27
April
2026
Owner - ACLS/PALS/BLS Instructor
Chad was a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic with the City of Rockford, retiring in 2025. Chad is also a retired flight nurse with OSF Aviation. He served his community for 30+ years in the emergency medical field. In 2003, he started AED Essentials, Inc. The passion to start the business was driven by his experiences in the field witnessing the lack of lay person CPR/First Aid. Since then, he and his staff have trained thousands of people in CPR, First Aid, Blood Borne Pathogens, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Life Support Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support. Chad has been a mentor to EMS personnel since the beginning of his career.
Office Manager - ACLS/PALS/BLS Instructor
Hanne Reiger has been in EMS since 1991. She started off in MN and then moved through WI before settling in the Rockford area. Hanne received her Paramedic License is 1997 and has worked full-time in EMS since then. Hanne has spent her career between ground transport, helicopter transport and management. Hanne's current full-time position is Chief of Green County EMS in Monroe, WI. Hanne is a IL, WI and NREMT-P Licensed Paramedic. She is a Certified Critical Care Paramedic thought the UMBC. She has her FP-C certification from BCCTPC. She has certifications in PHTLS, NRP and holds instructor certifications in PALS, ACLS, CPR through the American Heart Association and AVERT. Hanne has two children, is married and has a unusual sense of humor that spices up any class she teaches. Hanne has been with AED Essentials since July 2015.
ACLS/PALS/BLS Instructor
Phil began his career in the fire service and EMS in 2004 with the Posen Fire Dept, a small south suburb of Chicago. Phil began with the Rockford Fire Dept full time in 2007, where he is a certified Paramedic and Firefighter III. Phil is certified through the State Fire Marshal as Instructor II along with other certifications in the fire service. He is also an instructor with American Heart Association in Basic Life Support CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Phil is currently stationed on the west side of Rockford at Fire Station 6 where he is the senior firefighter and lead preceptor with paramedic students. Phil has taught with other organizations in the fire service and medical field. He is continuously learning as a student himself and as an educator. Phil has been with AED Essentials since March 2017.
ACLS/PALS/BLS Instructor
Brooke is a RN, BSN, CCRN with OSF St. Anthony's in the Neuro/Trauma/Burn ICU. She has been with AED Essentials since February of 2022. Brooke is not only our youngest BLS instructor but she is also the daughter of our Office Manager. Age is not a factor for Brooke, as the medical field is her calling, and with her witty sense of humor she brings that special twist of making learning fun, alive. Brooke is a very motivated, self-driven person, who is constantly learning from those around her. Brooke holds two other jobs besides AED Essentials, including her full-time Nursing position, she is also works at iCRYO in Rockford. Brooke does not have much free time but what time she does have you will most likely find her curled up with a good book, spending time with her girlfriend Anna, studying or sleeping.
ACLS/PALS/BLS Instructor
Joe's healthcare career began in 2010 when he joined Northwest Fire Protection District as a volunteer firefighter. In 2013 he became a full-time firefighter for the Rockford Fire Department and two years later became a certified Firefighter/Paramedic. In 2019 he began working at AED Essentials because he wanted an opportunity to help promote life saving techniques to both healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers. When he's not teaching or working, Joe enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and German Shepherd Tesla. He also enjoys playing sports and spending time outdoors.
BLS Instructor
Joseph is currently a Firefighter/Paramedic for the Rockford Fire Department and has been in the fire service and emergency medical services since 2019. Joseph is a certified instructor for BLS, ACLS, PALS, and AVERT and has been an instructor with AED Essentials since May 2023. With his free time, Joseph loves to watch and play sports, especially basektabll which he also coaches. He also enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.
BLS Instructor
Steve was a full-time Firefighter /Paramedic for 28 years, retiring in 2019. He has worked with AED Essentials educating the community in CPR and First Aid for 5 years. He enjoys his free time skiing with his grandchildren. He also like boating although he is a horrible fisherman.
His house is somewhat quiet now since it is just him and his wife (Julie). His 4 children have grown up and moved on. Steve has been with AED Essentials since May 2016.
