Big Idea Forté Our Team Rates Giving Back  
                   
 

Our Team

Dr. Marcel Boucher, MD. Marcel has been involved for more than 30 years in emergency medicine, hospital professional services management, prehospital care and disaster preparedness/response. He has been involved in the development of a new primary care service model expanding the scope of practice of non-physician healthcare professionals. Marcel has extensive experience with emergency preparedness for healthcare facilities on a regional and statewide basis. He was the director of professional services and quality assurance for Urgences-Sante [Montreal EMS] - 900 paramedics and 200,000 interventions/yr. Marcel is recognized as an emergency medicine specialist by the Quebec College of Physicians. He was the director of hospital and professional services at Charles LeMoyne Hospital which is an academic teaching hospital and a level I trauma center.  Marcel is the author of the book "Five Years of Disaster Response" published by Universite du Quebec Press. He has experience as a coroner [medical examiner] for the Public Security Ministry in Quebec. Marcel was the emergency measures coordinator for the Monteregie Regional Health Board [serving 1.4M people] and was the author of the region's health services disaster plan. He was the co-author of the Quebec Health Ministry's disaster plan.

Dianne Brunelle
. Dianne has a degree in library and information sciences with a special interest in the use of technology to gather, organize and deliver information to individuals or organizations. The internet, along with the vast array of Web 2.0 technologies can be a simultaneously invaluable and overwhelming source of information. Dianne understands the critical need for turning that information into usable knowledge and helping clients use it to advance the missions of their organizations. Dianne has extensive global experience as a project manager and implementation specialist for the automation of many libraries and library consortiums. 

Dr. Hank Christen, PhD Hank has been a consultant in the fields of emergency response and counter-terrorism for Department of Defense agencies, federal response agencies, and local government public safety agencies since 2000. He was previously a Battalion Chief for the Atlanta Fire Department and Director of Emergency Services for Okaloosa County, Florida. He served as Unit Commander for the Gulf Coast Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) and has responded to twelve national level disasters including the 2001 World Trade Center Attack. Hank Christen is a contributing editor for Fire House Magazine and has published over thirty articles in technical journals. He is the co-author (with Paul Maniscalco) of The EMS Incident Management System (Brady, 1998), and Understanding Terrorism and Managing its Consequences (Prentice Hall 2002), and Terrorism Response – Field Guide for Law Enforcement (Prentice Hall 2002). His latest book is National Incident Management System – Principles and Practices (Jones and Bartlett, 2005). Hank Christen is a graduate of the University of Florida, and has a Master of Public Administration degree. He is currently engaged in dissertation research on the infrastructure requirements for high-fidelity medical simulations in the Doctor of Education program at the University of West Florida. His doctoral specialty is Human Performance Technology.

Elizabeth Davis. Elizabeth is an emergency management consultant specializing in Special Needs planning and related issues.
Elizabeth was New York City's first-ever Special Needs Advisor. In this capacity, she ensured that all elements of the City's emergency planning, response and recovery incorporated the unique needs of the disability community, senior population and medically managed individuals. Elizabeth also managed special needs planning, response and recovery for some of the most critical emergencies in New York City history, including the West Nile Virus outbreaks, hurricanes, blizzards and heat waves, mass transit service interruptions and accidents, construction accidents, utility failures and the devastating terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Elizabeth was the first Director of the National Organization on Disability's (N.O.D.) Emergency Preparedness Initiative (EPI), and is an advisor to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She co-chairs the National Hurricane Conference's Health Care/Special Needs Committee, chairs the International Association of Emergency Managers' (IAEM) Special Needs Committee, and sits on the Advisory Boards of several national disaster preparedness and response organizations and research teams. Elizabeth also conducts special need planning workshops and presentations nationally and internationally, and has contributed to numerous academic studies. An accomplished public speaker, an inspiring teacher and a multiple-award winning emergency management expert, Elizabeth now shares her experience, unique skills and creative vision with clients who need comprehensive, customized and affordable solutions to appropriately address their special needs/disaster preparedness issues.


