County employees take part in emergency training

Open enrollmentbegins Aug. 22

Page 3

EnvironmentalManagement

program honoredPage 4

In the spotlight:Scott Bowen

Page 5

RetireesPage 6

CorrectionsDivision

honors staffPage 6

Watermelon queens visit

Volusia CountyPage 6

Sheriff’s OfficePage 7

Movers and shakersPage 8

County manager’s column Page 2

July/August 2013

EMMITSBURG CLASS – First row, from left: Pat White, Joanne Magley, Tammy Marris, Pat Kuehnand Claudine Boring. Second row, from left, Ryan Williams, Rick Karl, George Recktenwald, Al Hill, Jeff Smith, Larry LaHue and Ray Almodovar.

Librarian goes on a mission

Page 4

Multiple shootings at Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity.

Grandstand collapse at Daytona InternationalSpeedway.

House fire in DeBary.These and other scenarios were simulated dur-

ing a four-day integrated emergency managementcourse at the FEMA training center in Emmitsburg,Md., in June.

Twelve Volusia County public protection employ-ees and information officers took part in the train-ing exercise along with 53 of their counterpartsfrom cities, colleges, hospitals and other agenciesfrom the county.

FEMA training experts spent hundreds of hours building this exercise to make it relevant to

Volusia County. The federal government paid forthe course, travel and lodging.

The training activity placed the personnel underrealistic crisis situations within a structured learn-ing environment.

Ryan Williams, operations coordinator forVolusia County Emergency Management, said thecourse encompassed each of the critical prepared-ness efforts – training, planning and exercises.

“As a result of this course, key emergency man-agement and response personnel from acrossVolusia County will be better able to respond toemergencies and disasters, and that’s what train-ing is all about,” Williams said.

Department and enhance our public safety capability. I chose emergency management as the subject of

this column because this is the time of year when weare the most vulnerable to tropical events. This is pre-dicted to be an above-average hurricane season. It’sworth noting that public safety is job one for all countyemployees, not just those who wear a uniform.

During emergency threats to our community, allcounty employees play an important role in our govern-ment’s response to our citizens. It’s especially impor-tant all county employees have a personal prepared-ness family plan should a storm come our way. Call-outs for storm duty should be expected, so it’s impor-

tant your plans includecare for your children,spouses, parents andanimals and provisionsfor other special needs.

I am confident we areprepared, trained,equipped and ready torespond should we facean emergency. I appre-ciate your dedication.— Jim Dinneen, CountyManager

The Boston Marathon bombings,Sandy Hook Elementary shootings,and Oklahoma tornadoes aregraphic reminders that all commu-nities, big or small, rural or urban,are vulnerable to catastrophicevents. We need only to look backat the wildfires of 1998, the 2004hurricanes, and this year’s injuriesin the Speedway stands to remem-ber that Volusia County has had itsshare of emergencies.

Recently, 12 of our employees participated in anintegrated emergencymanagement course(IEMC) at the NationalEmergency TrainingCenter in Emmitsburg,Md. They spent close toa week working throughthe decisions followinga mock campus shoot-ing at Embry-RiddleAeronautical University.Overall, more than 60responders from a vari-ety of Volusia Countyagencies went through the drill. Obviously, incidents ofmagnitude require interagency response.

Volusia County places a high priority on emergencymanagement. Our participation in this recent IEMC isjust the latest in many years of attendance at theNational Emergency Training Center for schooling inemergency responsibilities.

Earlier this year, the community celebrated the open-ing of our new emergency operations/sheriff’s commu-nications center. This state-of-the-art facility integratesour emergency managers and 9-1-1 telecommunica-tors in one structure and provides the space and capa-bilities for emergency responders from multiple agen-cies to work side-by-side should we have a countywidethreat.

Jim Judge, an experienced emergency responder,has joined our organization as our new emergencymanagement director; and John Zaragoza, equally asexperienced, is our new EVAC ambulance system direc-tor. These seasoned professionals are valuable addi-

tions to the leadership inour Public Protection

2

Straight talk

COUNTY COUNCIL

Jim Dinneen

The County Line, published bimonthly by Volusia CountyGovernment, an EEO/AA employer, is dedicated to countyemployees and things that affect county employees. News items or correspondence should be addressed to: The County Line, Community Information, Volusia CountyGovernment, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, FL 32720-4612.

