Josh and Corie Robinson’s 13-year marriage began in an unlikely place.
“We met at an assisted living facility,” said Corie Robinson, director of the Oglethorpe County Senior Center. “I was working (there), and it’s (where) his grandfather lived.”
Over a decade later, the Robinsons continue to navigate life together, raising three children — Carson (12), Tatum (10) and Crew (4) — and balancing their careers in public service.
The family lives in the Smithonia area. Josh and Corie’s partnership extends beyond their home, making them familiar faces across Oglethorpe County.
Josh serves as the director of Oglethorpe County EMS, a position he assumed in spring 2025 after joining the department in 2007. He oversees emergency response across the county’s 441 square miles.
“What inspired me to be EMS was just a desire to help people and give back to my community,” Josh said.
Since taking on the role, the department has expanded its coverage from one 24-hour EMS truck and one 12-hour daytime truck to two 24-hour EMS trucks and a 12-hour quick response vehicle (QRV). Josh has also updated EMS protocols for how workers respond to and interact with patients.
Despite these structured improvements, Josh still faces unpredictable situations on the job. Sometimes, it’s his wife who provides the solution.
“We were looking for an individual on Turner Hill Road and Corie ended up finding him,” Josh said. “She came out there to help us.”
Josh said he thrives in high-stress situations, and having Corie nearby — on the occasional call or at home — helps him manage the pressures of EMS work.
While Josh generally responds to immediate emergencies, Corie focuses on long-term care, providing a complementary approach to serving their community.
Corie earned her bachelor’s in health promotion and behavior from the University of Georgia. She said she’s always been passionate about working with older adults, and is especially focused on educating seniors about nutrition.
“There’s so many people in our county who are suffering from food insecurity,” Corie said. “My goal is to have all senior citizens in this county fed.”
Her commitment to nutrition is central to the center’s offerings, which include weekly lunches, trips to the grocery store and pharmacy, and a variety of social activities for members.
Transportation, however, remains a challenge for some members of the senior center.
“Everybody needs transportation,” Corie said. “We can meet that a little bit, but there's definitely a growing need for that in the future.”
Corie said she does outreach by dropping senior center brochures off at local pharmacies, doctors’ offices, the sheriff’s office and EMS to connect with more residents.
The Robinsons said their careers overlap in ways that strengthen their work and marriage. Josh frequently alerts Corie about seniors who could benefit from the center’s programs.
“I look at things in a more social service pathway and long-term goals for a client,” Corie said. “With us working together, he and his staff have down the emergency aspect.”
At home, the couple divides parenting duties, school dropoffs and household responsibilities.
“We divide and conquer in the mornings,” Corie said.
Both emphasized the importance of keeping work and home life separate.
“We’re definitely sounding boards for each other," Josh said. “We try not to bring what we’re having going on at work back home. We try to keep it separated.”
Despite their hectic schedules, living in a small, close-knit community shapes how they approach leadership.
“We’re able to help people that we know or know of them,” Corie said. “We’re able to connect in a different way.”
Looking ahead, the Robinsons share a goal of providing the best possible services for their community — Josh through emergency care and Corie through senior support.
“Our focus is just to do the best we can,” Josh said.