2015 KSTRC Instructor and Presenter Bios

2015 KANSAS
TECHNICAL RESCUE
CONFERENCE
PRESENTER/INSTRUCTOR BIOS
(Listed in Alphabetical Order)
GREGG BOLLELLA – JOHNSON COUNTY MED-ACT
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE DISASTER MEDICAL SPECIALIST
Gregg Bollella is a Captain for Johnson
County EMS: MED-ACT in metropolitan
Kansas City. He has been involved in
emergency services for over twenty five
years as a volunteer and career EMT/FF,
Hazardous Materials technician, disaster
medical specialist, paramedic, educator
and administrator. His education and
career have exposed him to EMS systems
in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Kansas and China. Gregg holds a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Management
and Human Relations from Mid-America
Nazarene University and an Executive
MBA from Benedictine College in
Atchison, KS. Gregg serves as the
Medical Manager for Kansas TF-3 and
has presented at conferences across the
country and China.
WAYNE BRAUN – MANHATTAN FIRE DEPARTMENT
TECHNICAL ROPE RESCUE
Wayne Braun has been a member
of the Manhattan Fire Department
for 14 years, currently holding the
rank of Captain. Wayne is a
member of the MFD Technical
Rescue Team and Kansas TF-2. He
is involved in training department
members in confined space, rope
rescue, and trench rescue. Captain
Braun has also been a member of
the Jeffery Energy Center Confined
Space/High Angle Rescue Team for
the past 6 years. Wayne has taught
several rescue classes for KFRTI
over the last several years.
JIM BUNDREN – RES-Q-TEC
VEHICLE & MACHINERY RESCUE
Jim Bundren is the national
sales manager and trainer for
ResQTec. Jim spent 22 years
with Goldman Fire Rescue and
is a certified Emergency
Medical Technician. Jim also
holds technician certifications
in Hazardous Materials and
Trench Rescue. In addition, he
is a heavy lifting & shoring
instructor and a T&R towing
heavy metal instructor. Jim
serves as a Level 3 instructor
for LSU and as an adjunct
instructor for Texas A&M.
DIRK CHRISTIAN – SHAWNEE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT #4
TRENCH RESCUE/CONFINED SPACE RESCUE
Dirk Christian has over 28 years of public
safety experience and currently serves as
the Fire Chief for Shawnee County Fire
District #4, west of Topeka, Kansas. Dirk
is a Lead Instructor for Structural
Collapse Rescue, Trench Rescue,
Confined Space Rescue, and Hazardous
Materials for KFRTI. In addition, Chief
Christian teaches for several private
contractors and is a recognized SUSAR
Lead Instructor for the US&R WMD,
Hazardous Materials, and Rescue
Specialist curriculums. Dirk has served
on the State Urban Search & Rescue
Alliance (SUSAR) Executive Board of
Directors for the past 4 years. Chief
Christian also holds the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel in the Kansas
National Guard and previously
commanded the 73rd Civil Support Team
(WMD). Dirk is a member of Kansas TF-2
and has deployed to multiple state and
national level disasters and special
security events.
DOUG COOPER – ALABAMA TF-1
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/US&R ROUND TABLE PANELIST
Douglas Cooper is a third generation
firefighter with over 30 years of service
to the Mobile, Alabama Fire-Rescue
Department. In his current assignment
as the Homeland Security Chief, Doug’s
duties include managing Special
Operations and disaster response, as
well as serving as the City liaison to
County, State, and Federal Emergency
Management agencies. Following the
events of 9-11 Chief Cooper served on
the team that developed the Alabama
Mutual Aid System (AMAS). This
included the establishment of Alabama
Task Force 1, where he still serves as the
Program Manager. Chief Cooper has a
Bachelor’s degree in Organizational
Keynote Presentation – Doug Cooper will provide Psychology and a Masters degree in
Emergency Services Management.
a presentation that focuses on the AL-TF1
response to the 2011 tornado outbreak in
Alabama.
RUEL DOUVILLIER – LOUISIANA TF-1
KEYNOTE SPEAKER/US&R ROUND TABLE PANELIST
Keynote Presentation – Ruel Douvillier will
provide a presentation on LA-TF1 including
history, capabilities, challenges, etc.
