ND Emergency Management Association and ND Department of Emergency Services Present the ND Emergency Management Conference August 31, September 1-3, 2015 Radisson Hotel Bismarck
Event Schedule Monday, August 31, 2015 Liberty/Manhattan: Pre-Conference Training AWR 232 Mass Fatalities Planning and Response for Rural Communities Register online: http://www.nd.gov/des/events/detail.asp?eventid=288 1:00 5:00 PM This course prepares rural first responders and officials with the basic knowledge, skills and abilities to manage a mass fatality incident impacting their jurisdiction. Target audience includes first responders, coroners/medical examiners, public health officials, and others with responsibilities during a mass fatality incident. Issues addressed include establishing roles and responsibilities, assets management, remains processing and identification, diversity issues and development of a mass fatality plan that affect the construct of a mass fatality response. 5:00 6:00 PM NDEMA Board Meeting (if needed) Tuesday, September 1, 2015 Liberty/Manhattan: Pre-Conference Training 8:00 AM Noon New York AWR 232 Mass Fatalities Planning and Response for Rural Communities (continuation from Monday) Galleria Ballroom 10:00 AM Noon Conference Registration (Ballroom Foyer) 1:00 1:20 PM Welcome-Presentation of Colors- North Dakota Highway Patrol Honor Guard 1:20 4:45 PM 5:00-7:00 PM 1:20 Sharon Loper FEMA Region VIII Acting Administrator ND Department of Emergency Services Updates: Greg Wilz Mike Lynk BREAK Amy Anton Debbie LaCombe Cody Schulz Larry Regorrah (CERT) VENDOR SOCIAL Vendor Exhibit Areas and Ballroom Foyer
8:00 AM Morning Break 8:00-9:00 AM 9:00-9:15 AM BREAK Wednesday, September 2, 2015 Galleria Ballroom Breakfast provided (Banana bread with butter and cream cheese, fresh fruit bowl, yogurt fruit bowl with granola, coffee, assorted juices) Civil Support Team Demonstration Lt. Col. Steven Hedrick, NDARNG 81 st CST Commander 9:15-10:15 AM ND Emergency Management Association Annual Meeting 10:15 11:00 AM 11:00 - Noon Noon - 1:00 PM Oso, Washington Landslide Experience Brian Shawn, American Red Cross North Dakota s Changing Demographics Kevin Iverson, ND Department of Commerce LUNCH BREAK Galleria Ballroom (Meal Provided) Breakout Sessions Rembrandt Picasso/DaVinci Trunked Radios Disaster Recovery Materials 1:00 1:45 PM Brian Zastoupil, Red River Regional Lori Scharmer, NDSU Extension Service Dispatch Center 1:45-2:30 PM Department of Ag Update Kent Theurer, Emergency Management Specialist 2:30 2:45 PM BREAK National Weather Service Update 2:45-3:30 PM Greg Gust, NWS Grand Forks Corey King, NWS Bismarck National Flood Insurance Program 3:30 4:15 PM Dionne Haynes, ND StateWater Commission Laura Horner, ND State Water Commission 4:15 5:00 PM BREAK Banquet Setup 5:00-6:00 PM PRE-BANQUET SOCIAL (Galleria Foyer) 6:00 7:00 PM BANQUET (Galleria Ballroom) ND Emergency Management Association Awards. 7:00 8:00 PM MYSTERY COMEDIAN to be announced 8:00 AM 8:00 9:00 AM 9:00 9:15 AM BREAK 9:15 10:15 AM 10:15-11:00 AM 11:00 Noon NDSU Emergency Management Program Dr. Carol Cwiak, Associate Professor FEMA Individual Assistance Martin McNeese, FEMA Region VIII Business Recovery/Continuity Lonny Bosch, NRG Technology Services Thursday, September 3, 2015 Galleria Ballroom Breakfast provided (seasonal fresh fruit, coffee cake, donut holes, assorted juices, coffee, and tea) Emergency Manager Session roundtable with Director Greg Wilz(Closed session for emergency managers only) VOAD Panel Discussion Shirley Dykshoorn, Lutheran Social Services; Team Rubicon; Salvation Army NDFA Volunteer Fire Departments Panel Renee Loh, Executive Director, NDFA Robert Knuth, State Training Director, NDFA Allan Klein, Chief, Bismarck Rural Fire Department Robert Sivak,Chief, Dickinson Fire Department One Health Initiative Dr. Susan Keller, ND Department of Agriculture Dr. Tracy Miller, ND Department of Health
We hope you had a wonderful conference full of networking, training and education! We look forward to the mini and to seeing all of you next year September 9-12, 2016
In November 2014, Sharon Loper became the Acting Administrator for FEMA Region VIII, serving the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Ms. Loper is on leave from her role as Deputy Regional Administrator for FEMA Region X. In this role, she advises the Regional Administrator and oversees the regional divisions in operational decisions and policy implementation within the region s tribal nations and states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. These efforts include implementing and executing FEMA's preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery programs. Ms. Loper assumed her position with FEMA Region X in December 2011. From 2007 to 2011, she was the Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Regional Administrator, with periodic