Who We Are

	Patricia L. Dugger Director Phone: (859) 280-8060 Email Pat				Pat Dugger has been director of DEEM, now DEM, since it was first established in 1988. Since then, she's spearheaded development of a comprehensive emergency management program that links public safety with public health and other response and support disciplines. Our program is inclusive of all hazards and all disciplines with the goal to have Lexington as prepared and capable of responding to the most likely hazards we face. Before joining DEM, she worked with the Division of Building Inspection from 1984-1988. She has a BS from EKU and a MPA from UK.
	Tim Brandewie Operations/Recovery Mgr. Phone: (859) 280-8054 Email Tim				Tim came to DEM in February 2004 to serve as the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) Coordinator. The MMRS is an ongoing effort by the health, medical and public safety community to plan for serious health and medical catastrophes in the Central Kentucky region, to develop systems for coordinating and providing critical care when and where it’s needed, and to procure medicines and equipment. As Tim's duties have evolved, he's taken on more general planning duties for emergency response and recovery. Prior to joining DEM, Tim served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years as an Intelligence Analyst and Special Operations Officer.
	Hazel Lambert-Hatfield Sr. Administrative Specialist Phone: (859) 280-8061 Email Hazel				Hazel assists the director with office administration, the budget, and grant management. Hazel has been with DEM since 2000.
	Shelley Roberts Bendall Preparedness Coordinator Phone: (859) 280-8063 Email Shelley				Shelley started working for DEM in 2003. Her first week was the record-breaking ice storm that year! She is a graduate of Berea College and earned her Masters in Public Administration from UK's Martin School. Shelley provides disaster preparedness education and training to Lexington residents and businesses. She coordinates the CERT program, education campaigns, and is always looking for ways to encourage people to be prepared for disasters. Shelley also coordinates Lexington's Safe Communities Coalition, a program of the National Safety Council. She enjoys gardening, hiking, and chasing after her two children.
	Doreen Birkholz Emergency Systems Specialist Phone: (859) 280-8059 Email Doreen				Doreen joined us in June 2003. She has a degree in Computer Information Systems and assists the staff with software and hardware issues. Doreen's primary role is managing DEM's emergency alerting systems and serve as the WebEOC Administrator. Before joining DEM, she worked as the senior case manager for a forensic economist. Doreen loves all animals, enjoys camping, and spends her free time with her furry friends and family.
	Lanni Griffin-BrackensickCSEPP Manager Phone: (859) 280-8055 Email Lanni				Lanni joined Lexington Emergency Management in October 2019. She brings 20+ years financial and management experience, including the CSEPP Finance Officer for the State of Kentucky.  Lanni is responsible for the overall program management of CSEPP, including budget management and forecasting.  She serves on local and national non-profit boards, enjoys cooking, travel, family-time and pets.
	Royce Reeves Logistics Officer Phone: (859) 280-8068 Email Royce				Logistics Officer Royce Reeves came to DEM in June of 2009. He is responsible for purchasing equipment and tracking its location and condition. Prior to joining DEM, Royce worked as a prepress graphic artist for 28 years. If you have an American flag that is no longer suitable for display and don’t know what to do with it, please drop it off at the office and Royce will see to its proper and honorable disposal.
	John Bobel Public Information Officer Phone: (859) 280-8067 Email John				John began working with emergency management when he joined LFUCG as a public information officer in 1993. With 40 years of experience in journalism, public relations, photography, social media, research methods and analysis, management consulting and electrical/broadcast/Internet engineering, John brings extensive knowledge, strategies and tactical abilities to the division’s benefit. John is also an instructor for FEMA, teaching courses for first responders and public affairs personnel in the areas of media relations, use of social media, stakeholder administration and rumor mitigation. John now works full time in the Division of Emergency Management, splitting his time between DEM and CSEPP projects.
	Heather Carrier Emergency Planning Coordinator Phone: (859) 280-8062 Email Heather				Heather began working with DEM in June 2017 as the Emergency Planning Coordinator. Heather is responsible for all of the county emergency plans. She brings with her eleven years of military service specializing in logistics and operations. Heather enjoys cooking, olympic weightlifting, and chasing after her two dogs.
	Stephen Bishop CSEPP Planner/WebEOC Support Phone: (859) 280-8058 Email Stephen				Stephen started volunteering with Lexington Emergency Management in 2007, as an EOC coordinator, working several support functions within the EOC. Leading ESF-2, Stephen assisted with the specification of communications equipment and oversight of installation at the newly renovated Public Safety Operations Center. In November 2017 he accepted the position of CSEPP Planner/WebEOC Support Administrator supporting planning within Fayette County and the ten-county CSEPP region. Stephen comes to DEM with over 25 years of Emergency Services and Management background. When away from work, Stephen enjoys running, having completed multiple marathons, multiple outdoor activities and teaching cave rescue as an Instructor for the National Cave Rescue Commission.
	Maria Church CSEPP Access & Functional Needs Coordinator Phone: (859) 280-8057 Email Maria				Maria started with DEM in September 2020 as the Access and Functional Needs Coordinator for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP). Maria has worked with the Kentucky public library system by providing Outreach and Spanish services to homebound residents and those in assisted living and nursing home facilities. She is a U.S. Navy veteran where she worked in logistics and has a BA degree from EKU in Geography with an emphasis in GIS. The parent of an Eagle Scout, her volunteer work includes working with unit leaders with Boy Scouts of America and currently serves as President of the Immigrant Initiative, a local non-profit organization in Scott County.