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Elizabeth B. Armstrong, MAM, CAE – Management Counsel

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, MPA, Executive Director

Ms. Gainor provides strategic leadership to promote and expand NASEMSO's presence and capacity as a national leader in emergency medical services (EMS). As executive director, she acts as a 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. Prior to coming to ASMI, Dia was Idaho’s State EMS director for 19 years. during which she served as both president and treasurer of NASEMSO, as well as chair of its Highway Incident & Transportations Systems Committee. In 2008, Dia was appointed by Secretary Peters to serve on the National EMS Advisory Council to the U.S. Department of Transportation and was selected to serve as the Council’s first chair. She also chaired the Intelligent Transportation Systems Transportation Safety Advancement Group for the U.S. DOT Research and Innovative Technology Administration, which focuses on interdisciplinary opportunities to promote technology solutions to protect public safety responders and travelers. In May 2011, Dia received the highest award the Idaho Military Division may bestow upon a civilian, the Idaho Distinguished Service Medal. She is an “EMS 10 Innovator” and the 2010 recipient of the James O. Page/ JEMS Award. Dia’s 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.

Andy Gienapp, MS, NRP – Deputy Executive Director

Mr. Gienapp provides strategic leadership to promote and expand the organization’s presence and capacity as a national leader in EMS. For nearly 11 years (2010-2021), Mr. Gienapp served as the State EMS Director in Wyoming. During that time, he led Wyoming EMS stakeholders in accomplishing numerous goals that dramatically moved the state system toward a modern, integrated, and more sustainable EMS system. These goals included a complete revision and modernization of the scope of practice through administrative rules; the adoption of the National Registry of EMTs exam process as a mandatory element of the licensing process; the successful passage of legislation that made Wyoming the 8th state to join the EMS personnel licensure compact; the creation of rules and regulations formalizing the concepts and licensure of community paramedicine (CP); working in conjunction with the Wyoming Medicaid Office to develop a means for reimbursement of CP activities; complete implementation of a mandated, statewide EMS patient reporting system; revitalization and engagement of the state’s trauma system; and supporting the creation of a state EMS association. During his tenure with Wyoming EMS, Mr. Gienapp also served NASEMSO in many capacities including president-elect, member of the Board, chair of the Rural EMS Committee, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Rural Emergency Care, member of the Board for the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education, and an Expert Panel member for the EMS Agenda 2050 project. Mr. Gienapp graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a Master of Science in Emergency Health Services. In addition, he is a nationally registered paramedic, Tennessee-licensed paramedic, and Wyoming paramedic. He is a recipient of the Sikorsky Lifesaving Award. Mr. Gienapp is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army National Guard and has served our country since May 1989. 

Rachael Alter, BA – Program Manager

Ms. Alter is the staff liaison for the Pediatric Emergency Care Council. She also serves as the lead liaison to the EMS for Children (EMSC) Innovation and Improvement Center, leading various national initiatives, to include the National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project and providing support to federal EMSC Program Grantees. Additionally, Rachael navigates federal contracting regulations and supports project invoice processing. Prior to joining NASEMSO, Rachael was the EMSC program specialist for the Idaho Bureau of EMS for five years; her employment with Idaho 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 EMSC Coordinating Council president and more. Rachael holds a B.A. in German Studies from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, is a Six Sigma Yellow Belt, and is a former Emergency Medical Technician.

Randall Eimerman – NEMSIS Liaison

Mr. Eimerman provides support to the Data Managers Council and interfaces with the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) Technical Assistance Center (TAC) on issues of national significance as well as state-specific challenges. This position enables National Highway Traffic Administration's Office of EMS, the University of Utah (NEMSIS TAC), and NASEMSO to efficiently work together to support state EMS offices and collaborate to ensure a collective national voice about EMS data-related issues. Prior to his work with NASEMSO, Mr. Eimerman was the State EMS Data Manager in the state of Indiana before transitioning to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He has been a Paramedic in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Randall has an Associate’s Degree from Lincoln College and completed data manager training with the National Fire Incident Reporting System.

Mary Hedges, MPA – Program Manager

Ms. Hedges is the staff liaison for the Medical Directors Council and the Substance Misuse, Assessment, Recovery, Treatment & Surveillance Committee. She has extensive experience in government and the private, non-profit sector, with proven expertise managing programs and people, as well as success in accomplishing legislative goals. She was the executive director of the Minnesota EMS Regulatory Board for 10 years, where she managed the state agency responsible for regulating ambulance service and EMS personnel. Ms. Hedges served as the agency’s legislative liaison, drafting legislation and testifying at committee hearings. Shey also has held positions with the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota 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 a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of North Dakota.

