Thanks to our 2008 Conference Sponsors whose involvement contributed to the overall success of the conference.

The emergency managers of Oregon are among the most innovative, collaborative, and dedicated professionals in the nation. We are known for our creativity, doing more with less, and getting the job done despite the odds. We may not always get the recognition we deserve, but we can do something to honor the good work of our peers.

Congratulations to all our award winners.

2008 AWARD WINNERS

John Vanderzanden, Marion County Emergency Management, received the OEMA President's Award for extensive contributions to the emergency management profession. Vanderzanden was honored for his career accomplishments with Marion County Emergency Management.

Awards were also made to OEMA members and partners in recognition of special achievement in the areas of Innovation, Coordination, or Service to their jurisdiction, the emergency management community, and the citizens of Oregon.

The Oregon Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (ORWARN), received the OEMA Partner Award for Innovation for developing a mutual aid network for public and private water and wastewater utilities in Oregon. Oregon water utility workers formed the network as a result of lessons learned in New Orleans in the response to Hurricane Katrina. Mike Gotterbaugh, City of Salem Public Works and Chair of ORWARN, accepted the award on behalf of ORWARN.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal's Incident Management Red Team received the OEMA Partner Award for Coordination for support to the Vernonia Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during the December 2007 Severe Storm Event. With limited staff available locally for an ongoing event, the team provided needed relief for the EOC staff and support to sustain emergency operations in Vernonia. Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Randy Simpson accepted the award on behalf of the team.

Jessica Pankratz, Linn County Sheriff's Office volunteer, received the OEMA Partner Award for Service for her volunteer work for Linn County Emergency Management. She developed and presented pandemic influenza preparedness and continuity information to 200 Linn County Sheriff's Office employees and more than 300 members of other organizations in the community.

Deb Treusdell, City of Seaside Tsunami Preparedness Coordinator, received the OEMA Member Award for Innovation. She used innovative activities such as "Tsunami Jeopardy" and "PrepareWare" Parties - similar to Tupperware Parties - where neighbors gathered in private homes to learn about tsunami preparedness, to help individuals and groups prepare to survive without electricity, communications, or outside help after a storm or tsunami.

Krista Rowland, Marion County Emergency Management, received the Member Award for Coordination at the local level. She coordinated incident management training that helped six Oregon counties meet federal training requirements and resulted in over 450 emergency response personnel receiving the required training.

Randy Shaw, Oregon Department of Human Services, Public Health Services Division, received the Member Award for Coordination at the state level. He played a critical role in the planning of public health and medical services activities for the TOPOFF 4 National Level Exercise in Oregon in October 2007, and was the Incident Manager for the Public Health Agency Operations Center in the response and recovery efforts to the December 2007 Severe Storm disaster.

Vicky Vose received the Member Award for Service. She reported to the Columbia County Emergency Operations Center during the December 2007 Severe Storm disaster where she served as Logistics Section Chief even though her previous last working day for Columbia County was several days before the storm began.

The 2008 Raffle was a great success and the Association raised over $2,000 for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in Oregon

Avalon Hotel & Spa Chinook Winds Casino Resort Clackamas County Emergency Management Erath Vineyards Floyd Holcom High Desert Museum Hood River Inn Kristen Hartwigsen Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. Legend ID Mo's - Lincoln City Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort Nike ODOT Overleaf Lodge Panera Bread Pasha Mediterranean Grill PearlParadise Portland Office of Emergency Management Portland Fire Bureau

Portland Police Bureau Portland 911 Portland Beavers Baseball Portland Timbers Portland Parks Bureau Portland Water Bureau Portland Pendleton Ringside Restaurant Salishan Resort See's Candy Selco Community Credit Union Starbucks, Tigard & Hillsboro Sunriver Resort Tamastslikt Cultural Institute Tazo Tea Tillamook County Creamery Association Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue The Mill Casino & Hotel Widmer Brewing Wildhorse Resort & Casino