Conference Faculty

Cesar Allen has served in the PA Army National Guard for over 20 years.  He started his military career in the Marines with the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force.  After his initial tour was completed, Cesar transferred to the PAARNG where he became a Survey Team Member of the 3rd CST in the early 2000s.  He then decided to go to school to become a Physician Assistant.  After completing PA school and spending a few years honing his skills, Cesar found his way back to the 3rd CST as the unit Physician Assistant.  The vast amount of knowledge Cesar brings to the unit is a force multiplier in itself.  His understanding of CBRN topics paired with the medical management and identification of agents based on the signs and symptoms of patients is unmatched.  Cesar has completed countless hours of specialized training and clinical work which is an immense value to the unit.  He recently continued to expand his knowledge by completing his Ph.D. in his medical field.  Cesar has been an asset to the 3rd CST by fostering outreach opportunities, relating with local hospitals, and encouraging joint training exercises to focus on WMD reactions and medical management.

Tom is the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the Emergency Health Services Federation. In this role, he serves as the EMS Coordinator / Representative for the Keystone and Central Region HCC Region and works closely with the SCTF & SCMRTF on various projects.

During Tom’s 35+ year career in Emergency Services, he’s worked as a Paramedic and TEMS Element Leader for the Pennsylvania State Police SERT and York County QRT, a Municipal Police Officer and Emergency Management Coordinator for a regional EM Program within the EPZ of the Three Mile Island power generation station. 

Tom is a member of the South Central Task Force AHIMT and participates in several HCC committees. Tom lives in South Central PA with his wife and two amazing kids. He enjoys fly fishing, hiking, and being outdoors.

Christopher S. Anderson, BA, EMT-P is the Executive Director of the Special Medical Response Team (SMRT), a volunteer non-profit medical organization assisting emergency services and healthcare organizations across the Commonwealth.  Chris additionally serves as the Team Lead for the Pennsylvania State Medical Assistance Team (PA-SMAT) which is managed by SMRT.  He serves as an administrator for the organizations as well as other operations and administrative roles.  His full-time employment is as an Organ Donor Referral Coordinator with the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) – the organ procurement organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Mr Anderson began his 20+ year career in emergency services at Ambulance Service Management Corporation with Citizens’ Ambulance Service as an EMT and continues to serve as a faculty member and paramedic.  Since then he has expanded his emergency services career to work at Indiana County EMA as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and then Logistics Coordinator with service on the ICEMA’s Team 900 as a rescue and hazmat technician.  Since then Chris has furthered his background in emergency services as a member of the PA Strike Team 1 – currently as a Logistics Specialist.

John Banghoff is a meteorologist with a passion for the interaction between communication, emergency preparedness, disaster response, and weather education. Over the course of his career, John has accumulated extensive experience in on-site weather support activities including Columbus Crew Soccer Club events, the Little League World Series, Flight 93 National Memorial 9/11 Ceremonies, and Creation Festival Northeast. He has also led numerous coordination efforts between NWS State College and core partners, including a Snow Squall Safety campaign in collaboration with PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, PA State Police, and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and an effort to better understand and forecast dewpoint bombs, which occur on days with a well-mixed boundary layer where dewpoints drop well-below guidance.

Daniel Becker is a consultant with MCM Consulting Group, Inc. Daniel has been with MCM Consulting Group, Inc. since 2021 and is part of the emergency management team.

Intelligence Analyst Supervisor (IAS) Ashley Bleacher has served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in various roles since 2009. Prior to joining the Pennsylvania State Police in 2018, IAS Bleacher served in the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Office of Integrity, and prior to that was employed as an analyst with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, focused primarily on insurance fraud and Pennsylvania Board of Pardons matters. IAS Bleacher has been assigned to the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center’s (PaCIC) Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) Unit since 2018. The CIKR unit is engaged in information sharing among criminal justice agencies and owners and operators of critical infrastructure and key resources throughout Pennsylvania with the fundamental responsibility of safeguarding our communities.

IAS Bleacher holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice from Kutztown University and Penn State University, respectively.  She is a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts and has received basic and advanced intelligence analysis training, along with a myriad of training in critical infrastructure, homeland security, and domestic security. 

John Blickley is the Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator at Schuylkill County Emergency Management.  He also serves as the co-chair of the Schuylkill County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (SCCOAD). John is a 2001 graduate of the University of New Haven with a BS in Fire School Administration and AS in Fire & Occupational Safety. John started with the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency in 2002 and has served in various roles, including the response to the deadly accident on I-81 during a snow squall in 2022.

John Brenner is the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Municipal League.  Prior to John’s employment with the PML, John served as the 23rd Mayor of the City of York, Pennsylvania from 2001 through 2008.  John has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lebanon Valley College and a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania.  John has been a longtime advocate for public safety and has served many years in the fire service.

Matthew (Matt)Brown, CEM, CFPS –Chief, Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services (9-1-1 Communications, Fire Marshal, Fire Academy, EMA (EMS, Hazardous Materials, Homeland Security/Law Enforcement, Fire/Logistics).  Chief Brown has over 36 years of experience in emergency services, emergency management, industrial safety and hazardous materials, security, investigations, and close protection. Chief Brown is also a Life member of Munhall Volunteer Fire Company #1 where he has held many ranks up to the level of Deputy Chief – Munhall Bureau of Fire and is currently a member of Glassport Citizen’s Hose Company. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix and is a graduate of Steel Valley High School.

