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IAEM-USA REGION 9
Gunnar J. Kuepper
President - Region 9
Emergency & Disaster Management, Inc.
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 686-1390
Email: gunnarjkuepper@gmail.com |
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Carolyn M.
Levering, MEd, CEM
Emergency
Manager
City of Las
Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
(702) 229-0313
clevering@lasvegasnevada.gov |
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Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Pacific Trust Territories, including American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands
 Global Board Officer and Region 9 President Delivers Keynote Speech at the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region Holiday Challenge (13 Dec 2012) On Dec. 13, 2012, IAEM-USA Region 9 President and Global Board Officer Gunnar J.  Kuepper presented a keynote speech at the Holiday Challenge of the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region. The event at the Los Angeles Country Club was attended by nearly 300 business and community leaders from the throughout the Region. Gunnar was introduced by actress Christina Moore, best known for being part of the main cast on sketch comedy series MADtv, for replacing Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman on That '70s Show and for portraying Candy Sullivan in the TNT show Hawthorne.
Gunnar's acclaimed presentation about "Disaster Preparedness: Yesterday and Tomorrow" helped in raising more than USD 700,000 (!) in donations at that single event.
The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region serves nearly 10 million people in 88 cities within Los Angeles County, as well as Inyo and Mono Counties and the eastern third of Kern County. During Fiscal Year 2012, the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region responded to 313 home fires and other emergencies, assisted 1,617 victims of disasters with financial or other needs, trained 131,177 people in CPR, first aid, aquatics and water safety courses, provided emergency services to 1,756 members of the Armed Forces and their families, provided information about Red Cross services to 4,710 members of the National Guard, Reservists and their families, and taught preparedness education to 21,206 individuals.
Region 9 President Delivers Keynote Speech at American Red Cross Luncheon (05 Dec 2012) On Dec. 5, 2012, IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper was the keynote speaker at the Holiday Luncheon of the American Red Cross San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter. Gunnar's presentation about "Disaster Preparedness: Yesterday and Tomorrow" helped in raising more than USD 200,000 in donations at that event. Attending were about 200 business and community leaders from the Greater Pasadena area, including the Major of Pasadena, the honorable Bill Bogaard. The San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter serves 1.8 million people in 44 communities, from La Canada Flintridge to Pomona and Duarte to Rowland Heights, covering 320 square miles.
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CEM® Exam Offered in Frasier Park Mountain Community (04 Dec 2012) Emergency management professionals from all over Southern California came all the way up to the Frazier Park Mountain Community (elevation 5,000+ ft.) to have their CEM® exam proctored by IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J Kuepper.
According to Gunnar, "It is rather unusual to have those exams in an Arts Gallery in a mountain community, instead of a national conference or large metropolitan area. However, that way emergency management professionals can experience firsthand the challenges in small American towns with limited government resources and the need for strong citizen's involvement."
Members of the 2012 IAEM-Global Board Met with IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper for a Photo-Shoot in Orlando (05 Nov 2012) The Global Board had three long meetings during the IAEM Annual Conference; directors discussed and made crucial decisions on advanced Bylaws, international CEM®, and strategic planning. The Board members also introduced their councils with a presentation during the opening session.
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Region 9 President Attends NFPA 1600 Committee Meeting (21-22 March 2012) IAEM-USA Region 9 President & IAEM Global Business Director Gunnar J. Kuepper participated in the NFPA 1600 Committee Meeting in Indianapolis, IN.
The Technical Committee on Emergency Management and Business Continuity (formerly known as the Disaster Management Committee) was established by the NFPA Standards Council in January 1991. The committee was given the responsibility for developing documents relating to preparedness for, response to, and recovery from disasters resulting from natural, human, or technological events.
The committee includes a maximum of 36 members plus alternates and nonvoting members from the United States, Canada, and abroad. Members come from the private, non-profit (i.e., IAEM, NEMA, EMAP, DRII, ACP), and public sector (federal, state, and local government). Gunnar was appointed as a special expert and voting member to the committee in 1998.
