Joe Flynn, 800-347-0488, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director

Director Flynn has extensive experience in emergency services.  He has served as fire chief at the South Hero Volunteer Fire Department, LEPC 13 Chair, deputy emergency management coordinator for the Town of Grand Isle and is a sworn law enforcement officer serving as deputy sheriff with the Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department.  Most recently Joe was the Rail Director for the Vermont Agency of Transportation. He was a critical leader within VTrans' Irene emergency response operation, serving as the Commander of the VTrans Regional Response Center in Dummerston. He then served as an operations director in the Irene Recovery Office.

 Ross Nagy, 800-347-0488, Deputy Director

Prior to assuming the position as Deputy Director Ross was the Division Chief for Policy and Planning and worked with DEMHS as an emergency management consultant assisting in the implementation of the Local Emergency Management Director Program as well as assisting in regional and local hazard mitigation planning. As the deputy, he oversees preparedness activities including exercise coordination for all hazards and planning activities including those related to the State Emergency Operations Plan and the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Additionally he provides and coordinates support to local and regional planning efforts and initiatives.

Mark Bosma, 800-347-0488, Public Information Officer

Mark manages and produces DEMHS' emergency public information, monthly newsletter, and web site.  He also fields information requests from the public and municipal officials, and manages all media relations. Mark came to DEMHS in 2006 after serving as PIO for the Agency of Agriculture. He previously worked in the news department at WCAX-TV for more than 10 years.

Terri Picard, 800-347-0488, Administrative Assistant

Karen Smith, 800-347-0488, Grants Specialist

Operations and Logistics Section

Jason Gosselin, 800-347-0488, Operations and Logistics Chief

Jason has been with the Department of Public Safety in a number or roles since 2005.  Jason oversees the Operations and Logistics section at DEMHS and coordinates all logistical elements of the primary and alternate State Emergency Operations Center. Jason works closely with the Mobile Support Unit team leaders and is the liaison to the VT Department of Health with regards to the state of Vermont’s SNS plan.  Jason represents DEMHS with several work groups and is responsible for the state’s Commodity Points of Distribution plan.

Zach Borst, 800-347-0488, Regional Outreach Coordinator

Zach Borst joined VEMHS in the summer of 2012 and is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with emergency response organizations and other entities in the public and private sector. Zach acts as the state Citizen Corps Program Coordinator, specifically responsible for coordinating the state CERT program. He has served as a volunteer firefighter for over 10 years and as a Red Cross volunteer for the last two years. Zach graduated from UVM in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Geography and is currently completing a master’s degree in Leadership with a research focus on crisis leadership.

Robert Schell, 800-347-0488, Chief of Field Operations

Robert serves as coordinator of federal and state emergency operations training, response and communications. Robert joined the Division in January, 2001 after twelve years of service with the Vermont Department of Health's Emergency Medical Services Division. His background includes several years of service within fire, police and EMS agencies.

Bob Weinert, 800-347-0488, Emergency Management Coordinator and VEPARDS System Administrator

Bob manages the State's disaster management system known as DisasterLAN, and is the program manager for VEPARDS (the Vermont Emergency Planning and Response Database System). He coordinates all local emergency operations planning with all jurisdictions in Vermont, assists with the Local Emergency Management Directors training and also reviews and assists municipalities with Emergency Operations Center development and operations.

Recovery and Mitigtion Section

Mary Andes, 800-347-0488, Special Project Analyst

Mary Andes focuses on finance & administration, GIS, and other special projects for the Director.  She has long experience with planning, finance & administration, data management, GIS, and other areas that bridge several disciplines. With a B.S. from Oberlin College and a M.B.A. from Babson College, Mary brings a strong foundation to DEMHS.  Prior to joining the division, she worked in other departments in state government, including the Department of Health Access and the Agency of Administration.

Misha Bailey, 802-241-5362, Hazard Mitigation Planner

Misha joined the Hazard Mitigation division of DEMHS in the Fall of 2012. Her work focuses on local and state Hazard Mitigation Plans, mitigation grant applications and coordinating these efforts among federal, state and local partners. Misha’s background includes considerable experience with mediation and meeting facilitation as well as policy & planning. She holds a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Studies from UC Berkeley, a Master’s degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School and also has a graduate certificate in Dispute Resolution from Vermont Law School.