Dr. Michael Brown is the president of the non-profit policy institute One World One Way, Inc. This policy institute provides consultation on emergency operations and business continuity plans for private-public industry and conducts lectures and presentations on disaster and emergency management, homeland security, counter-terrorism, critical infrastructure protection, and social equity. The organization promotes the building of resilient, sustainable communities using hazard mitigation, environmental justice, and social equity.  He provides guidance on unmanned aircraft systems and the protection of critical infrastructure to strengthen communities. Dr. Brown served in the United States Air Force as a combat crew member nuclear weapons officer, intelligence operations specialist, and executive support officer. He has a Master’s Certification in Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and is a certified associate emergency manager (AEM). He’s taught at Park University and served as a Core Faculty Emergency Management Professor at Capella University’s School of Public Service Schools of Leadership. There he was Chair Faculty Review Panel, Chair Designee Dissertation Topic approver for all emergency management dissertations and capstones. He is the co-author of the book “Transforming Disaster Response: Federalism and Leadership, and Environmental Justice and Resilience in an Age of Uncertainty.”

Drew Bumbak has been the Disaster Operations Coordinator for FEMA Region 3’s Mitigation Division for the past three years. In this role, he has been deployed to lead Mitigation field operations as the Mitigation Branch Director for multiple disasters in Region 3. In these deployments, Drew has worked closely with PA personnel, state representatives, and applicants to include Section 406 Mitigation on a significantly larger number of projects than ever before in Region 3.

Drew’s previous experience is varied and includes advising on emergency management for local, state, and federal agencies, private sector organizations, and foreign governments over the past 20 years. He was involved in the planning for and response to multiple events of national significance, including the USDA APHIS responses to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and other animal disease outbreaks since 2015.

Charles L. Burrows, Esq. is the Regional Disaster Relief Staff Attorney for Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) in the Community Engagement Unit. Charles is based out of LASP’s Norristown office. Along with providing direct legal services in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, his role in the Community Engagement Unit includes conducting outreach, clinics, community education, and workshops on disaster legal services in Southeastern PA.

A native of Hazleton, PA, Charles has spent his career working in the public sector to connect people in need with resources and funding. Prior to joining LASP, he served as Senior Constituent Services Advisor for Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, where he served the 191st Legislative District of PA by bringing together community partners, including legal aid organizations, to address constituent needs. Charlie holds a J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. He also holds a B.S. in Management and B.A. in Political Science from Penn State University’s Schreyer Honors College.  He serves as a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee and the Montgomery Bar Association.

Julius is a current student in the Department of Political Science at Texas State University and an incoming MSc student in Cognition & Cognitive Neuroscience at Keele University. His main area of research interest focuses on the cognitive processes involved in affective radicalization, prejudice, and the neural components of facial processing. Mr. Calvert’s journey as an undergraduate researcher within the College of Liberal Arts has allowed him to cultivate his long-held interest in the etiology of violent crime, political attitudes, and irregular warfare. Julius holds a passion for integrating empiricism into responsible government management. Throughout his career, he aims to build upon the emerging field of political neuroscience, and further aid developments of applied computational modeling of prejudiced and extreme decision-making.

Chris Chamberlain currently serves as the Deputy Team Leader for the Pennsylvania State Medical Assistance Team (PA-SMAT). He is employed as the Vice President of Emergency Management for the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, where he works to support hospitals, post-acute facilities, and public health emergency preparedness.

He has over twenty-five years of clinical and emergency management experience with several Pennsylvania healthcare systems as an emergency preparedness coordinator, flight nurse, emergency department manager, and nursing educator.  Additionally, Chris has served in various roles including firefighter, paramedic, fire command officer, and instructor, and continues to maintain certification in these areas. 

Chris received his Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Lycoming College and his Master’s Degree in Disaster Medicine and Management from Philadelphia University, now Thomas Jefferson University.  He is an alumnus of the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama. He is recognized by the International Board for Certification Services and Management as a Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP) and by the Pennsylvania Department of Health as a certified Pre-Hospital Registered Nurse. He is a certified Fire Officer and holds an Extra Class FCC Amateur Radio License.

Christopher Confalone serves as one of the three Pennsylvania EMS Emergency Preparedness Coordinators (EPCs). EPCs are responsible for the maintenance and deployment of statewide Department of Health assets including a fleet of 60 trailer-based resources with Casualty Collection Points, Medical Surge Equipment Cache, generators, and mobile HVAC solutions. The EPCs coordinate the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania EMS Strike Team. They also provide exercise development and conduct for EMS agencies and our FEMA Whole Community partners.

Christopher has served in EMS for over 30 years and progressed through the certifications of First Responder, EMT-Mast, National Registered Paramedic, and Flight Paramedic (FP-C). He has held positions in EMS Education, Quality Improvement, and Operations Management. Christopher continually seeks solutions to close the gap between EMS, Emergency Management, and Preparedness Planning.

Michelle Dietrich has 36 years of experience in Emergency Management. She started in EMA in 1988 as the Clerk/Typist and become Director in 2008.  She serves as the North Central Taskforce Chair and has held that position since 2010.  Michelle has some noteworthy awards such as the Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Award in 2007 by President George W. Bush,  KEMA-Harry Robidoux Award for Excellence in Emergency Management in 2019, and was inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who in Emergency Management in 2020 and in 2022 received a community service award from the Pennsylvania State Young Farmers Association, in which she now serves as President.  She is very active in the community serving on various boards and organizations. She is an Emergency Medical Technician volunteering with two services within her county.  She is married and has 4 children and 6 grandchildren.

Since 2005 Kevin has been employed full-time as the Emergency Management Director, Fire Chief, & Fire Marshal in Bristol Township (Bucks County). Kevin is responsible for the Township’s paid Fire Rescue Dept., the Office of the Fire Marshal, and the Office of Emergency Management. Kevin is also responsible for the coordination of (5) volunteer fire companies and (2) combination medical squads.

