Kathy Lanier is the CEO of Vital Link EMS, a nonprofit providing advanced life support, emergency and non-emergency medical transport, CPR/First Aid training, and community services in Independence, Izard, Stone, and surrounding counties in north central Arkansas. The organization, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) since 2003, is based in Batesville and focuses on high-quality, dignified patient care.

A Batesville native, Kathy graduated from Arkansas State University with a bachelor's in accounting. She joined Vital Link over 25 years ago, serving as CFO since 2000 before advancing to CEO. Her expertise spans finance, human resources, risk management, and telecommunications. She helped transform Vital Link into one of Arkansas's premier rural EMS providers by creating alternative revenue streams, implementing wellness programs to lower insurance costs, and reinvesting all funds into equipment, facilities, staff, and patient care.

Kathy currently serves as President of medTRANS Insurance Ltd. She is deeply committed to community service, having previously served as President of the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce. She sits on the Independence County Education Foundation Board and White River Health System Board, and works as a site reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services.