Florida TERT Leadership
State Coordinator
Natalia Duran, CPE - Natalia.Duran@FloridaAPCO.org
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (ret.) | APCO International | Florida APCO
As the State Coordinator for the FL-APCO Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce Team (FL-TERT) she works with Police & Fire agencies in Florida in the deployments of Public Safety Telecommunicators (PST) who are trained to deploy to assist a 911 center during hurricanes such as Hurricane Irma 2017, Hurricane Michael 2018, Hurricane Sally 2020, Hurricane Ida 2021, Hurricane Ian 2022.
A CISM/Peer Support Team Lead for MDFR, she continues to work in supporting our emergency responders. A humbling experience, she worked at the SURFSIDE Collapse (2021) site providing peer support to emergency responders.
A graduate of the Certified Public-Safety Executive Program (2017) through APCO International, Natalia has proven to be a leader in our 911 industry and continues to make a difference.
A proud mother of two Marine Vets and grandmother of six, she enjoys traveling, training, and meeting many of her brothers and sisters in public safety.
Member Coordinator
Christine Wade - mrschristinewade@yahoo.com
Orange County Sheriff's Office (ret.)
Christine recently retired after 24 years with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. She is a Former FL-TERT Regional Coordinator and now serves as the Data/Membership Coordinator.
Regional Coordinators
Panhandle Region
Chris Hall - christopherh@santarosa.fl.gov
Santa Rosa ECC
Chris Hall has been the Panhandle Regional Coordinator since 2017 and has been employed by Santa Rosa 9-1-1 since 2006. Chris has certifications in EMD, CTO, and ASHI BLS Instruction. Prior to working in 9-1-1, Chris worked in EMS for several years. Chris a passion for mental health and has certifications in Assisting Individuals in Crisis, Group Crisis Intervention, and Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support through ICISF. Finally, Chris will graduate next year with a bachelor’s in psychology and aspires to go on to graduate school and become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Chris is married and has a young son, and in his down time enjoys family time, outdoors, fishing, reading, and cooking.
April Miller - aprilmi@santarosa.fl.gov
Santa Rosa ECC
I'm a single, small-town mama with almost 17 years of dispatch experience (Santa Rosa County EMS/Fire, NAS Pensacola Police). Currently I hold the titles of FL-TERT Panhandle Region Assistant Coordinator and Florida Region I COM-T. I try to do my best to help out when and where needed.
Northwest Region
Brian Hardin - bhardin@baybountyfl.org
Communications Division Chief - Bay County Emergency Services
Responsible for sixteen Telecommunicators / four Supervisors, six 9-1-1 Call Takers, E9-1-1 Coordinator, GIS Specialist and two radio maintenance employees for Bay County Emergency Services Communications Center Fire/EMS. We are responsible for maintaining the daily operations of 9-1-1 for all EMS / Fire departments in Bay county (10 agencies).
I started telecommunications career in 1979 in the Alabama Army National Guard, 109th Evac Army Hospital as a radio/teletype operator. In 1980 my first career job as a Fire dispatcher for Homewood, Al. Fire and Rescue. My family moved to Panama City in 1989 where I started working with Bay Medical EMS as a Telecommunications Operator. I was promoted to Captain (Comm’s Supervisor) in 2009. In 2012 I accepted the position of supervisor for Fire services at Bay County Emergency Services. I have worked as a volunteer EMT in my local community for 17 years. In 2013 EMS dispatch was combined with Fire. I was promoted to Communications Division Chief in 2020.
Northeast Region
Lisa Cahill - lisa.cahill@marionfl.org
Marion County Public Safety
Lisa Cahill is a dedicated professional leader with 27 years’ experience specializing in training, problem solving, planning, organizing and managing emergency telecommunicators committed to providing excellent customer service and implementing operational and procedural improvements that benefit the citizens and first responders of Marion County.
That leadership has traversed into her TERT deployments as well. Lisa has participated in three TERT deployments. Lisa currently serves together with Ricky Rowell from Nassau County Sheriff’s Office as Co-Team Leaders for the Northeast Region.
