State.

Kerry Byler
Member, Advisory Board
AmeriPro Health

Kerry has over two decades of venture capital and private equity investment experience, having worked with more than 59 portfolio companies. He assists high growth companies with their business model refinement, strategic planning, fundraising, business development and financial and operational management. Kerry has held numerous leadership roles, including interim CEO, CFO and COO at various companies.

As the lead venture investor in his latest portfolio company, Kerry mentored an innovative healthcare IT startup, propelling it from conception to a Wall Street Journal “Top Three Startup of the Year” in under 18 months. He also served as a managing director at BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners, overseeing a venture initiative involving over $300 million in committed capital across 17 companies.

Kerry holds an MBA in Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship and Analytic Finance from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a B.S. in Finance with high honors from the University of Tennessee.

Dave “Super Dave” Sanford
AmeriPro Health

Super Dave is a seasoned partnership integration director with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He has a proven track record of developing successful relationships with communities, hospitals and health systems across the United States.

Dave’s expertise in strategic planning and execution has helped foster successful EMS and ambulance partnerships throughout the country. His vast knowledge, paired with remarkable communication and interpersonal skills, enables him to build strong relationships with partners and stakeholders.

Committed to delivering optimal outcomes, Dave’s unwavering passion for his work fuels his pursuit of excellence.