Medical Rescue Team South Authority, commonly known as MRTSA, provides emergency medical services to communities in the South Hills of Allegheny County.
Strategic Solutions first began serving MRTSA in 2020, when President and CEO John Trant stepped into the role of interim executive director during an already challenging period for the organization. Shortly after the engagement began, the COVID-19 pandemic created additional operational, financial, staffing, and public health pressures for the EMS agency.
While serving as interim executive director in 2020 and 2021, Strategic Solutions provided experienced, hands-on leadership to help MRTSA maintain essential services, stabilize its operations, address immediate organizational needs, and continue moving important initiatives forward.
Leadership During a Critical Period
Emergency medical services organizations must continue serving their communities regardless of internal leadership changes, financial pressures, staffing challenges, or unexpected emergencies.
Working closely with MRTSA’s Board of Directors and staff, Strategic Solutions helped the organization navigate the uncertainty of the pandemic while also addressing broader operational and organizational priorities.
The engagement required more than temporarily filling an open leadership position. Strategic Solutions provided daily executive oversight, supported staff, coordinated with the Board, managed organizational priorities, and helped create greater stability during a period of significant change.
Through communication, collaboration, and experienced public-sector leadership, MRTSA was able to continue serving its communities while strengthening the organization for the future.
Key Accomplishments
During the engagement, MRTSA completed numerous construction projects, upgraded its technology and vehicle fleet, restructured its finances, and secured more than $2 million in loans and approximately $175,000 in grants.
Strategic Solutions also helped increase MRTSA’s membership, supported the hiring of five new EMTs, oversaw employee promotions, and recognized longtime MRTSA staff members with service awards.
Facility improvements included parking lot and retaining wall projects, roof replacement, garage repairs, the installation of a new boiler system, and other upgrades designed to improve MRTSA’s working environment and physical infrastructure.
The organization also advanced several fleet and technology initiatives. MRTSA strengthened vehicle maintenance and replacement planning, prepared specifications for new ambulances, rebuilt its computer network, replaced desktop computers, implemented Microsoft 365, upgraded in-vehicle network equipment, and installed new tools to improve daily operational communication.
Staffing and employee recognition remained important priorities throughout the engagement. MRTSA evaluated candidates, hired five new full-time EMTs, welcomed additional administrative and part-time personnel, oversaw employee promotions, and honored longtime employees for their service to the organization and community.
These accomplishments helped MRTSA move beyond immediate stabilization and begin building a stronger operational foundation.
A Trusted Partner Returns
In 2026, Medical Rescue Team South Authority once again selected Strategic Solutions to provide interim executive leadership during a transition in the organization’s permanent leadership.
Because Strategic Solutions already understands MRTSA’s operations, staff, financial systems, Board structure, and community responsibilities, the firm can step back into the organization without an extended learning curve and provide immediate continuity.
The current engagement begins from a much different position than the original assignment. Rather than reorganizing and rebuilding the agency, Strategic Solutions is focused on maintaining stability, accountability, and organizational momentum while MRTSA prepares for its next chapter of permanent leadership.
Strategic Solutions is providing general management support, assisting with Board meeting preparation, overseeing financial matters, closely monitoring billing and collections, and addressing additional leadership and operational priorities identified by the MRTSA Board of Directors.
The renewed engagement reflects the trust established during Strategic Solutions’ previous work with MRTSA.
“Many organizations face moments when they have to pivot, and often pivot hard. Interim leadership in the midst of organizational assessment, restructuring, or other trying scenarios is exceptionally hard to pull off, requiring the finesse, expertise and strategic mindset that rarely come together in a single person.
We found that person in John, and our organization is on solid organizational footing as a result.
If you want to weather an organizational challenge and come out better on the other side, hire John and don’t look back.”
Chair, MRTSA Board of Directors
MRTSA’s decision to once again partner with Strategic Solutions demonstrates the value of experienced interim leadership that can provide stability, continuity, and trusted guidance during an organizational transition.
Providing Stability During Leadership Transitions
Interim executive leadership gives public-sector organizations the time and stability needed to maintain daily operations, support employees, manage financial and administrative responsibilities, and thoughtfully identify the right permanent leader.
Strategic Solutions brings extensive local government and public-sector management experience to each interim leadership engagement. The firm’s goal is not simply to fill a vacant position, but to help the organization remain stable, responsive, and positioned for continued success.
2020 Year-End Accomplishments
MRTSA’s 2020 Year-End Accomplishments Report provides a closer look at the staffing, financial, facility, fleet, membership, and technology improvements completed during Strategic Solutions’ original interim executive leadership engagement.
