Recognized for his work in the community, Neffs National Bank President and CEO Kevin Schmidt considers volunteer work to be something everyone can and should do.

"There's always some organization that can use your help," he said.On March 25, Schmidt received the Spirit Award from the Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce in honor of his work with the Northern Valley Emergency Medical Services. The awards dinner at the Woodstone Country Club in Danielsville also served as a fundraiser for NOVA."Everyone has something to offer whether it's to a church, ambulance company, Lions Club or Rotary," he said. "Everybody has multiple abilities that they can contribute."Schmidt is president of NOVA and a member of the Lions Club, audit chair for the Union United Church of Christ in Neffs, Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers, Greater Northern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.NOVA is the primary emergency medical services provider for North Whitehall, Lowhill, Washington, and Heidelberg townships, Slatington and Walnutport."It's not a given," that an ambulance company will be close to anyone who needs one, he said. "There's a number of these organizations that have closed."Volunteer historyHe got involved in NOVA shortly after he started working at Neffs National in 1994.Schmidt said the ambulance company was going through some organizational changes and wanted some representation from local organizations on its board of directors. That's when he decided to volunteer to be on the board, which eventually led to working with the auxiliary.Financial challengesCosts have gone up for the ambulance company, Schmidt said. Increased regulations, the cost for new technologically advanced equipment and demand for greater services are running up the budget for ambulance companies.Times have changed. Thirty years ago, ambulance companies did little more than first aid and stabilization, then rushed the patient to the hospital, he said. Today, they provide more on-scene care and emergency medicines. Between the increasing costs and decreasing payments from insurance providers, ambulance companies are between a rock and a hard place."That's why our subscriptions program is so important," Schmidt said.In his years of volunteering, Schmidt said one of the most rewarding and memorable moments for him was being involved in a roundtable discussion with lawmakers about the financial plight facing ambulance companies."It was interesting to explain to them the challenges they're facing," he said. "That was particularly rewarding."Schmidt said he is humbled to be included among the names of those who have been presented the Spirit Award in past years."I think it's a great honor to be included with them," he said. "I'm flattered that they considered me."Schmidt said his leadership skills are summed up in two quotes from a former colleague, the late Herman Snyder. Snyder served as director and vice president of Neffs National and Neffs Bankcorp Inc. and was chairman of the board of Neffs National for 40 years from 1969 until shortly before his death in 2009. Schmidt affectionately calls the quotes "Hermanisms.""Be firm, but be fair and friendly," and "Remember the three publics." For Schmidt, that means to remember the employees, the shareholders and the community.