Meet the Core Bear Care Management Team
Alex Russell, EMT-B
CEO/Owner
Alex is a veteran of the music-festival industry, having worked in various positions in event administration and management over the years. His resume includes supervisory roles at events such as: All Good, the Baltimore Grand Prix, Camp Barefoot, the Foxfield Races, The Moonrise Festival, The Festy Experience, Brew Ridge Trail Festival, The Mantrabash, and Sharps Sessions.
Alex graduated EMT School in 2014, and currently serves as a Lieutenant at the Fredericksburg (Va.) Volunteer Rescue Squad. During his tenure at FRS, he has also served as a Rescue Sergeant, Public Information Officer, Field Training Officer, Supply Manager, and IT Manager.
For his day job, Alex is a Web developer and software engineer for a digital marketing firm.
Jim Bartlett, Firefighter/EMT-A
President Emeritus
Jim served for many years as the Training Lieutenant at the Fredericksburg Rescue Squad, where he met Alex. Together they created Bear Care Medical.
Jim holds a VA-EMT-Advanced certification, and currently serves as a wildland firefighter for USFS.
Jim is also a state EMS Education Coordinator and in his spare time teaches classes for EMT, Wilderness First Aid / First Responder, and Tactical Casualty Care. He also volunteers for Team Rubicon as a chainsaw instructor and also serves in various other staff and command positions.
Jim left the company in 2018 to pursue his firefighting career full-time on the West Coast, but still serves in an advisory capacity.
Wendi “Mama Bear”, EMT-B
Site Lead / Incident Commander
Wendi is the longest-serving member of the Bear Care management team, and manages the on-site operations for our field aid stations. Wendi is the quintessential people-person and loves meeting, chatting with, and caring for our festival family. So stop by the Aid Station and say “hi!”
She is a veteran of EMS and a long-time member of the Fredericksburg Rescue Squad, where she has held positions as a Field Training Officer, Training Lieutenant, Sergeant, Captain, and Assistant Chief.
Angie Schroeder, LPN
Site Lead / Incident Commander
Angie has over 20 years of healthcare experience including emergency medicine, occupational health, and behavioral health. In addition to being a Licensed Practical Nurse, she is registered with the Virginia Board of Counseling as a Qualified Mental Health Professional and Nationally certified as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. In 2023 she earned her Wilderness First Responder certification as well as a Master of Public Health. Angie’s love of camping, travelling, live music, and healthcare has made serving festival patrons both an honor and a pleasure.
Bear Care Event Resume
Bear Care has been providing event first aid services to our festival family for 10 years! Here is a list of some events we’ve helped with in the past.
2014
Lunar Bay
Watermelon Park
Camp Barefoot
Mad Tea Party Jam (*)
Moonrise, (Baltimore) (*)
(*) Events worked as a sub for another provider
2015
Big Poppa Spring Ball
Camp Barefoot
Domefest
Mad Tea Party Jam
Paradise (Kentucky)
Pasturepalooza
Watermelon Park Fest
Sleepy Creek Spring Dig
Sleepy Creek Har-Fest
2016
Appalachain Mountain Flame-Off
Camp Barefoot
Big Dub (*)
Domefest
Mad Tea Party Jam
River and Roots
Shadefest
Sleepy Creek Spring Dig
Sleepy Creek Har-Fest
Valley Fusion
Watermelon Park
2017
Domefest
Hemlock Grove
Wills Mountain Fest
Mad Tea Party Jam
Pasturepalooza
Shadefest
Watermelon Park
Valley Fusion
Sleepy Creek Spring Dig
Sleepy Creek Brokedown Floatdown
Sleepy Creek Har-Fest
2018
Beast Coast Reggae Fest
Domefest
Lewis & Clark Elementary Grizzly Grind
Mad Tea Party Jam
Pasturepalooza
Shadefest
Watermelon Park Fest
Sleepy Creek Spring Dig
Sleepy Creek Brokedown Floatdown
Sleepy Creek Har-Fest
Valley Fusion
2019
Beast Coast Reggae Fest
Bless the Woods
Domefest
Pasturepalooza
Shadefest
Watermelon Park Fest
Sleepy Creek Spring Dig
Sleepy Creek Har-Fest
Valley Fusion
Yonderville
Weekend at Wolfie’s
Freinds of the Rappahannock Riverfest
2020
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2021
Watermelon Pickers Fest
Weekend at Wolfie’s
2022
Weekend at Wolfie’s
Mind Under Matter Fest
The Ramble Festival
Watermelon Pickers Fest
2023
Maryland Cannabis Legalization Fest
The Ramble Festival
S.H.A.R.E Family Reunion (Spring and Fall)
Weekend at Wolfie’s
2024 (scheduled)
Watermelon Pickers Fest
Weekend at Wolfies
BeardFest
The Ramble Festival
S.H.A.R.E Family Reunion (Spring and Fall)