Management Team

Matt Garrett, Interim Director

Matt Garrett came to OEM with an incredibly distinguished career with the state, including 13 years as director of the Oregon Department of Transportation, where he managed an agency of about 4,700 people and a biennial budget of $4.2 billion. His agency achievements under his leadership include receiving the largest funding package ever for transportation in Oregon (Keep Oregon Moving in 2017) and implementing the nation’s first operational per-mile road use charge. Garrett, who retired from ODOT in 2019, was appointed in 2020 by then-Governor Kate Brown as the Wildfire Recovery Director, serving as principal advisor to the governor on recovery issues related to the 2020 wildfire season and directing all work related to Oregon’s recovery from the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires. He served in this role through June 2021. This past summer (2022), Garrett once again assisted the Governor, coordinating state support for the World Athletic Championships in Eugene. OEM is pleased to have him leading the department’s efforts until a permanent director is named.

Matt Marheine, Deputy Director (Preparedness & Response Division)

Matt Marheine was named Deputy Director for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management in February 2017. He began his career with OEM in 2000 as the agency’s Domestic Preparedness Coordinator. He held this position until July 2013 when he was hired as Operations and Preparedness Section Manager. In this position, Matt and his team managed responsibility for homeland security, earthquake and tsunami education, preparedness planning, emergency operations, search and rescue, communications, training and exercises statewide. During State incidents, Matt represents the State as the ECC Manager and Operations Manager for the administration of the State Emergency Coordination Center (ECC).

Prior to his role at OEM Matt worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region III Philadelphia, implementing and managing Human Services Programs.

Matt participates in the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) and has assisted in the development of EMAP standards since 2003.

Stan Thomas, Deputy Director (Mitigation & Recovery Division)

Stan Thomas began working as the Mitigation and Recovery Section Manager in August 2020. A US Air Force Veteran, Stan's civilian emergency management career began in 1994 as an Oregon Agency Liaison to the Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot and assisted the DHS/FEMA's Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) with community-based emergency action planning, exercise safety, evaluation and control throughout the country. In 2014 Stan took on the challenge of developing Oregon's Mass Care Strategies developing partnerships and advanced planning with the Red Cross, Oregon Food Bank, ORVOAD and many other stakeholders. Along with mass care operations, Stan also facilitated continuity of operations for the Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority covering approximately 200 locations and 14,000 employees.

Stan is a Red Cross Volunteer, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Trainer, and past Member of Deschutes County Search and Rescue. Other elements of Stan's career include occupational health and safety, workplace accident investigations, threat management, suicide prevention, and exercise development and facilitation.

Michelle Lovejoy, Chief Financial Officer / Finance Division Director

Michelle Lovejoy has served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management since September 2022. For more than 14 years, Michelle has provided internal auditing, policy analyses and budget development across nine diverse state government entities, giving her experience in both the legislative and executive branches. Michelle utilizes her legislative, risk management, and financial background to lead the new department's finance and budget operations.

Stephen Richardson, Mitigation Section Manager

Stephen Richardson is the Hazard Mitigation and Individual Assistance Section Manager, overseeing hazard mitigation and individual assistance programs with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM). Hazard mitigation planning reduces loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters. The Individual Assistance Program provides funding to individuals and households affected by disasters in an effort to facilitate successful recovery.

Stephen Richardson came to OEM in 2020, during the wildfire and COVID-19 incidents supporting the areas of business and industry. Stephen previously worked as a Compliance Specialist with Business Oregon's Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity. He worked to ensure the integrity of the program, created “Train the Trainer" events hosted throughout Oregon, conducted outreach for education, and advocated for Oregon's small businesses.

While in his role as business and industry support through Business Oregon during the recent COVID-19 pandemic and Labor Day fires in Oregon, Stephen played a key role in sourcing and distribution of hand sanitizer by organizing and collaborating with Oregon distilleries and private businesses manufacturing hand sanitizer for the state despite the national shortage. Stephen also worked with businesses to re-tool and provide Personal Protective Equipment.

Stephen's prior career included working in the criminal justice field for over 15 years as a corrections deputy, police officer, canine handler/trainer, and community relations officer.

Stephen is a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor of Science. In his off time, Stephen is a mentor to men coming out of addiction, involved in his son's Boy Scout Troop, and enjoys dog training.

Traci Naile, Response Section Manager

Traci Naile joined OEM in March 2020 as the Operations and Preparedness Section Manager. She previously worked as a regional coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, regional planner for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, and public assistance program delivery manager for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Traci served in regional volunteer leadership roles and as the Oklahoma State EOC liaison for the American Red Cross, and as a steering committee member for the Payne County (Oklahoma) Animal Response Team. She has served in liaison, operations, planning, logistics and external affairs roles during several federally declared disasters.

Traci's prior career included working in public relations and higher education. She earned a bachelor's degree in animal science from Purdue University. She also earned master's degrees in animal science and agricultural communications, and a doctoral degree in agricultural education, from Oklahoma State University.

Frank Kuchta, State 9-1-1 Program Section Manager

State 9-1-1 Program Section Manager Frank Kuchta manages the team of professionals at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management who are tasked with administering the statewide 9-1-1 program. This includes distribution of 9-1-1 revenue to local jurisdictions, oversight of the emergency communications network and support services required to deliver 2 million 9-1-1 emergency calls for assistance made within Oregon each year.

