Our Team

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & OWNER

April Marker Lawless is a seasoned project manager, a facilitator and team builder with a true collaborative spirit. As a public health professional, she has guided organizations through all aspects of complex projects and plan development including, assessment, training, project management and improvement planning. Throughout her career, April has managed community health and emergency preparedness projects with local governments, state agencies, federal partners, tribes, non-profit organizations, and healthcare facilities. Mrs. Lawless holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Community Health from University of Oregon and a Masters in Public Health from University of Arizona. She also holds her certificate as a Professional Continuity Practitioner from FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute.

SENIOR ANALYST

Diane Reed has over 25 years of experience as a public health emergency management professional working with government agencies and their emergency management and private health care partners. She has a substantial background in environmental health and infectious disease surveillance, investigation, and control. Ms. Reed has administered all aspects of local public health emergency preparedness programs, provided training, and developed and conducted local and statewide emergency exercises that are designed to test public health and healthcare system capabilities. She has successfully partnered with federal, state and local public health, tribal nations, law enforcement, fire department, emergency management, and private non-governmental organizations including hospitals and other healthcare facilities to provide effective public health and medical participation in multidisciplinary emergency exercises and emergency plan development. Ms. Reed holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Arizona State University and a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies, Homeland Security and Defense from the United States Naval Postgraduate School. She is a Certified Public Manager (Arizona State University), a Master Exercise Practitioner (DHS/FEMA), a Registered Sanitarian (Arizona), and a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian (National Environmental Health Association). She resides in Overgaard, Arizona, a small unincorporated community just north of the Mogollon Rim in the White Mountains with her husband, Frank, three grandchildren, and three rescue dogs.

PREPAREDNESS ANALYST

Sarah Nuttbrock has over 17 years of experience collaborating with stakeholders at federal, state, and county government agencies, as well as local private and not-for-profit organizations. Her experience as a preparedness and continuity planner includes acting as an integral component of various planning teams, assisting in the facilitation of business impact analyses, conducting hazard and vulnerability assessments, developing business continuity/continuity of operations plans and supporting documents, designing and executing exercises, and developing exercise documentation.

Ms. Nuttbrock has experience with evaluation and quantitative and qualitative data analytics and with project and program coordination and management. She has extensive experience in the health care sector. She has presented at local and national conferences, such as the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Conference and the Disaster Resilient Universities Network Summit.

Ms. Nuttbrock holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Seattle Pacific University and a Master in Public Health degree from Oregon Health & Science University and Portland State University School of Public Health (OHSU-PSU School of Public Health). She is also a Registered Nurse (RN).

When Sarah is not busy helping build community resilience, she is spending time with her family and can often be seen on the sidelines of her son’s sports activities or walking the family dog around the neighborhood. Sarah enjoys spending her time traveling, camping, hiking, and visiting the beautiful Oregon coast.

PROJECT ASSISTANT

Nancy Upton has over 15 years of experience in client services with a foundation in customer service, communication, and client support. Her experience in emergency preparedness and continuity planning includes participating on planning teams, conducting resource and gap assessments, data and spreadsheet management, and information organization. She also aids in the design and execution of exercises through the creation of exercise materials, customer outreach, clear client communication, and her eye for detail.  Nancy supports the growth of the company by executing a targeted marketing strategy and social media efforts. Her Graphic Communication background assists with directing communications activities such as graphic design, marketing communications, and branding.

Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Communication with a concentration in Print Management from California Polytechnic State University. When Nancy is not preparing for a better tomorrow, she prefers spending time with her husband and two teenage boys. They can often be spotted exploring the scenic Oregon outdoors on a board, kayak or bike. In her downtime Nancy enjoys baking and tackling home improvement projects with her family.

PLANNER AND PROJECT MANAGER

Tina has over 24 years of experience providing the highest level of service in developing and integrating new programs, policy implementation and analysis, public communication and outreach, and emergency preparedness and environmental resiliency planning. Aided by her organizational leadership and
cross-disciplinary approach to plan writing, Tina has developed and executed numerous plans, exercises, and trainings in continuity of operations, risk and
hazard communications, public health infectious disease, natural disasters, and emergency operations. She has developed and executed politically-sensitive and complex public service programs including conducting program evaluation and developing standard operating procedures and policies. Tina has led various grants and contracts including developing budgets, scopes of work, work plans, and project goals and objectives. She has extensive experience in directing communications and public information activities such as graphic design, press releases, marketing and branding, website content/presence, social media platforms, media buys, and media relations. Within several government organizations, Tina has led community outreach and public involvement initiatives including leading and facilitating boards, task forces, and public meetings; developing education outreach (youth and adult learners) and business assistance programs; and has practical application and knowledge of Open Public Meeting Law, parliamentary procedures, and records management.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Health from Illinois State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University. Tina continues her commitment to the public and the community by serving in key leadership positions with the Junior League of Phoenix and Junior League of Phoenix Foundation since 2001. Tina is also a long-standing board member of her children’s school Parent-Teacher Organization. In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, son, and pup camping in their travel trailer and exploring their beautiful state of Arizona.

Michael has been involved in emergency services, emergency management, and safety for over 40 years in a variety of positions. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter and progressed up through the ranks to become a Fire Chief of a large combination fire department. He has also served as a County Emergency Manager, 9-1-1 system designer/manager, and technical and collegiate instructor at the associate and bachelor’s levels and for private organizations.

In addition, Michael has instructed an extensive portfolio of courses in safety, emergency response, emergency management, healthcare, public health, and hazardous materials to clients throughout the world, as an instructor/coordinator with internationally recognized training organizations.

Mike has served as a Safety Administrator for a large healthcare facility, managing both safety and emergency preparedness. He has been a lead participant in accreditation and compliance surveys and safety inspections. Mike is experienced in all components of pre-hospital and hospital operations, physical environment, safety, environment of care, emergency preparedness, public health, and life safety.

He is a published author, course developer, consultant, presenter, and internationally recognized trainer. Mike has worked with companies and students from over 40 different nations and presented internationally.

Michael has extensive experience in managing large-scale events. He served on the Incident Management Team for the Deepwater Horizon Incident of National Significance, as well as other significant events throughout the US.

He has obtained an M.A. in Human Resources Development, a master’s Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health, and holds extensive certifications in the emergency response, emergency management, instructional, and safety fields.

Michael currently consults with clients in the business, government, healthcare, general industry, and construction sectors. Mike lives in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife an in his free time, enjoys playing the drums, all kinds of music, and hiking.

Gary Karp is a specialist in People with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs (DAFN) in disasters, having served with FEMA as a Disability Integration Advisor as of 2016. He deployed 15 times from Oregon to Puerto Rico supporting people’s recovery from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and wildfires. In 2018 Gary switched to FEMA’s reservist corps as an Applicant Services Specialist and now, a Voluntary Agency Liaison, as well as an instructor at the FEMA Incident Workforce Academy in Anniston, AL. In between deployments, Gary serves as a consultant on DAFN planning and preparedness for emergency management and public health clients. Since 1973, Gary has used a wheelchair following an injury to his spinal cord when he was eighteen years old. In 1999, his first of four books on disability, Life On Wheels, was published. He spent the intervening years as a journalist, speaker, and trainer on disability for universities, conferences, and public and private clients. In 2007 he was inducted by the National Spinal Cord Injury Association into their hall of fame as a Disability Educator. He is devoted to spreading the message of the historic emergence of people with disabilities into all levels of society, and assisting his clients in ensuring that everyone gets equal and timely support before, during, and after emergencies and disasters. Gary is a lifelong guitar player, a juggler, card magician, and plays a pretty capable game of backgammon in local tournaments.