Our Team

Meet Our Leadership

Disaster Leadership Team (DLT) is spearheaded by a dedicated and diverse Board of Directors with extensive experience in disaster recovery, leadership, and community resilience.

Our Board Members are subject matter experts who bring unwavering commitment to help communities recover and rebuild after natural disasters. The collective expertise of our Board makes DLT a steadfast resource for communities navigating the challenges of disaster recovery.

Carlene Anders | Executive Director

Washington | Founding Secretary & Board Member for Disaster Leadership Team, Executive Director for the Okanogan County Long Term Recovery Group

  • Carlene Anders’ disaster recovery experience started in 2014 when a 256,000 acre fire, the largest in Washington State history, threatened and impacted much of the city and county in which she lived. As a volunteer fire fighter at the time, she and her colleagues responded in engines. Later she served as the local fire departments’ IC logical officer during the incident. Months later, she was asked to oversee the recovery as Executive Director of the long term recovery group. The burn scar originally stretched across five counties (Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry and Stevens), with over 800+ initial structures lost. For the next decade, she would move on to oversee the recovery efforts of the 2015, 2020 and 2021 Wildfire FEMA declared disasters in the area, totaling well over 1 million acres burned, extensive losses of over 1500 structures. She had the privilege of overseeing the replacements of 47 home.

    Carlene’s background as a wild land fire fighter began in 1984 with the Department of Natural Resources and later the US Forest Service, on engines, 6-pack response crews and as a smokejumper at the North Cascades Smokejumper Base in Winthrop WA. Carlene has the distinguished honor of being one of the first dozen women to smokejump in the nation, and one of two first women in the State of Washington.

    Carlene was a long standing community member prior to the Carlton Complex Fire, having taught and coached at the local school district, headed up the 6th Grade Outdoor Education Program, taught as an certified alpine ski instructor for 30 years and a Ski School Director for 17 years. She was a self employed business owner for 25 years as well.

    Carlene is an alumnae of Washington State University and a former Cougar Crew athlete. She coached rowing at WSU and Gonzaga University in the early 90’s and spent over 20 years as the Pateros High School head Track & Field coach. 

    Following the fire, Carlene served as an elected official both as a City Council Member and two term Mayor of Pateros, a small city in North Central Washington, from 2015 through 2021. Within that role she served on the Boards of the Okanogan Council of Governments, Okanogan Community Action Council, the Okanogan County Transportation Authority, the Washington State Advanced 911 Legislative Advisory Committee (as the Association of Washington Cities, Eastern WA Rep.), Chair of the North Central Washington Economic Development District and member of the Washington State Legislative Task Force Advisory Committee on the Growth Management Act.

    She continues to serve on the North Central Accountable Communities of Health (now Thriving Together) Board, the Washington State Wildfire Advisory Board to the Commissioner of Lands and the University of Washington Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Advisory Council.

    She proudly participated in the original formation of the Disaster Leadership Team in fall of 2016, with its official nonprofit filing January 1, 2017.

Dante Gliniecki | President

Missouri | Emergency Preparedness Manager

  • Dante Gliniecki began his emergency management career as a Disaster Services volunteer for the American Red Cross (ARC) in Kansas City and joined paid staff for the ARC Kansas City Chapter as Disaster Services Supervisor and later for the National American Red Cross as Missouri State Disaster Specialist. Beginning in 1996, Dante worked for the State Emergency Management Agency in Missouri (SEMA) in the Emergency Human Services Section. Dante worked for SEMA in total of nineteen years.

    In November 2014, Dante assumed the position of Manager of the Emergency Preparedness and task forces at the national, state, regional and local levels. Dante has worked numerous disasters large and small across the country and has contributed to the development of emergency human services capacity Division for the City of Independence, MO Fire Department. Dante is Chair of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee. He is the Operations Secretary for the Missouri Governor’s Faith-Based and Community Services Partnership for Disaster Recovery (The Partnership). He is a member of the Missouri Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (MO VOAD) and is interim Co-Chair of the Donations and Volunteer Committee. He is Co-Chair (interim) of the Long-Term Recovery Committee of the Greater Kansas City COAD and a member of the Missouri Emergency Managers Association (MOEMA), National Association of State Emergency Donations and Volunteer Coordinators (NASEDOVOC) which he founded and various other committees.

Lesli Remaly | Vice President

Georgia | Former President of Disaster Leadership Team, Retired Minister for Disaster Response & Recovery for the United Church of Christ

  • Based in Atlanta, Lesli brings more than 20 years of professional disaster experience. She served with FEMA for many years as a Voluntary Agency Liaison and “mass care” coordinator in eight southeastern states and six federally recognized tribes. She is inspired to support long term recovery groups and their role in recovery. “Disaster Ministries is a critical part of the community of faith—preparing for, responding to and recovery from all types of emergencies and disasters,” Remaly said.

Mavis Creagh | Secretary

Mississippi | Executive Director for R3SM, Inc.