Ruel Douvillier spent 20 years in the
Army, serving as a medic,
infantryman, and paratrooper. He
spent 5 years as a paramedic with
New Orleans Emergency Medical
Services, and 14 years with the New
Orleans Fire Department, most of
that time with their heavy technical
rescue squads. Ruel has served with
private ambulance services and both
volunteer and combination fire
departments. He has extensive
experience as an instructor and is
presently the Task Force Leader of
the State and Regional USAR team,
Louisiana TF-1. Ruel is presently the
Operations Manager for SAR
Specialists, an emergency response
training company.
KONNIE HEIN – CONNECTICUT TF-1
K9 SEARCH OPERATIONS-TEACHING FOCUSED SCENTING
Konnie Hein is the Canine Coordinator and Search Team
Manager for Connecticut TF-1. Konnie started her
volunteer SAR career as a canine handler with Northern
Indiana Search and Rescue and as a canine search
specialist for Indiana TF-1 in 1999. She continued her
disaster search and rescue involvement with FEMA’s
MATF-1 (now retired) and Connecticut’s CTTF-1 after
moving to the Northeast in 2003. She is an active canine
search specialist for CTTF-1 and has deployed to multiple
wilderness and disaster SAR callouts throughout the
Midwest and New England. She was qualified as a FEMA
Instructor for the FEMA CSST, and is currently a SUSAR
CSST Instructor and Type I Evaluator. She currently holds
a position on the SUSAR Board of Director’s Canine
Subcommittee. Konnie also operates Canine Behavior
Solutions, LLC, which is a private obedience training
company located in Connecticut. She breeds and trains
Belgian Malinois under the kennel name La Forge
Malinois, and competes with her dogs in French
Ringsport.
LARRY HEMPHILL – SALINA FIRE DEPARTMENT
DISASTER RESPONSE FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER
Larry Hemphill has spent over 30 years in
the fire service, currently serving as the
Division Chief of Training for the Salina
Fire Department. Larry holds an
Associate’s degree in Fire Science from
Hutchinson Community College and has
been a certified instructor for over
17years, logging well over 12,000 hours
of instruction in various rescue
disciplines. Larry currently holds
Instructor and Technician Level
certifications in Structural Collapse
Rescue, Rope Rescue, Confined Space
Rescue, Trench Rescue, and Swiftwater
Rescue. Larry serves as the Program
Manager and a Task Force Leader for
Kansas TF-8. He has deployed to several
disasters in Kansas, including the 2008
Chapman Tornado, where he served as
the Rescue Team Manager.
JASON HUDSON – MANHATTAN FIRE DEPARTMENT
DISASTER RESPONSE FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER
Jason Hudson has been a member of
the Manhattan Fire Department for
14 years, and currently holds the
rank of Battalion Chief. He has been
active in high angle rescue, shift
coordinator for RIT, a member of the
MFD Technical Rescue Team and has
deployed with the Kansas Army
National Guard to Louisiana for
Hurricane Gustav. Jason is currently
one of the department's instructors
for technical and wide area search. In
addition, Jason has a Bachelor of
Science degree in Business
Administration from Kansas State
University.
DRU KELLERBY – SEDGWICK COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT #1
VEHICLE & MACHINERY RESCUE
Dru Kellerby is currently a Lieutenant
with Sedgwick County Fire District #1.
He has spent 12 of the last 13 years at
Station 37 as a member of the technical
rescue team. Dru is a certified technician
in Rope Rescue, Confined Space Rescue,
Trench Rescue, Swift Water, Dive Master,
Structural Collapse, and Vehicle
Extrication. He spent time deployed at
Hurricane Katrina as a member of a body
recovery team, as well as responding to
the Greensburg tornado. In addition,
Dru has been involved in teaching in all
of the areas above. Dru enjoys every
aspect of technical rescue and looks
forward to working with a group of “like
minded” individuals from around the
state.
SCOTT KLEINSCHMIDT – WICHITA FIRE DEPARTMENT
DISASTER RESPONSE FOR THE FIRST RESPONDER
Scott Kleinschmidt is a 19 year veteran with
the Wichita Fire Department, currently
assigned to Truck 2 on the city’s south side.
