Iowa Homeland Security Conference Speaker Bios

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Nate Allen, UnityPoint Health Des Moines

Nate Allen has served as Emergency Manager for UnityPoint Health Des Moines for the past three years. He brings over 26 years of extensive experience in Emergency Management, Disaster Response, WMD, and operational support across local, state, federal, and international operations. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, Nate has leveraged his skills to bridge gaps within UnityPoint, supporting both the organization and the community through various initiatives.

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Craig Bargfrete, Iowa DOT

Craig Bargfrede currently serves as the Winter Operations Administrator for the Iowa Department of Transportation. He has served in this position since December 2013 and is responsible for coordinating all facets of winter operations for the Department. From 2008-2013, Craig worked for Iowa Emergency Management in the Recovery Bureau as the Deputy Public Assistance Officer and Operations Chief. During this time, he provided assistance to cities, counties and other state agencies in recovering from natural disasters.

Craig also has a military background, enlisting into the Minnesota Army National Guard in 1980, becoming a commissioned officer in 1983 and serving in many different command and staff positions in both the Minnesota and Iowa Army National Guard. In 2010-2011 he commanded the 734th Ag Business Development Team during their 12-month deployment to Kunar Province in Northeastern Afghanistan. In January 2014 he retired from the Minnesota National Guard at the rank of Brigadier General after serving nearly 34 years.

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Mandy Bieber, Delaware County EMA

Mandy Bieber is the Delaware County Emergency Management Coordinator with over 24 years of experience specializing in 911.  Currently, her career focuses on disaster preparedness, response and recover, while specializing in peer support and first responder mental health. She holds a degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Mount Mercy University.

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Adam Broughton, Iowa DNR

Adam Broughton is the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) lead for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). As EPCRA lead, Mr. Broughton is responsible for the DNR’s disaster planning including Continuity of Operations/Continuity of Government Planning, Environmental Field Office Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), coordinating Homeland Security planning activities and coordination EPCRA Section 304 Emergency Release Notification, 311/312 Chemical Storage Reporting and Section 313 Toxic Release Inventory Reporting. He serves on several emergency and disaster planning and response groups and committees at the state and regional level.

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Steve Combest, Water Step

Steven Combest is Chief Operating Officer with Water Step. He has more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing, procurement, sourcing, and inventory control. He grew a small, family-owned construction company into a multi- million-dollar business, becoming its managing partner. He has deep knowledge of staffing and systems development to meet demands in high-growth environments. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Kentucky University.

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Deanne Criswell, FEMA

Deanne Criswell is an experienced emergency management professional and the 12th Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She was sworn in as FEMA’s first female Administrator on April 26, 2021, under President Joe Biden. 

As FEMA Administrator, Deanne focused on making disaster response more equitable, addressing climate-related risks, and improving coordination with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. 

Before leading FEMA, she served as the Commissioner of the New York City Emergency Management Department, where she played a pivotal role in managing large-scale emergencies in complex urban environments, including the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Most recently, Deanne served as a Senior Fellow at Yale University, teaching a graduate level course on crisis leadership, emergency management, and national resilience. 

She also served as the Emergency Manager for the City of Aurora, Colorado, where she led the city's emergency preparedness, response, and recovery programs. Additionally, she served in the Colorado Air National Guard for over two decades, bringing military expertise to crisis management.

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Scott Draper, UnityPoint Health System

Scott Draper is the Director of Emergency Management for UnityPoint Health System.  He has been with the organization for 30+ years starting in 1995 as a Rehabilitation Engineer, providing assistive technology solutions to patients.  In that role he also worked with medical equipment safety and human factors processes.  In 2006 Scott moved to the position of Risk Manager/Safety Officer and focused on emergency management, physical environment regulatory compliance, and physical environmental safety.  In 2022 Scott was promoted to his current role at UnityPoint Health System Services, providing leadership for System incident command structures and overall Emergency Management programming throughout UnityPoint.  Scott has a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering, a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering, and is a Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP), Certified Healthcare Provider Continuity Professional (CHPCP), Certified Healthcare Operations Professional (DNV CHOP-B), and Certified Healthcare Emergency Coordinator (CHEC).

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Troy Erbentraut, SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council

Troy Erbentraut has over 20 years of experience in emergency management and healthcare preparedness. He began his career in law enforcement, serving as a police officer for the City of Toluca, Illinois for 6 years. Looking to transition to HealthCare, Troy joined OSF HealthCare in 1999 and worked his way to the Director of Preparedness and Response. In this role, he developed emergency operation plans for OSF's 16 hospitals across Illinois and Michigan. Erbentraut also coordinated training and exercises to prepare staff for disasters and public health emergencies.

 In 2023, Troy took on a new challenge as the Director of Emergency Services and Response for the SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC). As part of one of the largest healthcare coalitions in Texas, Troy works collaboratively with hospitals, public health agencies, EMS, and other partners in a 25-county region. He provides guidance and support on emergency planning, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts throughout SETRAC.

