Elevate your EMT training journey with Crux!
About Crux Med Ed & Consulting
Our Mission
To cultivate highly skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals through rigorous medical education, fostering a commitment to lifelong learning and patient-centered care, thereby improving the health and well-being of our communities.
Steve Schmid, Chief Executive Officer
Steve is a critical care flight paramedic with over 25 years of experience in EMS, firefighting, and rescue operations. He began his career as a junior firefighter in 1996 and has served in various volunteer and career departments across urban, suburban, rural, and frontier populations. Steve also served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1999-2003 as an Aviation Ordnance Technician, where he continued to engage in wildland firefighting, search and rescue, and part-time EMS.
In 2014, Steve moved to Montana and became a full-time flight paramedic, currently holding a leadership role in air medical transport. He completed the Certified Medical Transport Executive (CMTE) program in 2024 and maintains multiple certifications, including Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C), National Registry Paramedic (NRP), and Critical Care EMT-P (CCEMT-P), among others. Steve is dedicated to lifelong learning and has a passion for educating others, serving as an instructor in multiple EMS disciplines since 2007. He has also spoken at various conferences, including the American Heart Association International Stroke Conference in 2024.
Steve holds a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Management from George Washington University and is currently pursuing an MBA from the University of Montana. Outside of work, he enjoys camping, fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and spending time with his wife and two kids in Montana’s beautiful outdoors.
Jenn Schmid, Chief Operating Officer
Born and raised in beautiful Montana, Jenn has spent over 23 years in nursing, with a special focus on Emergency and Trauma care. She kicked off her career as a Labor and Delivery RN at a small critical access hospital, and soon transitioned to the Emergency Department, where she helped develop the trauma program. Along the way, she also gained experience as an EMT and even worked as ski patrol at a local family ski hill—because you never know when you might need to save the day!
After refining her trauma skills, Jenn moved to a Level 2 trauma center, where she took on roles as an ED RN, Code, Trauma, and Charge RN. She also taught emergency care to nursing students and EMTs. Jenn has experience in the PACU before transitioning to the skies and becoming a board certified flight nurse. She worked as a flight nurse for over 5 years, specializing in critical care on both rotor and fixed wing air craft.
Now, Jenn actively works as ED RN and oversees the Trauma Program at a critical access hospital, managing everything from trauma registry and protocols to chart audits, education for hospital and pre-hospital staff, and even leading community programs like Adventure Preparedness and Stop the Bleed.
Certifications include:
- Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN)
- Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
- Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
- Emergency Nursing Pediatric Certified (ENPC)
When Jenn’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with her husband and two kids, enjoying the great outdoors—camping, fishing, gardening, or traveling to new places for family adventures.
Amber Olson, EMS Education Manager
Born and raised in Northeast South Dakota, Amber made her way west in 2006 after earning her paramedic certification from Avera McKennan School of EMS in Sioux Falls. Since then, she’s built an extensive career serving in both high-volume EMS systems and rural agencies. Over the years, Amber has expanded her skill set by teaching a variety of courses, from pediatric specialties to ACLS, PALS, first aid, CPR, and PHTLS. She’s particularly passionate about teaching EMT classes and thrives in the world of simulation training.
Amber’s teaching philosophy revolves around the idea of “Progress, not perfection” and “Practice like you play.” She believes in helping learners grasp realistic, practical concepts that can be easily applied in real-world patient care. Her goal is always to empower students to perform at their best, even in high-pressure situations.
Outside of her time with the ambulance, Amber is often researching the latest trends in EMS, brainstorming new teaching ideas, or discussing patient-care scenarios with colleagues. In her downtime, she loves hiking and camping in Montana’s beautiful outdoors with family and friends, as well as gardening, painting, and spending time with her bunnies, chickens, and cats.