John E. Wisner, Jr.
Emergency Management Specialist
Wilmington,NC
Summary
Emergency management professional with a strong background in crisis response and preparedness. Skilled in developing and implementing emergency plans, coordinating with multiple agencies, and ensuring public safety. Known for a collaborative approach, adaptability, and consistent achievement of results. Proven ability to analyze risk, manage resources effectively, and lead teams under pressure.
Competent at communicating and developing relationships with both internal and external customers. Good written and oral communication skills. Having an interest and desire to create and facilitate training programs and exercises to help people be prepared for emergencies and disasters before they occur.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Principal
The Wisner Group, LLC
01.2021 - Current
- Emergency Preparedness Consultant Services – Emergency Planning, Training, and Exercises for local communities and business.
- Development of emergency plans and education of the plan elements.
- Development of exercise execution and evaluation plan.
EOC Assistant Operations Chief
Innovative Emergency Management
02.2021 - 03.2022
- Illinois State EOC Assistant Operations Chief, Illinois State COVID-19 Safety Officer, Illinois State Documentation Unit Leader. Vaccination Site Liaison Officer assigned to scheduled Vaccination Sites across the State of Illinois.
Rideshare Driver
Uber
07.2017 - 02.2021
Drive public to desired locations within the area.
Exercise Officer
North Carolina Division of Emergency Management
02.2017 - 08.2019
- Plan, Conduct and Evaluate All-Hazards Exercises to ensure appropriate national capabilities: Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) exercises, State-wide Exercises – Hurricanes, Support Dept. of Agriculture and Dept. of Health Exercises, Logistics Supply Officer, Logistics Coordinator or Assistant Logistics Chief (night shift) during State Emergency Operations Center Activation. Served as Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC): District Coordinator and Advance Team Member.
Emergency Management Specialist
Arizona Division of Emergency Management
05.2009 - 02.2017
- Arizona Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) State Instructor: HSEEP, FEMA and IMT Courses, and a Member of the Arizona State Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Advance Team.
Program Coordinator
Pima County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
01.2009 - 02.2017
- Training and Exercise Coordinator – Ensure the training of internal and external agencies/stakeholders/responders to emergencies occurring within the county, Responsible for management of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Grants funds related to training and exercises, Planned, developed, conducted, facilitated, and evaluated exercises. Developed Exercise Evaluation Course and trained prospective evaluators.
- County Liaison with the Community of Ajo-Disaster Preparedness Committee.
- Liaison to the Arizona Healthcare Coalition – South Region (hospitals, urgent care facilities, nursing homes, health departments and other healthcare organizations).
- Local Emergency Planning Committee Coordinator-business hazardous materials compliance/education, Worked with local fire departments with preparations for hazardous materials situations.
- EOC Activations: Planning Section Chief or Night Shift EOC Manager, and a Member of the county Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT).
Exercise Support Team Leader
CRA, Inc.
04.2003 - 01.2009
- Supervision and management of four-person exercise support team.
- Facilitation and moderator for Exercise Planning meetings with clients, following DHS protocols, Supported the Planning process of exercises – internal and external.
- Responsible for Execution and Evaluation of ODP/DHS Exercises.
- Developed Evaluator Training program and trainer of prospective Evaluators.
- Instructor on AMTRAK Homeland Security training program.
- Observed, evaluated, and provided input regarding DHS courses, instructors, and the Target Capabilities List (TCL) sections.
- Developed two different, two-day training courses on Emergency Operations Center Operations for the U.S. Marine Corp, conducted at 10 US Installations.
National Fire Academy
07.1996 - 01.2009
- Contract Instructor teaching the Hazardous Materials Incident Management course and several Terrorism Program courses.
Fire Training Officer
Loudoun County Department of Fire/Rescue Service
11.1994 - 04.2003
- Fire Training Officer: identifying training needs, course development, logistics, and training of responders.
- Training Captain: all aspects of management of training center, personnel, budget, policy, vehicles, and programs.
- Support fire suppression, EMS, rescue, and hazardous materials emergency operations.
- Hazardous Materials Team Leader: management of all aspects of volunteer hazardous materials response team, including training, budgeting, compliance, records.
- LEPC Coordinator: liaison with industry and businesses using, storing, manufacturing, and transporting hazardous materials in and out of the county.
