Orangeburg County EMS Director Stephanie Givens honored by OCCOC for resilience

Whether it has been navigating staffing shortages or rapidly changing protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic or ensuring public safety and employee morale in what can be a stressful job, Givens leads with a caring hand and loving heart that shines forth in how she treats not just her employees, but her community.

Her ability to lead and complete her duties with the capacity to withstand or recover from difficulties has led the Orangeburg County Community of Character initiative to honor her for displaying resilience.

“We have some great people that work here. We have a great team. I’m just proud to be a part of this, a part of the community and being able to provide the service that we are giving to our community,” Givens said.

The Orangeburg native has worked for Orangeburg County for more than 30 years, starting off as a basic emergency medical technician in 1992. Her rise through the ranks has allowed her to gain a variety of experiences that she uses to help build employee morale and trust.

“I tell them all the time that I know what it’s like being out there in the field, but that makes me go out there and work with them. I love what I do. The biggest thing is just having the best team and people walking through challenges with you,” Givens said.

She continued, “They encourage me to be the best…. We have come a very long way. COVID hit us bad just like every other place, but in the face of challenge, we rose up like a phoenix because we really are doing good here.”

Givens said she believes in the Golden Rule and starting off her day with prayer, a strategy which has helped her lead her staff members through everything from fatigue to frustration.

“I start my morning off with prayer. I ride to work listening to the gospel and something uplifting. I walk in the door and give just what I have received from that,” she said.

Givens looks back over her career and laughs at how she learned to overcome adversity, especially as an effective leader.

“Some days it was rough. I just did not know what direction we were going, but I was determined that I was going to put my feet in their shoes. I want to come in this office and talk to somebody like someone who is going to support the team,” she said.

Given continued, “It doesn’t matter if it’s a crisis, or if they need me to help them pull supplies. Whatever it was, I made time to make them a priority.”

She has led the EMS team with clarity and compassion whether it was through optimizing staff schedules, advocating for necessary resources such as a supplemental EMS service, or assisting on the ambulance herself.

“They make it easy. I give what I have been given. I’ve had great leadership for myself, including with Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young. I try to promote what is given to me. So when we do this, we do it together. There’s no ‘I’ in this team,” Givens said.

She said her penchant for leading through adverse or chaotic times comes with patience, positivity and strength.

“You have to be strong to overcome. I’m just blocking negativity like a boss. Not everybody’s going to be positive, but you know what? You can find something positive even in the most negative person,” Givens said.

She said the strategic planning and decisive actions that come with coordinating emergency medical services safety even in high-stress events is something she enjoys engaging in.

“I love my community, and I enjoy this work just like I started yesterday. I love taking care of people in general. You don’t have to be sick. It can be just helping someone load up groceries,” Givens said.

“To be where I am today is a blessing because I’ve had a lot of challenges, but I also had a lot of support. We do a lot of peer support here. I don’t want my employees to feel like they’re robots. I want them to feel like they’re human,” she said.

Givens said this human touch promotes resilience not just within herself, but among her staff.

“We do the unthinkable and see a lot of tragedy. We do what the normal mind cannot even process … but we still have to come back and do it over again. So we will cry together, we will talk and be each other’s counselor through whatever crisis we’re going through,” she said.