Presentation PowerPoint Slides
Speaker Biographies
A fourth-generation Montanan who grew up on her family’s ranch near Conrad, Kristen Juras is a wife, mother, grandmother, attorney, and public servant. On November 3, 2020, Kristen became the second female elected lieutenant governor of Montana in the state’s history.
Kristen has broken the traditional mold of the office of lieutenant governor. One news story revealed “her performance of the lieutenant governor’s role is also unique, particularly in a position that is often seen as more ceremonial than substantive.“ Kristen plays a key role in policymaking, and is actively involved in appointments to boards, commissions, and judicial vacancies.
Before entering public service, Kristen Juras served for 32 years as an attorney in private practice in Great Falls where she helped farmers, ranchers, and small business owners navigate legal issues.
Pete Gaynor
Pete Gaynor’s experience includes serving as FEMA Administrator, Director for both state and local emergency management agencies, and 26 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. As a Certified Emergency Manager, he has a distinguished record of providing continuity of operations, government, and the critical functions required to maintain effectiveness, readiness, and survivability. Pete’s expertise dates from his service in the United States Marine Corps, where he directed around-the-clock operations supporting the Corps’ global crisis response after the 9/11 attacks.
Pete successfully led two complex organizations in DC during some incredibly tough days. He navigated high-level leadership through a pandemic that coincided with the busiest hurricane and wildfire seasons on record. Pete is currently Senior Vice President and Director of National Resilience, Response, and Recovery Programs for GEI Consultants.
Nancy Dragani
Nancy Dragani is the Regional Administrator for FEMA Region VIII. Nancy leads and coordinates all activities in support of FEMA’s mission with the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as the 29 federally recognized tribes within the region.
Nancy joined FEMA and was appointed as the FEMA Region VIII Deputy Regional Administrator in January 2016 before going on to serve multiple times as the Acting Regional Administrator.
Prior to joining FEMA, she worked for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency for 20 years, where she was the Executive Director from 2005 to 2014. There, she led the state's coordinated preparedness and response to both man-made and natural disasters while overseeing disaster recovery and mitigation efforts. In 2004, Nancy retired from the Ohio National Guard with 22 years of combined U.S. Army, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard service.
Randy Middlebrook, CPD - CISA
Protective Security Advisor with Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for nearly 14 years in Montana. Prior to joining CISA, Randy worked in the Montana Department of Justice fusion center as the State Infrastructure Protection Program Manager. He retired from the US Air Force in 2004 after 21 years of service and was stationed at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls for his last 10 years with the Air Force. Randy resides in the Helena Northeast Valley with wife Melanie and is never leaving Helena or the Montana way of life.
Danny Kaluza, NorthWestern Energy
Danny is responsible for the Support Services group which includes Facilities, Fleet, Supply Chain, Warehouse Operations, and Physical Security for NorthWestern Energy. Danny provides support for NorthWestern Energy’s emergency response and incident command efforts and also serves as a representative from the energy industry on the MT State Emergency Response Commission.
Ben Brouwer, Supervisor, Energy Planning Section
Montana Energy Office, Department of Environmental Quality
Ben manages energy planning programs at the Montana Energy Office where he has served since 2016. The Energy Planning Section’s work includes engagement in utility resource planning, energy policy analysis, energy emergency mitigation and response, electric vehicle planning and deployment, and financing for distributed energy systems and energy conservation measures. Prior to joining the Energy Office, Ben served as Policy Director of the Montana Renewable Energy Association.
Meranda Bass, Energy Resource Professional at Montana Energy Office at the Department of Environmental Quality
Meranda grew up in Great Falls and attended the University of Montana. After graduating with a BS in business administration she moved to Helena to start her career at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Meranda has worked for the Montana Energy Office at DEQ for 7 years and works on a number of programs including a loan program for alternative energy systems, wind and solar facility bonding, and ESF-12.
Ashley joined the Local Government Center (LGC) in July 2014. She currently manages the certified education programs the LGC offers for local government officials, provides governance and leadership workshops, and is developing new educational tools to enhance the LGC training offerings. Ashley earned her bachelor's degree in Business Management from Montana State University in 2012 and her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Montana in 2017. Prior to the Local Government Center, Ashley worked in other departments at MSU including Human Resources and Institutional Equity.
Ashley joined the Local Government Center (LGC) in July 2014. She currently manages the certified education programs the LGC offers for local government officials, provides governance and leadership workshops, and is developing new educational tools to enhance the LGC training offerings. Ashley earned her bachelor's degree in Business Management from Montana State University in 2012 and her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Montana in 2017. Prior to the Local Government Center, Ashley worked in other departments at MSU including Human Resources and Institutional Equity.
