Speaker Biographies

2015 PRIMEX3 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Speaker Biographies
Rick Alpers
Rick Alpers, Member Services Consultant, is a graduate of Plymouth State University with
a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Management and a minor in history. Prior to joining the
Primex3 team, he was a former Town Administrator and is a current member of the Board of
Selectmen in Bristol, NH. In his current role as Member Services Consultant, Rick is responsible
for providing exceptional customer service to Primex3 members. In that capacity, he conducts
regular on-site visits and is the primary contact to answer questions on coverages, programs,
and human resources training. He also assists members in various HR needs when called
upon, specifically recruitment and selection of a new employee, as well as team building,
conflict resolution, and behavior assessments.
Robert Barry
Robert Barry, Education and Training Consultant, joined Primex3 in 2011 as an Education
and Training Consultant focusing on the Law Enforcement and Corrections membership of
the Primex3 pools. Prior to joining the Primex3 team, Bob was the Police Chief for the City of
Concord, a position that he held for over four years. Bob brings a total of more than 25 years
of law enforcement experience to Primex3. Bob has been involved in recruitment, screening
and hiring staff; negotiating collective bargaining agreements; conducting training;
developing and enforcing policy; conducting internal investigations; developing and revising
the Department Strategic Plan; crime analysis and grant writing;. While Deputy Chief, Bob
was the primary responsible department representative for developing and managing the
operating and capital improvement budgets for both the police and parking operations
within the City. At Primex3, Bob’s primary responsibility will be to bring exceptional law
enforcement consultant and training services to Primex3 members. He is responsible for
planning the Annual Ben Thompson Law Enforcement Symposium. Bob also reviews and
accesses training options in high risk areas such as the use of force and emergency vehicle
operation. Bob works closely with the Primex3 General Counsel on policy review when related
to Law Enforcement and Corrections issues. Bob also is the Risk Management Consultant for
municipalities in Belknap County.
Pete Blank
Pete Blank spent 13 years in a variety of roles at the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort. His
most recent role was as a Learning Manager at the Disney University, where he designed,
developed, and delivered Career and Professional Development courses for cast members
and employees across the Disney organization. Prior to Disney, Pete worked for 2 years
as a sports reporter at WBMG-TV 42 in Birmingham. Pete provides leadership training to
corporate, college and church groups. He also manages the training department for the
Personnel Board of Jefferson County. This department provides leadership and management
training to over 7,000 civil servants in Jefferson County.
David Bullock
David Bullock serves as the Unemployment Consultant for Primex3, providing advocacy and
representation for members at the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security.
David is an AmeriCorps alum who served as a literacy and academic tutor for at-risk students
in Nashua and Manchester with City Year New Hampshire and PlusTime New Hampshire.
David most recently worked as an Anti-Discrimination Investigator for the NH Commission
for Human Rights, the state agency charged with enforcing the state civil rights law in
employment, housing, and public accommodations. David graduated from Ohio University
receiving a BA in English and History in 2006 and from the University of New Hampshire
receiving a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 2009.
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2015 PRIMEX3 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Speaker Biographies
Tammy Denver
Tammy Denver, is the Director of Claims & Coverage Programs. She joined Primex3 as claims
consultant in May 2000, bringing with her comprehensive experience in the investigation
of both workers’ compensation and casualty claims. She has developed special expertise in
handling public entity losses and claims, and has more than 24 years experience handling
multi-line and workers’ compensation claims. She is a graduate of Quincy (MA) Junior
College with extensive coursework at the University of New Hampshire in civil litigation,
attained her Associate in Claims (AIC) and recently received her SCLA designation.
Lt. Kevin Duffy
Lieutenant Kevin Duffy has been with NH State Police for 19 years and has held the
positions of Trooper, Sergeant - Patrol Supervisor, Sergeant - Assistant Troop Commander,
Lieutenant - Special Services Commander, and is currently the Lieutenant-Commander
of Troop E in Tamworth. He is also the State Police SWAT Commander having held the
positions of Operator, Team Leader and Assistant SWAT Commander for the last 17 years.
Lieutenant Duffy served eight years in the U. S. Army attaining the rank of Captain, and is a
First Gulf War Veteran and a graduate of Norwich University.
Ty Gagne
Ty Gagne, Chief Executive Officer of Primex3, has held executive positions in the municipal,
non-profit, and healthcare sectors, and was a two-term school board member. Ty holds
a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor
of Science from Granite State College. He is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Towson
University, where he teaches within the Integrated Homeland Security Management
graduate program. Ty also serves on the Board of Directors of Racing for Valor, an
organization that supports charities that benefit veterans and their families. Ty is a member
of the Leadership NH Class of 2013, and is the co-founder of the Leadership Academy,
a regional program covering the Plymouth and Newfound Regions. Ty completed the
program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University’s
Kennedy School of Government. He holds the Associate in Risk Pool Management (ARPM)
and the Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities (ARM-P) designations.