Education
No Degree - Homeland Security Exercise And Evaluation Program
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C.No Degree - Emergency Management
Arizona Division of Emergency Management
Phoenix, ArizonaNo Degree - Emergency Management
Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
Emmitsburg, Maryland07-2019
No Degree -
Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute
College Park, MD01.2009
No Degree - Hazardous Materials, Terrorism, Leadership, Communications and Course Design Courses
National Fire Academy
Emmitsburg, Maryland09-2008
High School Diploma -
Frederick High School
Frederick, Maryland06.1971
High School Diploma -
Frederick Community College
Frederick, Maryland06-1971
Skills
- Employee performance evaluations - During my tenure as a manager, the HR Section created these evaluations independently to perform assessments with my employees This is the best way to gain knowledge about your people and your program
- Staff management - my staff in each situation has been left to do their own thing after they understand what they can and can not do I believe in trustworthiness and respect, give it and receive it
- Verbal and written communication - talk with your people often, particularly when they are working on their own Trust them to do the right thingtake action when they don't
- Training and mentoring - a MUST for any leader Knowledge is key to a successful outcome
- Decision-making - as a fire officer, I had to learn that a fire does not wait for a decision Assessments had to be made quickly to save a life or property Facts are what are required to make a good decision
- Complex Problem-solving - this is just an offshoot of decision-making Facts and assessment are required
- Staff training and development - As volunteer firefighters, we were often encouraged to find someone to replace us Leaders must ask themselves, "Who will do your job when you can not?" A leader needs to make time to train staff for this very reason
- Task delegation - people will accomplish any task you ask them to do, particularly When a leader provides good direction and the tools to succeed
- Documentation and reporting - every position served required documentation from applying for grant money to reporting after an incident, exercise, or event
- Relationship building - respect, encouragement, education, being helpful, and providing the necessary tools are the responsibilities of a leader to their people
- Project planning - Planning is a critical element of life
- Customer relationship management (CRM) - "Do unto others as you want them to do unto you" Treating people with respect and accomplishing the goals or mission of your client will get a return on your work
- Marketing - do a good job, be respectful, and help the client; it will be the best marketing tool
- Safety procedures - this is an essential part of life Everyone wants to feel safe and secure Safety procedures help to guide people through certain situations "SAFELY"
- Policy and procedure development - procedures and policy are guides to safely "follow the Yellow Brick Road" Tells us what is legal, ethical, and morally right to do
- Computer skills - most everything today is done electronically This is integral to documenting, obtaining knowledge, performing assessments, communicating, and other elements
- Effective communication - becoming a fire service instructor, I learned the 80-20 rule80% listening and 20% talking I have used this philosophy continuously, and it has had positive outcomes
- Adaptability and flexibility - people in the fire service and emergency management MUST be flexible to adapt to any situation
Accomplishments
- Developed and taught a Confined Space Training Program meeting the guidelines established by the Virginia Department of Transportation, for the Maryland Fire/Rescue Institute.
- I worked with AMTRAK to teach workers the elements of entering a Confined Space following AMTRAK guidelines.
- Developed and taught a 3-hour course to people responsible for evaluating a DHS Exercise in several cities.
- Key speaker at the 2008 League of Arizona Cities and Towns Conference.
- Developed and taught 2-2 day courses on Emergency Management Operations at 10 different USMC Bases outside the base confines.
- Developed an Exercise Training program which had been used to educate the healthcare community in Pima County, Arizona, on how to evaluate an exercise, following the DHA HSEEP guidelines.
Affiliations
- United Steam Fire Company Number 3: Life Member - Served as President, Vice-President, Operations Officer Positions, Firefighter, Rescue Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician, Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator, State of Maryland EMT
- National Fire Protection Association: Member of the Hazardous Materials Clothing Technical Committee participating in development and refinement of standards related to the design, testing, and manufacturing of hazardous materials and terrorism clothing for responders.
Certification
- Federal Emergency Management Agency - EMI: Master Exercise Practitioner, Professional Development Series, Advance Professional Development Series, Integrated Emergency Management Curriculum, Emergency Management Academy, Emergency Management Advanced Academy, Instructor Training
- U.S. Fire Administration: Basic Incident Management Team Course, Operations Section Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Communications Section Chief, Finance and Administration Section Chief – U.S. Forestry Course
- National Fire Academy: Hazardous Materials Series Courses, Management and Leadership Courses, Terrorism Courses (6), Communications, Basic Instructional Design
- National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications: Hazardous Materials Technician, Fire Instructor III, Fire Officer III, Fire Fighter III
- Commonwealth of Virginia-Fire Programs: Instructor IV, Fire Fighter III, Hazardous Materials Technician
- Maryland Board of Higher Education: Fire Service Instructor III
Languages
English
Professional Working
Timeline
EOC Assistant Operations Chief
Innovative Emergency Management
02.2021 - 03.2022
Principal
The Wisner Group, LLC
01.2021 - Current
Rideshare Driver
Uber
07.2017 - 02.2021
Exercise Officer
North Carolina Division of Emergency Management
02.2017 - 08.2019
Emergency Management Specialist
Arizona Division of Emergency Management
05.2009 - 02.2017
Program Coordinator
Pima County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
01.2009 - 02.2017
Exercise Support Team Leader
CRA, Inc.
04.2003 - 01.2009
National Fire Academy
07.1996 - 01.2009
Fire Training Officer
Loudoun County Department of Fire/Rescue Service
11.1994 - 04.2003
No Degree - Homeland Security Exercise And Evaluation Program
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
No Degree - Emergency Management
Arizona Division of Emergency Management
No Degree - Emergency Management
Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
No Degree -
Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute
No Degree - Hazardous Materials, Terrorism, Leadership, Communications and Course Design Courses
National Fire Academy
High School Diploma -
Frederick High School
High School Diploma -
Frederick Community College