2024 Homeland Security Conference Speaker Bios

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Richard Andersen, Retired Sioux City Fire Rescue

Richard Andersen retired from Sioux City Fire Rescue with 29 years of service as a firefighter and paramedic. During his time in Sioux City, he was a member of the Sioux City Regional Hazardous Material Response team for 17 years. He reached the rank of Captain, and he was appointed Training Officer for the Department the last 4 years of his career. He is known in northwest Iowa for instructing hazardous materials and firefighter classes. Richard is currently on the Treynor Volunteer Fire Department and is instructing in southwest Iowa. He does training for the Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau and Professional Rescue Innovations (PRI).

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Cassidee Carlson, BJA NTTAC Consultant

Cassidee Carlson has extensive experience in policing after serving with the Aurora, Colorado Police Department for 20 years before retiring as a division chief. She worked as a field training officer, part of a community crime reduction unit, and was the agency’s first female SWAT sergeant. In addition, she was a supervisor in the Major Investigations Bureau and served as a public information officer in the Media Relations Unit. In this role, she created a program for victims of the Aurora theater shooting to help them navigate the media. This program became a national best practice in mass violence response.

Cassidee held multiple leadership and executive-level roles, including Deputy Commander of Internal Affairs and captain in the Operations Bureau. In 2022, she was appointed Operations Division Chief, overseeing the entirety of patrol, community policing units, and the School Resource Unit.

Cassidee is a consultant for programs within the U.S. Department of Justice and private and public sector programs under the company she founded, C3 Strategies, LLC. She is considered a subject matter expert with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is a part of the Mass Violence Advisory Initiative. She is involved in diverse training and development environments. She completed the Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Aurora program and later served on its Board of Directors. She also completed the University of Denver’s Public Safety Leadership Development program and is now an adjunct faculty member. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Missouri and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University in Denver.

In addition, Cassidee served as the Logistics Chief with the Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation during officer line-of-duty deaths; is very active with Special Olympics Colorado, volunteering as a Special Olympics coach and serving on its Board of Directors; and she served on the Executive Council for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for more than a decade.

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Dave and Christi Dyke, Mental Health Awareness Keynote Speakers

Sought-after keynote speakers bringing awareness and transparency to the mental health epidemic. Having devoted over 24 years to his law enforcement career, Dave never saw his career ending the way it did. After an unexpected detour caused him to retire early, Dave & his wife, Christi, began sharing their story – the reality of what often lies beneath the badge. Together, they walk you through their experiences on how PTSD ended David’s career, led to suicidal thoughts and the planning of the same, the near demise of their marriage. They intimately understand the mental health struggle that many are facing, often in silence.

Their story is emotional, uncensored, and raw. Mixed with humor, and at times a few tears, their vulnerability breaks the stigma with a powerful message resonating to all in attendance instilling a feeling of hope and resilience all the while emphasizing finding balance in one’s own life and the importance of self-care.

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Doug Ferguson, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, USEPA Region 7

Doug Ferguson has been cleaning up hazardous waste sites as an On-Scene Coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the last 21 years. Doug’s career started as a high school chemistry and physics teacher, and he still enjoys learning and working with others in support of keeping our communities safe. Notable site cleanups include 2,070 pounds of homemade fireworks precursor site, radio-pharmaceutical lab, residential lead cleanups, mercury cleanups, plating shops, as well as numerous abandoned containers.

Emergency responses to hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, train derailments, wildfires and most recently, TC Energy Pipeline Cleanup in Winter 2022-23, and Maui Wildfires Disaster Response. Also, at EPA, he has taught numerous classes on chemical identification, drug and homemade explosive labs. Prior to this, he spent 4 years providing technical support to EPA as an environmental consultant while sampling anthrax on Capitol Hill.

In 1988, Doug completed his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Graceland University in Lamoni, IA, where he also received his chemistry teaching endorsement for secondary school. In 1999, Doug completed his Master of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.

