Sarah Potes
Richland County EMA
Bellville,OH
3
years of post-secondary education
7
years of professional experience
Results-oriented emergency management professional with extensive experience in county and state government. Specializes in leading emergency operations, overseeing grant administration, and facilitating interagency coordination. Proven track record in managing incident response and collaborating effectively with public officials and community partners.
Work History
Director
1 Year 5 Months- Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for county emergency management programs spanning mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
- Directed Emergency Operations Center activations and coordinated multi-agency incident responses during county emergencies to ensure public safety and efficient resource allocation.
- Oversee emergency planning, including the County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), Hazard Mitigation Plan and Hazardous Materials Plan.
- Manage departmental budgets, state and federal grant awards, procurement workflows and statutory compliance requirements.
- Liaised with FEMA, Ohio EMA, local government officials and regional emergency response partners to enhance collaboration and response effectiveness.
- Led public communications, media relations and interagency engagement to strengthen community response efforts and maintain public awareness.
Grants Specialist
9 Months- Coordinated federal and state grant administration across 24 County EMA agencies, enhancing program execution and ensuring alignment with state standards.
- Conducted procurement and compliance reviews for multi-million-dollar federal and state grant allocations, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.
- Maintained audit-ready documentation and standardized reporting protocols across assigned subrecipient jurisdictions.
- Acted as a liaison between FEMA and county EMAs to support timely deliverables, progress reports, and compliance milestones.
Administrative Assistant
2 Years 7 Months- Directed operations during the executive transition from October to December 2022.
- Oversaw daily operations during the executive transition from October to December 2022.
- Coordinated emergency response logistics and resource deployment, managing volunteer corps during county incidents.
- Facilitated regional emergency planning initiatives and operational readiness exercises to enhance preparedness.
Deputy Clerk
2 Years 8 Months- Maintained accurate court and case records, legal documentation, and confidential administrative databases to support judicial operations.
- Managed public records requests, streamlining workflow procedures to enhance response turnaround times.
- Processed complex financial transactions ensuring compliance with county fiscal policies and statutory regulations.
Education
Bachelors Degree - Emergency Management
Associate of Arts - Business Administration
Skills
Emergency Management: Preparedness
mitigation
response and recovery; Emergency Operations Center (EOC) coordination
Grants & Compliance: FEMA and state grants; procurement reviews; audit readiness; reporting and documentation
Leadership & Planning: Strategic planning; program administration; policy development; stakeholder engagement
Incident management
Fiscal & Administrative Operations: Budget oversight; financial operations; payroll and invoices; records management
Microsoft Office (including Excel and PowerPoint) Google Workspace Zoom CourtView EM Grants Management System (EMGMS)
Earlier Professional Experience
- Deli Supervisor / Training Supervisor |2016–2019 | Stoodt’s Market — Bellville, OH
- Multi-Line Customer Service Representative / Insurance Agent | 2012–2014 | Jason Guilliams State Farm — Mansfield, OH
- Customer Service Representative | 2010–2011 | Reitler Insurance Agency — Lexington, OH
- Secretary | 2008–2010 | Mansfield Christian School — Mansfield, OH
- Customer Service Representative | 2005–2008| Farley Peeples Insurance Agency — Mansfield, OH
Timeline
Director
Richland County EMA
05.2025 - CurrentRead More
Grants Specialist
State of Ohio EMA
08.2024 - 05.2025Read More
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Bachelors Degree from Emergency Management
03.2023 - 10.2024Read More
Administrative Assistant
Richland County EMA
01.2022 - 08.2024Read More
Deputy Clerk
Richland County Government
05.2019 - 01.2022Read More
Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Associate of Arts from Business Administration
08.2003 - 01.2005Read More