PHEP Trailblazers, Pathfinders, and Champions
CDC celebrated the 20th anniversary of PHEP by recognizing members of the state, local, and territorial public health preparedness workforce. These individuals have contributed significantly to the PHEP program over the past two decades. Designated as PHEP Trailblazers, Pathfinders, or Champions, these professionals have worked tirelessly to protect their communities from a range of public health threats.
Arizona | California | Colorado | Georgia | Idaho | Kentucky | Louisiana | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi |Nevada | New Jersey | North Carolina | North Dakota | Oklahoma | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Utah | Virgin Islands | Virginia | Washington| Wisconsin | Wyoming | Marshall Islands | LA County | New York City
State Trailblazer
Eugene Livar
Chief, Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Control
Local Traiblazer
Christine Medley
Public Health Preparedness
Coordinator (in memoriam)
State Trailblazer
Susan Fanelli
Chief Deputy Director of Health Quality and Emergency Response
Local Trailblazer
Kim Saruwatari
Director of Public Health
State Trailblazer
Korey Bell
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program Manager
State Trailblazer
Kristi Campos
Health Alert Network Coordinator/COTRAIN Administrator
State Trailblazer
Curt Drennan
Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch Supervisor
State Trailblazer
Koral O Brien
Volunteer Coordinator
State Trailblazer
Kesia Cobb
State Trailblazer
Mark Palen
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
State Trailblazer
Troy Nelson
Health Preparedness Program Manager
State Trailblazer
Rebecca Gillis
Director of Public Health Protection
Local Trailblazer
Kim Yazell
Area Health Liasion
State Trailblazer
Doris Gray Brown
PHEP Director (Former)
State Trailblazer
Kayla Guerrero
Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator
State Trailblazer
Linda Scott
Director, Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness
State Trailblazer
Cheryl Peterson-Kroeber
Director, Emergency Preparedness and Response
State Trailblazer
Karen Moritz
Public Health Director
State Trailblazer
Jim Craig
Senior Deputy Director, Office of Health Protection
Local Trailblazer
Debbie Sneed
District Emergency Preparedness Nurse
State Trailblazer
Jeff Quinn
Public Health Preparedness Manager
State Trailblazer
Barbara Montana
Medical Director
State Trailblazer
Holly Funkhouser Cucuzzella
Health Officer
State Trailblazer
Julie Casani
Medical Director
Local Trailblazer
Samantha Moose
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Iredell Country Health Department
State Trailblazer
Timonthy Wiedrich
Resource and Licensure Section Chief
State Trailblazer
Mark Schultz
MCM Coordinator
State Trailblazer
Andrew Pickett
Director, Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response, PADOH
State Trailblazer
Betsy Walls
Personal Health/ PHEP Director (Retired), Chester County Health Department
State Trailblazer
Cynthia Vanner
Director of Operations for State Health Laboratories and Office of State Medical Examiners, Rhode Island Dept. of Health
State Trailblazer
Marian Nanney
PHEP Grant Coordinator
State Trailblazer
Bill Chalcraft
Adminstrator of Health Protection
State Trailblazer
Randy Gowler
Health Alert Network Coordinator
Local Trailblazer
Robert Goff
Emergency Response Coordinator
State Trailblazer
Dean Penovich
Director, Office of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness
Local Trailblazer
Paulette Valentine
Emergency Response Coordinator
State Trailblazer
Francine Lang
Director of Public Health Preparedness
State Trailblazer
Bob Mauskapf
Director, Emergency Preparedness
State Trailblazer
Kay Koth
State Trailblazer
Kay Mittelstadt-Lock
SNS Coordinator
Local Trailblazer
Brittany Fry
State Trailblazer
James Smith
Evaluation and Performance Manager
Local Trailblazer
Kami Neighbors
Washakie County Public Health Response Coordinator
State Trailblazer
Francyne Wase-Jacklick
Deputy Secretary of Health Planning, Policy Preparedness and Epidemiology
State Trailblazer
Dickson Diamond
Threat Assessment Coordinator
Local Trailblazer
Stella Fogleman
Director Emegency Preparedness and Response Division
State Trailblazer
Beth Maldin
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Trailblazer
David Starr
Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Emergency Field Operations, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Arizona | California | Colorado | Georgia | Idaho | Kentucky | Louisiana | Minnesota | Mississippi |Nevada | New Jersey | North Carolina | Oklahoma | Pennsylvania| Tennessee | Utah | Vermont | Wisconsin | Wyoming | LA County | New York City
State Pathfinder
Susan Runcorn
Section Chief
Local Pathfinder
Kirsten VanDeventer
Public Health Emergency Coordinator
State Pathfinder
Tricia Blocher
Deputy Director Public Health Emergency Preparedness
State Pathfinder
Janel McNair
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
State Pathfinder
Tracy Dabbs
Emergency Preparedness Pharmacist
Local Pathfinder
Xavier Crockett
Emergency Preparedness Director
State Pathfinder
Alana Anderson
State Pathfinder
Sara Bemisdarfer
State Pathfinder
Natalie Bodine
Program Manager
State Pathfinder
Ricky Bowman
Public Health Program Manager
State Pathfinder
Chris Burgess
Training and Exercise Coordinator
State Pathfinder
Kris Carter
State Pathfinder
Levi Claussen
Public Health Preparedness and Response Program Specialist
State Pathfinder
Wayne Denny
State Pathfinder
Jodi Fulbright
Program Manager
State Pathfinder
Devin Hughes
Public Health Program Manager
State Pathfinder
Denise Kern
Public Health Preparedness and Response Section Manager
State Pathfinder
Nick Mechikoff
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator
State Pathfinder
Dean Neufeld
Program Manager
State Pathfinder
Joel Price
State Pathfinder
Dan Schaffer
State Pathfinder
Molly Smith
Training and Exercise Coordinator
State Pathfinder
Angela Wickham
Bureau Chief, Division of Health
State Pathfinder
TJ Wilson
State Pathfinder
Angela Kik
Emergency Response Section Supervisor
Local Pathfinder
Vickie Sanderson
Regional Preparedness Coordinator
State Pathfinder
Katildra McDonald
Administrative Program Specialist
State Pathfinder
Whitney Hultstrand
MCM Planner
Local Pathfinder
Carolina (Caro) Ramirez
Planning Specialist
State Pathfinder
Marshall Horn
Office of Emergency Planning and Response Logistics/Operations Chief
State Pathfinder
Emily Gould
PHEP Health Resource Analyst
Local Pathfinder
Andrea Esp
Public Health Preparedness and EMS
State Pathfinder
Jamie Weller
Deputy Director NJ Health Department
Local Pathfinder
Ditty Mae Jankaukas
Director of Public Health Nursing
Local Pathfinder
Diana Hills
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator for New Hanover
State Pathfinder
Jackie Dimpsey
Technical Planning Coordinator
Local Pathfinder
Jennifer Krawic
Administrator, Emergency Preparedness and Response Program
State Pathfinder
Nate Wardle
Special Projects Manager, Bureau of Emergency Preparedness & Response, PADOH
Local Pathfinder
Mary Limbert
Preparedness Planner/ MRC Coordinator, Bucks County Health Department
State Pathfinder
Bianca Novo
Grants Manager
Local Pathfinder
Tabitha Hobson
Regional Healthcare Coalition Coordinator
State Pathfinder
Jenny Starley
Crisis Workforce Program Manager
Local Pathfinder
Bryan Lewis
Medical Reserve Corp Coordinator and Emergency Planner
State Pathfinder
Sarah Perry
Healthcare Preparedness Coordinator
State Pathfinder
Heather Rigney
Emergency Preparedness Specialist
State Pathfinder
Hannah Sorensen
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator
Local Pathfinder
Kelsey Cordova
Public Health Supervisor
State Pathfinder
Keith Harris
Response Program Manager
Local Pathfinder
Ronda Zancanella
Sweetwater County Public Health Response Coordinator
State Pathfinder
Caitlin Harvey
Health Support Planner
State Pathfinder
Lisa Patrick-Mudd
Community Recovery Planner
State Pathfinder
Pablo Valadez
Emergency Operations Program Director
State Pathfinder
Nate Dickey
Director of Partner Communications and Special Projects, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Arizona | California | Colorado | Georgia | Kentucky | Louisiana | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi |Nevada | New Jersey | North Carolina | North Dakota | Oklahoma | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Dakota | Tennessee | Utah | Washington | Wisconsin | Wyoming | LA County | New York City
State Champion
Mike Fila
Emergency Manager and Public Health Officer
State Champion
Mitch Lach
Disease Control Administrator
State Champion
Kore Redden
Bio-Defense Preparedness and Response Administrator
State Champion
Katie Turnbow
Emergency Preparedness Assistant Coordinator