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Taylor Grim, Trooper Pilot, Iowa State Patrol

Trooper Pilot Taylor Grim #216 was hired by the Iowa State Patrol (ISP) in June of 2014 and served 3 years at the Capitol before transferring to an interstate assignment in Linn County. In March of 2019, Taylor became a pilot for ISP and currently flies out of the Iowa City base. He holds a commercial pilot's license with the Federal Aviation Administration, and he is the chief pilot and lead flight instructor for ISP.

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Patty Hendrickson, Interactive Leadership Speaker

Patty Hendrickson, full-time professional speaker, is an expert in leadership development for the whole person at work and at home. Patty works with organizations that want to grow leaders and with people who want more out of life, which means less guilt, more focus, and more done. Patty's high-energy and interactive programs deliver content, and Patty sets the stage for the content conversations to continue after the applause. 

Patty is the author of the inspirational book, now in its fifth printing, called Who I Am Depends On Me! She has a Masters of Business Administration, and is the former president of the National Speakers Association – Wisconsin Chapter. With presentations in nearly every state, Canada and Central America, Patty is most proud of her speaking business which continues to grow with over 90% repeat and referral clients. 

Patty is also a Certified Speaking Professional, the highest earned designation of the National Speakers Association. Less than 800 speakers in the world have this designation. Her most popular topics are leadership, engagement and motivation. Patty's energy inspires so her message sticks.

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Josh Heward, Disaster Relief Specialist

Josh Heward joined Hy-Vee as a disaster relief specialist in 2023. In this role, Josh helps oversee the coordination of Hy-Vee’s Disaster Relief response to communities across the U.S. following natural disasters including hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe storms. Josh works closely with emergency response organizations from across the nation and helps lead the deployment of Hy-Vee’s 27-vehicle disaster relief fleet to ensure impacted communities have access to the resources they need.

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Wes Hicok, Director of Elections, Secretary of State

Wes Hicok recently took on the role of Director of Elections after previously joining the Secretary of State’s office election team in early 2016. Prior to working in elections at the state level, Wes spent ten years working in election administration along with other duties in the Bremer County Auditor’s Office. During that time, he also embraced additional public service by serving on city council and two terms as mayor for the community of Frederika.

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Nicole Jarvis, Regional Emergency Transportation Representative, Region 7

Nicole Jarvis is a seasoned emergency management (EM) professional currently serving as the Region 7 Federal Emergency Support Function (ESF) 1 representative with the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT). With a background rooted in EM, Nicole has led critical planning initiatives and held key roles, including that of Planning Section Chief, Situation Unit Leader, and Executive Officer.

Her journey began in the United States Air Force as an EM Journeyman, furthering her education with degrees in Emergency and Disaster Management. Throughout her career, Nicole has responded to, planned for, and aided in recovery efforts for various disasters including Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irma/Maria, and tornadoes/flooding throughout the Midwest. Since Joining US DOT, she supported Maui wildfire recovery, the Typhoon Mawar response, and served as ESF 1 in the NRCC sharing critical transportation information with key stakeholders.

Nicole’s dedication, expertise, and leadership make her an invaluable asset in the field of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

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Byron Jimmerson, Clarke County Emergency Manager

Byron has been the Clarke County Emergency Management Coordinator and E911 Coordinator since 2017. Byron is also the Fire Chief for Osceola and an EMT serving since 2007. He holds an associate’s degree in criminal justice. Byron is an Army National Guard veteran as Military Police with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Byron has had several local incidents as well as incidents in the region in which he has assisted. He is the District 4 Vice Chair and Post 2 LODD EMA rep. Byron has taken a vested interest in first responder mental health, completing training in group and individual CISM, as well as starting a crisis therapy dog program in Clarke County, training with and being the handler for Kai, the Crisis K9.

Byron has been an Iowa Certified Emergency Manager since 2018, a certified EMT since 2018, and a Reserve Peace Officer since 2012.

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Anne Lawrie, Cycling Division Director

Anne Lawrie is a 20-year marketing and event professional. Specializing in experiential marketing and promotion, Lawrie started her career at American Girl Place Chicago and Hershey’s Chocolate World Chicago before moving back to her hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, in 2014. Lawrie was in the right place at the right time in the fall of 2019 and took over leadership responsibility for RAGBRAI during management changes and the pandemic. In her fourth year, she now focuses on community engagement, marketing, and overall ride sustainability for RAGBRAI.