In addition, Kevin has been a member of the Fairless Hills Vol. Fire Co since 1986 where he served 25 consecutive years as a Chief Officer including 18 years as Deputy Chief and 6 years as Chief and continues to serve as a training officer.

Kevin is an instructor for the Bucks County Community College teaching courses related to; NIMS, ICS, building construction, fire/arson investigations, engine & ladder co. ops., fire inspections/code enforcement, fire officer development, vehicle rescue, and EMT programs. Kevin has also lectured nationally including FDIC in Indianapolis.

Kevin has served as the subject matter expert in the development of collegiate emergency services programs and to legal counsel. Kevin has obtained national and international certifications in firefighting & rescue operations and has received several unit citations and awards for various firefighting, rescue, and emergency management operations.

Angela became the Administrative Assistant for Somerset County EMA in May of 2021. She began working on the development of the Somerset County Community Organizations Active in Disasters group in October 2021.  Somerset County COAD held its kickoff meeting on April 20, 2022.  December 2022 Angela completed a National Registry EMT training course and passed her skills exam in January 2023; the cognitive exam is scheduled for the summer of 2023, after which she will begin to run with EMS in Somerset County.  In 2023 Angela became a member of the KEMA Conference Planning Committee. Angela will continue to help head the Somerset County COAD, working to build partnerships with community organizations and community members as well as partner agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.

Laurin Fleming is currently working as an Emergency Management Specialist with Pennsylvania Emergency Management.  At PEMA he is a radiological planner, trainer, and specialist working primarily with the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station and with radiological training across the state.  In addition, he has 30 years past experience in Fire, Rescue, and EMS.  He is currently a local EMC with over 40 years of experience, a Community Emergency Response Team Leader / Trainer, and a Critical Incident Stress Management Team Leader.  His deployments include response to Eric Frein and Flight 93.

Tyler Fotiou has been a member of the PA Army National Guard for 20 years and has served on the 3rd CST since 2008.  He held a few positions on the team from Survey Team Member, Admin NCO, and is now the Communications Section Chief for the past five years.  In addition to specialized training and certifications gained by becoming a Survey Team member, Tyler has spent over 1100 hours training and gaining certifications to become the unit’s subject matter expert on communications equipment and procedures.  As most issues arise from a failure to communicate, Tyler is relied on heavily to keep the unit connected to each other and our local response partners.  Without his expertise and critical thinking during missions and emergency responses, the unit would not be able to function at such a high capacity.   The unique and vast amount of communications assets equipped by the 3rd CST requires a true subject matter expert to effectively utilize all pieces harmoniously.  This expertise is critical in helping to unify the CST with local emergency managers to ensure quick and correct resolution to hazardous responses.

Joe Geleta currently serves as the Director of Emergency Management for the NJ Department of Human Services.  He is directly responsible for emergency management activities associated with the Department’s 7 facilities and 10,000 employees. He serves as the State of New Jersey’s Mass Care (Sheltering/Feeding/ Reunification/ Distribution of Emergency Supplies) lead during disaster response operations. He retired from the NJ State Police after 30 years of service and was leading New Jersey’s Hurricane Sandy recovery effort along with our FEMA Colleagues.  Upon his retirement, he served as the Executive Director of the NJ211 Partnership. NJ211 is the statewide help and referral call center for those needing health or human service needs.  Simply call 2-1-1 or visit www.nj211.org to get connected.

Robert Gerlach is a highly experienced Emergency Management Specialist with over 25 years of expertise as an emergency services manager, provider, and instructor. Currently serving as the Training and Exercise Coordinator in the Division of Emergency Management for Allegheny County’s Department of Emergency Services, he oversees emergency operations plans for the county’s schools, municipalities, and childcare facilities. Additionally, Gerlach is a direct liaison with Allegheny County’s municipal emergency management coordinators, a representative for the area Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADS), and the Region 13 Training Subcommittee. Gerlach is a certified instructor for the PA Department of Health, PA State Fire Academy, and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and has completed multiple certifications, including the Professional Level PEMA County, FEMA Advanced Professional Series, and is a FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner. Gerlach earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Homeland Security from Capella University. Gerlach’s extensive experience and educational background make him an invaluable asset to the emergency management community.

Matt has been involved in EMS since 1991, starting as a volunteer at SUNY Maritime College, where he earned a degree in Meteorology and Oceanography. He earned EMT certification in 1992 and paramedic in 2000. Matt has worked in urban, suburban, and rural settings doing 911 and critical care transports, gaining experience in ground and air transport. And while he’s been around a few different blocks, from New York City to Long Island, to York, PA, a few times, he’ll never say he’s seen everything. Currently, he is a Paramedic with First Capital EMS in Yoe, PA.

Jonathan Guseman has been a meteorologist with the National Weather Service for 13 years, including serving as the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for central PA since September 2020. He began his NWS career in Morristown, Tennessee as part of the Student Career Experience Program while earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Valparaiso University, then transferred to the Melbourne, Florida forecast office in 2010 as a full-time Meteorologist.  Jonathan headed west to the Great Plains in September 2012 as a General Forecaster with NWS Lubbock, Texas, before moving back east toward his hometown of Cincinnati in January 2016 as a Senior Forecaster with NWS Jackson. He was then promoted to the Warning Coordination Meteorologist position in eastern KY, before coming to the Keystone State. In this role, Jonathan is in charge of forecast and warning services for central PA and is the primary liaison between the NWS and all partners and customers served by the State College office. Outside of promoting weather education and safety, Jonathan enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and two young daughters, while remaining an avid Cincinnati sports fan.

