Downtown Phoenix aerial view from between the the Papago Buttes

About Us

AzEM is a community of professionals including first responders, safety experts, and business leaders united in our commitment to implementing effective emergency practices that safeguard our communities and citizens.

AzEM Executive Board

Ericka Huston

President

Learn About Ericka

Ericka Huston is the President of the Arizona Emergency Managers Association (AzEM) and brings over 10 years of experience in emergency management across local, state, and federal levels. Currently serving as the Emergency Manager for the City of Chandler, Ericka is deeply committed to supporting the community she has called home since 2012. Throughout her career, Ericka has developed a passion for fostering collaboration among professionals and students in the emergency management field. She aims to make AzEM an engaging, supportive, and rewarding association for all members involved. As President, Ericka is dedicated to leveraging the collective knowledge and expertise within AzEM. Opportunities will be created for professional growth, while advocating for the importance of emergency management across Arizona. Ericka is excited to lead AzEM into the future, ensuring that all members are empowered to excel in their roles and contribute to the ongoing success of the association. 

Kirsten VanDeventer

Kirsten VanDeventer

Vice President

Learn About Kirsten

Kirsten VanDeventer currently serves as an Emergency Management Coordinator for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), specializing in Public Health Emergency Preparedness. She also sits as the Chairwomen for the Arizona Tribal Executive Committee (AZTEC) and Vice President for the Arizona Association of Emergency Managers (AZEM). With 11 years of Emergency Management experience, she has deployed across the country on 12 federal declarations. Among them the global evacuation of Afghanistan civilians, “Operation Allies Welcome” in 2021 serving as Logistics Chief, and as the COVID-19 Incident Commander for SRPMIC 2019-2021.  

Over the course of her career she has worked for the American Red Cross, Maricopa County (MCDEM), and Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), where she honed her skills in Recovery, Planning, and Response. In 2020 she graduated with a Master’s in Public Administration from ASU, and considers herself to be a professional student in Emergency Management and Public Health. 

Josh Friedman

Treasurer

Learn About Josh

Josh Friedman is a distinguished Certified Emergency Manager, currently serving as the Director of Safety and Security for the Scottsdale Unified School District. In this role, he has been instrumental in integrating the Incident Command System (ICS) and comprehensive emergency management practices into the K-12 educational environment over the past three years. Under his leadership, the district has successfully trained over 20 personnel beyond the Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents (ICS-300) course.

Before joining the Scottsdale Unified School District, Josh held the position of Emergency Management Coordinator for the Town of Gilbert. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in the design of the town’s new Emergency Operations Center. Josh’s extensive career in public safety and emergency response spans over two decades, including significant experience as both a police officer and firefighter.

Beyond his professional achievements, Josh is deeply committed to his family. He cherishes his rare free time by supporting his children at various activities such as baseball games, swim meets, and camping trips. When asked about his hobbies, Josh emphasizes that his family and work are his true passions.

Ashley Ahlquist

Board Liaison 

Learn About Ashley

Ashley began her Emergency Management career in July 2021 as an Emergency Management Specialist, advancing to Emergency Management Planner by December of that year. In April 2022, she became Yavapai County’s first female Emergency Manager. With nearly a decade of experience in Public Safety Communications as a Telecommunicator and Communications Section Supervisor, she established Yavapai County’s first tactical dispatch team, sparking her interest in Emergency Management. She played a pivotal role in creating the Public Safety Dispatch Academy at Yavapai College, led in-service training across Northern Arizona, and recently has worked extensively on enhancing Alert and Warning Notifications to improve public communication during emergencies. Her qualifications include Critical Incident Stress Management Peer Counselor training, FBI Crisis Negotiations, and certification as an Incident Command Communications Manager through the Statewide Interoperability Office. In the Fall of 2024, she earned a Gold Card credential through the Arizona Qualification System, certifying her as an EOC Director.  She obtained her Certified Emergency Manager in May of 2025. Academically, she holds a B.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management and master’s degrees in Forensic Psychology and Leadership from Grand Canyon University.  

Chance Wnuck

Secretary

Learn About Chance

Chance Wnuck is an emergency management professional specializing in regional coordination, incident management, and community resilience. As Emergency Management Coordinator for the Sedona Police Department, he established dedicated emergency management capacity in a role that had previously been managed by the Police Chief, advancing the city’s approach to preparedness, interagency coordination, and public safety.

Drawing on his prior experience with Coconino County Emergency Management, Chance strengthens partnerships across Yavapai and Coconino Counties, coordinates intergovernmental and mutual aid agreements, and advances responder qualification standards through implementation of the Arizona Qualification System in Sedona.

