Management Team

Andrew Phelps, Director

Andrew began his career in New York where he was an active member of the response and emergency management community, serving as a response team member of New York Search and Rescue, and Rescue Team Chief for New York City’s first FEMA-recognized Community Emergency Response Team. Andrew left New York to manage the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Local Preparedness Program which provided technical assistance to local and tribal emergency management programs. Andrew also served as New Mexico’s Emergency Operations Center Planning Section Chief for several federally declared disasters. Prior to his arrival in Oregon, Andrew was the Director of Emergency Management for the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he was also served as a volunteer firefighter with the Santa Fe County Fire Department. He was hired as director for the Oregon Office of Emergency Management in February 2015.

Andrew graduated magna cum laude from John Jay College in New York City with a degree in Public Administration/Emergency Management and Planning. He received his Master of Arts from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security in Monterey, California. His master’s thesis, Play Well With Others: Improvisational Theater and Collaboration in the Homeland Security Environment, was published in September, 2013.

Matt Marheine, OEM Deputy Director (Operations)

Matt Marheine was named Deputy Director for Oregon Office 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, OEM Deputy Director (Mitigation & Recovery)

Stan Thomas began working as the Mitigation and Recovery Section Manager in August of 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.

Stephen Richardson - Hazard Mitigation and Individual Assistance Section Manager

Stephen Richardson is the Hazard Mitigation and Individual Assistance Section Manager, overseeing hazard mitigation and individual assistance programs with the Oregon Office 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 COVID19 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 though 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's 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.

small logo.jpg Traci Naile, Operations and Preparedness 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 Oregon Office 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.

Natalie Day, Accounting Manager

Natalie started working for OEM in 2016, and began as the Accounting Manager for OEM's Accounting section in 2020. This section is responsible for the grant reimbursements to all OEM sub-recipients, FEMA financial reporting, and day-to-day accounting activities.

Natalie started her career at OEM as the Public Assistance Grant Accountant. Besides PA, Natalie was the Accountant for the Emergency Management Performance Grant and the Lead Accountant. Prior to OEM, she worked in the private sector for several years as an Accountant.

Natalie is a 2011 graduate of Western Oregon University receiving her Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration. In 2021, she received her Masters of Accountancy from University of Missouri.

Julie Slevin, Recovery Manager

Julie Slevin serves as the State Public Assistance Officer at the Oregon Office 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's of Science Degree from Oregon State University in Construction Engineering Management and has work at Oregon Office of Emergency Management since 2000.

Alaina Mayfield, Regional Response & Preparedness Manager

Alaina was named the Regional Response and Preparedness Manager in 2020, a new program for OEM. As the Regional Manager, Alaina manages a team of five Regional Coordinators as well as serves as Coordinator for the Willamette Valley Region focusing on developing plans, training and exercises to more effectively respond to emergencies.

Alaina originally joined the OEM team in 2015 as the Emergency Preparedness Specialist working in Public Information. In 2016, Alaina joined the American Red Cross as the Disaster Program Manager for the Central and Eastern Oregon Chapter. Alaina remains a Red Cross volunteer and instructor. Alaina rejoined OEM as the Emergency Preparedness Planner in 2019 responsible for the Threat Hazard Identification Risk Assessment and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (THIRA/SPR), State National Incident Management System contact and Emergency Support Function 5 (Information and Planning). Alaina served as Planning Section Chief for some of the most devastating and complicated disasters for Oregon, including the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires, the 2017 Solar Eclipse/Wildfires and COVID-19.

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

5015865_OEM Logo Design_2014-COLOR.jpg Amanda Mathis, Regional Mitigation & Recovery Manage

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 as 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.