The committee met in Indianapolis to finish the draft of the 2013 edition. Following this meeting a formal ballot will move the new edition toward adoption by NFPA's Standards Council and publication of the 2013 edition is expected in December of 2012. More info about NFPA 1600 can be found here.
Region 9 President Attends IAEM-USA Board Retreat (19-20 March 2012) IAEM-USA Region 9 President & Global Business Director Gunnar J. Kuepper participated in a joint session of the IAEM-USA Executive Committee and Officers of the IAEM Global Board (March 19) and attended the IAEM-USA Board Retreat (March 20) at IAEM HQ in Falls Church, VA.
The Board members discussed with Legal Counsel Bob Weil incorporation status and corporate structure of the USA Council and IAEM.
In the next session the findings of the Web research firm regarding IAEM's Website were discussed. Primary conclusions were that the current website isn’t well organized because there is too much content, lack of consistency, high volume of static content, meeting registration is cumbersome, global iterations of the site and the need to accommodate multiple council needs creates navigation and inconsistency challenges. Despite the high cost (about US $ 125,000+) it was agreed that the Website needs a major overhaul, and that the formal unveiling of the new site should be built into the official agenda at the 2012 IAEM-USA Annual Conference.
In a strategic planning and visioning session, Ellis Stanley facilitated discussion about Board member expectations about where IAEM is, and where they thought it would be when the new path towards internationalization was began in 2007.
Region 9 President Attends the California Emergency Services Association (CESA) - Southern Chapter (SC) Spring Workshop (08 Mar 2012) IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper attended the Spring Workshop of the CESA Souther Chapter in Los Angeles, CA. One major topic was a cross discipline look at the challenges and impacts of the severe windstorm that hit the greater Los Angeles area in December 2011.
Following the workshop a group of highly dedicated emergency managers, under the leadership of Brenda Hunemiller, developed the After Action Report for the 2011 CESA conference. All CESA-SC training and educational events are entirely planned and organized by volunteers following the ICS organization. Members of that Conference Committee include (see photo) Vicki Osborn (Orange County), Keith Harrison (Los Angeles County), Kelly Hubbard (Orange County Water), Brenda Hunemiller (Los Angeles County Disaster Area D), Jeanne O'Donnell (Los Angeles County), Olga Bruno (City of Azusa), Lone Eazell (Los Angeles City Water & Power), and many others.
Region 9 President Attends Retirement Celebration for IAEM Member Fan Abel (11 Feb 2012) IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper attended the retirement celebration for Fan Abel in Lakewood, CA. Gunnar made a presentation on behalf of Region 9 and congratulated her for 42 (!) years of outstanding service and commitment.
Fan Abel, a long-time IAEM member, was the Disaster Coordinator for Area E, coordinating the emergency management efforts for multiple cities in the Los Angeles County Operational Area. Fan was hailed as one of the first females in the then Civil Defense Community in Southern California, basically one of the first to break the gender barrier. Fan was a mentor for many Emergency Managers and IAEM members that now have leading positions in the private and public sector.
Fan consistently supported IAEM-USA Region 9 activities and was instrumental in the 1999 IAEM conference in Riverside, CA.
At the event, Gunnar met with IAEM members Keith Harrison (made a presentation on behalf of Los Angeles County), Jeff Robinson (recently named Area G Disaster Coordinator in Los Angeles County), Laura Hernandez (Ventura County), Jerry Quinn (Quinn & Assoc.), Raquel Vernola (City of Norwalk), Anna Lee Cave (City of Brea), Stacy Barnes (City of Compton); and other current and former leaders of the Southern California Emergency Services Community, including Brenda Hunemiller, Constance Perett, Larry Muszynski, Quentin Frazier, Carrie Cruz, Jeanne O'Donnell, and Robert Berg.