Grant Dillon. Grant has more than 30 years experience as a leader in emergency management and national security programs at the state and national levels. As the Chief of Staff at FEMA’s National Interagency Civil-Military Institute, Dillon guided development of civil-military training and educational programs in emergency management and counter-terrorism. He conceptualized and guided development of civil-military disaster exercises and distributive learning consequence management to terrorism exercise. In conjunction with the Superintendent of the U.S. Fire Academy, Dillon developed methodology for training first military responders to terrorism incidents. As a non-resident Professor at the U.S. Naval War College, Dillon designed, developed and delivered graduate courses on domestic and international humanitarian relief; and infrastructure protection and homeland defense. As Chief, Program Support/Plans, Operations, and Readiness at FEMA, Dillon developed National Security plans, operations, and maintained readiness in conjunction with Federal Departments, National Security Council, and the White House Military Office. Dillon’s regular managerial assignments on FEMA Emergency Support and Emergency Response Teams included 5 hurricanes; the Northridge earthquake, and the Oklahoma City bombing. As the Director of Emergency Management and Medical Resource Sharing Service for the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs [DVA], Dillon wrote and defended legislation for use of VA medical care facilities in time of war or catastrophic disaster. He was a member of a three-person principal team that conceptualized, designed and implemented the National Disaster Medical System. Dillon served on the Emergency Mobilization Preparedness Board of the National Security Council where he was responsible for medical and earthquake planning. Dillon’s unique achievements include: conceptualization and implementation of both the DVA/DOD Contingency Hospital System – the National Disaster Medical System – and what was to become the Federal Response Plan.

Alan Fryer. Alan is one of Canada’s best known and most respected journalist with over 30 years experience in television news, with particular strengths in creative writing, documentary storytelling and on-camera presentation. Other skills include: strong television production skills; multiple Gemini nominations for news and feature reporting and two RTNDA awards for W-FIVE documentaries; a strong storyteller, able to meld words, sound and video to maximum effect; ability to understand and synthesize complex issues and explain them in a clear, succinct and visual manner; interviewed world leaders and covered hundreds of major Canadian, American and international events from the fall of the Soviet Union to the fall of Baghdad; the attacks of 9/11 to the ensuing war on terrorism; and an excellent understanding of the inner workings of news media and its relationship with the worlds of politics, business and entertainment.

Anne Grunewald. Anne is a senior-level executive with a record of accomplishment in program creation, development and organizational capacity building. She has progressive experience in disaster preparedness, international development, and arts administration. Her expertise includes large-scale project launches, systems analysis, and strategic planning. Anne is recognized for her leadership, her ability to build consensus among diverse communities, and effective negotiation. Anne's list of recent clients includes the American Red Cross in Greater New York, New York Disaster Interfaith Services, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Metropolitan Council on Government, State of Louisiana, and City University of New York - School of Professional Studies. As the Director of Disaster Preparedness for the Human Services Council of New York City, Anne developed the mission, vision and budget for a disaster preparedness program designed to ensure the ability of NYC's nonprofit human services sector to provide disaster social services in a coordinated, effective way after a large-scale incident. As the Director of Human Services for the NYC Office of Emergency Management, Anne created and led the human services division of one of the largest, most innovative public emergency management agencies on the continent. She oversaw the creation and implementation of the OEM's disaster education programs including the NYC Community Emergency Response Team [CERT] program, and development of a NYC-specific curriculum, now being used in 20 NYC communities and as a National model for urban environments. Anne created the NYC Citizen Corps Council - a federal model that serves as a mechanism for coordinating and facilitating public participation in disaster preparedness and volunteer initiatives being implemented by private, public and non-profit sectors.

Rebecca Hansen. As a Senior Project Manager and consultant for EAD & Associates, Rebecca works nationwide with clients including governments, non-profits and private entities. Her professional emphasis is the integration of special needs and human services issues into emergency management standards, planning and practices. In her field she has developed and conducted several training sessions for public health and emergency management professionals. During the response and recovery phases of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Louisiana, Hansen worked as a subject matter expert on one of four Rapid Assessment Teams deployed by a national disability organization. She presently serves on a select special needs advisory group to The Road Home, Louisiana’s housing recovery program. Hansen was recently selected as an instructor with the CUNY Graduate Center, a partner with NYC OEM, to carry out coastal storm training to NYC employees to prepare them for leadership roles in evacuation centers and hurricane shelters. From 2000-2003 Hansen served as the Assistant Director of Government Relations for the Greater New York American Red Cross (ARC) and as their primary disaster planner and liaison to the New York City Office of Emergency Management. In that role, directly working with NYC OEM, she helped lead the initial and long-term human services response to the World Trade Center terrorist attack including assisting with sheltering, food provision, service coordination, outreach, and other aspects of the complex response system. She collaborated with government and non-profit organizations in disaster preparedness and planning activities to address critical human needs issues. At ARC Hansen managed and trained a team of 20 volunteers to respond to the ARC, OEM, NYPD, or other Emergency Operations Centers activated within the ARC jurisdiction prior to, during, or after disasters. In addition she initiated activities to increase membership, develop infrastructure, and increase response capability of member organizations, as vice chair for the New York City Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NYC VOAD).

