Executive Board Biographies
President
John G. FordRegional Director Contact and Customer Relations
Southwest Ambulance – Rural/Metro
(480) 209-7944
John_Ford@rmetro.com
John Ford, Regional Director of Customer and Contract Relations Southwest Ambulance-Rural/Metro. President for AESA 2011.
John has been part of the Arizona EMS community for more than 30 years including 15 years as a line Firefighter EMT. John is proud to be on the Board of AESA as the President for 2010 – 2011 after being a member for 7 years. John has served as Sergeant-at-Arms, President Elect and now is proud to be President.
His experience also includes 10 years of services with air ambulance provider Air Evac Services. John is a member of the EMS Council with the Department of Health. He also has worked closely with Arizona Department of Health Services EMSystem users group for the Central Region of Arizona. John also serves on the Arizona Health Care Association Board of Directors. The East Valley Adult Resources Board of Directors , Mesa United Way Board of Directors and is a Planning and Zoning Commissioner for the Town of Cave Creek where he has been a resident for most of his life.
President-Elect
Wendy Smith-Reeve
Assistant Director, Recover
Arizona Division of Emergency Management
Wendy is the Assistant Director for the Recovery Section with the Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM). The Recovery Section is responsible for coordinating state and federal actions with local jurisdictions to assist those impacted communities in recovering from disasters. Through Public Assistance (infrastructure) and Individual Assistance (human services) programs and activities the Recovery Section works to reduce human suffering during disasters and enhance recovery following natural and human-caused disaster events.
Wendy joined the Division in September 1996; since being with the Division she has assisted with the management of recovery efforts for the State of Arizona for ten State/Presidential disaster declarations and over 60 State disaster declarations. During her tenure with ADEM, she has been instrumental with Arizona’s successful participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) State Managed Disasters initiative. This initiative allows a capable State to manage the Public Assistance Program operation on behalf of FEMA. Only one other state meets the qualifications to be a State Managing State. As a qualifying state, Arizona provides effective coordination with other state, federal and local agencies/jurisdictions before, during and after disasters.
In addition to her duties as an Assistant Director, Wendy is an instructor for ADEM and FEMA on Public Assistance, Grant Administration and Local Government Recovery courses. She has participated with the FEMA Public Assistance Program Re-Design Initiative on FEMA’s development of their Information Technology Services Directorate Grants Business Management System (eGrant) and has also served as the State’s representative with the development and facilitation of the annual FEMA/State Public Assistance Workshop. Wendy also works with the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) during Arizona’s initial accreditation and 5-year reaccreditation process as well as being a certified Assessor for the EMAP program.
Secretary
Diane N. Fernandez
Logistics Operations Manager
Arizona Division of Emergency Management
(602) 464-6268
Diane.fernandez@azdema.gov
Diane Fernandez serves as the Logistics Operations Manager at the Arizona Division of Emergency Management since September 2010. As the Logistics Operations Manager she supervises Program Managers in Facilities Management, GIS and Emergency Information Network (E Team).
Diane has been working at the division since September 1997 where she started with the Arizona Emergency Response Commission, and through advancement she worked in the Plans, Training and Exercise Section and on to the Logistics Section.
Diane is also the EMAC Region IX, Lead State Representative (LSR) and serves on the Executive Task Force Committee. The LSR is the Region IX EMAC Coordinators conduit to the Executive Task Force Committee and to the National Coordinating Group.
In addition she serves as the Secretary on the Executive Board of the Arizona Emergency Services Association.
Diane has just over 20 years of public service experience.
Treasurer
Pamela Lansbery
Manager of Technical Operations
Arizona Public Service Company
(602) 371-6916
Pamela.Lansbery@aps.com
Pamela Lansbery currently holds the position of Manager of Technical Operations at Arizona Public Service Company. Her responsibilities include partnering with local, regional and State emergency management personnel on behalf of APS. She has been a member of AESA for 4 1/2 years, and has served on the conference planning committee during that timeframe. In 2007, she was elected to the AESA Executive Board filling the position of Sergeant at Arms. In 2008, Pamela was asked to serve as AESA Treasurer and currently holds that position as well as continuing to serve on the conference planning committee.
Membership Chair
Ken Lewis
Principal Analyst
Salt River Project
Business Continuity & Emergency Management
P.O. Box 52025 Mail station PAB342
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2025
(602) 236-8194
kelewis@srpnet.com
Ken Lewis works for the Salt River Project in the Business Continuity & Emergency Management department. He assists this major utility in emergency plan development, EOC utilization, plan exercises, drills and activations. He serves as a liaison with cities in the East Valley area in power and water issues.
Ken holds the Certified Emergency Manager and Certified Business Continuity Professional certifications. He has a Masters of Public Administration degree and teaches part-time at Grand Canyon University in their Emergency Management degree program.
Ken’s previous career was in the fire service. He started as a firefighter/paramedic for the Denton, Texas Fire Department. He worked up the ranks over the years to become the Fire Chief of the Pinewood Fire District here in Arizona. Like many in emergency management, a background in fire and/or medical fields was a good background to transition to the emergency management field.
Ken was elected the Membership Chair in 2010 and strives to provide great service to all AESA members.
