Board of Directors
Justin Powell
PRESIDENT
My name is Justin Powell, and I serve as Walton County’s Volunteer CERT Coordinator, Logistics Coordinator and operate in ESF 15, Volunteer and Donations. Since 2017, I have managed the Walton County Volunteer CERT Program and beginning in 2020, I’ve had the pleasure of serving on the Florida CERT Association Board of Directors.
Bruce Caruso
VICE PRESIDENT
District Chief Bruce Caruso began his fire service career with the City of Dania in 1982. Through the 29 years that he served with the department, he rose to the rank of Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services. In 2011, the City of Dania Beach contracted with the Broward Sheriff’s Office to provide Fire Rescue services.
Penni Long
SECRETARY
Ms. Long started working with Broward County Emergency Management as the County Liaison to the CERT Programs. She started attending the conference to learn more about CERT to better serve the 13 teams in Broward County. Penni was asked to join the board by a past FCA President and gladly did so. Ms. Long became…
Christy Moore
TREASURER
Christy Moore has served with the Florida Cert Association since 2018, and she has been an Orange County Cert Association member since 2017. Moore does numerous volunteer hours for the following organizations: CERT, OCARES is ORANGE COUNTY AMATUER RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES (Ham Radio), ORLANDO AMATUER RADIO…
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Ellen Pinder
PARLIMENTARIAN
Pinder is the CERT Coordinator and Mitigation Planner for Charlotte County Emergency Management. Her role as the Charlotte County CERT coordinator started in 2014, and since that time, the program has expanded considerably and now provides firefighter rehab to Charlotte County Fire and EMS…
Michelle Luckett
REGION 1
Tracy Morgan
REGION 2
Morgan has been a dedicated advocate of the CERT program since 2015 when she graduated and became a member of the Taylor County CERT Team based out of Perry, Florida. A key focus of Morgan’s is recruitment and expansion of the CERT program within Region 2 of the Florida CERT Association.
Kathy Sellen
REGION 3
Jason Burns
REGION 4
Riley Tuff
REGION 4
Bill Church
REGION 5
Bill joined the Florida CERT Association Board of Directors in September of 2019. He is a native of Washington State, during all of his growing up years. He has been a Florida resident since 1964.
Bill has been going to the Florida CERT conferences since 2015. Bill is a group leader of his community CERT Team #62, at the Clarcona Resorts, in Apopka, Florida, for many years now as their leader and trainer.
Darrell Tongate
Ray Wodynski
REGION 6
Carol Sjursen
Region 7
Carol Sjursen has been actively involved in CERT since 2003. She currently serves the Deerfield Beach CERT Team as their Program Manager, a position she has held since 2010. In 2013, under her leadership, the Deerfield Beach CERT Team was recognized by the Florida CERT Association as the State CERT Team of the Year.
Justin Wells
REGION 7
Justin Wells has been serving as a firefighter since 2012 and is a devoted husband and father of three children. A passion for EMS found him in 2002 when his uncle suffered a seizure and firefighters responded to his uncle’s residence. Justin went on to successfully complete fire academy and paramedic school simultaneously which was deemed an impossible task and he has since continued to advance his knowledge, education and experience within the career.
My name is Justin Powell, and I serve as Walton County’s Volunteer CERT Coordinator, Logistics Coordinator and operate in ESF 15, Volunteer and Donations. Since 2017, I have managed the Walton County Volunteer CERT Program and beginning in 2020, I’ve had the pleasure of serving on the Florida CERT Association Board of Directors.
I began my career serving in the Army National Guard, where I worked as a Motor Transportation Operator for six years.
During my time in the Guard, I found assisting those in need and serving my local community was my life’s passion.
Upon completing my basic CERT course, I had the opportunity to utilize my training during Hurricane Michael, where we deployed to Calhoun, Bay and Jackson counties for Human Services support.
