Kevin Parker and Rob Smith, doing business as Jets, has acquired Advanced EMS. The sale was finalized on Friday.

Michael Smith, who had owned Advanced EMS since 2006, said the decision to sell was a hard one.

“I have been doing this here since 1991, and became the owner in 2006. The employees here are like family,” he said.

However, he said, the larger company can do more for those  25 local employees in the long run.

Parker and Rob Smith shared the story of their acquisition with the Andalusia Rotary Club on Tuesday.

“We were just two dumb paramedics who decided to open an ambulance service in Laurel, Mississippi, in Jones County,” Rob Smith said. “That was 13 years ago.”

They have grown their business from a two-truck service to 38 ambulances and more than 350 employees. Their business now stretches from as far west as Concordia Parish, La., to Andalusia, the current eastern-most point of the company.

Rob Smith said local residents shouldn’t expect to see any changes in the day-to-day operations of Advanced EMS, which answers an average of 12 calls per day. 

The local service will continue to operate as Advanced EMS.

Michael Smith said he will continue to work with Advanced EMS some, and plans to spend more time coaching. He has worked as an assistant at Straughn for the past four years.

Long-time Advance EMS employee Terry Stephens will manage the local day-to-day operations.