 Troy has successfully led emergency preparedness efforts for healthcare organizations of all sizes. His background in law enforcement gives him valuable insight into emergency operations, while his healthcare experience allows him to understand the unique needs of medical facilities. Troy's diverse experience makes him well-equipped to handle the complex emergency planning and response requirements of the healthcare coalition.

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Madeleine Gilmore, Linn County Public Health

Madeleine Gilmore, MPH, serves as an Epidemiologist at Linn County Public Health in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her work focuses on the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to inform community health improvement initiatives. She specializes in chronic disease, injury and violence prevention, and substance misuse, with a particular emphasis on the application of syndromic surveillance systems to monitor emerging trends and support timely public health response. Ms. Gilmore’s work contributes to data-driven decision-making across local health programs and fosters collaboration between clinical and community partners to address complex health challenges.

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Ashley Hochberger, Iowa DOT

Ashley Hochberger is the Program Manager for the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Traffic Management Center and Highway Helper Program. Iowa DOT’s Statewide Traffic Management Center, often referred to as the TMC, is a 24/7 center located in Ankeny. Iowa DOT uses the TMC to proactively monitor the transportation system in real-time, focusing mainly on the primary roadway system throughout Iowa. TMC staff monitors cameras and assists with state and local agencies and transportation industry stakeholders to keep travelers informed and on-scene responders protected. Tools such as 511, social media, and dynamic message signs allow notification of incidents to those affected, with a goal to reduce both traffic delay and other crashes that may occur in the area as a result of the initial incident. 

 Prior to her current role, Ashley was an Ames Police Officer for 13 years where she specialized in a variety of areas. She graduated with Honors from Iowa State University with a major in Political Science and minor in Criminal Justice.

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Bill Justice, Oklahoma Dept. of Public Safety

Bill Justice wears many hats; Program Manager for Active Threat Response Programs for the Oklahoma Dept of Public Safety, Director of Special Operations and Outreach for the Office of the Medical Director, and Associated Director for the University of Oklahoma Dept of Emergency Medicine. Bill is a frequent educator at regional, national, and international conferences. His user-friendly approach to emergency management topics provides a relaxed and interactive atmosphere for all participants. His background started in 1976 in EMS and he remains currently active with Fire-Rescue, EMS, Law Enforcement and military medical programs. 

He is a member of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and is active on multiple committees related to tactical and disaster medicine.  Bill continues to assist local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, fire service, hospitals and the military with education and response operations. 

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Kelly Kruse, Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner

Kelly Kruse, MD, MPH is an Associate State Medical Examiner at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.  She is board certified in anatomic, clinical, and forensic pathology, having completed an anatomic and clinical pathology residency at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ and a forensic pathology fellowship at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, MD.  She earned her Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees from Saint George’s University in Grenada, West Indies, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA.  Dr. Kruse is also a clinical instructor at Des Moines University, a fellow of the National Association of Medical Examiners, and a board member of the Iowa Association of County Medical Examiners. 

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Sonya Loynachan, Iowa HHS

Sonya Loynachan is the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Bureau of Refugee Services with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. She has been in this role since February 2023. Sonya has over twenty years of experience in the health and human services field. Prior to joining the Bureau of Refugee Services, Sonya served as the Program Manager for the WISEWOMAN Program with the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Health Promotion Manager with the Lupus Society of Illinois in Chicago. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Central College and Master of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. 

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Jake Matzen, UnityPoint Health Waterloo, Marshalltown, & Grinnell

Jake Matzen BSN, RN, CHEC first started working in Health Care in 2012. He Joined UnityPoint Health Jones Regional Medical Center for 13 years as an Emergency Department Nurse. During his time there he led initiatives in ultrasound IV training and Hazmat and Disaster Training starting in 2015. He had the opportunity to fill the Emergency Preparedness role in 2022 and transition to a full-time UnityPoint Health System Emergency Manager in 2025 for Waterloo, Marshalltown, and Grinnell Hospitals.

Jake Matzen serves as the Emergency Management Program Manager, UnityPoint Health Waterloo, Marshalltown, and Grinnell. He has also served in the Iowa Army National Guard as an M-Day officer, currently as a Major with 20 years of service. In the later part of his career he has focused on Domestic Operations in the state, first as an Operations Desk Officer in the Joint Operations Center in 2022, and as the HHD Commander of 67 Troop Command that commands the National Guard response to disaster relief missions in eastern Iowa when called upon. He is currently at Joint Force Headquarters in Johnston, IA as an Operations Officer conducting the operations portion of the Command Inspection Program. His military service includes deployments during Operation Enduring Freedom 2010-11, and Operation Joint Guardian (Kosovo) in 2020-21. 