Region 9 President Meets with LA County EM Officials to Discuss the County's EM Needs and Realities (09 Dec 2011) IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper on Dec. 9 met with John Fernandes, Administrator at Los Angeles County Emergency Management, and his Deputy Steve Lieberman, to discuss emergency management needs and realities in the most populous county in the United States. The county is home to 88 incorporated cities, including the City of Los Angeles, and with its area of 4,083 square miles, is larger than the combined areas of the states of Rhode Island and Delaware. With 10 million residents, Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states. The four-hour meeting also covered lessons learned from the powerful windstorm of Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, which ravaged thousands of trees, downed more than 100 power poles, and left hundreds of thousands of households and businesses without electricity - many for days.
Region 9 President Attends Annual Dinner of LA Business and Industry Council on Emergency Preparedness and Planning (19 Nov 2011) IAEM-USA IAEM Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper attended the annual Awards Dinner of the Los Angeles BICEPP (Business and Industry Council on Emergency Preparedness and Planning) in Monrovia, CA. In his speech, he congratulated the group for its exemplary and successful efforts in public-private partnerships. Gunnar met with Nancy Matthews, BICEPP President; Daryl Osby, Chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department; Lucy Jones, Chief Scientist for the Multi Hazards Initiative in Southern California; Region 9 members Mike Ripley (NBC-Universal) and Chris Petrakis (Getty Museum); members of the Greater Los Angeles Red Cross, and private sector representatives.
Region 9 President Gives Keynote Address at Heroes Breakfast of Greater Los Angeles Red Cross (17 Nov 2011) IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar .J Kuepper gave the keynote speech on "Disaster Preparedness; Yesterday & Tomorrow" at the Heroes Breakfast of the Greater Los Angeles Red Cross. Actor David Spade, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, Walt Disney Company, Panda Restaurant Group, and Forever 21 were honored at the second annual Heroes Breakfast at the prestigious California Club. KTTV’s Fox 11 news anchor Christine Devine was the master of ceremonies for the event.
Region 9 President Appointed to IAEM-Global Board (17 Nov 2011) IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper on Nov. 17 was appointed as one of four U.S. representatives to the IAEM-Global Board. IAEM-USA President Hui-Shan Walker made the appointment, which was unanimously approved by the IAEM-USA board. Gunnar stated: "I'm very humbled to serve within President Hui-Shan Walker's team and to represent the interests of the U.S. membership on the Global Board, together with my friends and distinguished colleagues Ellis Stanley, Stephen Best, and Hui-Shan Walker, herself. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to strengthen the self-reliance of each council and to guide the Global Board's responsibilities from operational to an advisory and representative function."
Region 9 Hospitality Suite Was Great Success at IAEM-USA Annual Conference (16 Nov 2011) The IAEM-USA Region 9 Hospitality Suite at the IAEM-USA Annual Conference in Las Vegas proved to be a tremendous success. More than 300 IAEM members enjoyed the nine openings, hosted by IAEM-USA Region 9 Vice President Carolyn Levering and IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper. Guests included mostly Region 9 members, but also visitors from other Regions. A variety of IAEM-USA Board members and other IAEM leaders were guests at the Region 9 Hospitality Suite, including Ron Campbell (Region 4), David Christensen (Region 5), Marty Schaub (Region 8), Michael J. Kelley (Student Region), Ellis Stanley Sr. (Past IAEM President and Global Board Member), Bruce Lockwood (2nd Vice President), and Hui-Shan Walker (IAEM President).
Gunnar stated: "I'm very thankful for the many that made the Region 9 Hospitality Suite possible and successful. This includes Beth Armstrong and Clay Tyerar (provided the room), Carolyn Levering (tremendous logistical and other support), Urban Environmental Research - UER (provided not only food and beverages at Sunday's welcome reception but also staff for eight of the nine openings), particularly Miranda Jennings and Jeff Nelson from UER, Pete Weaver, Irene Navis, Kevin Schaller, Dennis Siler, Troy Harris, Hector Andrade, Davida Matthews, Steve Matles, Chris Petrakis, Pamela Mottice-Muller, Sandy Munns, Aaron Dick, Laura Whitehead, Chris Poehlmann, Abdul Chaudry, Greg Harrelson, Sherrie Collins, Breanna Medina, Holly Carpenter (staffed and supported the Hospitality Suite), and the many that donated beverages, snacks, and even cash to the worthwhile effort."
