About Us

At the heart of every non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) provider is a commitment to service—one that requires resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering dedication to those in need. The NEMTA Excellence Award exists to honor that spirit, recognizing an outstanding individual or company each year for their impact on the industry. This award is deeply personal to me because it represents the lessons, struggles, and triumphs that have defined my own journey in NEMT.

My name is Christopher Buell, and like many who step into this industry for the first time, I had little knowledge of what lay ahead. My introduction to NEMT came when I purchased a business from two experienced operators. They had successfully run a three-van operation with a single exclusive client—the largest hospital hospice in Arizona at the time—which provided 100% of their transports.

What I believed to be a secure and established business was, in reality, something far more uncertain. While the previous owners had enjoyed favor with this major hospice, I quickly learned that loyalty in business is never guaranteed. The organization had already engaged two other transportation providers, one of whom had a personal connection to its leadership. My so-called “exclusive” contract was anything but, and I found myself in a business with three vans—and enough work for just one.

Faced with this reality, I had a choice: accept defeat or find a way to grow. I chose the latter. Over the next four years, I hustled—securing new clients, expanding services, and building a sustainable operation. By the time I stepped away, my company had grown to 11 vans, a full-time dispatcher, and nearly $800,000 a year in revenue.

But success isn’t always a straight path. After selling my first NEMT business, I stepped away from the industry, taking on a new challenge as a truck driver for JB Hunt. For four years, I hauled oversized freight for the oil fields, earning accolades and working my way toward a dispatch position. Yet, life had another lesson for me.

One day, while hauling a permitted oversized load, my truck accidentally tore down an internet cable worth $50,000. Just hours later, I followed my escort vehicle into a truck stop, where my load caught multiple power lines, breaking eight telephone poles in the process. Though neither incident resulted in citations or fault on my part, I had earned an unfortunate title: the most expensive accident in JB Hunt’s history where the driver wasn’t fired.

Despite escaping termination, I saw the writing on the wall. Rather than waiting for another accident that might end my career, I took control of my future. I left trucking, moved to Little Rock, AR, and started my second NEMT company.

This time, success came faster. I had the knowledge, the experience, and the drive to build something even bigger than before. But after another four years, I made the difficult decision to close the business—not out of failure, but out of the desire to explore new horizons. I traveled, I consulted, and I deepened my understanding of what makes an NEMT business truly successful.

Through these experiences, one thing became clear: success in NEMT is not about luck—it’s about resilience, strategy, and a commitment to service. That belief led to the creation of NEMTA—the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Alliance.

The NEMTA Excellence Award: Honoring the Best in NEMT

The NEMTA Excellence Award is more than just a trophy—it’s a symbol of everything it takes to succeed in this industry. It represents the grit, determination, and dedication to service that define the best in NEMT. Each year, this award will be given to an exceptional provider, driver, or company that exemplifies excellence in patient care, business success, and industry leadership.

For anyone who enters this field, the path is rarely easy. It demands long hours, tough decisions, and the ability to navigate an ever-changing landscape. But for those who rise to the challenge, the rewards are immeasurable—not just in business success, but in the impact they make on the lives of the people they serve.

This award exists to celebrate those who don’t just work in NEMT, but elevate it. To the providers who go above and beyond, to the drivers who treat every passenger with dignity and care, to the businesses that innovate and push the industry forward—this is for you.

The NEMTA Excellence Award is my way of paying tribute to the hardworking professionals who make this industry thrive. It is my way of saying, your work matters, and you deserve to be recognized.

Who will rise to the occasion this year? Who will embody the spirit of resilience, service, and success?

We’re about to find out.