Ray Doherty, 800-347-0488, State Hazard Mitigation Officer

Ray administers the state hazard mitigation program, coordinating efforts with local communities and state and federal agencies. Ray earned a BA degree at Queens College (CUNY) in New York, and also holds an MA degree from the University of Virginia. He previously worked with FEMA in the Washington D.C. area.

Dan Peterson, 800-347-0488, Public Assistance Coordinator

Kate Peyerl, 800-347-0488, Mitigation Planner

Ben Rose, 800-347-0488, Public Assistance Officer

Ben Rose joined the Irene Recovery Office in February 2012, and moved to DEMHS in May. His previous experience includes twelve years as Executive Director of The Green Mountain Club, four years as a state legislator and clerk of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, and six years as Executive Director of the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District. He received a B.A. from Yale University and a M.S. from the University of Vermont in Natural Resource Planning. A former Chair of the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council, Rose co-founded the Catamount Trail Association in 1984. As P.A. Officer, he is responsible for liaison with FEMA on behalf of municipalities and other eligible subgrantees.

Planning Section

Erica Bornemann, 800-347-0488, Planning Section Chief

With a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western New England College and  Master of Public Administration from Norwich University, Erica began work with Emergency Management in the Spring of 2007. She oversees the Planning Section at DEMHS, including the Radiological Emergency Response Program , the upkeep and revision of the State Emergency Operations Plan, involvement in the state exercise program, and facilitates the development of the annual Emergency Management Planning Grant and Radiological Emergency Response Program Fund. She assists in supporting local jurisdictions in emergency planning initiatives and preparedness efforts.

John Angil II, 802-251-2172, Radiological Emergency Response Plan Program Manager

John came to DEMHS in February of 2006.  Before relocating to the area he spent thirty-five years working in a number of emergency management roles, including chairing a number of commissions, primarily in South Carolina. John manages the Radiological Emergency Response Program (RERP) and works out of the Brattleboro office.

Richard E. Cogliano, 802-251-2172, RERP Planner

Richard is the Radiological Training Coordinator and EPZ Planner located in the DEMHS Brattleboro Office. His responsibilities include working with the communities around Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station to ensure that all response plans are current and ensuring all personnel are trained in how to respond to an emergency at the plant. Richard has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from St. Michael’s College and a Master’s in Business Administration from American Public University. Outside of his job, he is a volunteer fire captain, EMT, member of the Vermont Hazmat Response Team, and serves on his town’s planning commission.

Laura Conway, 802-251-2172, RERP Administrative Assistant

Laura runs the day to day operations of the Brattleboro office including scheduling and record keeping.

David J. Emery Sr., 802-251-2172, Local RERP Coordinator

Dave coordinates all equipment for the Emergency Planning Zone towns, ensuring all equipment is operable, calibrated, and ready for use in the event of an emergency, among other duties. Dave also serves as the staging area manager in the EPZ. He was previously Chief of the Brattleboro fire department for 18 of his 37 years with the company.

Emily Hamlin, 800-347-0488, Emergency Management Planner

Emily's primary areas of responsibility are Medical Surge/Mass Care, Continuity of Operations Planning, Emergency Management Accreditation Program, and the Threat/Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. Emily received a B.A. in Political Science from Johnson State College and an M.A. in Public Administration from Syracuse University.

Homeland Security Section

Lt. Michael Manning, 802-241-5095, Homeland Security Chief

Lieutenant Manning has been with the Vermont State Police since 1988 and spent his first seventeen years in a variety of field and training assignments. He is currently assigned to the Division as the Chief of the Homeland Security Section, formerly serving as the Field Manager for the Vermont Homeland Security Unit. He is also the State Training Point of Contact and Statewide Interoperability Coordinator

Kimberly Cruickshank, 802-241-5416, Grants Management Specialist

Heather Gibbs, 802-241-5527, Program Planner

Heather has been with the Department of Public Safety since 2004. She is currently assigned to the Division as a Homeland Security Program Planner.

Jessica Stolz, 802-241-5094, Exercise Planner

Jessica has been with the Department of Public Safety since 2004. She is currently assigned to the Division as a Homeland Security Program Planner.  She is responsible for exercising within Public Safety Districts A & B, as well as with State Agencies.

Andrea Young, 802-241-5097, Exercise Planner

Andrea has been with the Department of Public Safety since 2004. She is currently assigned to the Division as a Homeland Security Program Planner.  She is responsible for exercising within Public Safety Districts C and D.