His operational leadership includes supporting Complex Incident Management Teams during the White Sage and Dragon Bravo fires, helping coordinate multi-agency resource tracking and situational awareness during major incidents impacting Northern Arizona. He also serves with Arizona Incident Management Assistance Team 1 as an AQS-credentialed Planning Section Chief.

Chance holds a Master of Science in Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies from Grand Canyon University. A graduate of the FEMA-sponsored Emergence Program at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security, he brings a strategic, collaborative approach to strengthening emergency management capabilities and building more resilient communities.

Dustin Kirk

Dustin Kirk

Membership Liaison Officer 

Learn About Dustin

Dustin Kirk served in the United States Marine Corps for four years as Military Police where he first developed an interest in the Incident Command System (ICS) and Emergency Management while responding to critical incidents including multi-day typhoon storms and large scale protests. Upon completing his contract, he attended Arizona State University where he interned at the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA).

Dustin has been the North Region Field Coordinator for DEMA for more than seven years, where he provides support to the northern counties and jurisdictions. He has served as the State Liaison Officer in County Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) for multiple emergencies including Covid, Civil Unrest, Museum Fire, Tunnel and Pipeline Fire and flooding, Crooks Fire, Greer Fire, Dragon Bravo Fire, Oxbow Bridge, Pocket Fire and many more.
Dustin has earned a Bachelors of Science in Public Service and Public Policy with an emphasis in Emergency Management and Homeland Security with a minor in Parks and Protected Area Management, a Masters in Emergency Management and Homeland Security and a Certificate in Geographic Information Science. Dustin is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys spending time with his family.

Kelly Mure

Kelley Mure

Communications Officer 

Learn About Kelley

Ms. Kelley Mure, M. Ed, is a seasoned and highly accomplished Emergency Management and Homeland Security professional currently serving as Director, Emergency Preparedness at ICF International. She brings over 25 years of cross-sector experience, including critical public sector leadership roles as a City Emergency Manager and a County Homeland Security & Emergency Management Director.

Ms. Mure’s deep expertise in public information and crisis communications is paramount to her distinguished career. She has served in crucial command positions—including Incident Commander and EOC Director—and, significantly, as a Public Information Officer (PIO) during major real-world incidents. She is a FEMA-certified All-Hazards IMT PIO Instructor, providing advanced training to federal, military, and local agencies across the country.

Her operational experience includes leading the Individual Assistance Branch following the catastrophic Paradise Fire, where she managed complex public messaging and direct support for displaced populations. A key architect of community resilience, Ms. Mure has led the development of over 80 HSEEP-compliant exercises and authored numerous key plans, including the City of Virginia Beach’s Critical Transportation Needs (CTN) Framework, which integrated practical job aids and public messaging templates. She holds a Master’s degree, maintains numerous professional certifications, and currently serves as the Communications Officer for the Arizona Emergency Manager’s Association, reflecting her commitment to advancing whole-community preparedness and building resilient systems for the future.

Kirk P. Cree

Member at Large

Learn About Kirk

Kirk P. Cree, MPA, CPM, CIT brings over 30 years of experience in public safety and public service. His professional career began in Southern California law enforcement as a Deputy and Sr. Deputy for Ventura County and after five years, moved south to Los Angeles County. He later transitioned into county and state positions in both child and adult protection investigative units and program management in Colorado and Arizona. Kirk has extensive experience in crisis response/management and enjoys working with diverse and special populations. He was recently a Community Engagement Manager for the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities where he received recognition for his work in the creation of and providing new training to first responders statewide. In 2022, he earned the National Certified Public Manager designation from Arizona State University. Kirk has returned to his public safety roots by joining the Phoenix Fire Department as a Crisis Intervention Supervisor and maintains that position today where he is responsible for supervising Field Crisis Response Units throughout the City. Kirk considers himself a lifelong learner earning a BA in Psychology and Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. Kirk was California P.O.S.T. certified when he was a law enforcement officer and in 2024, completed and certified in the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training through the Phoenix Police Department. Kirk has been working on completing the FEMA-Advanced Professional Series since 2024 and signing up for courses when available. Kirk’s interest in emergency management began as a resident who lived through and witnessed the ’92 LA Riots, the ’93 Malibu (Old Topanga) Fire, and the ’94 Northridge 6.7 Earthquake. Kirk is a practitioner of servant leadership and looking forward to supporting and serving the Board and the members of the Arizona Association of Emergency Managers to the best of his abilities during his term as one of the two Board Members at Large.