As Volunteer CERT Coordinator, I continued my education and completed the “Train the Trainer” course, where I have trained over 75 local volunteers. In 2020, I have led our CERT Team through over 1,000 volunteer hours, with missions including COVID support, traffic and crowd control, mass feeding effort, and provided logistical support for POD Operations. These missions and more allowed our team to be nominated and won the 2021 Volunteer Agency Service Award from Governor’s Hurricane Conference.
District Chief Bruce Caruso began his fire service career with the City of Dania in 1982. Through the 29 years that he served with the department, he rose to the rank of Division Chief of Emergency Medical Services. In 2011, the City of Dania Beach contracted with the Broward Sheriff’s Office to provide Fire Rescue services. Chief Caruso served as the Division Chief of EMS for the Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services for the next two years. In 2013, Chief Caruso became the Assistant District Chief in the City of Weston, and in 2014, he was promoted to the rank of District Chief of Cooper City where he currently serves.
Chief Caruso is a member of the Broward Regional EMS Council. He currently serves as the chair of the Fire Chief’s Association of Broward County CERT Sub-committee. He is also the past chair of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Broward County EMS Subcommittee.
Chief Caruso was the recipient of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Broward County Leadership Award. He has also worked on many established committees, both at the local and county level. He was also recognized with the 2017 Silver Star award by the Florida CERT Association.
Chief Caruso holds an Associate Degree in Emergency Medical Services from Broward College. He is a state of Florida Certified Firefighter and Paramedic.
Ms. Long started working with Broward County Emergency Management as the County Liaison to the CERT Programs. She started attending the conference to learn more about CERT to better serve the 13 teams in Broward County. Penni was asked to join the board by a past FCA President and gladly did so. Ms. Long became Secretary of the board last year after the former Secretary had to step down due to medical reasons. She was nominated and voted into this position by her peers on the FCA Board. Currently, Ms. Long is a planner with the Orange County Public Schools Emergency Management Department and is working with senior leadership to bring Teen CERT to their over 200 schools.
Christy Moore has served with the Florida Cert Association since 2018, and she has been an Orange County Cert Association member since 2017. Moore does numerous volunteer hours for the following organizations: CERT, OCARES is ORANGE COUNTY AMATUER RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES (Ham Radio), ORLANDO AMATUER RADIO CLUB, & ORLANDO CERT AMATUER RADIO EMERGENCY BROADCAST when all other forms of communication are down or has failed, from May to October during hurricane season. Moore is a trained SKYWARN STORM WATCHER as well. Moore is also Co-Chair for the ORLANDO HAMCATION COMMITTEE, where she utilizes her abilities in cooking for over 400 volunteers and keeping them happy and fed for 1 week as well as supplying food and snacks for all the vendors during that same week and making sure everyone stays well hydrated.
Moore has a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration & Accounting. She has an Associates Degree in Dental Assistant, and she is a Certified as a Paralegal and she is a Notary Public. Moore is the Secretary for the following Committees in her community, AERC, UTILITY, ORIENTATION, CERT TEAM 62, & NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.
Moore is a very dedicated advocate and member of the CERT PROGRAM, since she graduated and became a very active member of the Orange County Team based out of Winter Park, Florida.
Moore’s focus is recruitment and expansion of the CERT PROGRAM within Region 5 of the FLORIDA CERT ASSOCIATION, she has been an advocate of the creation and continued monthly trainings of the CERT TEAMS in her surrounding 14 counties that she advocates for, to ensure the success of the new programs. Moore provides her assistance and experience wherever needed.
Moore totally understands the importance of continued education and trainings. Moore routinely participates in the CERT TRAINING CLASSES & DRILLS, within the State including the yearly Hurricane Expo, Orlando Airport Drills, and other drills including the School Shootings and Reunification of the students to their parents. (2-day drill).
Moore is a GENERAL CLASS AMATUER RADIO OPERATOR and is a CERTIFIED VE HAM RADIO EXAMINER and she is studying for her EXTRA CLASS OPERATOR LICENSE.
