BOARD MEMBERS
EMEAA is powered by dedicated members who share their professional expertise and passion. Guided by its bylaws, EMEAA is governed by the Board of Directors who are responsible for leading the association’s efforts based on its mission, vision and strategic objectives.
PRESIDENT
EMEAA FOUNDING MEMBER, ROBERT (BOB) JENSEN
Bob brings more than four decades of experience inside and outside of government and has clients in the U.S. and across the globe.
Bob served as the Department of Homeland Security’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Deputy Director for External Affairs at FEMA and Director of News Operations for the Air Force News Agency among other positions during his 32-year federal career. Bob led the U.S. government’s on the ground crisis communications efforts after the massive earthquake in Haiti and provided senior oversight for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response and 30+ major U.S. disasters including Hurricane Sandy. He also served as a spokesman for the White House’s National Security Council and the U.S. Embassy Baghdad, and deployed on four combat zone tours to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He is a member of the International Advisory Committee for the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Disaster Management and Public Safety and is a non-resident scholar with George Washington University.
Bob advises and consults with nations and corporations on crisis, emergency and disaster risk management. Clients include the World Bank, U.S. State Department, U.S. Department of Defense, Emergency Management Victoria (Australia), energy and water sector organizations and national governments. Bob also speaks regularly at conferences, events and universities globally.
VICE PRESIDENT
EMEAA FOUNDER, DAN STONEKING
Dan brings more than 35 years of private and public external affairs and crisis communications experience to EMEAA. Prior to joining EMEAA, Dan held the position of Regional External Affairs Director at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Preceding that role, Dan served as Director of Private Sector and Deputy and Acting Director within FEMA’s Office of Public Affairs.
Dan’s experience includes his pivotal roles during crises including the 9/11 attack at the Pentagon; serving as lead spokesperson for the National Guard in Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina; establishing the first-ever international joint information center in response to the catastrophic 2010 earthquake in Haiti, as spokesperson during response and recovery efforts after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and creating a coalition with the private sector to implement the first national business emergency operations center.
Dan is the owner and principal ofDan Stoneking Strategic Communications LLC, author of Cultivate Your Garden: Crisis Communications From 30,000 Feet to Three Feet, a Columnist for Homeland Security Today, and an Adjunct Professor at West Chester University, PA.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
EMEAA FOUNDING MEMBER, DARRYL MADDEN
Darryl is a seasoned crisis communications director with decades of experience working in the areas of public safety, and disaster response and recovery.
His professional postings have included roles in the administrations of two major East Coast city mayors in public safety. His federal service has included assignments within the U.S. government within the Departments of Homeland Security-FEMA, Commerce, and Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General.
Darryl has held many leadership positions during a series of national disaster crises including 9/11, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, and the U.S. government’s international response to the earthquake in Haiti. He has also worked as the director of FEMA’s Ready Campaign for Disaster Preparedness, on FirstNet, created to enhance methods of communications for first responders, and re-engineering the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Disaster Response and Recovery.
He also serves as president of the Ernest C. & Dorothy M. Madden Foundation, LLC, the family philanthropic non-profit that awards higher education funding for graduating high school seniors.
DIRECTOR OF TRAINING
EMEAA FOUNDING MEMBER, IAN HAY
HISTORIAN
EMEAA FOUNDING MEMBER, ED CONLEY
Ed served nearly three decades with FEMA, leading teams around the globe in response to some of history's most significant disasters. He has also managed national incidents and international emergencies with the (US) Coast Guard, Secret Service, Centers for Disease Control, and Department of State. Appointed as a US Liaison Representative with NATO, Ed traveled throughout Europe on emergency preparedness assignments.
Before joining FEMA, he spent seven winters on the National Ski Patrol.
Ed is also a public speaker and the author of Promote the Dog Sitter: And Other Principles for Leading During Disasters. He resides in Seattle, Washington.
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP
EMEAA FOUNDING MEMBER, MARY HUDAK
Mary has more than 40 years of experience in emergency management. She previously served as the External Affairs Director for the southeast region of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where she managed all functions of the regions public, media, and internal communications programs, as well as external engagement with the agency’s stakeholders including congressional, intergovernmental, tribal, and private sector partners.
Mary began her government career with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as an interim employee, and later joined HUD’s Emergency Preparedness staff, and became a FEMA legacy employee when the agency was created with the merging of five disaster-related federal agencies. Mary has served as an FEMA External Affairs lead for many major events and has coordinated External Affairs functions on hundreds of declared disasters. She has also received numerous awards for her work on task forces, special assignments, and in the field of disaster response.
