Committees & Liaisons

The core work and initiatives of the Association are driven by its various committees and liaisons. We encourage our members to get involved by joining a committee and actively contributing to the mission of KEMA. Use the links below to reach out to the Committee Chair and be added to their membership list.

As per the Bylaws of the Association, there are four standing committees, and the President and Executive Board may establish other Committees as required. For 2026, the committees are as follows:

Liaisons:

  • Legislative Liaison: The Legislative Liaison monitors legislation at the state and federal levels to report potential impacts for members of the Association in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and plays a pivotal role in shaping and influencing emergency management policies and legislation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  • 9-1-1 Advisory Liaison:  The 9-1-1 Advisory Liaison is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency response systems, with a primary focus on the 9-1-1 infrastructure.

Committees:

  • Annual Meeting/Conference: The Annual Meeting/Conference Committee is responsible for planning and executing our flagship event, the Annual Conference and Annual Membership Meeting.
    • Chairperson: Robert Gerlach / conference@kema-pa.org
    • Vice Chairpersons: Jeffrey Farber & Gary Verna, Jr.
    • Executive Board Liaison: Robert Gerlach
  • Local Level Committee: The Local Level Committee will provide a voice to the first-line emergency managers in the Commonwealth, from municipal emergency managers to those at schools, hospitals, etc., who directly work with and impact our citizens.
    • Chairperson: Kevin Dippolito / locallevel@kema-pa.org
    • Vice Chairperson: Wells Farr & Patrick Thornton
    • Executive Board Liaison: Tony Przychodzien 
  • Media Committee: The Media Committee serves as the dynamic bridge between KEMA and the public, managing our quarterly newsletter, social media branding, and producing the Coffee Break Training.
    • Chairperson: Maryellen Keegan / media@kema-pa.org
    • Vice Chairperson: Wells Farr
    • Executive Board Liaison: Maryellen Keegan
  • Membership Committee: The Membership Committee focuses on growing our community by recruiting and retaining members, ensuring access to valuable resources, and welcoming new professionals.
    • Chairperson: Larry West /
    • Vice Chairperson: Ronel Baccus
    • Executive Board Liaison: Amy Marree
  • Special Projects Advisory & Review Committee: This new, high-impact committee will serve as an advisory body to the Executive Board to tackle a biennial project. Inaugural Project: The inaugural project is critical: championing a revision of Title 35. This work is directly linked to Senate Resolution 177.
    • Chairperson: Gary Verna, Jr. / gverna@lcdes.org
    • Vice Chairperson: Jeffrey Farber
    • Executive Board Liaison: Roland “Bud” Mertz