Pending

I have been involved in Public Safety for more than 30 years.  I have also been involved in the Jewish community since I was a teenager.  I have been an Board member and Officer of the Tree of Life Congregation for more than 10 years.  I was elected President in July of 2022.

Melissa Hawkins has served as the Director of the PA Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing since April 23, 2018.

Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Disability Empowerment Center (DEC) since 2013. DEC is a private, nonprofit, nonresidential organization and Center for Independent Living providing services and support to individuals in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. In 2014, Lancaster County Community Foundation selected Melissa as one of their Baldwin Fellows. Melissa graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences. Her graduate studies include coursework at Gallaudet University, as well as George Washington University. She graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

with a dual Master’s of Science in Human Resources and Adult Learning and has earned a Certificate in Competence and Confidence Partners in Policymaking from Temple University.

Hawkins was recently awarded the Governors Award of Excellence for her work ensuring the COVID Pandemic coverage was accessible for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deafblind populations. 

She lives in New Cumberland PA with her husband and children.

Christine Heyser is the Commonwealth’s Mass Care Coordinator with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PADHS). She coordinates commonwealth-wide disaster Feeding and Sheltering Task Forces. Each engages hundreds of stakeholders including governmental partners at all levels, private sector partners, and voluntary organizations. The Feeding Task Force coordinated 5.1 million meals in response to COVID-19 related food insecurity and culturally appropriate meals for Afghan evacuees during Operation Allies Welcome.

Prior to serving as Mass Care Coordinator, Christine was the Disaster Disability Integration Specialist for PADHS. Christine established the Disability Integration Task Force to engage disability and access and functional needs stakeholders in the emergency management lifecycle, improving inclusivity. Christine also established the Functional Assessment Service Team (FAST) program, a deployable asset that directly assists disaster survivors with access and functional needs.

Christine started her career with PADHS at the Adams County Assistance Office. Her background in building community partnerships began as an AmeriCorps member coordinating the Campus Kitchen at Gettysburg College and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in York County, PA. She has been a volunteer firefighter/EMT since 2002. Christine holds a B.S. in Health Sciences, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology from Gettysburg College. She resides in Gettysburg.

Marion Hoffman Fraley is Communications Director at Legal Aid of Southeastern PA. She joined LASP in September 2017 as Communications Manager and was named director in January 2021. She coordinates media relations, manages the website, maintains LASP social media, writes and edits monthly e-news; and develops the Annual Report and other publications; among other responsibilities.

Previous roles included Director of Communications at The Haverford School; Publications Assistant at Westridge School for Girls in Pasadena, California; and state desk reporter and farm editor for the Marshfield News-Herald in central Wisconsin. In addition to covering four rural counties, she provided beat coverage of Marshfield schools and the Marshfield Board of Education and the 38-member Marathon County Board of Supervisors. For two summers, she interned at her hometown weekly newspaper in West Salem, Wisconsin (formerly the La Crosse County Countryman, now the Courier). Currently, she volunteers as president of the North Penn Educational Foundation Board of Trustees.

Marion holds a B.A. in journalism and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA), Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ), and the Delaware County Press Club.

Jenna Holt obtained her Masters Degree in Criminal Investigations from Waynesburg University. Before working for the FBI, she worked for a non-profit organization out of Washington County, Pennsylvania focusing on emergency mental health management. While in the position, she supported multiple police departments and medical providers. At her current position as an Intelligence Analyst with FBI Pittsburgh, she works primarily Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Violent Incident crimes, to include swatting.

With more than a decade of emergency management experience, Bill Howard is the Traffic Emergency Management Specialist for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Bill oversees the Unmanned Aerial Systems program, the weather management program, and the hazardous materials response program. He is the lead planning chief for the Turnpike Command Center activations as well as the Lead Agency Representative for the PTC. He graduated from FEMA’s National Emergency Management Advanced Academy in August 2022. He is also a professionally certified emergency manager from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Bill is also an emergency management coordinator for three townships in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He enjoys spending time with his family, photography, and traveling.

As the Director, EM Hazard Mitigation, Insurance and Resilient Communities (MIRC) Office and State Hazard Mitigation Officer, Tom Hughes is the principal staff member to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and commonwealth leadership for all matters related to mitigation and community recovery efforts. He has oversight of the state and 66 county hazard mitigation plans as well as 14 state disaster-resistant university plans. His office has managed over 500 successful hazard mitigation projects in excess of $250 million since 2009.  

Hughes is the state co-chair for the nationally recognized Pennsylvania Silver Jacket team and is a representative on the Pennsylvania land use committee. He has served on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) national Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) External Stakeholder Workgroup (ESWG) and still provides alumni support.

He completed his A.A. in Financial Management from the Community College of the Air Force, and a B.A. in Business Administration at Lycoming College and coursework at the University of Arizona’s Public Administration.  He has instructed many FEMA and NHMA mitigation and recovery courses as a Subject Matter Expert.  He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant in the US Air Force Reserves as a Mission Support Group Superintendent in 2012.

Steve Imbarlina is the Assistant Chief of Fire and EMS for Allegheny County Emergency Services and is the Deputy EMC for Allegheny County.  He has 32 years of emergency services, in fire, EMS and law enforcement.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management, PEMA Professional Certification at the County level, and FEMA Advanced Professional series.  He has over 20 years experience as a fire and emergency services instructor.  As Deputy EMC he has worked several declared and undeclared disasters.

Keith Jack is the Director of Facilities Operations at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and is also the Chairperson for the Commission’s Sustainability Committee. His duties include the day-to-day operations of the facilities department he has been with the commission for 20 plus years prior to that he was a Seabee with the US Navy. In 2014 he has named the Engineer of the Year by Pennsylvania Facilities Managers Association. He also served as the Adjutant of American Legion post 329.