Kelli Perrotti, MSHSA, BSN, RN – Exhibit Coordinator

Ms. Perrotti serves as the staff liaison for the Trauma Managers Council, engages with corporate sponsors, and provides general membership support. Kelli has more than 20 years of experience in nursing, healthcare, public health, and public policy, serving in various roles and environments. She has served as the manager of the Wyoming Trauma Program and System for the Wyoming Department of Health Office of EMS. From 2009 to 2011, Kelli was a public health nurse and adult health coordinator for Albany County Public Health. Before that, she spent 10 years as a critical care nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Ivinson Memorial Hospital. Kelli earned a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Wyoming and an M.S. in Health Services Administration from the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy. She holds a Wyoming Nursing License/Multistate Compact (Active) and has certificates in the National Incident Management System 100, 100b, 200, 300, 700, and 800. She was also the secretary of the NASEMSO Trauma Managers Council and on the Steering Committee from 2012-2018.

Amanda Perry, M.Ed., NRP – Program Committee Staff

Ms. Perry has over 20 years of experience working across private, non-profit, and local and international government entities. Her roles have ranged from entry level clinical provider as a paramedic to senior management teams in state government. Her expertise is in strategic planning, project and grants management, and human resource development. Amanda served as program manager and team lead in Louisiana state government and was a program manager for the EMS for Children program. Amanda earned her master’s degree in Adult and Continuing Education with a specialization in Human Resource Development from Rutgers University in New Jersey and is currently pursuing her Doctoral Degree in Law and Policy at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Since 2008, Amanda has maintained her paramedic certification and license, having obtained her Associate’s degree in Applied EMS.

 

Leslee Stein-Spencer, RN, MS – Program Manager

Ms. Stein-Spencer serves as the staff liaison to the Preparedness and Response Council. She has over 30 years of experience in planning, organizing, implementing and managing emergency medical services in a variety of settings. Leslee served as the state EMS Director in Illinois from 1986 through 2004, and Director of Medical Administration and Regulatory Compliance for the Chicago Fire Department from 2007-2017. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and has lectured both nationally and internationally on domestic preparedness. Ms. Stein-Spencer has also 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 and emerging infectious disease outbreaks. Leslee graduated from the Mayfair Nursing School as an R.N. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from DePaul University and an M.S. in Hospital Management from the National College of Education.

Adrienne Wilson, MA – Project Coordinator

Ms. Wilson handles the administrative duties for the NASEMSO board, maintains the organization’s contact lists, assists with project management, contract fulfillment, and provides in-person and virtual meeting support. Before joining NASEMSO, Adrienne had worked as paraprofessional at Mount Daniel Elementary School in Falls Church since Aug. 2019. She has also worked as a preschool teacher at the Trinity Preschool and an administrator of constituent organization services for the American Academy of Physician Assistants. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Family and Childhood Development and an Master of Arts in Counseling Education from Virginia Tech.

Alex Tyeryar, MA – Member Services Coordinator

Mr. Tyeryar is a customer service specialist focused on membership, virtual and in-person meetings, and accounting support. Alex began his career in May of 2019, as a finance and accounting intern for ASMI. In this role, he has reconciled bank statements, assisted with managing client investment accounts, handled daily/weekly bank deposits, assisted with meetings management, managed webinars including registration, and created social media posts for clients. Alex received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance in 2021 from High Point University and a Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership in May 2022.

Michelle Savoie, CMP – Meetings Manager

Ms. Savoie handles meetings management, and membership and meetings promotion for NASEMSO. She is a Certified Meeting Professional and uses her comprehensive knowledge of meetings management to enhance the experiences of NASEMSO members. In 2014, she earned the Certified Virtual Event Planner designation from ICohere Academy. In 2015, Michelle became a Digital Event Strategist by successfully competing the DES certificate program.

Dawn M. Shiley, MA, CAE, QAS, TSMBE, CVEP – Communications & Marketing Director

Ms. Shiley is Communications & Marketing Director for NASEMSO. She has more than 25 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. In 2013, she received The Social Media Business Equation Certification, a top certification program for professionals on social media marketing campaigns.