Meet Our Team
Charley Barends
Owner – EM-Teaching LLC
With over 24 years of experience in the fire service, I bring a strong dedication to emergency medical education and real-world, hands-on training.
My career began in the EMS private sector, followed by a role in an emergency communications center, where I dispatched fire and police services for my local town. While working full-time, I pursued and completed Paramedic training, and have since progressed through the ranks of the fire department to my current role as Deputy Fire Chief.
In 2005, I began teaching paramedicine, and it quickly became a true passion. Since then, I’ve continued to instruct across a wide range of disciplines and programs.
I currently serve as an AHA Training Center Coordinator and certified AHA Instructor in:
- CPR
- ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
- PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
I am also a certified instructor and affiliate faculty for Massachusetts in several NAEMT programs, including:
- TECC (Tactical Emergency Casualty Care)
- PHTLS (Prehospital Trauma Life Support)
- AMLS (Advanced Medical Life Support)
- GEMS (Geriatric Education for EMS)
At EM-Teaching LLC, my mission is to make high-quality, accessible training available to both medical professionals and community members, ensuring everyone is better prepared to respond when it matters most.
Chris Read
Owner – EM-Teaching LLC
With over 32 years of experience in the fire service, I bring a deep commitment to emergency medical education and real-world training.
I began my EMS career in 1987, earning my Massachusetts EMT certification, and joined the Nantucket Fire Department in July 1988. After a decade of service, I transitioned to the Yarmouth Fire Department in April 1998, where I served until my retirement in April 2019.
In October 2000, I obtained my National Registry Paramedic certification, and shortly before that, in September 2000, I began teaching paramedicine—something I continued with passion until December 2022.
Throughout my teaching career, I have instructed in all AHA disciplines and NAEMT programs. I am a certified AHA Instructor in:
- CPR
- ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)
- PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)
- PEARS (Pediatric Emergency Assessment Recognition and Stabilization)
Additionally, I am a certified instructor in the following NAEMT courses:
- TECC (Tactical Emergency Casualty Care)
- PHTLS (Prehospital Trauma Life Support)
- AMLS (Advanced Medical Life Support)
- GEMS (Geriatric Education for EMS)
My goal with EM-Teaching is to provide accessible, high-quality training for everyone, from healthcare professionals to community members, because preparedness saves lives.
Megan Bartholdson
Executive Assistant and AHA Compliance Officer
Megan brings over a decade of experience in education, administration, and compliance to EM-Teaching. As our Executive Assistant and AHA Compliance Officer, she plays a vital role in ensuring our training programs run smoothly and meet the highest standards.
Megan began her career in EMS with a private ambulance company, where she advanced to the level of Paramedic. Working in a high-volume system, she gained valuable experience in the fast-paced world of emergency medical services. As a Field Training Officer (FTO), Megan mentored and trained numerous EMTs and paramedics, helping shape the next generation of providers.
After years of service in the field, Megan took a step back from frontline EMS to embrace a new and equally demanding role—motherhood. While raising her family, she continues to support the EM-Teaching team with the same passion and professionalism she brought to every 911 call.
Today, Megan is the backbone of our AHA compliance, class coordination, education tracking, and operational organization. We are incredibly fortunate to have her on our team—and to share her talent and expertise with her family.
Michael Snyder MD
Emergency Physician & Medical Director
Dr. Michael Snyder is a dedicated and compassionate emergency room physician serving a local South Shore community. While the town may be quiet, his ER experience has been anything but, offering him a broad range of clinical challenges and opportunities to make a meaningful impact.
Dr. Snyder began his academic journey at Westford Academy and went on to study at UMass Amherst, where he laid the foundation for his career in medicine. In addition to his work in emergency care, he is actively involved in teaching and mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals—a role he finds both rewarding and essential.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Snyder enjoys sports, outdoor activities, and water skiing, embracing every opportunity to stay active and balanced.
We are proud to have Dr. Snyder as part of the EM-Teaching team, where his insight, experience, and innovative ideas contribute to the continued growth and excellence of our programs.