assignments as the Regional Response Coordination Center s Regional Support Team Leader. Previously, she worked in the Region s Mitigation Division where she implemented the hazard mitigation planning requirements under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, launched the Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant Program, served as Hazard Mitigation Cadre Manager and, as assigned, served as Mitigation Branch Chief and Hazard Mitigation Officer for federally declared major disasters. Before coming to Region X, she worked for FEMA s Mitigation Directorate in Washington, D.C. on floodplain management policy issues and hazard mitigation benefit-cost analysis. She also was a contributor to FEMA s pre-disaster mitigation initiative, Project Impact, which emphasized a collaborative approach to reducing disaster damages before a disaster. Her career with FEMA began in 1988. Ms. Loper received a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School. She completed a two-year Presidential Management Fellowship in Washington, D.C. She has also attended professional development courses at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Greg Wilz began his career as an owner-partner of a small retail business chain. In 1985, he entered active duty in the North Dakota National Guard from which he retired with the rank of Colonel. During his 31 year military career, he served in various command assignments and culminated his service as Director of Operations. He then became President of Innovative Leadership Solutions, Inc., a firm that provided consulting services to a variety of businesses including small and large corporate, non-profit, and government organizations. Greg was appointed the Homeland Security Division Director and State Security Advisor on January 1, 2006. During his tenure, he has reorganized the Department of Emergency Services into two divisions and restructured the North Dakota s planning and response process into a proactive approach that stresses coordination with local governments to ensure early deployment of personnel and equipment. In the past four years, the rapid pace of increased regional response capabilities has been a critical component in the ability of local jurisdictions to quickly access response needs. Greg has directed response and recovery operations during 18 Presidential declared disasters and numerous state declared emergencies. He is a graduate of Dickinson State University. Greg and his wife Sharon have been married for 34 years, have two sons, and reside in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Mike Lynk was appointed director of State Radio on January 7, 2009. He previously served as a special agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, both as an investigator and as the coordinator of the North Dakota Fusion Center. Lynk has a strong background in law enforcement and security and has worked as a patrol officer for the City of Beulah, North Dakota, for K-9 Security in Grand Forks, North Dakota and the Minnesota Vikings. Amy Anton encountered her first emergency management experience as a North Dakota State University student when she volunteered to assist sandbagging efforts in Fargo during the historic 1997 flood. Upon graduating that spring, she joined the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services working as a case manager in the Individual and Family Grant Program reviewing damages and determining grant awards. During her employment, Amy has also worked in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Operations, and the Training, Exercise and Local Programs Sections. Currently Amy serves as the Operations and Planning Chief. Amy was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota and graduated from Bismarck High School. She received Bachelor of Science Degrees in Psychology and Sociology from North Dakota State University. For her efforts to assist local emergency managers, she was presented the North Dakota Emergency Management Association s Achievement Award in 2006. Amy was also recognized for her high level of accomplishment when selected as the 2009 recipient of the Governor s Award for Excellence in Public Service in the professional category. She has avid interests in hunting and fly fishing. Amy and her husband, Myron, reside in Bismarck and have two children. Debbie LaCombe currently serves as the Grants and Training Chief for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services Division of Homeland Security, a position she has held since November 2009. Debbie manages and administers several federal grant programs and oversees the division s training and exercise program. She also supervises the division s regional response and Incident Management Team (IMT) programs. Debbie has been with the Department since 1997, previously working in the recovery section.