Benjamin Rance – FEMA
Benjamin Rance is the Project Lead for the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool in the Technical Assistance Branch at FEMA Headquarters. Since 2019, Benjamin has been responsible for engaging with federal partners, State agencies and local Emergency Managers to provide resources and guidance into community development actions to increase resilience and preparedness for communities and individuals. During his time at FEMA, he has deployed to the NRCC to support COVID response efforts, as well as to Puerto Rico for Hurricane Fiona response operations. In addition to working at FEMA, he has over six years of experience working in international community development for the Peace Corps, both overseas and in Washington, DC. Benjamin holds a master’s degree in Natural Resources Management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and he received his undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from Western Michigan University.
Dr. Kristen Smith -- Headwaters Economics
Kristin is an applied researcher with expertise in public finance, natural resources, and economic development. As part of Headwaters Economics’ FloodWise Community Assistance team, Kris works with local governments and technical experts to help communities reduce flood risk. Kristin is passionate about both working on the ground with communities and conducting research that identifies and addresses the root causes of challenges faced by rural regions.
Matt Trebesch -- Montana State Library GIS
Matt Trebesch is a GIS Analyst at the Montana State Library (MSL). At the MSL, he manages the statewide Covid-19 dashboard and hub, along with a variety of other projects, focusing on statewide support of Montana Land Information act (MLIA) grantees and applicants. His previous GIS experience includes GIS coordination with a municipal GIS department in Montana and GIS manager for software vendor of 9-1-1 and other dispatching systems. He has a B.S. in Geology with a concentration in GIS from Montana State University, Bozeman. Matt is passionate about bringing GIS solutions to underserved communities in Montana.
Joe Wojton -- Montana VOAD
Joe joined the Salvation Army in 2017 where he currently serves as the Athletic Director/Emergency Disaster Services Director for the Helena Corps. Joe is the immediate past president of the Tri-County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) where he has responded to and helped coordinate multi agency response efforts to several regional flooding and wildfire events. Joe is currently serving as the President of Montana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (MTVOAD) and most recently coordinated MTVOAD agency response to the flooding event in Yellowstone this past summer. Joe is the proud parent of 5 wonderful children and has one grandchild.
Susan Hawthorne -- American Red Cross
Susan has been a Disaster Cycle Services Red Cross volunteer since 2013. She retired from the Montana Army National Guard in 2013 and decided to take her professional leadership and organizational skills to another organization that would be fulfilling. Susan is currently the Disaster Action Team Coordinator for Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, Meagher, parts of Jefferson counties. The Team's main job is to help our community members who have suffered a home fire as home fires are the most common emergency in our counties.
George Betz -- FEMA Region VIII
With 35 years of experience working in the disaster field, George is presently a Senior Emergency Management Specialist with FEMA Region 8. When deployed on disasters he serves as the Individual Assistance Branch Director (IABD). He was the IABD for the recent MT flooding.
Shawna Hanson, B.A., -- Media Outreach Coordinator for MonTECH and for the Montana Family to Family Health Information Center
With degrees in journalism and English, and seven years working in academic publishing, Shawna is pleased to promote MonTECH and the F2F through presentations, print, and social media. Her unorthodox career path has permitted her to work with people facing a wide range of both physical and mental-health challenges. She is also the mother of an adult son who is autistic and nonspeaking. His use of an iPad to communicate has been life changing and powerful personal evidence of the difference assistive tech can make. When not writing or talking about MonTECH, Shawna is engaged in the daily struggle not to be outwitted or outplayed by her sons.
Tommy Bass -- Montana State University’s Extension and Agriculture
Tommy Bass is an Extension Specialist with MSU providing technical assistance, trainings, and public education on environmental stewardship in animal agriculture, agro-security and ESF11, and ag and food waste management. He has also been a responder for USDA during the 2015 and 2022 HPAI outbreaks providing technical assistance on composting of infected and potentially infected animal mortalities and other materials. Tommy works state-wide and is based in Bozeman.
Kelsey is the W.A. Franke Endowed Chair of Watershed Hydrology at the University of Montana and the Director of the Montana Climate Office. His academic research focuses on watershed hydrology and studying the pathways that water takes as it travels from terrestrial environments to streams. At the Montana Climate Office his applied work focuses on the development of climate, weather, drought and flood information and models that help Montana to better prepare for adverse conditions and take advantage of opportunities during good ones. Current projects at the Montana Climate Office are focused on building the Montana Mesonet, a dense network of weather and soil moisture monitoring stations, as well as daily operational modeling of drought and water supply conditions.