  • Mavis Creagh is an executive director, best-selling author, speaker, consultant, mental health proponent, community champion, women’s advocate, entrepreneurial strategist, columnist, and online show host.

    She established Mavis A. Creagh Consulting, LLC a brand that offers editing, writing, speaking, and business consultation; Mavis On Main a lifestyle and fashion brand that encourages happiness, wellness, and hope; and We Women Ministries, Inc. a ministry created to empower, enrich, and elevate women from all backgrounds around the globe. She has an extensive knowledge of recovery following natural disasters with a foundation in revitalization of communities, philanthropy, and economic development. Over the past six years, Mavis provided oversight of 31 new constructions, 200+ repair projects, and approximately $7 million in volunteer labor and donations throughout the State of Mississippi. 

    Her presentation entitled “Empowering Resilient Communities” was presented at the National VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) Conference in Baltimore, MD in 2023. She was elected to serve as a representative on the NVOAD Housing Committee and Housing Chair for Mississippi State Conference NAACP.

    In addition, she serves on multiple boards: Mississippi VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster), NAMI Mississippi (National Alliance on Mental Health), and Mississippi Conference of the NAACP. Most recently, the Mississippi Business Journal awarded her Top 10 Business Woman of the Year for 2022 and Pine Belt Veterans Task Force awarded her The Amy Lyon Community Service Award in 2023!

    Her proudest accomplishment is being the mother to an amazing teenage son, Jordan, a science and math enthusiast, basketball buff, and trained chef.

Valerie Brown | Treasurer

California | Deputy Executive Director for United Policyholders California

  • Valerie Brown is currently the Deputy Executive Director for United Policyholders, a national insurance advocacy nonprofit that helps consumers in all 50 states and helps disaster survivors navigate the complicated insurance claims process through its Roadmap to RecoveryTM program. A North Carolina native, she moved to California in 2000, trading hurricanes and tornadoes for earthquakes and wildfires. Valerie has gained disaster recovery experience when she moved to San Diego County. She began spearheading the local long-term recovery efforts for the communities of Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, Poway, and Rancho Santa Fe after the Witch Creek/Guejito Wildfires in 2007. During this disaster, she joined San Diego VOAD and the Community Recovery Team and has been involved in supporting community recovery efforts in San Diego County ever since.

Cindi Sinemma | Director

Washington | Consultant, Speaker, & Former Program Specialist

  • Cindi Sinnema has worked in the field of traumatic response and community support for over 30 years. She attended the University of Washington and worked with Separation and Loss Services at Virginia Mason and then as a chaplain. Following Hurricane Katrina she began assisting individuals, families and communities who were impacted by disasters, both natural and man-made.

    In 2008 she began her service with Behind the Badge Foundation, working with first responders all over the country to provide support and follow up services to those impacted by the unexpected and trained community volunteers to provide assistance in the aftermath of trauma and loss. Cindi was responsible for Survivor Events, a critical part of the Line of Duty Death Response Team and an integral member of the planning teams for ongoing officer training and wellness programs.

    Cindi is a renowned inspirational speaker/presenter on resiliency, trauma and loss.

Jeff Koller | Director

Kansas | Former & Founding Vice President of Disaster Leadership Team, Retired Regional Operations Coordinator for Mennonite Disaster Services

  • As a Regional Operations Coordinator for Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), Jeff saw more than his fair share of disasters.  MDS, a long-term recovery volunteer organization, assists those affected by natural disaster by rebuilding homes in their communities. Jeff’s first experience with disaster took place in his home state of Kansas in 1973 with others to follow.

    Then in 1990, Jeff found himself coordinating hundreds of volunteers daily following a major tornado in Heston, KS.  In his role with MDS, Jeff responded to and investigated disasters to determine the role MDS would fill in response and recovery.  Having counseled, cried with and comforted many disaster leaders, Jeff realized the negative effects of secondary trauma and was paramount in assembling and supporting the Disaster Leadership Team.  In 2016, Jeff completed training as a FEMA VAL and Secondary Trauma training through Wheaton College’s Humanitarian Disaster Institute.  Jeff is active as a member of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster’s Alaska and Island Committee and has represented MDS at many state and national conferences. 

    In 2023, Jeff retired from his paid MDS role, but still continues to volunteer and assist in MDS efforts. He and his wife Becky both love to travel and are attempting to get some retirement travel in occasionally.                                                  

    Jeff and MDS were the ignition for the formation of the Disaster Leadership Team.

Sheryl Monette | Director

Minnesota | Former Secretary & Founding Board Member of Disaster Leadership Team, Senior Property Manager for Luthern Social Services of Minnesota

  • In June of 2012, six counties in NE Minnesota and one county in Wisconsin experienced flash floods, which resulted in damage to 1,700 homes.  Sheryl Monette quickly joined Lutheran Social Service of MN (LSSMN) Disaster Recovery Team as a Case Manager to begin assessing the needs of residents. Sheryl was able to use her previous 20 years of professional experience as a Behavioral Health Nurse to assist individuals who experience sudden loss. In addition, she trained professionals on the various “how to” handle situations when an individual or family experiences a sudden loss.