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Theresa Litteral, Statewide Multi-Discipline Safety Team Facilitator

Theresa provides support to the Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). She facilitates the coordination and operational advancement of the local multidisciplinary safety teams (MDST) throughout Iowa. She works with multi-agency multi-disciplined professionals with a common goal of making Iowa’s transportation network safer. She is also a research scientist where she conducts applied research in transportation safety and local roadway safety improvements.

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Dylan Lynch, Election Security Specialist, Secretary of State

Dylan Lynch has over eight years of experience in elections, including administration, policy, and education. In his current role, Dylan focuses on informing county auditors on emerging cyber and physical security threats, educating on proper mitigations, and providing resources to better secure Iowa elections. He also regularly coordinates and engages state, local, and federal partners in election security initiatives across the state.

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David Martak, Acting Chief of Chemical Security (DHS)

David Martak is the Acting Chief of Chemical Security for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Region 7 is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, and serves the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. CISA is the Nation’s risk advisor, working with partners to defend against today’s digital and physical threats and collaborate to build more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future.

In this role, David supports the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Program which identifies and regulates high-risk facilities to ensure they have security measures in place to reduce the risk that certain hazardous chemicals are weaponized by terrorists across the mid-America region. He leads a team of Chemical Security Inspectors responsible for the region’s implementation of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. Additionally, David is responsible for implementation of ChemLock, a completely voluntary security program that provides facilities that possess dangerous chemicals no-cost services and tools to help them better understand the risks they face and improve their chemical security posture in a way that works for their business model.

Before to joining CISA (previously the National Protection & Programs Directorate) in 2010, David served 5 years with the TSA as a Regulatory Aviation Security Inspector (ASI) in Memphis, TN. As an ASI, he conducted over 750 inspections of airports, airlines, and air cargo operations.

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Col. Sean McClanahan, Wing Commander, Iowa Wing

Col. Sean McClanahan, a member of CAP since February 2014, joined Iowa Wing in January 2022. He served as the Iowa Wing Chief of Staff until June 2024, when he became the Iowa Wing Commander. His CAP career began in the Delaware Wing, where he held leadership roles in Communications, Emergency Services, and Operations. Col. McClanahan was also the Squadron Commander for the Delaware Legislative Squadron and Deputy Commander for Seniors at the Coastal Patrol Base 2 Memorial Composite Squadron. During his tenure in Delaware Wing, he earned multiple Emergency Services ratings, including Mission Observer and Incident Command Level 2. He served in key roles during the planning and participation of multi-agency exercises and missions. Currently, Col. McClanahan also serves as the acting Communications Training Officer for the North Central Region, CAP.

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Wm. Scott McLain, Iowa DOT Emergency Coordinator

Wm. Scott McLain administers, directs, manages, and coordinates the activities and operations of the Iowa Dept. of Transportation's (DOT) Emergency Management and collaborates on issues and support with Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD). He provides administration support to the Federal Highway Administration – Emergency Relief Program and Missions assigned by HSEMD to the DOT.

Scott has a combined 18 years working in emergency management. He retired from the Iowa National Guard in 2020, where he had served full-time as the Joint Operations Center (JOC) NCOIC – Emergency Management. His military career spanned 32 years, with the last 14 years working in emergency management at the local, state, and national levels. Through his National Guard position, he provided emergency management assistance and training to other states and Kosovo.

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Shane McQuillan, City Forester, City of Des Moines

Hailing from New Zealand, and living seven years in the Midwest, Shane McQuillan's background is centered in forestry, both plantation and now urban forestry. He is the City Forester for the City of Des Moines and oversees 50,000 street trees. Shane manages 15 staff members, working with all departments throughout the city. Outside of work, he likes cycling on the many bike trails in Des Moines with his children, eating out, and engaging with green infrastructure-related groups and projects.

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Kaelee Otto, Program Coordinator - Division of Behavioral Health, Iowa HHS

As a member of Iowa's Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team for 15 years, Kaelee’s work has been focused on disaster behavioral health and crisis services. She has responded in various capacities to many disasters including flooding, tornadoes, derechos, the pandemic, as well as numerous critical incidents. 