Frank came to OEM in 2015 as project portfolio manager for the 9-1-1 program. In this role, Frank made significant contributions to the 9-1-1 program including the replacement and modernization of statewide 9-1-1 network services connecting all 43 Oregon Public Safety Answering Points, and the development of a multi-phased Next Generation 9-1-1 tactical plan.

Frank has held several State of Oregon leadership positions, most recently for the Office of the State Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Technology Services where he oversaw a team of senior project managers responsible for implementing a portfolio of statewide technology initiatives.

Julie Slevin, Recovery Section Manager

Julie Slevin serves as the State Public Assistance Officer at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. Her responsibility as the State Public Assistance Officer includes management and administration of FEMA's Public Assistance program. Julie has served as the State Public Assistance Officer for nineteen Presidential Declarations. Julie received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Oregon State University in Construction Engineering Management and has worked at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management since 2000.

Alaina Mayfield, Preparedness Section Manager

Alaina Mayfield was named OEM Preparedness Section Manager in March 2022, a position created as part of the agency's expansion and transition to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. In this role, Alaina oversees several staff and supervises preparedness planning and community programs, training and exercises, and preparedness grants including EMPG, HSGP and SPIRE. While her experience in Oregon emergency management has prepared her well for this role, it's her passion for helping Oregonians and their communities that makes her such an asset to the agency. Alaina previously served as the Regional Response and Preparedness Manager, managing a team of five regional coordinators, while acting as coordinator for the Willamette Valley region. Prior to that, she was OEM's Emergency Preparedness Planner responsible for the Threat Hazard Identification Risk Assessment and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (THIRA/SPR), the State National Incident Management System contact, and Emergency Support Function 5 covering Information and Planning. Alaina has served as Planning Section Chief for some of the state's most devastating and complicated disasters, including the 2020 Labor Day wildfires and COVID-19. She started her career at OEM in 2015 as an Emergency Preparedness Specialist working in public information.

Alaina graduated magna cum laude from Western Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2012. She completed her Master of Science in Emergency Management from the University of New Haven in 2018.

Amanda Mathis, Preparedness & Response Regional Manager

Amanda Mathis manages the Regional Mitigation and Recovery Program and a team of five Regional Coordinators who serve throughout the state to assist with mitigation and recovery needs. This includes providing technical assistance, training, exercise and disaster assistance as requested. Before transitioning into her current role, Amanda joined OEM as the State Exercise Officer working on the State Exercise Plan.

Prior to working for OEM, her work included military, higher education and state government. She served six years in the Oregon Air National Guard in Security Forces, graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Communication in 2017 and spent time working on public transit grants for ODOT.

Sonji A. Moore, Strategic Communications and Partnerships Section Manager

Sonji is a proud Arkansan, who has called Oregon home since 2020. Sonji joined the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) as the Strategic Communications and Partnerships Section Manager and Legislative Director in March 2022. In this role, Sonji will combine her passion for changing lives, reform of systemic inequity and injustice, and effective and efficient communication with her education and experience.

The Strategic Communications and Partnerships Section develops and manages programs focused on Public Information and the Emergency Joint Information Center, Tribal coordination, office digital platform management, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Language Access, and the Public/Private Partnership programs of OEM. Sonji is OEM's primary representative and liaison at the Oregon Legislature. She will also work with the Governor's Public Safety and Resilience Policy staff and other state agencies to develop and implement state emergency management policy; and with locally elected officials, local governments and the general public on issues related to emergency management and risk reduction policy, administrative rules and legislation governing emergency management.

Sonji is honored to be a graduate of two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas; and holds a Juris Doctorate degree from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She also received Masters degrees from Webster University. Sonji's experience includes the marriage of Emergency Preparedness and Management, Public Policy, Higher Education Instruction, Community Relations, Juvenile Justice Reform, and Law. From this experience, Sonji can grasp first-hand the detrimental effects of various disparities due to systemic and institutional oppression, lack of opportunity, poverty, unstable environments, and unfair treatment. She wants to assist OEM with being a catalyst to ensure that these barriers are eliminated – especially in connection to emergencies and disasters; and, to make sure that all Oregonians thrive in times of crisis – no matter what comes our way.

Shawna Jepson Interagency Strategic Recovery Program Manager

Shawna is the Interagency Strategic Recovery Program Manager for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM). This program oversees Oregon's enterprise recovery operations, individual assistance programs and Emergency Support Function 16, Volunteers and Donations. She is also the acting Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) for Oregon. Shawna began working at OEM in September 2020 as a Public Assistance - Program Delivery Manager (PDMG) but was reassigned to recovery operations in response to the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires. Her involvement started as recovery operations support and then quickly elevated to State Disaster Recovery Coordinator (SDRC), which oversaw joint field recovery operations, provided local jurisdiction support, and lead the Interagency Strategic Recovery Team (ISRT), which includes all state and federal assets assigned to wildfire recovery operations. Shawna is also part of the OEM leadership team responsible for the activation and coordination of the Oregon Disaster Recovery Plan which includes Oregon's seven State Recovery Functions (SRF).