State Champion
Edward Valinski
Deputy Bureau Chief
State Champion
Tom Ahrens
Chief Emergency Planning and Response
State Champion
Alan Hendrickson
Emergency Planner, Population Health Specialist
State Champion
Richard Johnson
Local Public Health Officer
State Champion
David LeMay
Health Planning Specialist
State Champion
Marigny Klaber
Regional Epidemiologist
State Champion
Colleen Nielsen
Director of Lake County Public Health
State Champion
Lisa Powell
EPR Program Manager
State Champion
Lynn Ramey
Director, Public Health at Park County
State Champion
Herman Albertier
Tactical Communications Specialist
State Champion
Valerie Attell
State Champion
Jodi Bazemore
Director of Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness
State Champion
Susan Beckham
Emergency Preparedness Director
State Champion
Charlisa Bell
Deputy Director, Planning and Preparedness
State Champion
Laurice Bentley
Emergency Preparedness Specialist
State Champion
Pam Blackwell
Director of Emergency Preparedness
State Champion
Skyler Brennan
Medical Epidemiologist
State Champion
Darrell Enfinger
Emergency Management Specialist
State Champion
Julie Gabel
Medical Epidemiologist
State Champion
Keith Goodman
Emergency Management and Public Health Specialist
State Champion
Harjinder Ghuman
Deputy Director, Emergency Preparedness
State Champion
Veronda Griffin
Public Informations Officer
State Champion
Laurent Guillou
Preparedness Specialist
State Champion
Preston Harpe
MRC Coordinator at East Central Health District
State Champion
Bernard Hicks
Emergency Preparedness
State Champion
Chelsea Keller
Medical Countermeasures Specialist
State Champion
Bruce Jeffries
Deputy Director of Health Protection
State Champion
Eric Jens
Risk Communicator
State Champion
Leah Hoffacker
Emergency Preparedness Director
State Champion
Ricky Lee
Emergency Preparedness Specialist
State Champion
Byron Lobsinger
State Champion
Susan Malone
State Champion
Julie Miller
State Champion
Sonja Moody
State Champion
J. Patrick O’Neal
Director of Health Protection
State Champion
Christopher Owen
State Champion
Suresh Pai
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
State Champion
Jessica Pavlick
Epidemiology Preparedness Director
State Champion
Rewa Pressley
Emergency Preparedness Training Development Specialist
State Champion
Peki Prince
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
State Champion
Mark Reiswig
Director of Emergency Preparedness
State Champion
Lauren Robinson
Emergency Preparedness Director
State Champion
Ryan Rutan
Emergency Preparedness Logistics Specialist
State Champion
April Shivers
State Champion
Larry Staton
Public Informations Officer
State Champion
Jennifer Stokes
District Epidemiologist
State Champion
Saneika Thomas
PHEP Training and Exercise Program Manager
State Champion
Melanie Wood
State Champion
Todd Wyckoff
Director of Emergency Preparedness
State Champion
Rebecca Hardin
Regional Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Sandra L. Harris
Administration and Finance Program Manager
Local Champion
Patricia White
Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator
Local Champion
Brook Babcock
Local Champion
Stephanie Baker
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Jennifer Beggs
Emergency Preparedness Epidemiologist
Local Champion
Karla Black
Deputy Health Officer
Local Champion
Kris Blahnik
Local Champion
Jeannie Byrne
CRI Analyst
Local Champion
Kerry Chamberlain
Local Champion
Jim Cook
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Jodie Defrenn
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Melissa DeRoche
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Susan Dice
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Patricia Draper
Emergency Preparedness Specialist
Local Champion
Jerry Ellsworth
Security Coordinator
Local Champion
Jay Fiedler
Local Champion
Denise Fleming
Local Champion
Susan Gasco
Emergency Management Coordinator
Local Champion
Lindsey Gestro
Local Champion
Bret Haner
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Chris Harrington
Local Champion
Kathy Haskins
Public Health Nurse Administrator
Local Champion
Tiffany Henderson
Regional Epidemiologist Unit Manager
Local Champion
Christine Hendrickson
VP of Strategic Initiatives
Local Champion
Tatyana Ivanova
Public Health Preparedness Director
Local Champion
Cindra James
Emergency Preparedness Administrator
Local Champion
Dayna Kapp
