Instructor Profiles

 

 

 John Boburchuk Jr.

 John F. Boburchuk Jr. has been involved with search and rescue and emergency services since 1996.  John has worked part time or full time since 1996 as an Emergency Medical Technician.  He has been involved in search and rescue since 1997 and is the current Chief of the Bedford County Wilderness Search Team in Pennsylvania.  John has been involved with Blue Knob All Seasons Resort's Ski Patrol since 1997.  John has worked his way through the patrol as a volunteer, Pro, Pro Patrol Director, and currently is the Patrol Director for the Patrol.  John was a volunteer firefighter from 1997 through 2001 with Windber Fire Department where he held the positions of Firefighter, Rescue Lieutenant, and Rescue Captain.  John is a career firefighter with the City of Johnstown, Pennsylvania since 2001.  John has been teaching emergency services courses for the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy as a Local Level Instructor through Bucks County Community College Since 2003.  John is also a Lead Evaluator and Instructor through the National Association for Search and Rescue and an Instructor through the American Safety and Health Institute.  John is certified to the Level III Fire Service Instructor Certification, which is considered a Master Instructor.  John is the Owner and CEO of the Wilderness Emergency Response Institute, LLC.

 

 

 

 

Carol Thompson

Carol Thompson has been involved with search and rescue since 1999.  She is the current K9 Captain of the Bedford County Wilderness Search Team in Pennsylvania.  Carol is a NASAR Certified SAR Tech I, K9 SAR Tech III, and a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Field Team Member and Field Team Leader.  Carol's first Search and Rescue K9 was a Labrador Retriever named Burke.  Burke was certified by NASAR as a K9 SAR Tech III in Area Search.  Carol's current K9 is a Labrador Retriever named Jesse.  Jesse is certified by the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA) in Search and Rescue/ Trailing.  Carol spends over   hours a year in personally training Jesse.  Carol has been training and assisting others with training their K9 resources since 2000.  Carol is a SAR Tech II evaluator for the National Association for Search and Rescue.  Carol is in charge of Wilderness Emergency Response Institute, LLC's K9 training programs, in both development and offering phases and assists in the NASAR SAR Tech II test offerings.  Carol works full time as a Certified Public Accountant.

 

 

Mike Wess

Mike Wess has been involved with search and rescue and emergency services since 1998.  He has been involved with search and rescue since 2004.  He has served as the Vice President and President of the Bedford County Wilderness Search Team in Pennsylvania.  Mike is certified as a NASAR SAR Tech II and a Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Field Team Member.  Mike has been involved with Blue Knob All Seasons Resort's Ski Patrol since 1998.  Mike started in the Patrol as a Paid Patroller and currently acts as a Hill Boss on both evening and weekend shifts.  Mike is a National Ski Patrol Instructor for the course "Outdoor Emergency Care" and is in charge of skiing and toboggan training for all Blue Knob Ski Patrollers.  Mike is credentialed as a Senior Level Patroller from the National Ski Patrol and a Certified Patroller through the Professional Ski Patrol Association.  Mike is a SAR Tech II Evaluator for the National Association for  Search and Rescue.  Mike is an assistant instructor for the Ski Lift Operations Course and assists in the NASAR SAR Tech II test offerings.  Mike works full time as a Mine Safety Inspector.

 

Katherine Boburchuk

Katherine Boburchuk got involved in search and rescue in 1999 in the South Western United States.  Katherine is certified as a NASAR SAR Tech III and a certified Pennsylvania First Responder and Wilderness EMT.  Katherine is also certified as a Level III Emergency Service Instructor through Pro Board and has a a Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Penn State University.  Katherine is a certified American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) instructor and an Instructor for the American Heart Association.  Katherine is a Nordic Ski Patroller for Laurel Highlands Ski Patrol.  Katherine served for 4 years in the United Stated Army, where she worked as a Registered Nurse and obtained the rank of Captain.  Katherine is an Instructor for Bucks County Community College Department of Public Safety, where she teaches their Wilderness Medicine Curriculum.  Katherine oversees and teaches all of Wilderness Emergency Response Institute, LLC's Wilderness Medical courses.  Katherine currently works full time as a LPN Instructor for Somerset County Technology Center.