September 2020, Hurricane Sally (Category 2) – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared a State of Emergency on September 14, 2020. Lisa was deployed to Baldwin County, Alabama.
Late August 2021, Hurricane Ida (Category 4) – On August 28, 2021, President Joe Biden issued a State of Emergency for the State of Louisiana one day prior to Hurricane Ida landfall. Lisa was deployed to LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.
September 2022, Hurricane Ian (Category 5) – Lisa was deployed to Lee County Control for an unprecedented 19 days.
Lisa has gathered knowledge from each deployment and shared that information in various training classes to help ensure others are prepared.
Lt. Ricky Rowell - Ricky.Rowell@FloridaAPCO.org
Nassau County Sheriff's Office | Florida APCO
Ricky has been the NCSO 911 Communications Manager since 2010. He began his career with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office on April 15, 1998, after two years as a Volunteer Fire Fighter / EMT. Ricky remained active as a volunteer firefighter and also dispatched part-time for Trauma One North out of UF Health in Jacksonville, FL. At NCSO Ricky worked as a telecommunicator, EMD, dispatch team supervisor, and training coordinator prior to being promoted to Communications Manager. He is also a Negotiator and CISM team leader. Other responsibilities during his time with NCSO include FCIC TAC, 911 Coordinator, NWS 911 CAD Build Team, NCSO Explorer Program Leader, Camp Cadet Counselor, APCO Instructor, CPR Instructor, NCSO Project Lifesaver Program Manager, Radio System Coordinator, AED program coordinator, etc. Ricky received a distinguished service award in 2010, in 2013 he achieved APCO Florida Chapter Life member status and later achieved APCO International Life Member, 2015 he achieved his RPL from APCO international. Ricky is a Past Chapter President of The Florida Chapter of APCO and currently holds the position of Executive Council Representative on the Florida APCO board. Ricky is a proven leader, demonstrating a willingness to do “whatever it takes” to accomplish the goals of his agency. He has a passion for helping others and serving the citizens of Nassau County.
Central Region
Brittney Desrosiers - bdesrosiers@pascocountyfl.net
Pasco County Sheriff's Office
Brittney Desrosiers is a Law Enforcement Dispatch Supervisor at the Pasco County Department of Emergency Services and has served at the agency for over six years. She joined the TERT team shortly after her career began in 2017; she’s since had the privilege of participating in deployment to Bay County following the devastating events of Hurricane Michael. Brittney was appointed as the Regional Coordinator for the Central West area in January of 2022, and she looks forward to future deployments and encourages others to do the same. Brittney is an active member of several departmental organizations, such as the Community Outreach Program and the Tampa Bay Regional CISM Team.
Southwest Region
Debbie Gailbreath, RPL - debbiegailbreath@gmail.com
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office (ret.) | APCO International | Florida APCO
Debbie currently serves as a SW FL TERT Regional Coordinator and has been involved in FL TERT since its inception when it was known as F.A.S.T. (FL APCO Strike Team), following Hurricane Andrew. She is a certified team member and team leader. Debbie is a past president of FL APCO and has assisted with the delivery of food, clothing, and household items to telecommunicators affected by hurricanes in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana. She retired from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office in 2016 and continues to assist with the logistics and scheduling of TERT deployments.
Christina Valderrama - christina.valderrama@sarasotasheriff.org
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
Bio coming soon!
Monica Guttenfelder - monica.guttenfelder@colliersheriff.org
Collier County Sheriff's Office
Bio coming soon!
Southeast Region
Florida APCO
Jennifer Finigan - Jennifer.Finigan@FloridaAPCO.org
President - Florida APCO
Jennifer has been a dispatcher at Volusia Sheriff's Office for almost 19 years, and a supervisor for the last year and a half. She currently serves as the Florida APCO president and volunteer co-chair for APCO 2024 in Orlando.
James Oehmke - James.Oehmke@FloridaAPCO.org
Secretary - Florida APCO | FL-TERT APCO Liaison
I have 18 years of dispatch experience with Volusia Sheriff's Office. I am the current Secretary for Florida APCO and a Past President. I have been appointed the FL-TERT Board Oversight/Liaison and get to work with the best TERT state coordinator.