Morgan has been a dedicated advocate of the CERT program since 2015 when she graduated and became a member of the Taylor County CERT Team based out of Perry, Florida.
A key focus of Morgan’s is recruitment and expansion of the CERT program within Region 2 of the Florida CERT Association. She has been a major advocate for the creation of CERT teams in surrounding counties, including adjacent Jefferson and Franklin Counties. To ensure the success of new programs, Morgan provides her experience and assistance when needed.
Understanding the importance of continual training, Morgan routinely participates in CERT training classes and drills within the State including the Tallahassee Airport Drill which is held every three years. Other drills include Universal/Orlando and the Madison County. She has also participated in activations for hurricanes and other emergencies, working close with FEMA on several of the deployments.
Morgan currently represents Region 2 for the Florida CERT Association.
Bill joined the Florida CERT Association Board of Directors in September of 2019. He is a native of Washington State, during all of his growing up years. He has been a Florida resident since 1964.
Bill has been going to the Florida CERT conferences since 2015. Bill is a group leader of his community CERT Team #62, at the Clarcona Resorts, in Apopka, Florida, for many years now as their leader and trainer.
Bill volunteers many hours a month to different events in and around the Orlando , Florida area, such as Bike-a-thons; Walk-A-thons; HamCation, CERT Trainings for the County EOC, as well as other events.
Bill, is a Ham Radio Operator, as well as a Volunteer Examiner, who does testing and training’s for new Technicians who want to get their Ham Radio License. Bill holds a General Class Ham Radio License. Bill is the Chair for HamCation, in Logistics as well as the many other hats that he wears, during HamCation he donated 90 working hours to this event in 1 week. Bill was in charge of the set-up and tear down for the event.
Bill sat in as a Volunteer Examiner at the very first Ham Radio Technician License testing session held at the pre-conference class.for CERT PRE-CONFERENCE at Naples, Florida, in September 2019, where 10 new Technician Ham Radio Operators were created..
Bill’s primary Goal is to make contact with all of his City and County EOC’s and all of his CERT Team Leaders in Region 3, to help motivate them and to help them in anyway he can to make them successful. Bill is a major team player and honest and a hard working CERT Board Member. Bill is on 3 Committees where he resides either as Chair or Co-Chair, as well as property management for different people in his community.
Bill is retired, and served 3 terms in Viet Nam when he was enlisted in the Navy.
Pinder is the CERT Coordinator and Mitigation Planner for Charlotte County Emergency Management. Her role as the Charlotte County CERT coordinator started in 2014, and since that time, the program has expanded considerably and now provides firefighter rehab to Charlotte County Fire and EMS, first aid support at public events and advanced training programs. The team has expanded to 300 active members.
Pinder has been awarded the Charlotte County Public Safety Employee of the Year in 2016 and the Employee of the Year in 2017. She is also a certified Florida Associated Emergency Manager.
Pinder serves as Treasurer for the Florida CERT Association, representing Region 6.
Sjursen has been actively involved with CERT since 2003 and currently serves as the CERT Coordinator for the Deerfield Beach CERT Team which she has led since 2010. Under her leadership, the Deerfield Beach CERT Team has been recognized by the Florida CERT Association with the CERT Team of the Year award.
Sjursen began attending the Florida CERT Association State Conferences in 2004, and from 2013 has served on the Association’s Board of Directors representing Region 7. Since 2016, Sjursen has served as the Association’s Vice President.
Sjursen has developed and taught numerous CERT classes, not only for the Deerfield CERT Team, but also for other CERT teams in Broward County and at the State level. Sjursen is both Train-the-Trainer and Program Manager certified.
Sjursen is also involved with Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) where she serves Broward County Emergency Management in times of disaster, providing emergency communications through amateur “ham” radios, a backup for when normal means of communications fail.
In 2010, the Fire Chiefs’ Association of Broward County presented Sjursen with the Broward County CERT Member of the Year award. In 2013, Sjursen was recognized as the CERT Member of the Year by the Florida CERT Association.