Printed on recycled paper

Jason P. Davis — County ChairJoyce M. Cusack — Vice Chair, At-large

Pat Patterson — District 1Joshua J. Wagner — District 2Deborah Denys — District 3

Doug Daniels — District 4Pat Northey — District 5

James T. Dinneen, County ManagerDavid F. Byron, EditorPat Kuehn, Co-editor

Paul Radetsky, Graphic De sign erJeff M. Crumbley, Photographer

Emergency preparedness is a top priority

The open enrollment period for employees will run fromAug. 22 through Sept. 27. During this period, employeesmay review, select and complete their 2014 benefit elec-tions and submit employee wellness forms.

Get familiar with ESSTo get ready, review your current benefit elections by

accessing Employee Self Service (ESS). You can updatebeneficiary information, verify your address, print pay infor-mation, obtain downloadable forms, and more. It’s vitalyou make sure this information is accurate. You can useESS at any time to browse through your pay, leave andpast benefits information.

You can access ESS from your home computer at volusia.org/personnel or at work from the ENN home pageunder the Employee Self Service link. To access ESS, youmust have your user name and password. If you need toreset your password or have forgotten your user name,please call the help desk at ext. 15222.

Employee wellness formEmployees can submit completed employee wellness

forms to the Personnel Division. The form is available onPersonnel’s ENN page under “Personnel forms” or from

the “Downloadable forms” section of Employee SelfService.

Employees who are on the county’s health plan can usethe annual/routine benefit to schedule a physical examand have their personal physician complete their employ-ee wellness form.

Employees also can have these screenings performed atthe annual Health and Wellness Fair Aug. 23, 26 and 27.

More information on this year’s fair will be available soon.

Open enrollment for benefits begins Aug. 22For your benefit

3

FUNDRAISERS – Volusia County Fire Services raised more than $1,200 for the Orange City/DeBaryRelay for Life and helped to fill 50 gift bags for cancer survivors. From left to right are Mark Edgil,Interim Fire Chief Jeff Smith, Howard Bailey, Nick Castelli, Kate Lind, Sarah Darby, Gracie Kelly, Beccaand Suzie Darby, Becky Perryman and Connor Darby.

The American Heart Association has given VolusiaCounty a gold-level Fit-Friendly Worksite Award for promot-ing employee health and fitness in the workplace.Wellness Coordinator Celene Cone accepted the award.

County receives AHA award

Around the County

A county program that inspects hazardous waste gener-ated by local businesses has been named the SmallQuantity Generator Program of the year by the Floridachapter of the North American Hazardous MaterialsManagement Association.

County employees Tom Craft and Dale Peterson, whooversee the program for Volusia County's EnvironmentalManagement Division, accepted the award during thestate conference in May.

The Small Quantity Generator Notification andVerification Program was established to identify hazardouswaste generators, notify them of their responsibilities tostore and dispose of the waste, and verify compliance.County staff also provides technical assistance with indus-trial wastewater issues and pollution prevention strategies.

Businesses that are con-sidered small-quantity gen-erators typically produce25 to 250 gallons of haz-ardous waste a month.

The North AmericanHazardous MaterialsManagement Association,founded in 1993, is dedicated to preventing pollution andreducing hazardous materials entering municipal wastestreams from households and businesses.

EnvironmentalManagement programrecognized

BEST IN THE STATE – Environmental Managementemployees Tom Craft, left, and Dale Peterson, center,accept an award from NAHMMA President Bob Madden.

4

WOMAN ON A MISSION – Julie Walters gives clothingand supplies to children in Nicaragua.

Lending a helping hand

Julie Walters spent herlast vacation bashing walls,hauling cement, and makingnew friends.

The New Smyrna Beachlibrary assistant was part of a 16-member missiongroup that spread goodwill – and concrete – inimpoverished Estelí, the third-largest city inNicaragua. The group, sponsored by the PortOrange Presbyterian Church, visited the city in July2012 to enlarge a youth assembly building, deliversupplies and lead youth bible camps.

They also offered group counseling sessions towomen to help them take on greater leadershiproles with their families and society.

“It was a real eye-opener,” Walters said. “Ilearned about Nicaraguan culture, saw incrediblepoverty, and realized how good we have it in theUnited States.”

She plans to return to Estelí next summer. “I couldn’t imagine spending my vacation doing

anything else,” she said.