Cody Schulz was appointed NDDES Disaster Recovery Chief in July of 2014 and before that he served as NDDES s Business Manager and Disaster Finance Officer from 2007-2014. He oversees the agency s disaster recovery and mitigation efforts. These efforts include management of a staff of 24 and grant programs including the Public Assistance Grant Program, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant Program and Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program. Cody graduated from New Salem High School, and received his Bachelor s Degree from Dickinson State University and an MBA from the University of North Dakota. In addition, he serves as a County Commissioner in Morton County and sits on a number of boards and committees. Larry Regorrah is a Training & Exercise Specialist with the ND Department of Emergency Services. He has been with NDDES for 2 years, spending 10 months as a Geographic Information Systems Specialist before becoming a Training Specialist. A graduate of the University of North Dakota, he holds a Bachelors of Business Administration degree, with a major in Aviation Administration & a minor in marketing. After receiving his degree, he worked for 25 years as a flight & ground instructor, teaching Private, Commercial, Instrument, & Airline Transport Pilot courses. He spent 11 years working with aviation students from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, Taiwan, & The People s Republic of China. He then spent 10 years specializing in teaching the Certified Flight Instructor courses, emphasizing the instructor s ability to effectively communicate with students of all cultures and backgrounds. After leaving UND Aerospace, Larry worked for UND s Environmental Training Institute, facilitating classes for contractors on how to deal with lead paint, asbestos, and mold. He then spent a short stint in private industry as an aerial survey pilot, before joining the ND Department of Transportation in the same capacity. His experience in aerial surveying & mapping lead to his work in Geographic Information Services. Larry still holds a Certified Flight Instructor certificate, and provides freelance instruction in his spare time. He is also a member of the National Association of Flight Instructors, and is a Captain & Instructor Pilot in the ND Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (United States Air Force Auxiliary). Lieutenant Colonel Steve Hedrick grew up in Colorado. He has over 34 years of military experience as well as a civilian background in municipal management. His experience includes aircraft mechanic, air battle management, and airport and port management. He has worked at the NORAD/NORTHCOM headquarters, the National Guard Bureau and various air defense sectors around the country. He helped the Washington National Guard stand-up one of the first Homeland Response Forces, a 566 person Urban Search and Rescue unit. He joined the North Dakota National Guard in 2014 where he is the Commander of the 81st Civil Support Team. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 30 years and they have two grown boys.
Brian Shawn is the Regional Communications Officer for the American Red Cross in North Dakota, South Dakota, and northwest Minnesota. He manages messaging, public affairs, and media relations for the region along with the website and social media accounts. Brian is also a member of the national Red Cross Advanced Public Affairs Team, which deploys on high-visibility disasters to support national public affairs efforts by collecting social media content and working with national and international news media. Kevin Iverson has served as the Manager of the North Dakota Census Office in a full-time capacity since June, 2013. He is responsible for monitoring and interpreting the various demographic and social-economic measures in state s rapidly changing environment. His education includes both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from UND. Kevin retired in 2005 at the rank of lieutenant colonel 23 years of service with the United States Army and North Dakota Army National Guard. As a volunteer, he is a search and rescue pilot in Civil Air Patrol and annually coordinates the Wreaths Across America effort at the North Dakota Veteran s Cemetery, south of Mandan, ND. He is married to Carrie (Schmid) of Minnewaukan, ND and lives north of Bismarck. They have three grown children. Brian Zastoupil currently is the Radio Systems Coordinator for the Red River Regional Dispatch Center (RRRDC) Brian s career in radio communications began in 1985 with a small two way radio shop in southern Minnesota. During his 20 year tenure he worked his way from a bench technician to radio systems specialist. Job expertise included large communications system maintenance, design, and RFP responses. These systems included many municipal and county public safety agencies, as large business customers such as Fed Ex and XCEL Energy. In 2006, Brian began his current position at RRRDC. His duties include the oversight of the local/county/regional P25 public safety communications radio/microwave systems build out. Duties included communications site identification, vendor contracts and communications site/system design. Work also includes vendor interface and procurement review. He also assists RRRDC agencies with FCC license acquisition/renewal/modification processes. He is also responsible for day to day communications system oversight and dispatch center logging equipment oversight. Brian has also participated in FirstNet state consultations in Minnesota and North Dakota, as well as regional FirstNet conferences. Brian recently accepted an additional job as Regional System Administrator for the Northwest Minnesota Emergency Communication Board. He will be responsible for guiding the region members as public safety users migrate to the statewide communications radio system. (ARMER) Brian is active on many regional and statewide public safety committees in North Dakota and Minnesota. He holds a FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License as well as Senior Certified Electronics Technician certification from the Electronics Technicians Association (ETA). Brian lives in Fargo, is married and has two daughters. He enjoys outdoor activities which include hunting, fishing, camping, and running.