Kaelee is also a member of FEMA/SAMHSA DTAC Cadre of Consultants. She trains in Iowa and other states during Presidentially-declared disasters and implements the FEMA Crisis Counseling Program. She offers assistance with grant review and contributes as a subject matter expert in various capacities. Most recently, Kaelee trained Iowa's workforce to manage feeling overwhelmed and prevent/recover from burnout and compassion fatigue.

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Matt Phippen, RAGBRAI Ride Director

Matt Phippen is a longtime cycling enthusiast, and now the Ride Director for RAGBRAI. Phippen’s relationship with RAGBRAI and bicycles started in 1990 when he inherited his first geared bike from a RAGBRAI rider who left it behind in his childhood home of Oelwein. He rode his first RAGBRAI in 1998 and shortly after started his 23-year career with Scheels. He held various leadership roles at Scheels before taking over as the RAGBRAI Ride Director in 2022. As Ride Director, Phippen has led the team through a historic time. He navigated the largest RAGBRAI on record for the 50th anniversary.

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Brian Pribyl, Iowa Dept. of Transportation Emergency Manager

Brian Pribyl safely and effectively aligns Iowa Dept. of Transportation (DOT) resources with the various needs to respond to and recover from disasters, emergencies, and other disruptions that impact both primary highway-related situations and others as requested.

Brian spent his first ten years at Iowa DOT in the field maintenance environment at multiple maintenance garages. He spent another 10 years in Traffic Operations administering and coordinating a wide variety of response and recovery plans and programs, which include agency-wide goals and initiatives.

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AJ Seely, Dallas County Emergency Management Director

AJ Seely is currently the Dallas County Emergency Management Director, where he has served since 2018. AJ served as the Emergency Management and 911 Director in Chickasaw County, Iowa, between 2017 and 2018. 

He holds an Associate's Degree in Fire Science and a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, majoring in Emergency Management. He is currently enrolled at the Naval Postgraduate School, where he is pursuing a Master's Degree in Security Studies. AJ served as the President of the Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA) between 2021 and 2024 and has a history of active involvement in state committees.

AJ has been involved in numerous local incidents and responsible for seven federally declared disasters since 2016 including; 2016 Flooding, 2017 Flooding, 2018 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding, 2019 Severe Storms and Flooding, 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic and the 2020 Iowa Derecho, 2024 Severe Storms.

AJ is recognized as a graduate of the National Emergency Management Advanced Academy, named to the IAEM-USA 2024 40 under 40 list, an Iowa Certified Emergency Manager-Advanced and a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).

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Julie Sievers, Senior Water Solutions Specialist

Julie is a Senior Water Solutions Specialist at ISG. As a former field office staffer at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Julie brings a deep understanding of water and wastewater facilities, overall operator services, and ways to optimize existing plants for partners in multiple markets and service areas. With a passion for operations, training, and actions that reduce operational and maintenance costs for partners, she provides a number of services across multiple markets and areas in the region. Moreover, Julie helps streamline the process public and private partners go through to ensure compliance on the way to completing projects, and she guides clients in maximizing the value of their facilities.

Julie is a respected figure in the industry, serving on various statewide and industry committees with deep connections to regulatory agencies. Such roles have allowed her to serve as a trusted advisor on critical industry topics.

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Nathan Spicer, BJA NTTAC Consultant

Nathan Spicer has served as an Emergency Manager for the City of Little Rock for over twelve years. Before his employment with the City of Little Rock, he was employed as a Disaster Recovery Officer with the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. His primary responsibilities include grant administration for the Homeland Security Grant Program, coordination of emergency response to special events within the city and responding to natural and manmade disasters/incidents that affect the city.

Nathan is a seven-year member of the Arkansas Crisis Response Team, currently serving on the Executive Board as the Treasurer. He has deployed to numerous crisis events with primarily first responders as clients.

Nathan is also a member of the Governor's Advisory Group for Homeland Security and a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers. He is Incident Command System 300 and 400 Certified, with additional training as a FEMA Incident Management Team Member, Planning Section Chief, and Communications Unit Leader.

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