Ceena Jenkins’ career in social work began in 2005 for a non-profit community action agency as a family educator, conducting home visits and developmental assessments on children under age five. The agency provided case management services including resource referrals to empower families to move toward independence and self-sufficiency. In 2007, she accepted a position as a case worker with the PA Department of Human Services in the County Assistance Office. Throughout the years, she has filled various positions within the department serving as a program advocate, and a human services program specialist. While fulfilling her responsibilities as a human services employee, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Albright College in 2008. In 2020, she became the Disaster Disability Integration Coordinator, and quickly learned the importance of disaster preparedness and response, Access and Functional Needs, Disability Integration, and whole community engagement. Ceena realizes the importance of fulfilling the obligations of her role within the Mass Care operations framework and strives to apply inclusive best and promising practices in her personal life as well. Her focus is on identifying ADA related accessibility issues and to promote and support equitable access to disaster services.

The Rev. Karl Jones is retired from parish ministry in the United Church of Christ.   He currently serves the United Church of Christ as the Conference Disaster Coordinator for southeastern Pennsylvania.   He also serves as the Communications Coordinator and Eastern PA Board member for the PA Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Nationally he serves as a co-chair of the Environmental- Technology Caused Disaster Working Group for National United Church of Christ Disaster Ministries and as a member of the Communication Committee of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.  He has been active in some form of disaster ministry since the mid-1970’s.  His chief interests today are Environmental- Technology Caused Disaster and long-term recovery.  He served as the Operations Lead for the PA VALOR Pilot Project.  He has been awarded theShirley Norman award by PA VOAD and as the Volunteer of the Year by National VOAD.  He lives in Douglassville, PA with his wife of more than 50 years, Cathy.  He has 2 adult children and 5 grandchildren.

Michael V. Krzeminski started his emergency service career as a volunteer firefighter at Hilltop Hose Co. #3 in Natrona Heights in 1997.  He has climbed the ranks and is now proud to serve as the Chief of his company since 2014.  He became a non-suppression instructor in 2005 and a suppression instructor in 2011.  In 2012, he joined the Adjunct Instructors at the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy where most of his experience has been in the alternative energy emergency response programs.  A student of the fire service, Krzeminski was an intern with the Allegheny County Fire Marshals, learning many lessons in a four-year period.  In 2007, fire departments in four municipalities formed the Highlands Emergency Services Alliance and supported Entry Level Fire Training elective class at Highlands High School.  Krzeminski was the instructor of this program from 2007 to 2016.   In April 2017, he became a staff instructor at the Allegheny County Fire Academy with the responsibilities of certification, instructor mentoring, and online learning programs.  His little free time is spent polishing his personally owned 1957 B-Model Mack Fire Engine, which happens to be the same pumper his dad drove to emergencies with Hilltop Hose Co. #3.

Wynne Kwan, AICP, LEED AP (BD+C) is the Community Assistance (CA) Coordinator at FEMA Region 3 in Philadelphia. During blue skies, Wynne works with various federal and non-federal partners to help state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments prepare for disaster recovery planning and management through the communication and coordination of guidance materials, tools, training/workshops, and other resources that enhance SLTT capacity and resilience. Post-disaster, Wynne coordinates and facilitates support among CA partners for the planning, capacity, and resilience building capabilities needed by local or tribal governments.

Prior to joining FEMA, Wynne worked as a Community Planner within the Infrastructure Development and Recovery (IDR) Program at the DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection (now the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)), developing the Infrastructure Resilience Planning Framework (IRPF), as well as other tools and guidance to help SLTT governments better integrate infrastructure resilience planning into existing planning initiatives/efforts.

Before joining the federal government, Wynne worked as a consultant providing industrial/economic development strategy, military base planning, environmental planning, and hazard mitigation planning support to international, federal, state, and local government clients.

Adam Leister is a senior GIS consultant with MCM Consulting Group, Inc. Adam has been with the company since 2020 and is part of the emergency management team and engineering team.

Anthony S. Mangeri, MPA, CPM, CEM, has been an active practitioner in emergency management for over 35 years. Currently, he serves as assistant vice president for mitigation and resilience at The Olson Group Ltd. and president of Region 2 of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Prior to his current position, he served as a town manager where he facilitated the community response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was responsible for local emergency preparedness and disaster recovery operations and oversaw the establishment of a municipal police department. For more than 10 years, he served as New Jersey’s State Hazard Mitigation Officer, building systems to identify hazards, prioritize risk, and mitigate threats. During the 9/11 attacks, he served as operations chief at the New Jersey Emergency Operations Center coordinating the state’s response to the World Trade Center attacks. He has been a volunteer firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for more than 30 years. He earned a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers’s University. He also completed a fellowship in Public Health Leadership in Emergency Response, is a Certified Professional Coach, and served on professional committees, including the ASIS Fire and Life Safety Council and executive committee of the IAEM-USA Board.

Dr. Allison J. McFarland currently serves as the Walter C. and Helen E. Claassen Endowed Chair of Business at Bethel College (North Newton, KS). McFarland also serves as a professional consultant on generations in the workplace and Gen Z with Human Performance Advisors (Tulsa, OK). Dr. McFarland is a certified Federal Sector EEO Investigator, having investigated claims of discrimination within the Bureau of Prisons, United States Coast Guard, Veteran’s Administration, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Education, United States Census Bureau, United States Agency for International Development, and the Department of Commerce. 

Over the past decade, Dr. McFarland has presented over 65 seminars on the topic of multi-generational leadership to manufacturing CEOs, human resource professionals, employment service agencies, hospital administrators, mental health providers, non-profit organizations, small business leaders, emergency service providers, U.S. and Canadian Fire Chiefs, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and U.S. Military Chaplains. Her research has been accepted for presentation at national and international business and leadership peer-review academic conferences.