Lori Scharmer is the Family Economic Specialist for NDSU Extension Service. Lori has a master s degree in Family Financial Planning and is an Accredited Financial Counselor. Lori is a member of the team that created the Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit and has experience working with families recovering after a major flood disaster devastated the area where she lives and works. She began working with NDSU Extension Service in 2001. Kent Theurer is an Agricultural Emergency Management Specialist with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA). Kent s responsible for supporting Commissioner Goehring s work with experts in each of NDDA s divisions to coordinate technical knowledge and specialized resources to bolster efforts to protect people, property and the environment in North Dakota before, during and after emergencies and disasters. Kent first became involved in agriculture at his grandparents farm where he spent summers and learned to appreciate what it takes to get food to our tables. Kent went on to work with NDSU Extension Agriculture Communications on farm and home emergency related publications during college. He holds a Bachelor's of Science in Emergency Management from North Dakota State University. Kent is currently working on his Masters in Emergency Management through the NDSU Emergency Management Program. Kent lives in Bismarck with his beautiful wife Cassie and their energetic three year old daughter Miriam. Dr. Carol L. Cwiak holds a J.D. and a Ph.D. in Emergency Management. She has been a full-time faculty member with North Dakota State University s (NDSU) Emergency Management Program since 2006. In her capacity at NDSU, Dr. Cwiak serves as the Undergraduate Coordinator and Internship Coordinator. Dr. Cwiak is also the Executive Director of the Emergency Management Higher Education Consortium; the liaison for Higher Education with the International Association of Emergency Managers Training and Education Committee; an advisory board member of the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management in New York; an instructor at the Emergency Management Institute; and, the researcher that conducts the annual emergency management higher education study for FEMA's Higher Education Program.
Corey King is the Emergency Response Specialist (ERS) with NOAA s National Weather Service (NWS) in Bismarck, North Dakota. He was born near Washington D.C. at Andrews Air Force Base, but spent most of his childhood in Nebraska. He earned a Bachelor s of Science degree in Meteorology / Climatology from The University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1992. He has been employed with the NWS for 23 years. The ERS position provides impact-based decision support services to local, state and federal partners. Corey is responsible for both the production and delivery of decision support across North Dakota, including remote, on-scene services, as required by government decision-makers. Greg Gust is the NOAA/NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist serving the Red River Basin (eastern ND and northwest MN) from his office in Grand Forks ND since 1998. Greg has crisscrossed the nation serving as Staff Meteorologist in the Air Force, then as Lead Forecaster, Science and Operations Officer, and Warning Coordination Meteorologist in the NWS mainly in these Northern Plains. He s chased, caught, and released tornadoes in thirteen states... but spends most of his time now on local, national, or international warning coordination issues... before, during, and after the BIG events. Martin McNeese is the Individual Assistance Branch Chief and Emergency Management Program Officer for Individual Assistance in FEMA Region VIII. After 22 years in the computer industry, Martin McNeese, a native Texan, began his career at FEMA during the Loma Prieta Earthquake in October 1989. He began with FEMA Region VI in Texas helping to take telephone registrations for people affected by the earthquake. He became a disaster reservist in 1993 and continued to work floods, tornados and other disasters with FEMA. Martin moved to FEMA Region VII, Kansas City, in 1994 after the Midwest floods as a temporary full time employee to assist with long-term recovery and program closeout in the four states served by the Region. In 1998 Martin accepted a fulltime temporary position with FEMA Region VIII in Denver and then in 2003 accepted a permanent full time position as an Emergency Management Program Specialist for Individual Assistance with the Region. Including many North Dakota disasters, Martin has worked in over 30 major disasters and emergencies in various positions including Individual Assistance Branch Director and Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer. He has served many roles in FEMA HQ in a rotational capacity including as IA Policy Analyst with the Recovery Directorate and Housing Branch Chief with the Individual Assistance Division.