Prior to promotion, Scott was assigned to the
city’s Rescue Company and is a Rescue
Manager/Specialist on Kansas TF-5. He is a
department instructor/coordinator for Truck
Company operations and co-authored WFD’s
current SOPs for Truck Company Operations.
Lieutenant Kleinschmidt is an adjunct
instructor for the WFD training division,
providing recruit instruction and hands-on
training to suppression companies throughout
the city. He provides lecture and hands-on
training in Truck Company, Rescue Company,
and reduced staffed fire ground operations at
the local, state, and national level. Lt.
Kleinschmidt is also a past FDIC presenter and
contributing author to Fire Engineering
magazine.
KEITH LINDEMANN – SALINA FIRE DEPARTMENT
VEHICLE & MACHINERY RESCUE
Captain Keith Lindemann is a 29-year veteran
with the Salina Fire Department, currently
assigned to RESCUE-1. R1 responds to working
fires, injury accidents, and technical rescue
incidents in Salina and Saline County, which
encompasses about 90 square miles. Captain
Lindemann has held many positions on both
volunteer and paid departments during his
career. He is a member of Kansas TF-8 and
serves as a Task Force Leader. Keith is an EMT,
Certified Fire Investigator, and is IFSAC certified
as Fire Officer I & II, and Fire Instructor I & II.
Keith instructs on several topics including,
Basic and Advanced Extrication Techniques;
Truck and Bus Extrication; Hybrid/Electric
Vehicle Safety; Occupant Safety Systems; New
Vehicle Technologies; and Roadway and
Incident Scene Safety for Responders. Besides
serving as an instructor for the Salina FD, Keith
teaches for Midwest Search & Rescue, Five Star
Fire Training/On Scene Training Associates, and
KFRTI.
JOHN MATHIS – LAWRENCE/DOUGLAS COUNTY FIRE-MEDICAL
STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE RESCUE
John Mathis has been with
Lawrence/Douglas County
Fire-Medical since 1995 and
currently holds the rank of
Lieutenant/MICT. John is a
member of the department’s
Technical Rescue Team and a
member of Kansas TF-2. Lt.
Mathis is a structural collapse
and trench rescue trainer for
LDCFM and teaches numerous
technical rescue classes for
KFRTI.
KEVIN MCDONALD – SALINA FIRE DEPARTMENT
TECHNICAL ROPE RESCUE
Kevin McDonald is a 13-year veteran
with the Salina Fire Department,
holding the rank of Fire Engineer. He
is currently assigned as the Driver on
Rescue 1, which responds to all
injury accidents and technical rescue
incidents in Salina and Saline County.
Fire Engineer McDonald is a certified
instructor in Rope Rescue through
Hutchinson Community College and
KFRTI. Kevin instructs rope rescue,
structural collapse rescue, wide area
search, and vehicle
extrication/vehicle safety for the
Salina Fire Department.
CHAD PEREZ – SALINA FIRE DEPARTMENT
STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE RESCUE
Chad Perez has been in the fire
service for 17 years and is
currently a Firefighter/EMT for
the Salina Fire Department,
where he has served for the
last 12 years. Prior to coming
to Salina, Chad spent 5 years
with the Garden City Fire
Department. Chad is a
member of the SFD Technical
Rescue Team, as well as a
member of Kansas TF-8. Chad
holds certifications in Trench
Rescue, Rope Rescue, Confined
Space Rescue, Ice Rescue, and
Structural Collapse Rescue.
JOSH ROGERS – OKIE EXTRICATION/SALINA FIRE DEPARTMENT
VEHICLE & MACHINERY RESCUE
Josh Rogers is a
Paramedic/Firefighter with the
Salina Fire Department. Josh
has extensive training and
experience in technical rescue
and vehicle extrication and
teaches vehicle extrication for
KFRTI, KSSFFA, and Okie
Extrication. Josh combines
patient care and safe handling
with effective extrication to
better improve long term
survivability of traumatic
injuries.
BILL SCHNEIDER – OLATHE FIRE DEPARTMENT
TRENCH RESCUE/CONFINED SPACE RESCUE
Bill Schneider is a Fire Captain with the
Olathe Fire Department, joining the
department in 1987. He has been
teaching technical rescue operations
since 1995 and holds technician
certifications in Structural Collapse
Rescue, Trench Rescue, Confined Space
Rescue, Rope Rescue, Swift-water/Boat
Rescue, and Hazardous Materials.