McFarland has a Ph.D. and master’s degree from the University of Kansas, an MBA from Western Michigan University, and a bachelor’s degree from Geneva College (PA).

Fred McMullen brings 24 years of experience to the National Weather Service. Beginning his meteorological journey in 1998 at the North Platte, NE Weather Forecast Office, he transitioned from his western Pennsylvania upbringing. He then honed his expertise at the Charleston, WV Forecast Office before assuming a leadership role in Aviation and Severe Weather at the New York City regional headquarters.

Returning to Pittsburgh in 2010, Fred took on the role of Warning Coordination Meteorologist, driven by his community-focused passion for ensuring local safety during adverse weather. Holding a B.S. in Meteorology from Penn State University and an M.S. in Information Systems from Marshall University, Fred’s strong academic background complements his diverse experience. He stands as a distinguished figure in the National Weather Service, making significant contributions to meteorology and its practical applications.

Scott A. Mickalonis serves as the director of emergency management and business continuity for one of central Pennsylvania’s health systems. He is also a senior instructor of public health sciences. He has been a leader, educator and practitioner in emergency management for over 20 years.  He spent 15 years in public safety in a highly populated suburban Philadelphia county, serving in emergency management, as the deputy director. He transitioned to healthcare emergency management in 2014 when he joined a 600-bed academic medical center as the manager for emergency preparedness, establishing the emergency management program amidst the Ebola outbreak and assisting the organizational efforts in becoming a recognized treatment center. His experience allowed him to take on a leadership role managing the regional healthcare coalition program in central Pennsylvania. He was successful in building partnerships with healthcare providers from across many disciplines. He went on to join a health system in January 2021, initiating a comprehensive approach to emergency management and business continuity across the growing healthcare landscape. The presenter has a master’s degree in emergency management and holds certification in emergency management (CEM), business continuity (CBCP) and is a certified hospital emergency coordinator (CHEC) as well as an EMT- Paramedic.

Alicia Miller is the Senior Service Hydrologist at the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh. She maintains relationships with federal, state, and local agencies with hydrologic interests along the headwaters of the Ohio River. This includes working with local communities to set and adjust floodstages on rivers and streams, and educating and informing various partners on flood risk. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Science from the University at Albany, NY and a Master of Business Administration from Ithaca College, NY. While a native of upstate New York, Alicia has been in the Pittsburgh area for 14 years and enjoys the variety of weather and activities that are available to her in southwest Pennsylvania.

Cas Newman is a Program Manager Section Supervisor from Philadelphia with eight years of emergency management and Public Assistance experience. She has worked in field deployment for five years with the Public Assistance operations, where she has served as a specialist up to disaster leadership over multiple events, including West Virginia COVID-19, and hurricanes Matthew, Maria, Florence, and Dorian, before moving to Public Assistance Project Management and working in stakeholder relations. Prior to her time in Philadelphia, she had been with FEMA Headquarters with the Public Assistance Cadre.

She worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA in local government for the municipality of Anchorage, where she did long-range GIS disaster planning for the Anchorage 2020 Land Use Plan in 2016. She served as a Public Assistance FEMA Corps Team Leader out of the AmeriCorps NCCC Southwest Campus in Denver in 2015, and as an advisor for higher education under AmeriCorps State and National in 2014. Cas currently lives in Philadelphia with her fiancé, Greg, and her two cats, Max and Jack Eliot.

Jerry has been serving in the volunteer and career emergency service sectors for the past 35 years. He is an active Volunteer Firefighter for the Hampden Township Volunteer Fire Company and formally served as a Chief Officer and line officer for 16 years. He is a member of the Command and General Staff for the South-Central Task Force All Hazards Incident Management Team and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Incident Management Team. Jerry currently serves full-time as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute, a statewide advocacy and education organization. He previously served as an Education Specialist for a national provider of emergency services insurance, a Director for a Community College Public Safety Training Center, Executive Director for a Regional EMS Council, and a Paramedic Coordinator for a Community Hospital. Jerry is also an Adjunct Instructor in the Integrated Emergency Management Program at FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute and National Fire Academy.

Jerry is a professional advocate, educator, communicator, and program manager dedicated to administrative and operational excellence in emergency services. He is an innovative leader responsible for coordinating efforts to improve and sustain Pennsylvania’s emergency services organizations.

George Palmer joined the Center for Independent Living of South-Central PA in 2012 as an Independent Living Specialist. He assumed the Executive Director position in 2014. Through George’s leadership, CILSCPA focuses on advocacy and the removal of physical and attitudinal barriers that prevent people with disabilities from exercising their rights, achieving personal independence, and participating fully in the life of the community. Transitioning into the Community of Choice is part of

the evolution of equal rights. Residents of Long-Term Care facilities are shown that they can thrive in their community with appropriate support.

CILSCPA staff work personally with the Consumer in a focused personal approach; identifying goals including “where” they want to live. CILSCPA then identifies appropriate Community resources needed to obtain and maintain an independent lifestyle. The Consumer is presented with an array of Community-based, specialized services. The services are then coordinated to provide an individualized support network. George has dedicated his life to advocacy and empowering people with disabilities to achieve a standard of living that allows them to become more independent.