Public Relations Chair
Les P Caid
President
Fifth Phase, Training and Consulting
(520) 260-7285
lespaulcaid@aol.com
Chief Caid (retired) teaches and consults throughout the world. He served 25 years with Tucson Fire Department and retired in 2004, as the Deputy Chief in charge of Emergency Management. He worked 4 years as the Regional Fire Chief for Rural Metro Fire. Les is nationally known for his work in preparedness, emergency management, and in 2002 was nationally recognized for this effort by former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson. Les has published numerous, articles including: Firehouse, Fire Chief, Journal of Emergency Medicine and Public Management Magazines and is featured in a national training video for Hospital Preparedness HEICS produce by MedFilms. Les has been involved with Strategic National Stockpile drills and exercises in five (5) different states and has been an ODP evaluator or facilitator at dozens of exercises in multiple states across the country including TOPOFF4.
In April 2007, Les was appointed by Governor Napolitano, to serve as the Co-Chair of the Emergency Management Committee for the Arizona Mexico Commission. Les sits on the IAFC/NEMA/EMAC subcommittee, and the AFCA Mutual Aid Committee. He a two (2) term Past President of the Arizona Emergency Services Association, former Chair of the Arizona Citizens Corp Council and the former AZ Domestic Terrorism Preparedness Committee and a past member the State of Arizona Homeland Security Coordinating Council.
Member at Large
Joe Gibson
Director of Communications, EMS Field Scheduling and Technical Services
SW Ambulance / Rural Metro
(480) 627-6506
Joe_Gibson@Rmetro.com
Joe Gibson, a native Arizonan, has committed over three decades of his professional life to public safety and emergency medical services. He began his career with Associated Ambulance in 1979. Joe has worked with both ground and air ambulance companies his entire professional career, including, Rural Metro, Arizona Medical Transport / Survival Flight, Samaritan AirEvac, and Southwest Ambulance. In 1999, Gibson became the Communication Manager for Rural Metro and SW Ambulance. Additionally, Gibson was General Manager for Support Services, Interfacility Services and Scottsdale Emergency Medical Services. Gibson was also the General Manager for the East Valley’s 9-1-1 including Northeast Valley, Southeast Valley and Pinal County. He currently oversees operations in the Dispatch Center for Southwest Ambulance & Rural/Metro Fire Department, the technical services group, and the Southwest Ambulance field-scheduling department, managing 77 employees in multiple locations and effectively monitors the dispatch center, which dispatches more than 200,000 calls per year.
Gibson is actively involved in several State and Local Boards and Commissions, including;
- State of Arizona, Emergency Medical Services Council (Gov Appointed),
Chair, Disaster Preparedness Committee - Az Emergency Response Commission Advisory Committee (Gov appointed)
- Arizona Ambulance Association (Elected), Treasurer,
Secretary / Treasurer, Central Region Director, Air Region Director - ADHS Central Region Committee on Public Health Preparedness (Appointed)
- Arizona Emergency Medical Services, (AEMS) – Elected, Vice Chair of the Board, Board Member,
Chair, Planning and Outreach Functional Group, Chair,
Chair , AEMS Odyssey Conference - Maricopa County Healthcare Disaster Preparedness Council (Appointed), Member, Executive Council
- Arizona Fire District Association (Member)
- Arizona Fire Chief’s Association (Member)
- Arizona Public Safety Communications Committee (Attendee)
- Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (Attendee)
Member at Large
Cheryl Bowen
Assistant Director
Arizona Department of Homeland Security
Cheryl Bowen serves as an Assistant Director at the Arizona Department of Homeland Security. She has been with the department since December 2006 shortly after it was established by legislation. She currently is responsible for the oversight of the Citizen Corps Program and Urban Area Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant Program as well as the department’s stakeholder monitoring program. She also plays a key role in the development and enhancement of existing department programs, policies and procedures. In addition, she serves as a member-at-large on the Executive Board of the Arizona Emergency Services Association.
Ms. Bowen has over 15 years of public service experience. During her tenure, she has worked in areas involving leadership, administration, boards, legislation, planning and budgeting, personnel and information technology.
Prior to working in state government, she was involved in residential and commercial construction in Idaho, Washington, Alaska and Arizona. In conjunction with the construction business, Ms. Bowen was also involved in the hospitality industry as a restaurant owner.
Sergeant at Arms
Information coming soon. . .
Past President
Matthew Parks
Assistant Director – Logistics
Arizona Division of Emergency Management
(602) 392-7510
matthew.parks@azdema.gov
Matthew Parks was appointed Assistant Director in ADEM on November 17, 2003. Previously he was a Program Manager in the Operations Section, Hazard Analysis unit. Prior to joining Arizona’s Division of Emergency Management on August 14, 2000 Matt served in the U.S. Army.
As the Logistics Director he supervises Program Managers in communications, facilities management, information technology and website management. Other program responsibilities include donations management, volunteer management, ETeam, 211 Call Center, EMAC, AidMatrix, inter and intra-state mutual aid agreements, safety and resource management.
Matt has led the Logistics section on numerous emergencies and disasters in the state including winter storm floods, monsoon flash floods, wildfires, and Operation Good Neighbor (hurricane Katrina). He has served as an assessor on the national Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) and is currently the lead state representative for region nine in the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). Matt is the state lead for Arizona’s Mutual Aid Compact.
Matt retired from the U.S. Army in July 2000 after serving 21 years, 4 months and 22 days. He served his entire career in the Army Engineers; 9 years in construction engineering and 12 years in topographic engineers (map makers). He earned a BS from Regents College of New York in 2000 and an Associates Degree from Central Texas College in 1996. Matt is currently enrolled in the Master of Administration program at NAU and expects to graduate in fall of 2009. In April 2007 he completed the Certified Public Manager (CPM) course ASU.