Senior Consultant

• Feb 2022 - Present

Integrated Solutions Consulting Corp. is a professional services firm that is focused on developing and implementing comprehensive crisis and consequence management solutions. ISC is comprised of a team of innovative problem solvers that combine experience and evidence-based knowledge to deliver practical, best practice results across multiple industries. Website: https://www.i-s-consulting.com/ Integrated Solutions Consulting Corp. is a professional services firm that is focused on developing and implementing comprehensive crisis and consequence management solutions. ISC is comprised of a team of innovative problem solvers that combine experience and evidence-based knowledge to deliver practical, best practice results across multiple industries. Website: https://www.i-s-consulting.com/

Emergency Management Training and Exercise Specialist

• Sep 2018 - Feb 2022

This position is responsible for leading and developing strategies for needs analysis, development and administration of a university-wide preparedness and response training and exercise program. This position uses strong project management skills and teamwork talents, and utilizes good facilitation, planning, training and exercise design skills. The Specialist collaborates on training and exercise efforts with departmental, city, county, regional, state, federal, and private partners. This position is responsible for leading and developing strategies for needs analysis, development and administration of a university-wide preparedness and response training and exercise program. This position uses strong project management skills and teamwork talents, and utilizes good facilitation, planning, training and exercise design skills. The Specialist collaborates on training and exercise efforts with departmental, city, county, regional, state, federal, and private partners.

Assistant Program Coordinator - Training and Exercise

• Apr 2016 - Sep 2018

• Responsible for the development of a Multi-Year Training & Exercise Plan (MYTEP) to address Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) capabilities as well as Core Competencies for Public Health. • Identified a “team-based” approach to response planning, which was also tied in to training and exercise participation. • Developed a process to address and track identified PHEP Capability gaps, with a goal of enhancing capability at the agency level. • Developed a methodology to better track corrective actions from exercises to complete the preparedness cycle and ensure improvement in agency readiness by addressing root causes. • Developed and implemented an Access database to track employee FEMA course status, participation in exercises, and trainings completed. • Initiated a functional exercise to validate planning for the agency’s Public Health Department Operations Center (PHDOC), which will involve the Executive Team/Incident Management Team as participants. • Led the agency’s preparation efforts towards active participation in a statewide preparedness exercise focused on Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) response, including activation of Public Health Department Operations Center (PHDOC), Reception & Distribution Site (RDS), and Point of Dispensing (POD) operations. • Led the planning for the annual Employee Flu Clinic operations, which addressed medical countermeasure dispensing and throughput measurement. • Served as a member of the agency’s Quality Improvement program, which resulted in increased compliance with required training. • Developed an Overview of Incident Command (ICS-101) Course, which was implemented into the agency’s learning management system for all employees. • Reviewed and streamlined agency emergency planning to ensure that plans were both operational and easily maintained. • Ensured that all training & exercise activities were conducted in accordance with grant program requirements. Show less

Project Public Health Ready Reviewer

• 2009 - Dec 2016

Served six times as a volunteer reviewer for Project Public Health Ready, a criteria-based public health preparedness program that assesses local health department (LHD) capacity and capability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies. PPHR aims to protect the public's health and increase the public health infrastructure by equipping local health departments with sustainable tools to plan, train, and exercise using a continuous improvement model. Departments reviewed ranged from small (25 employees) to large (more than 200 employees). These departments were scattered throughout the nation, and represented a wide cross-section of community partners. Show less

Consultant (Contractual)

• Mar 2015 - Apr 2016

Using my experience in emergency planning and preparedness exercise design, I am currently seeking additional projects and opportunities. Previous projects: • Professional services retained to provide technical assistance and guidance on the design and development of two full-scale exercises. • Validated the State’s planning for response operations during a deployment of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and involved representatives from eight State agencies with a role in that response. (April 2015) • Served as lead Exercise Planner and Exercise Director for an exercise which involved numerous local health departments and hospitals throughout the state and validated medical countermeasure dispensing/medical material management planning at the local level. (August 2015) • Directly involved with the analysis of a full-scale preparedness exercise (including throughput at a municipal point of dispensing for a public health emergency) in Cook County. • Involved in the development of a volunteer management plan for a large health department in the region. • Other projects included throughput measure for medical countermeasure dispensing (vaccination), and the development of a tabletop exercise and regional infectious disease response plan for a region in Texas. Show less

Adjunct Faculty

• Apr 2013 - Apr 2016

As adjunct faculty member in the Master of Public Health program, I have provided classroom-based courses as follows: - Disaster Management and Public Health (MPH Program Elective) - Disaster Assessment and Mitigation (MPH Program Elective) - Principles and Practices of Emergency Response and Recovery (MPH Program Elective) Prior to 2013, I have been invited as a guest lecturer in the Principles of Emergency Response and Recovery course, where my presentation focused on the importance of preparedness exercises to train staff and validate existing planning. Show less

Deputy Chief - Response

• Dec 2014 - Jan 2015

Manage, facilitate, and coordinate emergency preparedness and response, and safety/security functions of the DuPage County Health Department. Assess institutional health and safety, make recommendations and initiate improvements. Provide leadership and direction for staff to ensure effective communication and implementation of safety and response plans. Establish and maintain an environment conducive to positive morale, creativity and teamwork. Act as a liaison and maintain effective partnerships between the health department and all local, state, and federal emergency response agencies in order to carry out program objectives. Coordinate the public health preparedness program inclusive of: threat assessments, planning, training and corrective action. Directs operational emergency response efforts and maintains 24/7 availability to respond to emergencies, drills, and other related activities. • Tasked with the rebranding of the division, as well as the re-prioritization of projects to fit with the current staffing. • Initiated a comprehensive gap analysis of all preparedness planning in order to ensure that they were compliant with all standards and expectations placed upon the agency by the State through the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program. Show less

Quality Management Specialist

• May 2004 - Nov 2004

- Responsible for internal audit of patient charts and documentation to ensure compliance with external standards (i.e., DASA 2060, JCAHO, Medicaid) - Highlighted trends and patterns within the documentation in order to identify training needs - Responsible for internal audit of patient charts and documentation to ensure compliance with external standards (i.e., DASA 2060, JCAHO, Medicaid) - Highlighted trends and patterns within the documentation in order to identify training needs

Men's Program Manager

• 1998 - 2004

- Responsible for overseeing day-to-day monitoring of 48 men in extended residential and independent living levels of care - Responsible for liaison work with multiple outside agencies, including Drug Courts - Responsible for staff training and implementation of HIPAA-compliant protocols - Member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team, responsible for treatment planning in accordance with established standards - Responsible for overseeing day-to-day monitoring of 48 men in extended residential and independent living levels of care - Responsible for liaison work with multiple outside agencies, including Drug Courts - Responsible for staff training and implementation of HIPAA-compliant protocols - Member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team, responsible for treatment planning in accordance with established standards

Addictions Counselor

• 1992 - 1998