Besides teaching locally, Captain
Schneider is also a certified adjunct
instructor for KFRTI. Bill deployed to
Biloxi, Miss. in 2005 as part of an Incident
Management Team, and to Greensburg,
Kansas in 2007 as part of a technical
rescue team. In May 2014 Captain
Schneider was one of three Americans
selected to attend a rescue conference
and 24 hour exercise in Badolato, Italy.
ANTHONY SELLEN – JOHNSON COUNTY MED-ACT
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE DISASTER MEDICAL SPECIALIST
Anthony Sellen is a professional
Lieutenant Paramedic with Johnson
County Med-Act. His experience
includes 15 years as a Paramedic and 6
years with a fire service in southern
Germany. Over the years, Anthony has
developed a passion for disaster
preparedness, education and medical
response. Currently, Anthony is the
Disaster Medical Specialist instructor
for Med-Act’s Special Operations
Group. While acting as the Disaster
Medical Specialist lead instructor, he is
responsible for the planning and
execution of all DMS education. He
currently lives in Shawnee, Kansas and
is married to his wife Brooke with two
children.
CHAD SMALL – CHANUTE FIRE DEPARTMENT
STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE RESCUE
Chad Small has been with the
Chanute Fire Department since
1999 and currently holds the rank
of Lieutenant. He has been a
member of Chanute’s Technical
Rescue Team since 2001 and a
member of Kansas TF-4 since its
inception in 2007. Chad holds
technician certifications in
swiftwater recue, structural
collapse rescue, rope rescue, trench
rescue, and confined space rescue.
Lt. Small has responded to several
major disasters including the Joplin
tornado and Southeast Kansas
floods.
HEATHER SWIFT & K9 DAISY – KS SEARCH & RESCUE DOG ASSOC.
K9 SEARCH OPERATIONS-TEACHING FOCUSED SCENTING
Heather Swift joined the Kansas
Search & Rescue Dog Association in
2003 and has served on their Board
of Directors since early 2010. Ms.
Swift is the K9 Coordinator for the
Kansas Task Force K9 Unit, serves on
the State Urban Search and Rescue
Alliance (SUSAR) K9 Sub-Committee,
and represents KSARDA on the Kansas
US&R Advisory Group to the Kansas
State Fire Marshal’s Office. Heather is
also a lead evaluator for the National
Association of Search and Rescue
(NASAR). Heather has deployed on
numerous disasters, including the
May 2007 Greensburg tornado, June
2008 Chapman tornado, and the 2011
Cushion, Oklahoma tornado.
ANTHONY TRACY – SEDGWICK COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT #1
TECHNICAL ROPE RESCUE
Tony Tracy is a Captain and Paramedic
with Sedgwick County Fire District #1,
where he has served since 1993. Tony
has been on the Technical Rescue Team
since its inception in 1996, as one of the
team’s founding members. Captain
Tracy holds numerous certifications
including Structural Collapse Rescue,
Technical Search Specialist, Trench
Rescue, Confined Space Rescue,
Hazardous Materials, Advanced
Extrication, Advanced Rope Rescue, Ice
Rescue, and Advanced Swift Water
Rescue Technician. Tony serves as a
Squad Officer on Kansas TF-5 and has
responded to numerous disasters across
the state over the past several years.
He is currently assigned as B-shift
Captain at Station 37, and enjoys
teaching many disciplines of technical
rescue across the state.
KEVIN WEYAND – OLATHE FIRE DEPARTMENT
STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE RESCUE
Kevin Weyand is a 21 year veteran of the
fire service, having spent the last 16 years
with the Olathe Fire Department. He has
been on the OFD Technical Rescue Team
since 2002 and has been a Captain on the
Heavy Rescue for the past 11 years. Kevin
is certified at the technician level in High
Angle Rope Rescue, Tower Rescue,
Confined Space Rescue, Structural
Collapse Rescue, Trench Rescue, Vehicle
Extrication, Swift Water/Boat Ops, and
Hazardous Materials. In addition, he is
an IFSAC instructor and T-T-T for
Structural Collapse, Rope & Tower
Rescue, and Confined Space Rescue in
both Kansas and Missouri.