40 under 40 – 2019 winners

Ana Ruzevic

Ana Ruzevic
Current City: Gardendale AL
College: Tulane University, New Orleans

Firefighter
Family is from Split, Croatia

Ana Ruzevic grew up in Split, Croatia. At a very young age she started participating in different kinds of sports, including karate, soccer, basketball and waterpolo. In 7th grade, she started throwing the javelin at a local track and field club in my hometown, which landed her a track scholarship to Tulane University in New Orleans LA. Ana attended Tulane from 2008-2012 and graduated with a Bachelors in Management and Marketing, while competing in track and becoming and All-American two years in a row and placing 4th at NCAA division I track and field championships.

Shortly after she accepted a job with an Insurance company as a Sales training and recruitment manager, when she moved to Birmingham AL. Ana stayed with the company for about a year and realized it was not the career path she was looking for.

Ana started volunteering at a local fire department and absolutely fell in love with it. The fire department sent her through firefighter school, and shortly after she completed paramedic school in September of 2018. Now Ana works for two Fire Departments, for Vestavia Hills fire department and Center Point fire district in Birmingham AL. Ana also competes in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge competitions.Ana was the National champion in 2018 as a rookie and also placed 11th in the World in Sacramento CA.

Ana is very proud of her Croatian background and uses every opportunity to share stories about her home country to my friends and coworkers. They do say that home is where the heart is, and her heart will always be in Croatia among the family and friends she grew up with, regardless of how far I may be.

Show More

More winners in 2019 year