Around the County

5

BEST ON THE BEACH – VolusiaCounty lifeguards recently won theirthird consecutive Battle of theBeach in Jacksonville, defeating 43other teams. Our six-man teamswam a half-mile; did two 50-yard-military crawls; and completed1,000 push-ups, 1,000 sit-ups and500 pull-ups. Pictured from left areCameron Janelle, Anthony Skinner,Derek Taylor, Jonathan Buckman,Marc Rodriguez and Arnold Kramer.

Name: Scott BowenJob: As an Information Technology sec-tion manager, he manages the county’sDeLand data center with more than260 installed servers. Scott also isresponsible for server strategy andassociated equipment acquisitions andis overseeing the renovation of the oldEmergency Operations Center into anew eastside data center. Number of years with the county: 33Hometown: Daytona Beach

What he likes about his job: “Information Technology exposesme to all the departments,” he said. “I enjoy the resulting chal-lenges, technologies, facility planning, working with a variety ofpeople, and above all else, my team.” How he spends his spare time: Scott is a skilled woodworkerand an able electrician, metal worker and plumber. He and hiswife, Vicky, enjoy fishing and cruising on their boats. In fact,they’ve spent 445 nights on their boats in the last 12 years!They also ride Harleys together.

Around the County

WATERMELON ROYALTY – Florida Watermelon Queen BrandiHarrison, left, and National Watermelon Queen Amber Nolin,right, help Extension Agent Karen Stauderman celebrateWatermelon Day at the Volusia County Farmers Market. Theevent, coordinated by the Extension, was fun for kids of allages as locals took part in watermelon-eating and seed-spitting contests. 6

AprilJack Driskell, Beach Safety – 36 years

Wanda Edwards, Corrections – 24 yearsCraig Kenyon, Sheriff's Office – 24 years

Anthony Lombardo, Sheriff's Office – 10 yearsCharles Lyons, Property Appraiser's Office – 14 yearsFrederick "Marty" Roberts, Sheriff's Office – 25 years

Valerie Thompson, Sheriff's Office – 21 years

MayMarie Edwards, Corrections – 23 years

Mary Gaspary, Library Services – 39 yearsRaymond Gray, Corrections – 14 years

Larry Jacobs, Road and Bridge – 33 yearsThomas McAllister, Corrections – 20 years

MaryMichel Rovniak, Building and Zoning – 34 yearsPaul Thomas, Sheriff's Office – 24 years

Sue Whittaker, County Manager's Office – 23 years

JuneHarold Cram, Sheriff's Office – 10 yearsSheryl Fritinger, Corrections – 11 years

Timothy Herring, Sheriff's Office – 34 yearsLarry Lewis, Sheriff's Office – 18 years

Gary Muench, Road and Bridge – 35 yearsGary Stephan, Property Appraiser's Office – 40 years

Working for Volusia County’s CorrectionsDivision is one of the most demanding jobs in thecounty, requiring capable, committed and patientstaff and officers.

The 300-plus employees are tasked with con-trolling inmates while encouraging them to devel-op the skills and attitudes necessary to becomelaw-abiding and productive citizens after theirrelease.

Twice a year, the Corrections Division honors itsown by presenting awards to outstanding employ-ees.

In May, top honors went to:• Inventory Control Specialist Mary West,

employee of the shift• Officer J. Foss, officer of the shift for the

Volusia County Correctional Facility• Officer D. Belton, officer of the shift for

the Volusia County Branch Jail• Bennie Askew, contract employee of the

shift“We appreciate the efforts of all our correction-

al officers and staff,” said Corrections DirectorMarilyn Chandler Ford. “They truly serve thecommunity by protecting the public and making a difference in inmates’ lives.”

FIRST-CLASS STAFF – Corrections Director Dr. MarilynChandler Ford, left, congratulates Mary West, Officer D. Belton and Officer J. Foss.

Corrections Division honors top staff

Sheriff’s Office

To Sgt. Mike Odgers and Deputy Bryon Poteralski,they were just doing their jobs and had the good for-tune to be in the right place at the right time. But toeveryone else, the two deputies who risked their livesto save a baby from a burning house are bona fideheroes.

During a recent awards ceremony, Sheriff BenJohnson bestowed the agency’s second highesthonor, the Medal of Valor, upon Odgers and Poteralskiin recognition of their quick and brave actions thatsaved the life of a 1-year-old girl. It was the morning ofMarch 12, and the house on Bath Street in Deltonawas engulfed in smoke and flames. Another couple ofminutes without intervention, and the child almostcertainly would have perished.

