Tel. 802.244.8721 | Toll Free 1.800.347.0488 | HazMat 1.800.641.5005 | TTY 1.888.545.7598 | FAX 802.241.5556 State of Vermont | Department of Public Safety | VEM Home Page | Situation Report | Contact VEM

Barbara Farr, Director - Barbara was appointed Director of the Vermont Division of Emergency Management in June 2005. As prior Executive Director of the Lamoille County Planning Commission for fourteen years, she helped the county recover from a series of disasters - including catastrophic flooding in 1995, 1997 and 1998, while working closely with the state and federal emergency management agencies. She also was instrumental in securing funds through the Community Development Block Grant program and through a FEMA initiative, Project Impact, to help communities get back on their feet. Between 2000 and June 2005, she had her own consulting firm, specializing in emergency preparedness through FEMA and Homeland Security contracts. Barbara holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of New Hampshire and a Masters Degree in Environmental Law from the Vermont Law School. She has also worked for the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina and conducted research at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts.

John Angil II - Manager, Radiological Emergency Response Program.  John’s thirty-five years of experience in public safety and emergency management includes previous service as a paramedic captain, captain of a fire department, police chief and county emergency management director with responsibility for E911; National Flood Insurance Program; Radiological Emergency Response Program (nuclear power plants); Department of Energy SRS (foreign spent fuel shipments) Chem-Nuclear low level waste site; and StarMet Carolina Metals, a DOD contractor facility for DU munitions. He served two terms as president of the South Carolina Emergency Management Association, ten years on the Executive Board of Directors for Low Country Regional EMS and was appointed by the governor to the South Carolina Fire Fighter Mobilization Oversight Committee.  He came to VEM in February, 2006, to manage the Radiological Emergency Response Program (RERP) and works out of the Brattleboro office.

Erica Bornemann, Emergency Management Planner- With a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Western New England College, Erica began work with Vermont Emergency Management in the Spring of 2007 as an undergraduate intern. Erica was hired to a permanent position in August of 2008.  Erica evaluates and participates in the planning of exercises, coordinates the collection and execution of emergency actions plan for dams in Vermont, plans the annual Vermont Emergency Preparedness Conference, and is in charge of disaster and exercise documentation for VEM.

Mark Bosma, Public Information Officer - Mark manages VEM’s education and outreach efforts. This includes emergency communication, a bi-monthly newsletter, information requests from the public, and media relations. Bosma previously worked as the PIO for the Agency of Agriculture from 2004 until he came to VEM in 2006. He had also been part of VEM’s public information team during disasters for 2 years. Bosma previously worked in the news department at WCAX-TV for more than 10 years.

Kimberly Bresett, Administrative Assistant. Kim joined Vermont Emergency Management in 2006 after a 10-year stint as a Marketing Coordinator and Marketing Advisor at National Life of Vermont. Kim handles all administrative duties at Vermont Emergency Management from answering phones to IT tasks.

Randy Bronson, Hazardous Materials Compliance Program Manager - Randy manages the Tier II Compliance program established under Federal Law SARA Title III and State Statute 20 VSA Chapter 1. He provides technical support to the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), the 13 Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs), and the facilities that are required to report into this program. He provides CAMEO, Marplot, ALOHA, and Tier2Submit training throughout Vermont. He is the Region 1 Lead State Representative (LSR) for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) and the Region 1 representative to the National Association of SARA Title Three Program Officials (NASTTPO). He also serves as an Emergency Management Duty Officer.

Christine Brown, Regional Outreach Coordinator – With a Bachelors Degree from the University of Vermont, an Associates Degree in Accounting from Champlain College and more than 10 years of accounting experience, Christine started working for VEM in May 2005 as a Financial Administrative Assistant.  She took over the financial grants management of all VEM Federal, State and Special Fund programs (with the exception of the RERP) from January 2007 through 2008.  She is currently responsible for organizing the emergency planning coordination effort throughout Vermont, collaborating with Regional Planning Commission planners (one within each of the four (4) Public Safety Districts) in order to coordinate emergency planning efforts and firmly establish emergency volunteer missions statewide.

Peter Coffey, Deputy Director, Operations and Logistics - Coffey previously worked at the Vermont Department of Health as its Emergency Preparedness Chief. Coffey was an educator for more than 30 years before entering state government, most recently serving as Principal of Vergennes Union High School. He is the Assistant Chief of the Bristol Fire Department, where he has served since 1976. He is chair of the State Emergency Response Commission and coordinates the staffing for the State Emergency Operations Center.

Richard E. Cogliano, RERP Training Coordinator – Rich started working with Vermont Emergency Management in the winter and spring of 2006 as an intern in the planning section working on continuity of operations planning and then as an Administrative Assistant after graduation from St. Michael’s College in May 2006. Now Rich is the RERP Training Coordinator located in the VEM Brattleboro Office. He oversees all aspects of training including development, delivery, evaluation, and response agency outreach, in the Emergency Planning Zone of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. Rich is a Firefighter and EMT in his duties outside VEM. Rich holds a B.S. in Business Administration from St. Michael’s College.

Laura Conway, Administrative Assistant - Laura runs the day to day operations of the Brattleboro office including scheduling and record keeping.

Charles Dissinger, Planner - Chuck works closely with the EPZ towns to develop and update local response plans. He also coordinates with the local Health Care Facilities.

Ray Doherty, 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. He is also active with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the organization which was 1997 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

David J. Emery Sr., Local Coordinator - Dave comes to us after being on the Brattleboro Fire Department for 31 years. He served as Chief for 17 years. Dave now coordinates all equipment for the EPZ towns

Jaclyn Harman assists Lew Stowell in the Radiological Program.

John Mangione, Information Technology Specialist - John is responsible for providing computer technical support for the emergency management team. He has an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Brooklyn College, in New York City, and has worked in Information Technology for the past twenty-three years. During that time, John has earned professional credentials in various areas including Certified Netware Engineer, Certified Netware Instructor, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Microsoft Certified Trainer, Network Plus Engineer and Certified Fiber Optic Installer and Engineer. For the past fifteen years, John has been a technology trainer, both in New York City and Vermont, and briefly taught networking to Champlain College students in their undergraduate program.

Ross Nagy, Deputy Director for Preparedness and Planning - Previously, Ross was the Chief for Policy and Planning and worked with VEM 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. Prior to that, he was the Regional Disaster Specialist for the American Red Cross in Northern New England. Originally from Vermont, Ross spent over twenty-six years in the U.S. Army serving in Vietnam and Germany as well as several locations in the continental U.S. He returned to Vermont upon his retirement as a Colonel.

Robert W. Schell, Chief of Field Operations - serves as coordinator of statewide 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 including the Department of Public Safety’s Homeland Security Unit. Robert holds a Bachelors Degree from St. Michael’s College and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Vermont.

Karen Smith, Grants Specialist

Lew Stowell, Emergency Management Program Specialist - Lew is in charge of the Radiological Emergency Response Program. He is responsible for all elements of the State's plan for protecting the population should there be a problem at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station. All State level plans, local plans and training in the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) fall under his umbrella. 

Bob Weinert, Emergency Management Coordinator; 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. Bob also serves as an Emergency Management Duty Officer. His background includes experience in Search and Rescue, EMS and Dispatching. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Emergency Response Planning.

Tom Woodard, Emergency Management Specialist - Tom is in charge of the logistics portion of the VEM operations.  He runs the mapping program and maintains our inventory of equipment resources and provides planning support to local communities.  Tom is also a  radiological trainer and assists with the Radiological Emergency Response Program and serves as a Division Duty Officer.