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Jim Koval
PHEP Local Liasion
Local Champion
Mike Lahey
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Joyce Lai
Local Champion
Diane Lois
Emergency Preparedness Planner
Local Champion
Mary Macqueen
Local Champion
Fatema Mamou
Epidemiologist
Local Champion
Kathy Mayo
Community Health Director
Local Champion
Teresa Miller
Local Champion
Jolanda Murphy
Public Safety Department Management
Local Champion
Melissa Opheim
Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Health Education Divison Manager
Local Champion
Joy Parish
Local Champion
Dodie Putney
Director of Administrative Services
Local Champion
Roger Racine
Local Champion
Bethany Reimink
Regional Epidemiologist
Local Champion
Scott Shreiber
Regional Epidemiologist
Local Champion
Sandip Shaw
Local Champion
Jason Smith
MCM Specialist
Local Champion
Jennifer Sorek
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Nicole Swanton
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator
Local Champion
Kerri Taylor
Local Champion
Cori Upper
Public Health Preparedness Coorfinator
Local Champion
Larry Zimmerman
Local Champion
Jennifer Zordan
Director Emergency Planning
State Champion
Mickey Sculland
Cross Program Planning Director
Local Champion
Brenda Pohlman
Local Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
State Champion
Tammy Chamblee
Chief Nurse of Emergency Preparedness and Response
State Champion
Sandra Harris
Local Champion
Marsha Foreman
Community Health Nurse, Rural Counties
State Champion
Monique Davis
Assistant Health Officer
State Champion
Susan O. Johnson
State Champion
Karen Pawlak (Fox)
HPP Coordinator
State Champion
Andrew Snyder
Principal and Chief Medical Officer
Local Champion
Christina Butieb-Bianco
Program Coordinator
Local Champion
Sally Flanagan
Local Champion
Jeryl Krautle
Local Champion
Charlotte Martin
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator
State Champion
Juli Sickler
Emergency Preparedness and Response Division Director
State Champion
Mike Potter
Local Emergency Response Coordinator (District 10)
State Champion
Rebecca V. Winsett
Emergency Response Coordinator (District 5)
Local Champion
Blaine Bolding
Chief of Emergency Preparedness and Response
State Champion
Steve Alles
Public Health Physician, PADOH (Former Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness Manager, Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health
State Champion
Jeff Backer
Director of Planning and Operations, Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response, PADOH
State Champion
Raegan Camuso
Local Health Department Adminstrator, Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response, PADOH
State Champion
Tom McGroarty
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator, Bueau of Emergency Preparedness and Response, PADOH
State Champion
Dr. Kumar Nalluswami
Epidemiologist, Bureau of Epidemiology, PADOH
State Champion
Atmaram Nambiar
Director, Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, PADOH
State Champion
Robert Pisch
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator, Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response, PADOH
State Champion
Joanne Roth
Community Preparedness and Response Manager, Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response, PADOH
Local Champion
Jessia Caum
Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness Manager, Philadelphia Dept. of Public Health
Local Champion
Suzanne Curtis
Public Health Preparedness Coordinator, Chester County Department of Health
Local Champion
Fallon Maggio
Emergency Preparedness Manager, Bucks County Health Department
Local Champion
Tom Mangan
Emergency Response and Preparedness Coordinator, Allegheny County Health Department
Local Champion
Mary Ellen Shields
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Allentown City Bureau of Health
Local Champion
Douglas Snyder
Deputy Chief Counsel, PADOH
State Champion
Alysia Mihalakos
Chief, Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Rhode Island Dept. of Health
State Champion
Brittan Bates-Manni
Medical Countermeasures (MCM) Program Director, Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Rhode Island Dept. of Health
State Champion
Marissa Silva
Health Program Administrator (PHEP and HPP Grants Manager), Center for Emergency Preparedness and Resposne, Rhode Island Dept. of Health
State Champion
Sally Frentz