Gary Guller
Gary Guller is a record-setting mountaineer and leader of the largest ever cross-disability
most diverse group to reach Mt Everest Base Camp, at 17,500 feet. After setting this record,
he went on to scale the peak, reaching the summit of Mt. Everest on May 23, 2003, and
becoming the first person with one arm to summit Mt. Everest. Later the next year, Gary
lead an expedition to the summit of the world’s sixth highest mountain, Mt. Cho Oyu,
located in Tibet. Gary also competed in the grueling Marathon des Sables in Morocco. The
MdS is a 6 day, 153 plus miles (250km) endurance race across the Sahara Desert - “The
hardest stage race in the World” (CNN World News). Gary was featured in the award-winning
documentary Team Everest: A Himalayan Journey and his new book “Make Others Greater” is
now available.
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2015 PRIMEX3 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Speaker Biographies
Dan Hynds
Dan Hynds, Network/Systems Administrator has been with Primex3 since 2008, where
he started as Tech Support Specialist. He is a self-taught computer geek who graduated
from SNHU with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in IT.
Primex3 offers Dan a variety of challenges on a day to day basis, which fits well for him
as he has a voracious appetite for all things technical. Some of his specific duties at
Primex3 include server administration and helping to streamline processes and maximize
efficiencies in our use of technology. Dan is Microsoft Certified and has a special interest in
IT and network security. In his free time, Dan enjoys boxing, lifting weights, and is secure
enough to admit that he loves spending time with his two cats.
Carol Kilmister
Carol Kilmister, SPHR, is a Human Resource Consultant in the Education and Training
Department. Before Primex3, she was employed as the Director of Human Resources for
School Administrative Unit #19 in Goffstown, NH since 2000. Prior to that, she worked for
the NH Department of Education as their Public Information Officer. Carol is a graduate
of Rivier College with a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Administration and
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in
Marketing and a minor in Psychology from Plymouth State University. In addition, she holds
national certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). She serves on the
board of directors for the Association of New Hampshire Public Employer Human Resource
Administrators (ANHPEHRA) and is on the Artist in Residence committee in her
local community.
Patrick Morin
Pat is a principal in and director of the risk and business advisory practice at Baker Newman
Noyes, specializing in a wide range of topics related to business process and information
systems. Pat has significant experience providing services such as assessment and
evaluation of business processes and the identification of information system solutions;
creation of control frameworks to mitigate risk; information technology controls and
security reviews and SSAE 16 Service Organization Control examinations; developing
solutions to analyze large-scale data sets; and developing information technology strategies
and business resumption plans.
Mary Beth Purcell
Mary Beth Purcell, Mary Beth Purcell is a Senior Claims Consultant handling property and
liability claims and coverage questions. She joined Primex3 In August 2002 after working for
a commercial carrier for ten years. She has developed special expertise in handling public
entity losses and claims. Mary Beth attained her Associate in Claims and recently received
her Senior Claims Law Associate. She is a graduate of Merrimack College. When Mary Beth is
not working, she and her husband enjoy watching their three children participate in sports.
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2015 PRIMEX3 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Speaker Biographies
Mike Ricker, Esq.
Mike Ricker, Esq., General Counsel for Primex3 provides both legal counsel and legal loss
prevention services to Primex3. Mike joined Primex3 in 2007 and has been instrumental in the
development of several key education and training programs conducted by Primex3, such as
harassment in the workplace, ethics and bullying. His extensive legal background – including
but not limited to general litigation, municipal defense, business and employment litigation,
medical malpractice and family law – and keen insight into the needs of public entities
from a legal perspective, are just a few reasons why he is a valuable resource to the Primex3
membership. Prior to joining Primex3, Mike owned and operated his own law practice, worked
as a litigation attorney in a large New Hampshire law firm, was an Assistant Attorney General
for the State of New Hampshire, and worked in the New Hampshire Superior and Supreme
Courts as a judicial law clerk.
