 It's been a big year for disasters, and emergency management has learned and grown a lot! Now we get to share with you how some of those lessons are being applied locally, and across the US.
We are also excited to let you know that spots are filling up fast for the 2025 AFN Conference at Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs. Registration is open for anyone in Colorado and other states until Tuesday, April 1, 2025, so make sure to secure your spot, our team is looking forward to seeing you there! Until then, take a look at some highlights for the second day, Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Topic Highlight - "During the Disaster"
The 2025 Access and Functional Needs Conference will be divided into three major sections as we focus on Transportation resource disruptions. Below are some highlights of who you can expect to see present during the "During the Disaster" portion on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Keynote - "'How Do I Get Out of Here?' - Key Integration Details of Transit Evacuation Plans for People with Disabilities"
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Speakers
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June Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant
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Time
Presentation - "Get Caught Trying: Resource Coordination When Roads Get Closed"
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Speakers
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Jaclyn Kurle, Emergency Manager (ESF 6), Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)
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Christe Coleman, Field Operations Supervisor, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM)
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Time
Panel - "Response in Emergency Planning for 'T' Resource Disruptions"
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Panelists
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Heather Lafferty, Diversity Equity Inclusion/Access and Functional Needs Coordinator, Nevada Division of Emergency Management
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Dan Frazen, Agriculture Emergency Coordinator, Colorado Department of Agriculture
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Joycelyn Fankhouser, Disaster Manager/Coordinator, Boulder County Housing and Human Services
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Loni Koller, Disaster Disability Integration National Volunteer Partner, American Red Cross
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Time
- 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. MT
Colorado's Access and Functional Needs Team is happy to bring you the 2025 Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Conference! This year we will focus on how to plan and provide inclusive Transportation resources before, during and after disasters. Transportation represents the “T” in the CMIST Resource Memory Tool which supports the Access and Functional Needs Resource Framework. This resource is critical for anyone in a disaster, and can range from paratransit, public transportation, rideshare platforms, shuttle services, and even personal vehicles (including friends, family, and neighbor support. For more information about CMIST, please visit our CMIST Resources Flyer. If you or your organization offers “T” Transportation resources that can support Emergency Management before, during, and after a disaster, we hope to have you join us!
Why You Should Attend
- Receive information and toolkits to assist in Transportation Resource
disruption planning with your whole community throughout all phases of
disasters and emergencies.
- Learn how to more effectively engage with community partners and
develop plans to ensure access to effective and accessible transportation options.
- Connect with resource partners across Colorado and the country
Pricing and Costs
- There are no fees for registration
- Meals and refreshments will be provided
- Tuesday, 4/8
- Lunch | 12:30 p.m.
- Afternoon Refreshments | 2:30 p.m.
- Exhibitors' Networking Social with hors d'oeuvres | 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, 4/9
- Breakfast | 7:30 a.m.
- Morning / Afternoon Refreshments | 10:15 a.m. / 2:30 p.m.
- Lunch | 12:15 p.m.
- Thursday. 4/10
- Breakfast | 7:30 a.m.
- Morning Refreshments | 10:45 a.m.
- Lodging scholarships are available for eligible, Colorado based partners and Emergency Managers. Please see registration for more details.
- If you plan on making your own lodging arrangements with Great Wolf Lodge, please refer to the following information for pricing.
- You can use this link for self-pay reservations bit.ly/AFNConferenceRooms25 or contact the hotel Reservations can be made by calling (844) 553-9653
- Reference Block Code: 2504CODH
- Reservations must be made prior to Sunday, March 16, 2025 for room reservations for the conference.
- Please visit www.visitcos.com for alternative lodging options.
Dates and Times
- Tuesday, April 8, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. MT
- Transportation Resource Disruptions Before the Disaster (Planning and Mitigation)
- Exhibitors' Networking Social | 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. MT
- Wednesday, April 9,2025 | 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. MT
- Transportation Resource Disruptions in During and After Disasters (Response and Recovery)
- Thursday, April 10,2025 | 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. MT
- Transportation Resource Disruption Tabletop Exercise
Location
- Great Wolf Lodge
9494 Federal Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunity
If you or your organization offers “T” Transportation resources that can support Emergency Management before, during, and after a disaster, and you're looking for an attentive audience, we would love to have you join us!
Your sponsorship helps support the conference by:
- Highlighting tools and resources that can help Emergency Management ensure the safety of the whole community before, during, and after a disaster.
- Share specific information about how your organization can partner with Emergency Management before, during, and after a disaster.
- Share best and promising practices for whole community inclusion before, during, and after emergencies and disasters.
All Sponsors and Exhibitors have the opportunity to:
- Meet with over 100+ professionals from emergency management, public health,
and human services in the emergency preparedness and response fields.
- Have a booth in the Exhibitor area if interested and space allows.
- Stay at the Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs!
- Includes overnight lodging & meals
- Attend any or all of the sessions.
- Showcase your organization/program in a short (3-5 mins) IGNITE presentation
on Day 1 of the conference.
- Extend your reach beyond those attending in person with our hybrid audience!
- Network with attendees during the Exhibitors’ Networking Social on Tuesday,
April 8!
Mike Willis, Former Director, Colorado Office of Emergency Management, Brigadier General (Retired)
Mike Willis has over 35 years of leadership and management experience in the United States Army and the State of Colorado. Served as the Director of Colorado Office of Emergency Management and was responsible for the State's comprehensive emergency management program across the four phases of emergency management: preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery. A retired Brigadier General from the U.S. Army and Colorado National Guard who had broad responsibilities for Space, Missile Defense and Cyber plans, programs and policy. Expertise in operations, personnel, logistics and budget management. Extensive experience that includes combat tours and major disasters.
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Aimee Voth Siebert, Behavioral Health and Inclusion Work Lead, Colorado Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response
Aimee Voth Siebert is the Disaster Behavioral Health and Inclusion Program Manager for CDPHE's Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response (OEPR). Aimee holds a Masters in International Disaster Psychology from the University of Denver and has grown multi-disciplinary emergency knowledge and experience in both domestic and international settings. Aimee promotes a people-centered and adaptive functioning lens for emergency planning and response. Following the passage of House Bill 21-1281 to establish state funding for disaster behavioral health, she led the rule-writing and program design for Colorado’s Disaster Behavioral Health capacity building program. Aimee also contributes leadership to the development of Colorado’s Access & Functional Needs Program. She offers training in disaster behavioral health, access & functional needs, community inclusion, and crisis communications. She is certified as a State Crisis Counseling Program trainer and grant writer, a CDC Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication Trainer, a Strategies for Trauma Awareness & Resilience Practitioner and an Advanced Public Information Officer.
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Mike Houston, Region 8 Regional Disability Integration Specialist, FEMA
Michael is the Regional Disability Integration Specialist (RDIS) for FEMA Region 8 based in Denver, Colorado. Prior to taking this RDIS position, Michael was the Disability Integration Advisor for one of 3 National Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) based in the National Capitol Region (Northern Virginia) and was the Regional Disability Integration Specialist for FEMA Region 4, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael is legally deaf as a result of suffering an injury as a child, and he is a Child of a Deaf Adults (CODA) and is fluent in American Sign Language.
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 Colorado Access and Functional Needs Team presenting at the 2024 Access and Functional Needs Conference. From left to right: Tim Mann, Hannah Hoffmann, Sadie Martinez.
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