Public Health Manager
State Champion
Chuck Kevghas
SNS Coordinator
State Champion
Jeff Sexton
Clinical Applications Coordinator
Local Champion
Melissa Taylor
Emergency Preparedness Nurse Consultant
State Champion
Annette Atkinson
LRN B Training Coordinator, State Training Coordinator
State Champion
Kim Christensen
Deputy Chief of Infectious Disease
State Champion
Ralph Clegg
Executive Director/ Health Director
State Champion
Mindy Colling
Preparedness Consultant
State Champion
Melissa Diamond
Assistant Division Director
State Champion
Michelle Hale
Preparedness Director
State Champion
Kevin McCulley
Preparedness Director (Past)
Local Champion
Lloyd Berentzen
Executive Director/ Health Officer
Local Champion
Jeff Coombs
Executive Director of Health Officer
Local Champion
Brian Hatch
Executive Director/ Health Officer
Local Champion
Zac Kearney
Emergency Response Coordinator (Past)
Local Champion
Ivy Melton Sales
Director of Community Health Services
Local Champion
Nate Selin
Director/ Health Officer
Local Champion
Mike Wiebel
Emergency Response Coordinator
Local Champion
Kari McDonald
State Champion
Joe Cordova
Local Champion
Brenda Lutz-Hanson
Health Educator
Local Champion
Steve Kipp
Health Sublette County Public Health Response Coordinator
State Champion
Dee Ann Bagwell
Policy and Planning Unit Director
State Champion
Brandon Dean
Emergency Planning Senior Manager
State Champion
Danny Huang
Informations Manager
State Champion
Jee Kim
Countermeasures and Health Emergency Senior Manager
State Champion
Michael Melton
Emergency Logistics Coordinator
State Champion
Elizabeth Rubin
Community Data Supervisor
State Champion
Denise Shelton-Hall
Grant Management and Administration Unit Director
Local Champion
Jessica Barcellona
Emergency Field Operations Planning and Training Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Aaron Belisle
Assistant Commissioner for Bureau of Healthcare and Community Readiness, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Jessica Cole
Senior Incident Specific Planner, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Erich Giebelhaus
Inter-Agency Coordination and Readiness Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Tamer Hadi
Senior Director of Technology, Data and Partner Communications, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Ivette Hernandez
Admin Assistant, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Kobria Karim
Director of Biological Operations and Program Coordination, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Janice Kim
Evaluation Specialist, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Haddie Lizasuain
Medical Reserve Corps Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Lisa Lukasik
Admin Assistant, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Maryanne Marese
Admin Assistant, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Monica Marquez
Executive Director of Grants Management and Administration, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Michael McCollum
Exercises and Training Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Wanda Medina
Healthcare Project Manager, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Mark Misener
Countermeasures Medical Specialist, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Ray Nieves
BTA Field Response Coordinator, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Christopher Paquet
Assistant Commissioner for Bureau of Healthcare and Community Readiness, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Darrin Pruitt
Program Evaluation Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Sharon Reese
Field Operations Training Coordinator, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Luis Rivera
Community Engagement and Response Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Rachel Santamaria-Schwartz
Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Allison Scaccia
Clinical Planning Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Eric Scott
OTPS Coordinator, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Marsha Williams
Senior Director of Healthcare Coalition Planning and Programs, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Mary Foote
Medical Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
Local Champion
Prachee Patel
Senior Director of Agency Preparedness and Response, Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYC DOHMH