Mary is active in her neighborhood Civic Association, the Atlanta Chapter of the Pitt Alumni association, the Delta Zeta Sorority Alumni, and serves as the President of the St Vincent de Paul conference of the Sacred Heart Church.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
EMEAA FOUNDING MEMBER, JENNA PALFREY
Jenna brings more than 20 years of external affairs and crisis communications experience to EMEAA. She has served in roles supporting the Office of Public Affairs at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Jenna has also served in external affairs and crisis communication roles for some of the largest oil and gas companies in the world.
During her time in the private sector, Jenna was selected as a contributing representative for external and public affairs committees for two prestigious private sector associations, and has also volunteered her time and expertise to global crisis response and recovery organizations for some of the largest crises over the last decade.
CHIEF OF STAFF
EMEAA FOUNDING MEMBER, ASHLEY SMALL MONTGOMERY
Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge to this critical role, including her experience as a Senior Communication Specialist for over 15 years and as a Director of Public Affairs and Acting Deputy Chief of Staff the past eight years. Ashley has served in private sector, local government, and federal government (Department of Health and Human Services, FEMA, and CISA).
Ashley currently serves a the Chief of Staff for the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She Previously worked for DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), where she served as the Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for the National Risk Management Center (NRMC).
Her clear understanding of leadership requirements, organizational needs, and the need for clear and transparent communication will make her a huge asset. We look forward to working with her as she takes on this critical role not only within OCHCO but within the Department.
DISABILITY INTEGRATION ADVISOR, DAWN BRANTLEY
Dawn Brantley has dedicated her over 16-year career to inclusive emergency management as an attorney, certified emergency manager, and certified ADA Coordinator. She is the Director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and has chaired NEMA’s Diversity & Equity Committee for three years. Dawn has held key positions in local, regional, state, and federal emergency management, including Emergency Programs Manager in Anchorage, Alaska, and Strategic Planning Branch Chief for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
She founded the Inclusive Emergency Management Community and co-founded the International Association of Mass Care Professionals and has contributed to national guidance and published articles on accessibility in emergency management with her work being featured in National Academies of Science publications. Dawn holds degrees in human services, psychology, and law, with a focus on applying non-discrimination laws to emergency management.
EMERGING TRENDS AND TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR, GABE LUGO
Gabe is an innovative homeland security professional and crisis communicator with a strong commitment to leveraging technology and strategic messaging to address complex governmental challenges and enhance outcomes for key stakeholders. He currently serves as a management consultant, supporting federal clients in the defense and homeland security sectors. In addition, Gabe works as a contracted Public Information Officer, supporting special events such as large music festivals and sporting events in challenging urban settings.
His previous experience includes roles with FEMA, the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and the VCU Office of Emergency Management. Gabe’s career advanced rapidly due to his award-winning work in utilizing social media to improve operational situational awareness for public safety agencies. He holds a degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, where he currently resides.
COUNTERING HUMAN TRAFFICKING ADVISOR, SANDRA DENNIS-ESSIG
Sandra Dennis-Essig is an emergency management professional and anti-human trafficking advocate dedicated to contributing to positive change. Her emergency management background includes previous roles at FEMA and current positions as a team member of the RRS Patient Decontamination, Disaster Duty Officer for the American Red Cross in San Diego and Imperial County, California, and DCS - Long-Term Recovery - Grants Program Volunteer Partner. As a survivor and Subject Matter Expert (SME), Sandra offers insights informed by her lived experience, aiming to bridge emergency management and anti-human trafficking efforts.
She emphasizes survivor-centered approaches, collaborative emergency response and support for vulnerable populations with heightened urgency during disasters. Sandra was involved with the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT) as a survivor, where she shared her story. Through NJCAHT's supportive network, she found empowerment as a survivor of human trafficking. Their resources enabled her to share her experiences, participate in speaking engagements and surveys, contributing to critical awareness and advocacy initiatives.
Sandra's published works include "Emergency Managers' Role in Response to Human Trafficking" in Homeland Security Today (co-authored with Dan Stone King), "Invisible Chains: Human Trafficking, Drug Abuse, and Support" in Domestic Preparedness and "A Critical Imperative: Natural Hazards" in Domestic Preparedness.