Jim is the Director of Safety and Security at Shady Side Academy, a pre-K through 12th-grade private school in Fox Chapel, PA.  He manages safety and security operations, develops, manages, and coordinates a comprehensive safety program for all four Academy campuses, and is responsible for the Academy Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). He develops and presents safety training to faculty, staff, and students and liaisons with Public Safety agencies.  Jim chairs the Academy Safety Committee and serves on the Academy’s Enterprise Risk Management team.  Jim is a former career Fire Lieutenant / EMT with the City of Butler (PA) Fire Department where he worked for over 15 years and totals over 20 years’ experience in the fire service.  Jim also has over 16 years experience as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, currently working part-time for Butler County, PA and began his dispatching career with the City of Pittsburgh 9-1-1.  Jim holds a MA in Emergency Management and Homeland Security and a BS in Chemistry with a minor in Psychology. Jim enjoys coaching his twin boys in baseball, basketball, bowling, and golf and traveling with his wife, Jenna.  Jim also officiates high school boys’ basketball and men’s NCAA Division II & III basketball.

Mr. Riecker is a Certified Emergency and Disaster Professional with a progressive career in public safety and emergency management spanning over 27 years, including time as a local responder and chief officer, local emergency manager, senior staff for the New York State Office of Emergency Management, and public safety consultant. Tim has a depth of experience in major incident management, including direct involvement in the management of 21 Federally declared disasters. He has served in state and local Emergency Operations Centers and as a Type II Planning Section Chief for responses including 9/11, United Flight 587, Colgan Air Flight 3407, Hurricane Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tim has had a range of benchmark opportunities in his career, including presenting to a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and leading some of the largest full-scale exercises ever conducted in the nation. He serves as vice chair of the board of directors for the International Public Safety Association (IPSA), is a member of the NFPA 1600/1660 technical committee, and is the program manager and instructor of an academic emergency management program.

Tim regularly blogs about various emergency management topics under the moniker of The Contrarian Emergency Manager.

Charles Ross has worked as a meteorologist and hydrologist for over 30 years. He graduated from Penn State University in 1993 with a degree in Meteorology. He has worked for the National Weather Service in several offices nationwide, for the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon, and as the Service Hydrologist at State College since 2010. He likes to hike, work out, and attend his kids’ activities in his spare time.

Cody Santiago currently serves as the Director of Emergency Management for York County, PA. In his 18 years in public safety, Cody has served in a variety of roles including the fire service, emergency management, and school safety.

Dr. George Schwartz has a broad professional background that includes military service and higher education. He has developed and instructed courses in emergency management and leadership and has written and presented on such subjects as crisis leadership, cybersecurity, and training management. Before retiring from the PA Army National Guard, Dr. Schwartz served in a number of senior leadership positions including commanding troops and directing operations in Europe, Kosovo, and Afghanistan, as well as managing National Guard emergency response efforts during several natural disasters.

Gary Scronce has provided emergency preparedness support for both natural and man-made hazards in more than 100 state and local jurisdictions. Scronce has more than 31 years of emergency management and homeland security experience, including eight years as a member of the River Bend nuclear power plant’s emergency response organization. He began his career as a Nuclear Engineer with Gulf States Utilities/Entergy. During that time, he assisted with the procurement of a balance of plant equipment as well as nuclear safety equipment such as valves, control rods, and nuclear fuel and associated safety analysis work. As an emergency management consultant for 24 years, Mr. Scronce has added extensive experience reviewing and responding to RFPs from the supplier side.

Dan Searfoorce serves as the Manager of the Water, Reliability, and Emergency Preparedness Division within the Bureau of Technical Utility Services at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). This division plays a crucial role in upholding the dependability of jurisdictional electric, natural gas, and water/wastewater services. Moreover, it shoulders the PUC’s responsibilities pertaining to emergency preparedness as outlined in the Commonwealth Emergency Operations Plan. In addition to his leadership role, Mr. Searfoorce and his dedicated division staff actively participate in the PUC’s internal Cyber Team and contribute to the strategic planning processes for Black Sky events. His extensive tenure with the PUC spans since 2004, demonstrating his deep-rooted commitment to the organization’s mission Mr. Searfoorce’s academic background is marked by a B.S. in Business from Penn State Abington, further enriched by an M.B.A. from Saint Joseph’s University. His education and experience uniquely position him to excel in his role, driving the Division and the PUC towards a resilient and reliable utility landscape.

Tania Serrano Gonzalez joined FEMA five and a half years ago and joined FEMA’S Region 3 in June 2022 as its Civil Rights Lead Advisor. She is responsible for ensuring civil rights requirements are implemented and supporting all equity efforts throughout the region’s programs and activities.

Before joining FEMA, Tania had her own private practice as an attorney in Puerto Rico. More than 90 percent of her cases were related to civil rights compliance. Since joining FEMA, she has been part of the Civil Rights Cadre as a lead advisor.  She has been deployed to three Type 1 major disasters and is currently supporting Virginia’s and West Virginia’s declarations.

KEMA member Mike Sharon is Chief of the Emergency Programs Division at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Homeland Security.  Mike’s extensive emergency management career includes positions at FEMA, the U.S. Department of State, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.  He has supported numerous Presidentially-declared disasters and national special security events.  In addition to his civilian career, Mike completed 28 years combined service as a military police officer in the Regular Army, Maryland National Guard, and Army Reserve.

Michael is retired law enforcement from the State of Iowa, with more than 29 years of experience. Michael’s tenure in law enforcement included working as an investigator, SWAT/tactical team leader, Firearm Instructor, Drug Recognition Expert, Technical Accident Investigator, Active Shooter Instructor, Hostage/Advanced Hostage Rescue Instructor, and Physical Skills/Combative Instructor. Michael has instructed across the United States and overseas. Michael worked on three presidential campaigns, providing personal protection. Michael worked on the advance team for two of those campaigns, doing physical site assessments prior to the candidate’s arrival. Michael worked as the personal protector on two of those campaigns. Michael has done presentations on safety in public areas, vulnerability assessments (personal and physical site), Run, Hide, Fight, and Alice training. Michael worked for six years as a Personal Risk Mitigation Agent, protecting high-value assets for Fortune 100 companies as they traveled domestically and overseas. Threat assessments for destinations were a common duty, prior to the arrival of the CEOs/Presidents/Chairmans. Michael worked this past year on the Iowa School Safety Initiative. Michael led 39 assessors who performed vulnerability assessments on 1260 schools and 455 school districts in four months. Michael helped develop a software tool to expedite the onsite physical vulnerability assessment process.

