2026 Conference Planning Committee
Nikkola Bales
Multimedia Communications Specialist
Nebraska Hospital Association
A passionate and results-driven professional, Nikkola specializes in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, and Emergency Preparedness. A proud graduate of the University of Mississippi, she completed a bachelor’s degree in just three years while earning dual minors in Business and Entrepreneurship. As a Multimedia Communications Specialist at the Nebraska Hospital Association, Nikkola leads initiatives in digital marketing, graphic design, social media management, and content creation. With expertise in internal communications, strategic campaigns, video production, and event coordination, she supports hospitals by providing resources and training. Building on this work, Nikkola is currently pursuing a Certificate in Public Health, Emergency Preparedness at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Public Health (COPH). This program provides a strong foundation in disaster response, risk management, and public health systems, deepening her ability to connect communication strategies with emergency planning.
Joshua Chung, CD, MPS, AEMCA
Paramedic
Canadian Armed Forces
Joshua Chung is a Primary Care Paramedic with over 15 years of experience as a medic in the Canadian Armed Forces, where he is involved in operations, training, strategic planning, and rapid deployment readiness. During his time in the military, Joshua has worked and trained in Europe as well as cross-border in New York, West Virginia, Georgia, and South Dakota. He has also worked as an event and sport medic, a Logistical Support Coordinator, and an Emergency Preparedness Specialist for a hospital network in downtown Toronto. Throughout his career, Joshua has had the opportunity to lead multidisciplinary teams and design complex emergency preparedness systems that aligned operations with strategic and tactical needs.
Joshua lives in Toronto, ON, where he holds a Master of Public Safety degree, specializing in Emergency Management, from Wilfrid Laurier University, a certificate in Primary Care Paramedicine from the Justice Institute of British Columbia and an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Sciences from York University. His interests include continued studies in Public Health Emergency Management and Business Continuity Management.
Tim Dickman
Assistant Regional Coordinator
Region 6 Healthcare Coalition
Timothy (Tim) Dickman serves as Assistant Coordinator for the Michigan Region 6 Healthcare Coalition, where he supports regional collaboration and readiness among hospitals, EMS services, and healthcare providers.
With a career rooted in emergency medical services since the early 1980s, Tim’s multifaceted experience includes serving as a paramedic, field training supervisor, quality improvement coordinator, instructor, and billing specialist. This depth of frontline insight informs his strategic approach to coalition coordination.
Demonstrating a commitment to advanced competence, he earned his Master’s degree in Information Systems with a business specialty in 2011, equipping him with the analytical and operational skills vital for complex coordination efforts.
Since stepping into his current position in 2019, Tim has been an integral partner in equipping healthcare organizations within Region 6 to respond effectively to terrorism-related threats and public health emergencies.
Outside of his professional life, Tim is an avid music lover and enjoys spending time in the great outdoors—interests that complement his leadership with balance and perspective.
Anna Hansen, MPH
Program Coordinator
Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals
Keith Hansen, MBA
Certification Committee Chair
Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals
Christopher Krichten
Executive Director, Risk and Life Safety
Country Meadows & Ecumenical Retirement Communities
Chris Krichten has built a distinguished 25-year career in healthcare, most recently serving as an Emergency Management and EMS leader at WellSpan Health in South Central Pennsylvania. With deep expertise in fire safety and emergency preparedness, he has transitioned from acute care to senior living at Country Meadows & Ecumenical Retirement Communities, where he now oversees risk management and life safety for ten campuses across central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.
In his current role, Chris is dedicated to safeguarding residents by developing and implementing comprehensive safety and emergency response protocols. His extensive background in emergency management enables him to address complex challenges, making him a trusted leader in both the senior living and healthcare sectors.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Chris serves his community as an assistant fire chief and continues to work as a paramedic for a local EMS agency. His lifelong commitment to healthcare, safety, and preparedness underscores his passion for protecting others and driving meaningful impact both professionally and personally.
Dave McGraw, HcEM-M
Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response
Safety and Security Director
Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center
Dave has served as the Emergency Preparedness and Response Director as well as the Safety and Security Director for 34 years at SPRHC. During this time, Dave has served as the Chairman of the facility Safety Committee and the Chairman of the Emergency Preparedness Committee. He is a member of the Colorado South Region Health Care Coalition – Governing Board, currentmember of the Colorado Hospital Association - Hospital Preparedness Advisory Group,founding member of the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals,member of the Wakefield Brunswick Mastermind on Healthcare Resiliency and Recovery from Disasters, member of the Colorado Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living - Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee, and the Huerfano County Multi-agency Coordination Group.
He is responsible for the development and maintenance of the All-Hazards Response Plan for SPRHC. He holds certificates in IS100, 120.C, 200, 240.C, 242.C 300,700, 800, 402, 546, 547and G557 Rapid Needs Assessment. He is also a HazMat Operations for First Receivers Instructor. In 2023, Dave received the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals certification for Healthcare Emergency Management – Masters (HcEM-M) level certificate.
Dave has been involved in the coordination, planning, and conducting evacuation, cyber event, and active threat exercises for SPRHC and other Hospitals and Nursing Homes in Southern Colorado for the past 26 years. These exercises proved invaluable during the 2013 East Peak Wildfire and the 2018 Spring Wildfire. The 2018 fire included a full evacuation of SPRHC for 9 days. During these events, Dave served on the Incident Command Team for SPRHC as Incident Commander, Safety Officer, PIO, and Planning Section Chief for various operational periods.
David Reddick
Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder
Bio-Defense Network
Dave is a longtime active member of AHEPP, representing public health elements. He is Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of Bio-Defense Network, a national public health preparedness and emergency management consultancy. He is also the executive director of a consortium of universities in the St. Louis region that provide cybersecurity education, from community colleges to graduate schools. He is especially dedicated to preparedness, telling anyone who will listen that if they think preparedness is expensive, they should consider recovery.
Kristine Sanger, BS, MT (ASCP)
Executive Director
Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals
Kassondra Stockman, HcEM-M
Emergency Preparedness Advisor
Halton Heathcare
Kassondra Stockman-Sousa is the Emergency Preparedness Advisor at Halton Healthcare - an organization in Ontario, Canada, comprised of three community hospitals and numerous community-based services located in the growing communities of Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville.
With a career beginning at The George Washington University’s Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management in Washington, DC, she has specialized in Emergency Management across higher education and regional government sectors. Since joining Halton Healthcare in 2013, Kassondra has played a key role in Emergency Management planning for major hospital redevelopment projects, including a new 1.6 million square foot Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital and significant expansions at Milton District Hospital.
She holds a Master’s in Forensic Science from The George Washington University and is a DRI International Certified Business Continuity Professional.
Jane Wade, BSHS, RMA, EM-PDS
Emergency Preparedness Manager
Wellstar Medical Group
Jane has 26 years of experience in healthcare. Over the years, she has coordinated and managed many patients and staff safety-focused initiatives with her expertise in site assessments, training, standardization, and process improvement. In her current role, she oversees the Emergency Preparedness and EOC programs and processes for all 300+ Wellstar Medical Group practices and five Health Parks.
In 2011, Jane graduated from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Service with a concentration in case management. She’s also been an instructor for Community and Professional Education—Healthcare at KSU since 2017.