Kaitlyn Roig-Debellis
Kaitlin M. Roig-DeBellis attended UCONN and was accepted to the NEAG School of Education,
where she completed her Masters of Education with honors in 2006. She was a member of
Order of Omega honor society, The Historical honor society and the NEAG honor society,
and was named a New England Scholar in 2005. Kaitlin served as the Historian for the NEAG
Student Association and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority where she served
as Membership Chair, Recording Secretary, and on the Scholarship Committee. She worked
as an intercollegiate athlete tutor to refine study skills and plan essays, as well as a study hall
monitor for the UCONN Men’s Soccer team. Kaitlin began her teaching career as a Reading
Specialist in Westport, CT in 2006. Kaitlin worked closely with teachers and administration to
implement strategies and action plans for these readers. She currently serves on the NEAG
Alumni Association Board of Directors and also serves on the awards selection committee
and has received the Dedicated Teacher Award from The Chicago International Conference
on Education. Kaitlin writes educational blog posts for the Huffington Post weekly and has
contributed to the book ‘Teaching From the Heart’ volume 2, out this May.
Phil St. Cyr
Phil St. Cyr, Risk Management Services Consultant, works primarily with Primex3 municipalities
and county members to address their risk management, consulting and training needs.
Prior to joining Primex3, Phil retired at the rank of Lieutenant from the City of Manchester
Fire Department after 25 years of service. He was also the Director of Emergency Services
for the Greater Manchester Chapter of the American Red Cross. Phil is a certified instructor
and former member of the American Red Cross National Disaster Response Team and is a
current member of the American Society of Safety Engineers. He holds an A.A.S. degree from
NH Technical College in Manchester; is certified in N.I.M.S. (National Incident Management
Systems) and E.O.C. (Emergency Operations Center) management. He has an extensive
background in Hazardous Materials, Fire Prevention & Safety and Emergency Management
& Disaster Planning. Phil has served on numerous local, state and regional planning
committees, developing response plans to terrorist threats, natural and manmade disasters,
and potential epidemic/pandemic outbreaks.
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2015 PRIMEX3 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Speaker Biographies
Jay Therrien
Jay Therrien is an author, speaker and consultant who began his career managing rock
stars, which made his transition into the business world all the more interesting. He has
gone on to lead learning and development at three Fortune 500 companies, run global
sales divisions, author two books, and consult with major corporations, non-profits,
startups and municipalities. His workshops and keynotes focus on the continuous
learning within topics such as leadership, communication, talent management and next
generation practice development. As a consultant and speaker, Jay has been on stage in
front of millions around the world both in person and via national television broadcast.
In addition to writing and speaking, Jay enjoys golfing, performing music and spending
time with his wife and three daughters at their home in Longmeadow, MA. For articles
and news visit his website whatsinyourway.com.
Jeremy Veilleux
Jeremy began with Baker Newman Noyes when the firm was founded in 1995 after
previously working with KPMG, one of BNN’s predecessor companies since 1991. Jeremy
is an Audit Principal and provides leadership to the firm as the Managing Principal of
the firm’s New Hampshire offices. Jeremy is also a member of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants, the Maine and New Hampshire Societies of Certified Public
Accountants, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and the Healthcare Financial
Management Association. He is Executive Board Member and Treasurer for the Granite
United Way, the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and also serves as
Board Member for the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and Advisory Board
Member for the Paul School at the University of New Hampshire. Jeremy enjoys golfing
and fishing in his spare time. He is married and has two sons.
Dave Witham
Dave Witham, Risk Management Supervisor, has been with Primex3 for over 25 years.
David holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Safety from Keene State
College and holds a Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation though the National
Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. David is currently an At-Large City
Councilor in the City of Somersworth and is the Council’s designee to the City’s Planning
Board. Dave has chaired the City’s Charter Review Commission and served for more than
24 years as a call firefighter and call department crew chief. David also enjoys umpiring
baseball at all levels, something he has done for more than 30 years, coaching youth
soccer and hockey, and closely following the UNH Wildcat Hockey program.
Jon Wortmann
Jon Wortmann is the author of three books: Mastering Communication at Work: How to
Lead, Manage, and Influence; The Three Commitments of Leadership: How Clarity, Stability,
and Rhythm Create Great Leaders; and Hijacked by Your Brain: Discovering the Path to
Freedom From Stress. He is a graduate of Carleton College with a master’s from Harvard
University. He began his training career in 2005 with a division of Time Warner, and has
since worked with Fortune 500, start-up, universities, and non-profit organizations to
improve the core skills of rising executives. Jon also serves as the Assistant Golf Coach for
the University of Connecticut, is a board member of NASA’s Goddard Summer program
in Worcester, MA, and has led teenagers and adults on 20 week-long service trips with
organizations like Habitat for Humanity to cities such as New Orleans, Chicago, and
New York City. Jon is a thoughtLEADERS senior instructor and provides training in the
areas of communication, leadership, and stress reduction.
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