Heather Stem, a native of Southern York County, has spent her emergency management career in the Commonwealth. Mrs. Stem possesses extensive relevant subject matter expertise in emergency management planning, training, and exercise. A Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Master Exercise Practitioner, and Senior Associate with the Olson Group, Ms. Stem has experience in disaster response and recovery of federal and non-federal declarations, emergency planning, damage assessment, and training and exercise support.  Her duties and responsibilities have included providing all-hazards plan development guidance for both localities and institutions of higher learning; assisting with coordinating disaster planning activities and initiatives between local, state, and federal partners; reviewing local government and institutions of higher learning’s Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) and Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans (CEMPs) to ensure compliance with all state and federal requirements; and incident response and recovery operations. 

Prior to being with the Olson Group, Mrs. Stem spent the last 9 years in Pennsylvania County governments as a Training and Exercise Coordinator where she maintain emergency management coordinator certification, managed emergency management training, and developed and conducted exercises. Mrs. Stem has a background in Meteorology and Emergency Management from Millersville, PA.

MaryAnn E. Tierney serves as FEMA Region 3 Administrator with extensive emergency management experience, including Hurricane Sandy and 9/11 responses. She held roles in FEMA and NYC Emergency Management, overseeing plans, recovery, and coordination of large-scale emergencies. As Regional Administrator, she leads FEMA’s mid-Atlantic disaster efforts. Tierney’s qualifications include Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer, overseeing crisis responses and teaching emergency management courses. She holds degrees from American University and NYU and completed leadership programs. She lives in South Philadelphia with her family, pursuing running and culinary interests.

Carole Tonks serves as the Executive Director of the Alliance Center for Independence (ACI).  ACI provides information and referral services and develops and implements educational programs and innovative activities that promote activism, peer support, health and wellness, employment, and independent living skills. ACI supports the philosophy of independent living for all persons with disabilities. She Chairs the Core Advisory Group of Middlesex County and works very closely with the Emergency Management Community on Preparedness initiatives for those with disabilities

Nate Wardle is the Special Response/Projects Manager within the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In this role, he is on the front end of helping the bureau and department to respond to the latest threats facing the public health sector and healthcare, including climate change, emerging infectious disease outbreaks, and cyber threats. A major part of this work is to be able to communicate these threats, and actions stakeholders and the public need to take as a result of them.

He previously served as Press Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, leading communications on the substance use crisis, medical marijuana, nursing homes, and COVID-19. Prior to that, he was the department’s Public Information Officer, working on topics including the flu and other infectious disease outbreaks. He also serves as a local emergency manager in his community and has a bachelor’s degree in meteorology and a master’s degree in emergency management, both from Millersville University.

Michele Whiting Zona is a dedicated social worker with nearly 25 years of experience, serving Westmoreland County. Her notable career includes 11.5 years as a Victim Advocate in the District Attorney’s Office. She also excelled as a Care Manager and Administration professional for 7.5 years at the Area Agency on Aging, enhancing the lives of the elderly.  Currently, Michele holds the role of the Access and Functional Needs/Recovery Coordinator at the Department of Public Safety. Her exceptional leadership ensures that individuals with diverse needs receive essential resources and support for their well-being and recovery.  As co-lead of the Westmoreland County Human Services and Preparedness Coalition (VOAD), Michele fosters collaboration among multiple agencies to address complex community challenges effectively.  Michele’s passion for youth mental health is evident through her certification as a Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer. She equips others with the skills to identify and respond to mental health challenges, actively promoting the well-being of the county’s youth.  Additionally, Michele actively participates in various committees, collaborating with other agencies to develop and implement effective strategies for community improvement.

Bob Winters has been the DHS Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency Protective Security Advisor assigned to Pittsburgh since the inception of the position in 2005.  As the Pittsburgh PSA, he helps facilitate and coordinate the protection and resilience of critical infrastructure with owners, operators, and public safety partners in 32 counties of Western Pennsylvania.  Originally from Pittsburgh, Bob had a 23-year training and security career in the US Air Force.  He has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in public administration from Eastern Washington University.  He is a 2001 graduate of the FBI National Academy and has been an ASIS Certified Protection Professional since 2010.

David Wood is the Harrisburg District Protective Security Advisor within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for the coordination of critical infrastructure protection in 27 counties in Central and Northeast Pennsylvania.  Mr. Wood has over 35 years of private sector, Department of Defense, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania sensitive security operations experience.  He served as the 28th Infantry Division Chief of Staff, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade Commander, and the Pennsylvania National Guard (PANG) State Aviation Officer and had combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.  He served as the PANG Chief of Staff for the World Meeting of Families and the 2016 Democratic National Convention plus key positions during natural and man-made disaster responses.  Mr. Wood also worked 15+ years in the private sector culminating as the Executive Vice President of a Fulfillment and Distribution company with over 1000 employees and 7 facilities, which laid the foundation of his views on the importance of cross-sector business involvement and collaboration to effectively provide safeguards and resiliency to our critical infrastructure.  He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and holds a master’s in systems management from the University of Southern California, as well as a graduate of the United States Army War College.