Warren J. Leek
Director

I was appointed as director in December, 2005, after serving as the operations manager for 14 of my 16 years in the department. As director, I have overall responsibility for accomplishment of the department’s mission. In addition to developing and maintaining the county emergency operations plan, we assist all 24 cities and towns in the county with the development and exercising of their emergency operations plans. A few of our other major responsibilities are ensuring the county’s ability to respond to an incident at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, providing administrative support to the Maricopa County Local Emergency Planning Committee, coordinating flood response plans with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County and others, and ensuring that the county emergency operations center (EOC) is ready to be activated when needed.

I'm also actively involved in the homeland security arena. I am a member of the Central Region Advisory Council, which determines the homeland security strategy and sets policy for the distribution of federal homeland security funds in Arizona's Central Region (Maricopa County). I am also one of three members of the Phoenix Urban Area Working Group, which has ultimate authority over the expenditure of homeland security funds in the Central Region under the Urban Areas Security Initiative, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security program that focuses on protecting the largest urban areas in the nation.

E-mail Dennis

Dennis Cvancara, CEM, CPM
Operations Manager

I joined the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management in December 1991 as an Emergency Planner and was selected as Operations Manager in April 2006. I am responsible for supervising the Department’s Emergency and GIS Planners in carrying out the Department’s mission. I volunteered with the Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross as a Government Liaison Office and participated in operations in New York after 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina.

Sara Latin
Finance Manager

I joined the Emergency Management Department in January 2005 as the Finance Manager. I am responsible for the financial management of the department. I am a proud graduate of the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Western International University with a M.A in Public Administration.

Marcos Coria
GIS Programmer / Analyst

I am a native of Chandler, Arizona. I started with the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management at the beginning of 2006. I previously worked for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health in the Epidemiology Division doing GIS and data analysis.

Some of my responsibilities include maintaining the current GIS applications used by different agencies in the EOC, display of geographic information in the EOC during an event, development of new GIS applications, and of course making maps. While my official title suggests I am exclusively a Map Guy I have found some of my coworkers consider me an IT Guy as well.

E-mail Kamilah

Kamilah Manuel
HR Administrative Specialist

Holly Carpenter
Emergency Planner

I have been with the department since fall of 2004. In late 2006 I was promoted to Emergency Services Planner. My primary responsibility is emergency planning for flooding scenarios in the County. I work closely with the Flood Control District and others, to coordinate flood response planning. I also serve as the County Liaison for the cities of Litchfield Park and Tolleson. My responsibilities as liaison include assisting with the development of exercises and Emergency Operations Plans.

E-mail Jim

Jim Begansky
Emergency Planner

My functions include liaison to public health agencies, hospitals, and the Office of the Medical Examiner. Prior to my current position, I was an Emergency Planner with the San Mateo County, California, Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services. I also served as an Emergency Management Consultant at Mills-Peninsula Health Services hospitals and clinics. I had eight years experience with the Federal Emergency Management Agency including serving as their Regional Training Manager. I served with the American Red Cross for ten years including Emergency Services Director with the Arizona Division and Disaster Specialist with Red Cross National Headquarters. Other work experience was in the areas of criminal justice, social services, and education. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Central Connecticut State College and Master's Degrees in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Hawaii.

Cristina Herrera
Emergency Planner

I joined the Emergency Management Department in May 2006. As an Emergency Services Planner, I am assigned to provide technical assistance in the development of Emergency Operations Plans and exercises to the cities/towns of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek. I am also assigned to provide assistance to the Indian communities in Maricopa County. I am the Executive Director of the Maricopa County Local Emergency Planning Committee which serves as a focal point in Maricopa County for information and discussions about hazardous and toxic chemicals, chemical safety, health and environmental risks.

I have been in public service for over 25 years. I have 15 years of experience in emergency management managing a comprehensive emergency management program, coordinating mitigation, preparedness response and recovery activities, interacting with federal, state, and local officials on domestic and binational issues. I have also worked in the areas of: public health, planning and zoning, building and safety, finance, fire services and transportation. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies degree from Northern Arizona University and recently completed a graduate Certificate in Public Management program. I was nationally recognized by FEMA for implementing Project Impact and by NOAA/NWS for implementing Sky Warn. I was also presented with an “Excellence in Emergency Management” award by the Arizona Emergency Services Association.

E-mail Glen

Glen M. Floe
Emergency Planner

I have been with Maricopa County Emergency Management for 8 years starting in March 1999. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of Arizona . My responsibilities include Emergency Management as Planning Section Chief, Mass Evacuation Planning, the Resource Guide, and Towns and Cities of: Gila Bend, Wickenburg, El Mirage, and Paradise Valley .

E-mail John

John Padilla
Emergency Planner

I joined the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management as an Emergency Services Planner in October 2003. My responsibilities include coordinating the Maricopa County response to any incident occurring at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. This includes the planning and execution of the annual Palo Verde Plume Exposure Pathway Exercise and maintenance of the combined State and County Offsite Emergency Response Plan for Palo Verde. I am also assigned as the department's Continuity of Operations Program (COOP) planner and act as liaison to the cities of: Buckeye, Goodyear, Scottsdale , and Surprise, providing exercise planning and support as well as updating and maintaining each city's Emergency Operations Plan.

Prior to coming to Maricopa County I served as Deputy Chief Probation Officer for the Gila County Adult Probation Department, Northern Regional Administrator for the Adult Probation Services Division of the Arizona Supreme Court and six years in law enforcement. I also have 15 years enlisted and commissioned service with the United States Army Active, National Guard and Reserve components. My last assignment was as an instructor for the Officer Advanced and Basic Courses at the U.S. Army Military Police School.

I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration from the University of Arizona and serve as an Adjunct Instructor for the Arizona Division of Emergency Management.

Jean Morrow
Office Assistant

I joined Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management in July 1997 I have been licensed as a Ham Radio operator since 1993.I am Responsible for the Operation of the County, State Radio Systems, Ham Radio and the Palo Verde warning system during drills, exercises and activation.

I have been employed with Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management since August of 2007 after relocating from Michigan in June of 2007. My primary responsibilities include being the recording secretary for the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and various other administrative support duties.

E-mail Julie

With almost 20 years of communication, relations and marketing experience with Maricopa County, my background ranges over various departments/disciplines including planning & development, public works, environmental services and emergency management. As RDSA Relations Director, I’m responsible for a wide range of public, intergovernmental and business relations activities across nine departments. A large portion of my energy revolves around emergency management/crisis communications and public information.

I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business and a MBA in International Business from the Thunderbird Graduate School of Global Management.