Richard Liebmann Richard has been leading teams in fire and emergency medical services for 22 years. He prides himself on his expertise in command of operations for major fires or other large scale events, in his leadership abilities in motivating and coordinating multidisciplinary teams, in his ability to successfully research, analyze, plan and implement major projects, as well as his negotiation and administrative skills, and use of new technology. He is currently Division Chief – Emergency Medical Services for the Montreal Fire Department (Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal). Highlights of his career include Chief of Operations – Media Relations for the Montreal Fire Department; Division Chief, Emergency Medical Services for the Côte-Saint-Luc Fire Department; firefighter for the Côte-Saint-Luc Fire department. He also held a volunteer position as Chief of Operations for Côte-Saint-Luc Emergency Medical Services.  Over the years, Liebmann has also been an instructor for many specialized courses in the emergency medical and rescue field. Liebmann has a B.SC from McMaster University, and a graduate diploma in Management from McGill University.  He also has several specialized training certificates involving paramedic and fire safety training, swift water and ice rescue, Counter Narcotics & Terrorist Operations Medical Support, and Special Weapons and Tactics.

Tyson Macaulay Tyson is a Customer – Chief Information Security Officer (C-CISO)/ Security Liaison Officer (SLO) for Bell Canada. In this role, he is responsible for technical and operational risk management solutions for Bell’s largest enterprise clients. Tyson leads telecommunications security initiatives addressing large, complex, converged-IP solutions including both physical and logical (IT) assets, and regulatory/legal compliance requirements. In this role, he leads worldwide engagements involving multinational companies and international governments. Tyson’s leadership encompasses a broad range of industry sectors from the defence industry to high-tech start-ups. His expertise includes operational risk management programs, technical services and incident management processes.  Tyson has successfully served as prime architect for large-scale security implementations in both public and private sector institutions, working on projects from conception through development to implementation. Tyson is a respected thought leader with publications dating from 1993. His work has covered authorship of peer-reviewed whitepapers, IT Security Governance programs, technical and integration services and incident management processes. June of 2006 saw the publication of his first book: Securing Converged IP Networks, published in collaboration with British Telecom, Lucent Technology, Gallagher Insurance and InCode Wireless.

Daniel Manny Daniel has more than 20-years experience as a project manager [this position carries the title of ' engineering specialist' with U.S. utilities] with one of the largest suppliers of hydro-electricity in the world. He has led field teams through multiple widespread power outages, including the Ice Storm of 1998. Daniel has also conducted extensive research on the realities of 'powering-up' disaster shelters for special needs clients. Daniel's work includes the design and layout of cost-efficient overhead and underground field distribution projects to current design standards and applicable codes, producing estimates for distribution projects, writing easements, providing design options and estimates for future system additions or modifications to asset management, technical support of construction teams for O&M and new construction activities, application of materials and application of construction standards, technical support of other engineering personnel and operations, project management process. Daniel's focus is always on the design of distribution systems to protect the public, his colleagues, the environment, and the assets of the utility. Daniel is a member of the TEMS Apocalypse [noun] scenariocraft group.