“This child’s life would have been gone,” remarkedSheriff Johnson. “I just can’t say enough good aboutboth of you for the job you did.” And the assembledaudience of co-workers obviously agreed, giving thetwo deputies a rousing standing ovation.

Odgers and Poteralski were among the first to arriveat the scene of the fire. They were initially told that allthe occupants had made it out of the house. But sud-denly, horror gripped the scene as the family realizedtheir 1-year-old niece was still inside. Without amoment to spare, Odgers rushed through a rear door,but was forced to retreat after being overcome byextreme heat and heavy smoke. That’s whenPoteralski broke out a bedroom window, climbed in,

Two deputies awardedmedals for saving baby

LIFESAVERS – Sheriff Johnson is pictured with Sgt.Michael Odgers, left, and Deputy Bryon Poteralski afterpresenting them the Medal of Valor for saving a babyfrom a burning house.

MOVIN’ ON UP – Sheriff Ben Johnson poses withthree deputies he recently promoted. From left toright are Sgt. Richard LeCates, Lt. JosephGallagher, Sheriff Johnson and Sgt. Brodie Hughes.

7

felt his way around the smoke-filled room and foundthe baby’s crib with the child inside. He scooped upthe seemingly lifeless baby and shielded her from thesmoke while passing her out the window to Odgers.Covered in soot and mucus, the motionless baby wasrushed to awaiting paramedics for medical treatmentfor smoke inhala-tion and minorburns and hassince recovered.

“SergeantOdgers andDeputy Poteralskiacted with excep-tional courageand bravery,” readthe citation thataccompanied themedals. “Theiractions reflect great credit upon themselves and theVolusia County Sheriff’s Office.”

Sheriff Johnson capped off the ceremony by thank-ing the deputies for a job well done, chalking up theiractions to a combination of bravery, humility and goodtraining.

“Thank you very much,” Sheriff Johnson told thedeputies. “Thanks from the bottom of all of ourhearts.”— Gary Davidson, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office

Do you know a mover and shaker?Please contact Pat Kuehn in Community Information

at pkuehn@volusia.org with the details.

John Zaragoza, who has 35years of experience in emergencymedical services, has beennamed director of EVAC, thecounty’s emergency medicalservices transport division. EVAC,which has 46 ambulances and233 employees, responds tomore than 75,000 calls a year. Previously, Zaragoza directed theEmergency Medical Services

Division in Greenville, S.C., and was the manager of pre-hospital care services for the South Hills Health System inPittsburgh. He has a bachelor’s degree in business adminis-tration from Robert Morris University in Coraopolis, Pa.

Jim Judge is the county’snew emergency managementdirector. On a year-round basis,the division addresses prepara-tions for evacuations, mass casu-alties, terrorism, natural disas-ters, shelters and recoveryefforts.

Judge has worked in emer-gency medical services for 41years, most recently as executive

director of Lake Emergency Medical Services in Mount Dora.He has a bachelor’s degree in public administration fromBarry University, Miami, and is a certified emergency manager.

Community AssistanceDirector Dona DeMarsh Butlerhas been elected to the 33-member Board of Governors ofthe United Way of Florida.DeMarsh Butler has worked forVolusia County for 22 years andhas been volunteering with theUnited Way since 1991. She hasa bachelor’s degree in Americanstudies from Stetson University

and a master’s degree in public administration from theUniversity of Florida.

Brent D. Schlapper, D.O.,MRO, FACOFP, the occupationalhealth physician in the PersonnelDivision for 13 years, recentlyrequalified as a certified medicalreview officer. Dr. Schlapper wascertified by the Medical ReviewOfficer Certification Council, anindependent physician-based cer-tifying body that conducts anextensive application process and

written examination to identify licensed physicians with thehighest professional standards of medical expertise andpractical skills necessary to evaluate drug and alcohol testresults in public and private sectors of the workplace.

Jennifer Coto, the formerCentral Florida business develop-ment manager for Visit Florida,has joined the Ocean Center assales manager. Her 30 years oftourism sales experienceincludes working locally at theLPGA Headquarters, the PlazaResort and Spa, and the DaytonaBeach Convention and VisitorsBureau. In her new job, Coto is

responsible for securing convention business from associa-tion groups.

Jamie Fish is now a certifiedadministrator of public parking,having completed a rigorous program developed by theInternational Parking Institute inpartnership with the University ofVirginia. This is the industry’s pre-mier professional credential. Fish,a six-year county employee, man-ages the Volusia County ParkingGarage in Daytona Beach.