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Stephanie Moris, Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa

Stephanie Moris serves as the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa, Director. Stephanie has been involved with the Alliance since 2013 and has worked with refugee and immigrant communities in education, employment, and wrap-around direct case management before joining RACI.  Stephanie obtained her Bachelors Degree from Iowa State University and after worked in the Dominican Republic for 3 years where she met her husband.  Outside of work Stephanie is very passionate about empowering our refugee and immigrant communities, immigration rights, and connecting our community together.  She volunteers as a mentor and teaches Spanish. She is a mother of two and also loves art and being outdoors.

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Matt Mortvedt, Iowa Insurance Division

Matt Mortvedt has been with the Iowa Insurance Division since 2019 and is the Bureau Chief of the Iowa Insurance Division's Fraud Bureau.  He leads a team tasked with investigating alleged insurance fraud, securities fraud, and senior financial exploitation.  Prior to his career with the Iowa Insurance Division, he served with the Ankeny Police Department for 13 years as a Patrol Officer, Narcotics Detective, and a General Crimes Detective.  The Iowa Insurance Division is dedicated to responding to natural disasters in an effort to reduce fraud, assist citizens, and provide support to local, county, and state government.  He will be speaking today about the functions of the Iowa Insurance Division's Disaster Response Team and tips on how to detect fraud in weather related disasters.

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Lindsey Mack Schneider, NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley

 Lindsey Mack Schneider, LISW Trauma Informed Care Systems Coordinator and Change Agent for NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley.  Lindsey Schneider is a clinical social worker and systems-level change agent dedicated to building resilient, trauma-informed communities. As the Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Systems Coordinator with NAMI and facilitator of the bi-state QC Trauma Informed Consortium, she specializes in cross-sector coalition building and disaster responsive systems of care. Lindsey uniquely bridges the gap between clinical trauma theory and operational reality. Through her work as a mental health provider and her organizational consulting, she provides extensive clinical trauma expertise. Lindsey is highly regarded for her work in critical incident wellness, notably partnering with law enforcement agencies to develop comprehensive Peer Support Teams and employee wellness policies. She has also spearheaded trauma-informed onboarding, training, and well-being initiatives across education, legal aid, healthcare, and probation sectors. An adjunct professor in St. Ambrose University’s MSW program, Lindsey is passionate about equipping frontline professionals with the actionable tools needed to mitigate systemic re-traumatization and foster recovery. 

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Adam Sowells, UnityPoint Health Trinity Quad Cities & Muscatine Market

Adam Sowells is the Emergency Management Program Manager for UnityPoint Health Trinity Quad Cities and Muscatine Market. He has been with the organization since 2012, initially serving as the Trinity EMS System Coordinator. In this role, he provided oversight and guidance to 61 prehospital services across 16 counties in Iowa and Illinois, supporting more than 3,000 providers. In 2020, Adam assumed responsibility for the Service Area 5 HPP grant. In 2025, he was appointed to his current position within UnityPoint Health System Services. Adam manages and oversees the Emergency Preparedness programs in the Quad Cities and Muscatine regions.

He is a nationally registered paramedic, licensed as a critical care paramedic in both Iowa and Illinois. Additionally, Adam holds education lead instructor licenses in both states and serves as a faculty member for the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).

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Brent Spear, Iowa HHS

Brent Spear, Bureau Chief with the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response (BEPR) at the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS). Brent has been with the state's preparedness and response program since October of 2007. He holds decades of experience through serving in the United States Marine Corps, working in local emergency management, and serving as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic. Brent leads preparedness and response activities for the Public Health Preparedness Program (PHEP) and the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP).

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Simon Stecker, Iowa DNR

Simon Stecker serves as the Tier 2 Chemical Inventory Reporting Coordinator for the state of Iowa. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of Iowa and has worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for nearly three years. His work combines two things he enjoys most—analyzing data and working with people—as he helps improve the Tier 2 reporting program and enhance safety across Iowa.

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Alicia Steines, Linn County Public Health

Alicia Steines is the Senior Public Health Nurse for Linn County Public Health. Alicia graduated from Mount Mercy College with her Bachelor of Nursing degree and started her nursing career working in child and adolescent psychiatry. She has also worked as a surgical nurse at a local hospital and an outpatient surgical center. In April of 2017, Alicia started working at Linn County Public Health as the HIV/HCV/STI Outreach Coordinator. Currently, Alicia’s role as a Senior Public Health Nurse is to promote and protect the health of populations, focus on disease prevention, manage disease outbreaks, and address social determinant of health. 

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Darin VanRyswyk, Iowa State Fair Police Department

Major Darin VanRyswyk brings 29 years of law enforcement experience and currently serves with the Iowa State Fair Police Department. He began his career in 1997 with the Iowa State University Police Department, where he has held field, supervisory, and command-level assignments. Major VanRyswyk has extensive experience in venue protection and crowd management, supporting large-scale events including the Iowa State Fair, World Pork Expo, Goodguys Rod & Custom Shows, arena and stadium concerts, Iowa State Cyclones football games, VEISHEA, RAGBRAI, the Iowa Games, Special Olympics, political rallies, large protests, and other complex public safety events.

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