Hal Newman.  Hal is the Founder and Managing Partner of TEMS. He is also a Managing Partner with Loon Landing Advisors LLC and is the Executive Director of the National Emergency Management Resource Center. Newman’s three decades of emergency services experience has served him well as a team leader, policy advisor and catalyst. Newman is also the Managing Editor of Big Medicine which is an online cooperative community sharing news, views and resources related to emergency management and public health. Newman started his career as a firefighter/street medic in Montreal West which led to an emergency services visionquest with stops and opportunities to learn in West Virginia, Maryland and finally back home in Montreal where he led a small highly innovative EMS department. With that EMS organization, Newman developed a number of special needs advocacy projects including expanded scope of practice for community geriatric care; primary medical support for homeless outreach care; and highrise evacuation protocols for people with disabilities, the medically fragile, and the vulnerable-at-the-moment. Newman led a team on behalf of the National Organization on Disability into Mississippi immediately post-Hurricane Katrina to assess the catastrophic impacts on people with special needs. That experience led to a series of profound opportunities to provide assistance which eventually resulted in his being presented the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award for Humanitarian Service and the great privilege of meeting Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice. Newman’s undergrad studies were in Communications at Bethany College. His graduate studies were in Emergency Health Services System Administration at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County. Hal Newman lives in Stanstead with his wife Dianne and their twin twelve-year-old daughters.

Norm Rooker Norm recently retired as Chief Paramedic, Ouray County EMS in Ouray, Colorado. Norm is a popular speaker on the national EMS, fire & rescue lecture circuit including FIRE-RESCUE WEST; EMS EXPO, the annual educational conference sponsored by EMS Magazine; OUTLOOK, the annual educational conference for the National Association of EMTs; SAR, the annual education conference for NASAR, the National Association for Search and Rescue, as well as numerous state and local conferences. He has also served as both a speaker and the medical track leader for SAREX 2001, the California State Search and Rescue Conference put on by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. Norm has served as faculty for multiple EMT, Paramedic and Fire Science training programs in both the industrial, community college and university settings. He has been a Heavy Rescue Instructor for the California State Fire Marshal’s Office, an EMT-T and is a member of his department’s surf and cliff rescue teams and technical rescue committee. Norm is prodigious user of any training or education offered by almost anyone, including but not limited to COMTOMS, PEMSTP, SARMR, ICS, Urban Rescue, Water Rescue, California's POST 11550 Drug Influence certification, as well as the usual Paramedic Merit badges such as ACLS, PALS, PHTLS and others. Norm is lifetime member of the National Association for Search And Rescue, NASAR, and was recently re-elected to the Board of Directors. He is a member of the NASAR External Affairs Committee, Chair of the Technical Affairs Committee as well as the chairman for the NASAR Flood & Water Rescue Advisory Group. He is a past member of the NASAR Medical Advisory Committee and one of the developers of NASAR’s Search & Rescue Medical Responder, SARMR, Program including writing the chapter on burn injuries for the SARMR text book. 

James M. Rush Jim is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM). Jim has over 26 years of healthcare administration experience in the US Armed Forces, the US Public Health community and in the civilian healthcare industry. Most recently, he was the Region III Project Officer for the National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program. This is a Department of Health and Human Services program dedicated to assisting hospitals in preparing for “All Hazards” events. He was also the first logistics manager for the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile program, the forerunner of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the Private Healthcare Sector, Jim served as the Materials Manager for Children’s Hospital and Center for Reconstructive Surgery in Baltimore Maryland, Garrett County Memorial Hospital in Oakland Maryland and at the Barrow County Medical Center in Winder, Georgia. As a US Air Force Medical Service Corps (MSC) Captain, Mr. Rush served as the US Air Force’s Middle East Regional Chief, Medical Logistics Management, while stationed at Incirlik, Turkey from June 1977-April 1979. He later served as a logistics staff officer for the US Air Force Surgeon General in Germany, specializing in wartime medical supplies and equipment. He was the first 500-Bed wartime and contingency hospital administrator and was a pioneer in adapting the Israeli Defense Force’s 4-Echelons of wartime healthcare to the United States Armed Services in Germany. Mr. Rush received his BS in Health Services Administration from the University of Arizona. He also holds a Professional Certificate in Information Systems from the University of Southern California. He also earned a Certificate in “Decision Risk Analysis for Logisticians” from the US Army’s Logistics Management College.

 

 
     
 

       

 
 

T: 819/704-0662   E: hnewman@tems.ca

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST NEWS FROM OUR BLOG 'BIG MEDICINE' & FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

 
 

* Big Medicine: When everything comes together meaningfully in a given situation. A good thing.