    Sheryl feels it’s important for a Long Term Recovery Committee and an Unmet Needs Committee to have a clear understanding of their role, as well as understanding what the needs are for their community. Sheryl understands the importance of disaster recovery work and the toll it can take on one’s well-being. She feels that it’s important for community leaders to have someone to talk to when they have hit a wall and just need to talk.

Dean Minardi | Director

Minnesota | Former Vice President & Founding Board Member of Disaster Leadership Team, Senior Director of Property for Luthern Social Services of Minnesota

  • Dean Minardi has had a record of success in owning various sized local and regional business that have ranged from 1.2 million to 14 million in annual sales. Both of his businesses are currently family owned and operated businesses. Dean is innovative, professional and has a passion for economic development.

    Dean’s specialties include entrepreneurial instincts, strategic and innovative thinking, budgeting and financial management, team building and leadership.

Brennan Banks | Director

Florida | Disaster Response & Recovery Consultant, Founder and Vice President for Partnerships of Cassandra Banks Foundation

  • Throughout his career, Brennan has seen the significant impact of investment in individuals and their communities – trusting and knowing that those who have lived experience are best suited to identify needs and opportunities for recovery.

    Brennan started his career as an international humanitarian in 2002 as a refugee caseworker in sub-Saharan Africa where he assisted families from the horn of Africa, the Great Lakes Region, and West Africa. After supporting hundreds of families’ resettlement in the U.S., he returned to his hometown of Riverside, California to volunteer with his local Red Cross office, wanting to give back to the community he loves.

    In 2009, he returned to Africa as the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent’s Regional Disaster Operations Manager for Eastern Africa managing the planning, coordination, and implementation of disaster response operations in 14 countries. Brennan also developed disaster management programs throughout Africa, including extensive work on community-based disaster risk reduction programming in the Zambezi River Basin regions of Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

    From 2014-16 Brennan was deeply involved in the West Africa Ebola Outbreak. First as the Ebola Response Coordinator for the Red Cross where he planned programs and coordinated emergency resources. Then as Deputy Director of Programs for Paul G. Allen Family Foundation’s $100 million Ebola Program where he supported the development of the response and recovery program portfolio.

    After the harrowing 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Brennan worked across the Caribbean where he spent 12 months overseeing response and recovery programs in Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Antigua & Barbuda, and St. Kitts & Nevis. Later joining the Center for Disaster Philanthropy from 2018-2021 to manage their international and domestic disaster grant making portfolios.

    After two decades of working in philanthropy and implementing assistance programs around the world, Brennan founded the Cassandra Banks Foundation to put lessons learned and best practices into action on behalf of black women in nontraditional roles to honor his mother who is his role model and his inspiration for exploring the world and giving back.   

    Brennan is an alumnus of United States International University-Africa and is based in South Florida.

Ken Curtin | Director

New York | Retired Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator at FEMA

  • Ken Curtin is the newest member of the Disaster Leadership Team Board of Directors, coming aboard May of 2024. He has worked in the emergency management and human services field for 40 years, including positions at the American Red Cross, Christian Children’s Fund, and the International Rescue Committee. His experience has included providing food, clothing, shelter, mass fatality services, temporary housing, and home repair.

    He was the federal disaster recovery coordinator for the Hurricane Sandy recovery in New York and served as the FEMA Region II Voluntary Agency Liaison. He has worked in voluntary agency coordination, refugee camp pharmacy operations, refugee primary health care, refugee camp vaccination programs, voluntary agency preparedness, coordination and coalition building, and disaster case management.

    Ken’s background also includes food distribution, supplementary feeding, intensive feeding, post-earthquake disability center construction, vocational training, resettlement, reunification, and psycho-social recovery. He has provided these services in many states and in 30 different foreign countries.

Renae Haug | Staff

Idaho | Administrative Assistant & Disaster Case Manager for the Okanogan County Long Term Recovery Group

  • Renae Haug has been helping others in Disaster Recovery since May of 2015. She has worked all aspects from Disaster Case Management, Volunteer Coordination and Administrative Assistance. 

    She has an adventurist, outdoor spirit who loves to learn and help others. She is a licensed Massage Therapist in Sandpoint, Idaho - contracting part time with Sandpoint Medical Massage & Bodywork and Highlands North Day Spa. Renae has a B.S. in Geography/Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin and attended the GeoSciences National Student Exchange at Oregon State University.

    She worked in Alaska as a high school teacher, instructing A.P. Marine Biology, Physics and Chemistry courses and was a Marine Biology/Environmental Educator at the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies.

    Prior the the 2014 fire in Okanogan County, which burned down the homes of many of her neighbors, she worked as a Farm Ecology Consultant for Campbell’s Resort, Lake Chelan Winery and Vin du Lac & Personal Gardens.

    Renae continues to love the outdoors, enjoying hiking, river rafting and other activities, all of which she shares with her husband and son Esker, born January 2024.