Christina Enblen -- University of Montana
Christina "Tina" Eblen is the University of Montana Safe School Center's Training and Technical Assistance Specialist. She brings to the center over eight years of Emergency Management experience, over ten years of Behavioral Health and five years working directly with schools.
Darin Hanson, ND Homeland Security Director, ND Dept of Emergency Services and Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor
Prior to becoming Director, Darin served as the Critical Infrastructure Program and Security Manager for the ND Dept. of Emergency Services, while attached to the North Dakota State & Local Intelligence Center (NDSLIC). Retired from the MT Army National Guard, he has over 20 years of Military Police, Military Intelligence, and corporate security experience. Mr. Hanson received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management as well as a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Mary and recently completed a Master’s in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, earning the Mark Carr Esprit De Corps Award. He serves as a Board Member for the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA).
Mike Willis was appointed as the director of the Colorado Office of Emergency Management within the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) on November 15, 2017.Willis is responsible for the State of Colorado’s comprehensive emergency management program which supports local and state agencies. Prior to joining the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Willis served in the Colorado National Guard and the United States Army for 30 years. As a Colorado Guardsman, he worked multiple state emergencies including fires, floods, tornados and winter storms. His military experience also includes several overseas tours.
Lynn Budd, Director of the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security
Lynn was appointed by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon as the Director of the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security in January 2019. She has worked at the Office of Homeland Security since April of 2011, serving the state and agency in multiple positions. She currently serves as the Region 8 Vice President representing the states of Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Utah, South Dakota and North Dakota in the National Emergency Management Association and is the Vice-Chair of the Homeland Security Committee. She is also the Chair for the Regional Advisory Committee to FEMA Region 8.
Kris Hamlet, DES Administrator from Utah
Kris Hamlet has been with the Utah Division of Emergency Management (Utah DEM) since 1995 and was appointed as Director in July 2013. Kris has also held the titles of Deputy Director, Bureau Chief, Financial Manager, Support Services Coordinator, Accountant, Auditor, and Intern. At DEM, Kris is in charge of overseeing 50 employees and working with the state agencies and local communities to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, disasters and catastrophic events. During times of activation, Kris serves as a State Coordinating Officer and one of the Governor’s Authorized Representatives.
Georgia Bruski, Emergency Manager, Carter County
Georgia is the president of the Montana Emergency Management Association. In addition, she is the Disaster and Emergency Coordinator and Safety Coordinator for Carter County, MT.
David is currently the Chief of Emergency Services for Stillwater County. David came on board with Stillwater County 40 days before the June 2022 Flooding Event. He was involved in the initial response and continues with managing the recovery efforts. David has 30 years of experience in emergency services, mainly working in the Washington, DC/ National Capital region, as a regional manager and paramedic for the state of Maryland.
David is currently the Chief of Emergency Services for Stillwater County. David came on board with Stillwater County 40 days before the June 2022 Flooding Event. He was involved in the initial response and continues with managing the recovery efforts. David has 30 years of experience in emergency services, mainly working in the Washington, DC/ National Capital region, as a regional manager and paramedic for the state of Maryland.
Tyrell Hamilton, County Commissioner, Stillwater County
Tyrel Hamilton was elected to public office in 2019 to a six year term with goals to continue public service beyond my first term. Tyrel started a social media/retail company in 2017 named Montana Outlaw BBQ and are one of the fastest growing brands in that market with products in over 5000 retail stores across the country. The Commissioner has 15 years in retail business helping his team create one of the top hardware stores in the country in same sized markets.
Ken Parks, Deputy DES Coordinator, Missoula County
Ken Parks is a Deputy DES Coordinator for Missoula County Office of Emergency Management and Incident Commander for the Western MT All Hazard IMT. Ken came to Missoula County after 23 years working for the DNRC in Wildland Fire Suppression.
Nick Holloway, Deputy DES Coordinator, Missoula County
Nick Holloway is the Deputy DES Coordinator for the Missoula County Office of Emergency Management and lead PIO for the Western Montana All-Hazards Incident Management Team. As both a PIO and from within the EOC, Nick has worked wildfires, hurricanes, severe weather, flooding, urban avalanche, local vaccination efforts, and COVID-19 in recent years. Nick also coordinates Missoula County’s Community Organizations Active in Disasters, which are playing an increasing role when local disasters occur.
