In true EMS spirit, employees expressed their opinions and the Executive Team listened. In a first-ever company wide election, we voted for a new mascot.

During the fall of 2008 , the very charismatic Safety Sam was named as EMS's official mascot. Creator Tim Bolton says he thought a friendly bull would best symbolize our company’s virtues of strength and reliability. Safety Sam even has an EMS logo tattoo on his arm to show his loyalty and dedication. “He is the first to show up and the last to leave from the job,” says Bolton. “He is always safety conscious – equipped with hard hat, work gloves, work boots and safety vest.”

Bolton is a student at the Art Institute of Houston. His design is the winner of a mascot competition that EMS coordinated with the college. “I feel honored and privileged to have been chosen,” Bolton says. “I am very confident in my character because when I look at him he has enthusiasm and personality. I think he will very well suit and represent the EMS family.”

The Art Institute Design Team
The search for a mascot started last fall when CEO Tim Nesler and Trevor Eade, Director of Marketing/Communications, approached the school about holding the contest. “The mascot serves several purposes in addition to morale boosting activities. As our company grows, EMS is becoming more involved in community events and public awareness activities – so the mascot serves as a great launching as an introduction” says Eade.

EMS collaborated with the “Design Team” class. The professor, David Bennett, says the course gives his students a taste of the real world. “We believe that it is invaluable for students to gain real industry experience during their pursuit of their bachelors degree. The exchange further prepares students in developing communication skills, time management skills, teamwork, and presentation skills,” he said. In the past, students have worked with clients including M. D. Anderson, Texas Children’s Hospital, The Awty School, American Cancer Society, the City of Houston and the Mayor’s Office. Two years ago, the school ran a similar mascot competition for the city’s professional soccer team, the Houston Dynamos. Students in that “Design Team” class created Dynamo Diesel.

The Competition
For the EMS mascot competition, the “Design Team” class had nineteen students. Some chose to work alone, others paired up with a teammate. Trevor Eade kicked off the contest in January with a presentation to familiarize the students with EMS business and culture. “We purposely didn’t guide the students with character styles, designs, etc. They were working with a blank canvas with 100% creative freedom,” he said.

While the students were encouraged to create whatever they wanted, an EMS panel helped steer them in a direction that would accurately portray the soul of EMS. The panel included Eade, Bernadette Verzosa, Contributing Editor and Melinda Nesler, Executive Assistant.

“I found the students to be enthusiastic in the classroom,” Said Nesler. “From the first session, as we viewed rough sketches of ideas, and met every week to help direct each student with our input, and to see the creativeness that each session brought to the table, really thrills me and makes me very proud.”

The students say they enjoyed the rounds of critique, and the process taught them what textbooks do not. “I learned you must listen closely to the client. Many times clients speak without saying words,” said Sandra Craft.

Tessa Owen added, “I rarely have to think about design in 3D and this project gave me the opportunity to think past just a piece of paper. Something I learned is that I can apply my skills to any type of design whether it be print or costumes.”
Most importantly, the students impressed the man who was giving them their academic grades. “I find myself in awe of how the students took an unorthodox project and accomplished such great results,” said Bennett.

He was also pleased with the EMS panel. “Trevor, Melinda, and Bernadette were great critics and clients. They made the students feel good about the progress of their designs and encouraged each to do their best,” he said. “The guidance each student received was professional, thoughtful, and sincere. We couldn’t have asked for a better project and clients to work with.”

The Finalists & The Vote
Out of a dozen designs, three designs were selected as finalists. In addition to Safety Sam, there was Pipe ’n Pete, a third-generation skilled pipe welder, and Cobalt the Superhero, protector of people and the environment.

The three designs were posted on the EMS Intranet for a vote open to all employees. “EMS has a culture of involving the employees as much as possible. We’re one large family. I want my coworkers to feel a part of the process – and to embrace and take pride in our new mascot,” said Trevor Eade.

Many EMS field employees even used paper ballots. David Reeder, Safety Coordinator, gathered more than a hundred votes from workers at Construction & Rehabilitation Services – East. “I told them how important their vote is – and everyone participated,” he said. Reeder said many workers could not vote on-line because they did not have access to the company intranet.

“This vote gives employees the opportunity to shape perceptions of EMS’s current community as well as how they hope to build it in the future,” said Melinda Nesler.
With Safety Sam taking the top spot, second place went to Pipe ‘n Pete. Creator David Garcia said he was excited to be a finalist. “It is crazy to think that so many people were going to see my work let alone vote on it for something as important as this,” he said. “I think this process made the project more challenging and exciting.”

In third place, was Cobalt, created by Nela Milic and Tim Spencer. Spencer said, “I love to draw so any chance I get the opportunity to draw with a purpose I have a blast! It was almost a nostalgic feeling because when I was young I would draw my own superhero characters, and this project ended up going in that direction for my team.”

Spencer says he was glad to discover another practical application to his talent. “I learned that my illustration skills can benefit myself and employers in more ways than I had ever thought possible.”

The Future
Safety Sam made his debut in the Spring of 2009, and has already scheduled appearances in Houston at community events like walks and parades.

“I view the mascot as an extension of what the EMS’er brings to work with them every day - pride in their work and their company, loyalty to the team, and of course, fun with safety in mind,” said Nesler.

The sky’s the limit with Safety Sam. Is it possible he could be a balloon at the Thanksgiving Day Parade...?