Tim Carter

Member at Large

Learn About Tim

Tim Carter serves as the Director of Emergency Management for Coconino County, Arizona, where he oversees countywide preparedness, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery operations across the nation’s second-largest county by land area. With more than two decades of public safety experience, he has spent over 14 years serving Coconino County in progressively responsible roles, including Emergency Management Specialist and Deputy Director, prior to his appointment as Director in August 2025.

Carter holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Delta State University and a master’s degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security from Arizona State University. He is a Certified Emergency Manager through the International Association of Emergency Managers and holds the designation of Master Emergency Manager from the Arizona Emergency Management Association.

His leadership is distinguished by expertise in disaster response, hazard mitigation, interagency coordination, and community resilience. He is widely recognized for his ability to build, grow, and sustain strong professional relationships with local, state, federal, and tribal partners, ensuring effective coordination before, during, and after complex incidents. Carter has successfully managed multi-million-dollar grant programs, developed innovative public safety initiatives, and directed emergency operations during complex events. He is also an experienced instructor, delivering a broad range of emergency management and incident management courses. 

Board Leadership History

Recognizing the dedicated professionals who have served on AzEM’s Executive Board and contributed to the advancement of emergency management throughout Arizona.

President – Ericka Huston

Vice President – Kirsten VanDeventer

Board Liaison Officer – Ashley Ahlquist

Secretary – Joseph Cruz

Treasurer – Josh Friedman

Membership Officer – Chuck Kmet

Member at Large – Carl Melford

Member at Large – Kirk Cree

Communications Officer – Kelley Mure

President – Ericka Huston

Vice President – Kirsten VanDeventer

Board Liaison Officer – Ashley Ahlquist

Secretary – Joseph Cruz

Treasurer – Josh Friedman

Membership Liaison Officer – Chuck Kmet

Member at Large – Carl Melford

Member at Large – Michael Moquin

Communications Officer – Cymphanie Sherman

President – Eliza Coll

Vice President – Kirsten VanDeventer

Board Liaison Officer – Catrina Jenkins

Secretary – Marisa VonHolten

Treasurer – Thomas Covington

Membership Liaison Officer – Chuck Kmet

Member at Large – Michael Moquin

Member at Large – Judy Lynn

Communications Officer – Cymphanie Sherman

President – Eliza Coll

Vice President

Board Liaison Officer – Catrina Jenkins

Secretary – Marisa Von Holten

Treasurer – Thomas Covington

Membership Liaison Officer – Chuck Kmet

Member at Large

Member at Large – Judy Lynn

Communications Officer

President – Eliza Coll

Vice President – Ken Crouch

Board Liaison Officer – Catrina Jenkins

Secretary – Marisa Von Holten

Treasurer – Thomas Covington

Membership Liaison Officer – Chuck Kmet

Member at Large – Hector Andrade / Antonio Shin

Member at Large – Judy Lynn

Communications Officer – Jesus Haro

President – Eliza Coll

Vice President – Ken Crouch

Board Liaison Officer – Catrina Jenkins

Secretary – Marisa Von Holten

Treasurer – Thomas Covington

Membership Liaison Officer – Chuck Kmet

Member at Large – Hector Andrade

Member at Large – Judy Lynn

Public Relations – Jesus Haro

President – Brent Olson

President-Elect – Eliza Coll

Past President – Denny Foulk

Sergeant at Arms – Catrina Jenkins

Secretary – Madison Wisler

Treasurer – Thomas Covington

Membership Chair- Chuck Kmet

Member at Large – Ken Crouch

Member at Large – Judy Lynn

Public Relations – Kathie Dumais / Jesus Haro

President – Denny Foulk

President-Elect – Brent Olson

Past President – Todd Whitney

Sergeant at Arms – Rudy Perez

Secretary – Eliza Coll

Treasurer – Warren Sprecher

Membership Chair – Chuck Kmet

Member at Large – Ken Crouch

Member at Large – Robert Campa

Communications Officer – Allen Young

President – Todd Whitney

President-Elect – Denny Foulk

Past President – Robert Rowley

Sergeant at Arms – Rudy Perez

Secretary – Eliza Coll

Treasurer – Warren Sprecher

Membership Chair – Ken Lewis

Member at Large – Brent Olson

Member at Large – Robert Campa

Public Relations – Ashleigh Makuch

President – Robert Rowley

President-Elect – Todd Whitney

Past President – Byron Steward

Sergeant at Arms – Ron Kopcik

Secretary – Eliza Coll

Treasurer – Joe Gibson

Membership Chair – Ken Lewis

Member at Large – Brent Olson

Member at Large – Gene Wikle

Public Relations – Marshall MacFarlane