Region 9 Provides Themed Basket for the IAEM Scholarship Program (15 Nov 2011) IAEM-USA Region 9 Vice President Carolyn Levering, CEM, provided an outstanding Las Vegas-themed basket for the IAEM Scholarship Program, and IAEM-USA Region 9 member Keith Harrison (LA County) contributed with a significant donation.
Region 9 Holds Caucus Meeting at Annual Conference (13 Nov 2011) At the IAEM-USA Region 9 Caucus Meeting, Carolyn Levering, CEM, Emergency Manager with the City of Las Vegas, took the office of IAEM-USA Region 9 Vice President. IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper and the entire caucus thanked outgoing IAEM-USA Region 9 Vice President Michael Martinet, CEM, for his years of outstanding service and commitment to the Region.
Also recognised for their exemplary service and contributions to the emergency management profession were IAEM members Fan Abel from Area E in Los Angeles County (by Gunnar J Kuepper) and Sandy Covall-Alves, Emergency Manager at Sonoma County (by Ray Riordan).
Region 9 President Provides Keynote Address at NC Texas Council of Governments Annual Meeting (31 Oct 2011) On Oct. 27, 2011, Gunnar J. Kuepper, IAEM-USA Region 9 President (7th term), provided the keynote address on "Predicting Disasters: Nothing happens out of the Blue" at the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Annual Emergency Preparedness Meeting in Grapevine, Texas. The NCTCOG serves a 16-county region centered around the urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth with a population of about 6.5 million.
During the afternoon, Gunnar Kuepper facilitated a discussion on "Focus on the Future: Priorities and Goals for North Central Texas 2012-2017."
At the conference, Gunnar met with IAEM-USA Region 6 President Robbie Robinson, and a variety of Region 6 members, including Karen Adkins (City of McKinney) and Shane Stovall (City of Plano), as well as officials from FEMA, local and state emergency services, and elected executives.
Region 9 Participates in CESA Conference (07 Oct 2011) Gunnar J. Kuepper, IAEM-USA Region 9 President (7th term) attended the annual California Emergency Services Association (CESA) conference in San Diego, CA. He is seen here (from left to right) with IAEM Region 9 Member Olga Bruno (City of Azusa), Fan Abel with Los Angeles County Area E Disaster Management) and  serving for 27 years (!) as the Treasurer for CESA Southern Chapter, as well as IAEM Region 9 Member Brenda Hunemiller (Los Angeles County Area D Disaster Management).
At the conference, Gunnar proctored an exam for 8 CEM candidates, and met with a variety of IAEM members, including Elizabeth Davis (EAD Associates), Laura Hernandez (Ventura County), Raymond Riordan (City of San Ramon), Chris Godley (City of San Jose), Anna Cave (City of Brea), Donna Boston (Orange County), Tony Coletta (City of Riverside), Katie Eing (City of Newport Beach), Chris Petrakis (Getty Museum), Jeff Robinson (City of El Segundo), Mike Ripley (NBC Universal), Don Silverek (EOP Design), Laura Wolbert (City of Fontana), Laura Whitehead (Town of Apple Valley), Keith Harrison (Los Angeles County), Brad Davis (City of Malibu), Vicki Osborn (Orange County), and Kelly Hubbard (Municipal Water District of Orange County), to name just a few.
Election Results from 2011 IAEM-USA Region 9 Officers Election (22 Sept 2011) The 2011 IAEM-USA Region 9 Officers Election ended on Sept. 21, 2011. Gunnar Kuepper was re-elected as Region 9 President, and Carolyn Levering was elected as Region 9 Vice President. A total of 161 Region 9 members voted in this election.
Region 9 News & Photo Archives 2009-2010
Region 9 News & Photo Archives 2006-2008
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