NASEMSO Headquarters Staff

Elizabeth B. Armstrong, MAM, CAE, Executive Vice President
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Mrs. Armstrong is the chief staff executive for NASEMSO. She oversees NASEMSO's scope of operations and staff team delivery of services, programs, and information beneficial to the members. She is responsible for the association’s legal and corporate functions, financial management and leadership/governance support. Her education includes a B.B.A. in Marketing from The College of William and Mary, and a Master of Association Management from The George Washington University. She is a Certified Association Executive.

   

Dia Gainor, Executive Director
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Ms. Gainor is the executive director for NASEMSO, responsible for providing strategic leadership to promote and expand NASEMSO’s presence and capacity as a national leader in emergency medical services. She serves as spokesperson for NASEMSO, positioning the association to pursue its vision with federal partners and other organizations. Her major duties and responsibilities include outreach, representation and business development, along with staffing NASEMSO’s EMS Data Council and the Pediatric Emergency Care Council. Ms. Gainor served as State EMS Director in Idaho prior to joining the NASEMSO staff. Her expertise is grounded in a B.S. in Emergency Health Services Administration, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and 12 years of field experience as a paramedic and firefighter.

   
Rachael Alter, EMT, Program Manager
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Rachael Alter staffs the Rural EMS Committee. She was the EMSC Program Specialist for the Idaho Bureau of Emergency Medical Services for five years. Ms. Alter’s employment with ID EMS also included service to rural providers and trauma registry contract management. She has served in various state and national organizations, including National EMSC Grantee Meeting Planning Committee, EMSC Performance Measures Advisory Council, Intermountain Regional EMS for Children Coordinating Council President and more. Ms. Alter holds a B.A. in German Studies from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, an Emergency Medical Technician Certification, and is a Six Sigma Yellow Belt.
   

Stephen P. Hise, Program Manager
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Mr. Hise has myriad responsibilities in the organization, from working with our PIC partners to working with new directors. He is the lead staff person in development and coordination of the annual Leadership Skills Program, and assists members in survey design and coordination. He served as State EMS Director in Missouri and Arizona prior to joining the NASEMSO staff.

   

Kevin McGinnis, Program Manager
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As program manager, Mr. McGinnis assists NASEMSO officers and staff to plan, coordinate and fulfill various association projects addressing such topics as air medical and telecommunications issues, to improve ongoing coordination with other national EMS agencies and organizations, and to assure that NASEMSO is effectively represented. He served as the state EMS director in Maine from 1986 through 1996, receiving the Maine EMS Board of Governor's Award from Governor Angus King in 1997. Since leaving state government, he has served as a consultant for government, hospital and EMS provider clients, specializing in service evaluation and creative system building. Mr. McGinnis is the lead staff liaison to the NASEMSO Data Managers Council.

   
Kathy Robinson, Program Manager
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Ms. Robinson is the lead staff liaison to the NASEMSO Training Coordinators Council and the NASEMSO Trauma Managers Council, and the Principal Investigator for NASEMSO's Pandemic Flu project. She is responsible for final editing of The Washington Update. She has more than 25 years experience in EMS and emergency nursing as a clinician, administrator and health care policy consultant. Her extensive experience as a licensed registered nurse and certified paramedic includes various roles at a rural but large tertiary care medical center in central Pennsylvania.  As the EMS Planning and Clinical Systems Manager for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health, she also served as the state’s trauma and EMS-C program manager. Ms. Robinson has worked with legislators and staff to implement critical policy initiatives at the state and federal level. She has authored numerous publications and has lectured extensively, both in the United States and abroad.
   

Leslee Stein-Spencer, R.N., Program Manager
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As program manager, Ms. Stein-Spencer assists NASEMSO officers and staff on domestic preparedness issues. This includes providing staff support for the Domestic Preparedness Committee, representing the association at national and federal meetings as it relates to preparedness activities and reviews and provide comments on federal initiatives. She served as the state EMS director in Illinois from 1986 through 2004. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and has lectured both nationally and internationally on domestic preparedness. Since leaving state government, Ms. Stein-Spencer has served as a homeland security consultant for government, hospital and EMS providers on planning, preparing, training and exercising on incidents involving weapons of mass destruction.

   

Mary F. Hedges, Program Manager
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Mary Hedges staffs the Medical Directors Council and the Highway Incident and Transportation Systems (HITS) Committee. She was the executive director of the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board for 10 years. Ms. Hedges also has held positions with the Minnesota Department of Health and the Department of Human Rights and was a legislative intern in the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. She has served in various state and national organizations, including board member and former president of Advocates for EMS, and NASEMSO Executive Committee member and chair of its Government Affairs Committee. Mary holds a B.S. in Education from West Virginia University and an M.P.A. from the University of North Dakota. 

   

Sharon L. Kelly, Membership Coordinator and Executive Assistant
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As Membership Coordinator for NASEMSO, Ms. Kelly manages data information systems and computer records, print media production, and inquiry response. She is responsible for statistics compilation and analysis, and maintains membership and dues records.

   

Susan A. Denston, Meeting and Exhibit Manager
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Ms. Denston handles meetings management, and membership and meetings promotion for NASEMSO. She is a graduate of George Mason University, with a B.B.A. in Marketing. Her past experience includes positions with associations, advertising and law firms, and consulting companies.

   
Dawn M. Shiley, Communications & Marketing Director
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Ms. Shiley is Communications & Marketing Director for NASEMSO. She has more than 18 years experience working with non-profits and trade associations. She earned her B.A. from Vanderbilt University and M.A. from The George Washington University School for Public and International Affairs.
   
Karen S. Thompson, Web Site Content Manager
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Ms. Thompson is Website Content Manager for NASEMSO, currently working to enhance the value of the site through building content of value to the members. She earned her B.A. in English and journalism from Midwestern University, and has more than 20 years of editing, writing, and website management experience in fields ranging from nonprofit and trade associations to banks, investment brokers, and government agencies.

Additional Headquarters Staff

A variety of additional staff specialists serve NASEMSO, including a finance manager, receptionist, office manager, mailroom staff, management counsel, and special projects staff as the need arises.