Sjursen has her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University. She believes that training is critical to the success of any organization, and has continued to take advanced certification classes so that she can continue to train others. She abides by the Shirley Chisholm quote, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
Kirkwood joined the Florida CERT Association Board representing Region 1 in 2018. She is a CERT Instructor and a member of the Escambia County CERT Team in Pensacola sponsored by the BRACE (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies) organization. She also works in many capacities as a full time Red Cross volunteer – as a disaster responder, a caseworker and as a Red Cross Navigator Lead working with the disaster work force engagement team. Kirkwood is also a US Army veteran.
Lisa joined the Florida CERT Association Board in 2019. A New Jersey native, Lisa made a decision to move to California for new career and educational opportunities.
During her second year in Laguna Niguel, California, she found the city newspaper called “The Beeline” in her mailbox. There was an article about “CEPA” (Community Emergency Preparedness Academy) classes. Being from New Jersey, Lisa was not familiar with earthquakes, wild fires or disaster preparedness.
After eight weeks of learning about preparedness, the city emergency manager approached her with an invitation to join the “CEPA Team” in the city. She gladly joined and soon learned that there were many others in the city who wanted to prepare themselves and their neighbors for disaster.
Lisa soon became the Team Leader for the CEPA/CERT Team, and then the Program Manager for the City of Laguna Niguel CERT Team. She is certified as both a CERT Train the Trainer and CERT Program Manager. Lisa was instrumental in designing several of the final exercise nights and was part of the high-level exercise staff.
Laguna Niguel CERT joined with several other South Orange County CERT groups to create a CERT exercise that tested various CERT skills. She served in the capacities of Controller and Lead Controller. The South Orange County CERT Exercise received an Honorable Mention award in two categories for the FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Awards.
Lisa was the Laguna Niguel delegate for Orange County CERT Mutual Aid Program (CMAP) from 2015-2017. She represented Laguna Niguel in various CERT operations throughout the county along with other CERT representatives. She also taught at CERT Train the Trainer training.
Another project Lisa worked on was an Evaluator for several Orange County Healthcare Agency PODs (Point of Dispensing) events from 2014-2018. Areas of evaluation included command and control, communications, and private and public sector integration. The PODs were for flu shots in several cities in Orange County, and involved a mix of public and private sector players.
Lisa has attended several national and international conferences on disaster preparedness: CalCERT Conference in 2013 and 2014, National CERT Conference in 2016, Orange County American Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Academy 2012-2015, and the Shanghai International Disaster Reduction and Security Exhibition in 2012 and 2013. Lisa spoke at the National CERT Conference in 2015 on “CERT and the Sendai Framework” during the CERT Innovations Session.
Lisa worked with local city organizations, country-level organizations, state and national governmental partners, and worked with the UN on the Sendai Framework. Local government organizations included City of Laguna Niguel as well as other cities in Orange County, California. She also worked together with the Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County Emergency Management Division, Orange County Citizen Corps Council, Orange County Healthcare Agency and Health Disaster Preparedness Division.
Currently, Lisa works in the private sector for a thriving patient engagement company based in Williamsburg, Virginia. The company reaches patients in more than 76 disease categories, and works with many of the top pharmaceutical companies in the country and world. She works on a variety of projects involving patients, caregivers and healthcare providers.
She and her husband reside in Minneola, Florida.
Barry started the CERT program in Verona Walk in Naples, Florida in 2008. He has served as the team leader since that time. Under his leadership, the 73 member team has won multiple awards and recognition. Barry was the recipient of the Florida CERT Association’s Silver Star Award in 2019. Barry is a CERT instructor, a CERT project manager and assists the Greater Naples Fire-Rescue in training, and in organizing new teams. He is the Citizens Corps representative for CERT to Collier County government. Barry was the 2019 recipient of the Florida CERT Association’s Silver Star award.