Dionne Haynes received her B.S. from the University of Wyoming before returning home to North Dakota. With a diverse background in business, she has over ten years of experience in sales and marketing, included flood insurance. Dionne began her career with the State Water Commission in August of 2014, as the Assistant NFIP Coordinator. A short time later she earned the National Certified Floodplain Manager designation and was quickly promoted to the State National Flood Insurance Program Coordinator s position. Laura Horner earned a Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota State University and is originally from Beresford; SD. Laura gained valuable career experience while working as a Project Manager for over four years in product development in both the food and ethanol industries. In 2012, Laura began her career with the State Water Commission as the Assistant National Flood Insurance Program Coordinator and in 2013 transitioned into the role of the ND Mapping Coordinator. Lonny Bosch is the Service Manager for NRG Technology Services. He has been in the IT field since 1988 and started working for NRG in 2002. NRG is a managed service provider and specializes in small to medium business.
Renee Loh has served as the Executive Director of the North Dakota Firefighter s Association for the past 6 years. In that capacity, Renee is the State Director for the National Volunteer Fire Council. As Executive Director, Renee contributes many articles to different fire service publications, attends training events, and works to bring the needs of the fire departments to different resources. Renee was a graduate of the University of Mary and has taken other fields of study during her career. Renee is a past Board Member of the Former Governor s Mansion, Past-President of the Bismarck Lion s Club and assists with other volunteer needs. As Executive Director, the most important focus has been to obtain the most comprehensive and instructive training for the North Dakota firefighters following National Standards so that Everyone Goes Home. Rob Knuth has been in the Fire Service since 2000. He is currently an Assistant Chief with the Minot Rural Fire Department. Rob spent 21 years in the United State Air Force. While on active duty he received his Bachelor s degree from the University of Southern Illinois in Work Force Education and Training. He is currently the Training Director for the North Dakota Firefighter's Association. He is a Certified FFII, 2013 Standard, State Certification Tester, State Auto Extrication Instructor, and Fire Instructor I. Chief Allan Klein has been Secretary/Treasurer of the NDFA since 1997. He served as NDFA President in 1985. He is Certified FF II, 2008 Standard, State Certification Tester, Fire Instructor I & II. Allan is the alternate director to the National Volunteer Fire Council for the State of North Dakota. He started his fire career as a volunteer on the McClusky Fire Department in 1976, joined the Mandan Rural Fire Department in 1997 and then became the first career Chief of the Bismarck Rural Fire Department in 2005, a position he still holds. Robert Sivak is a 36 year veteran of the fire service, having started his career as a volunteer firefighter with the Dickinson Fire Department in 1978. He has held the positions of Firefighter, Fire Inspector/Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Fire Chief, and was appointed Fire Chief of the Dickinson Fire Department in 2006. Chief Sivak has held certification as an EMT Basic, served two terms as SW district trustee for the NDFA, is ND State Firefighter II certified, has served as A Courage to Be Safe Instructor, and has Hazardous Materials Operations Level certification. Chief Sivak is a member of several state and national fire service organizations, and has served as an instructor at state and regional fire schools.
Dr. Susan Keller has been employed by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture since 1997, initially as the Deputy State Veterinarian and in her current position as State Veterinarian, since 2004. She is also a Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician since 2002.Dr. Keller received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science and Industry and Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University. She is married to rancher Dwight Keller and mother of Luke, Jake and Tess Keller and lives on the Broken Heart Ranch, south of Mandan ND. Dr. Tracy K. Miller, MPH joined the North Dakota Department of Health in 1998 as a field epidemiologist and became the West Nile virus and influenza surveillance coordinator in 2000. In 2001, she was named program manager for the epidemiology and surveillance program and in 2005 assumed duties as the Division of Disease Control's senior epidemiologist. She was named state epidemiologist in 2010. A native of Savage, Mont., Miller earned a bachelor s degree from the University of Mary, a Master s of Public Health from the University of Minnesota and a doctoral degree from Walden University.
Vendors Currently Registered ADDEM, Inc. Electronic Communications Emergency Communication Network Federal Warning Systems Frontline Warning Systems Great Plains Towers ND Pipeline Association North Dakota Department of Emergency Services Wenk Associates Inc. Safety and Response Exhibit Hours: September 1, 2015 1:00 7:00 PM (Vendor Social is 5:00-7:00 PM) September 2, 2015 9:00 4:00 PM Visit our website: www.ndema.org For the latest updates.