Official DEC, ADEC, and EC Appointment History

Emergency Coordinator Appointment (10/5/2015)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Alex Peterson, KØAPR, Lyon County

Alex has been an ARES member since he was first licensed in 2013. He is also the emergency communications manager for the city of Marshall.


Assistant District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (10/5/2015)

We are pleased to announce the following ADEC appointment:

Bob Rexeisen, KEØDMW, Metro District

Bob is an IFSAC telecommunicator and fire instructor, a former military 911 dispatcher and manager, and a former lifelink dispatcher. He has 18 years of fire service experience and is currently the deputy state fire marshal. He has served as Incident Commander on numerous fire scenes.


Assistant District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (10/5/2015)

We are pleased to announce the following ADEC appointment:

Tom Simota, KDØDFG, South Central District

Tom has been an IT expert since 1995 starting off as a help desk technician and through the militar was introduced to various forms of military tactical radios, both in the U.S and on multiple deployments, and even their use in support to ocal authorities in emergencies. In 2006 he took a full-time job with the Minnesota National Guard that focused on the use of military, public safety, and amateur radios for use in emergency responses. He was programmed radios and maintained back up emergency data and RF plattforms for the MNNG during the 2008 RNS as well as the 2013 POTUS Inauguration. Communications is his passion, not just a profession or hobby, he says.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/15/2015)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Matt Holden, KØBBC, City of Bloomington

Matt is an active leader in the Bloomington Communications Group and the current president of the Bloomington Amateur Radio Association. He is an experienced portable and mobile operator traveling around the world and is an avid contester on all bands. He is a Metro SKYWARN and AERO participant and is the current Public Information Office for the Minnesota Section.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/2/2015)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

John Lindquist, KCØWCV, St. Louis North

John is currently a member of the North St. Louis County RACES and belongs to the Mesabi Wireless Amateur Radio Club. Welcome John!


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (3/24/2015)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Richard Bopp, KCØNPA, Dakota County

Richard has been with the Dakota County Emergency Communications group for 6 years and previous to being EC served as an assistant director of the group. Welcome Richard!


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (1/21/2015)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Ray Barnes, KEØZN, St. Louis South

Ray is the former member and trustee of the St. Louis County Radio Amateurs (RACES -- NØEOC and KØSLC) and is the Lake County Deputy Emergency Coordinator for RACES. Welcome Ray.


District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (12/12/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following DEC appointment:

Doug Nelson, AAØAW, District 2 (Northwest)

Doug is the former St. Louis South ARES EC. He is also currently involved with the National Weather Service in Duluth for the past 19 years and is now the leader of the NWS Arrowhead SKYWARN Response Team. He has been with Lake CountyARES/RACES for 5 years, St. Louis County RACES/ARES for 21 years, Carlton County ARES/RACES for 14 years, and Douglas County (WI) RACES/ARES for 20 years. He is an ARRL/VEC coordinator/liaison with over 150 sessions. He coordinates the health and welfare communications for Grandma's Marathon, North Shore Inline Marathon, and helps with many other local races and events.

Doug also belongs to the Spirit Valley Amateurs, Arrowhead Radio Amateurs Club, and the Minnesota Wireless Association.


District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (12/8/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following DEC appointment:

Joe Reinemann, KØJCR, South Central District

Joe is the former ADEC-"Western Counties" for District 1. He is the point of contact for the South Central American Red Cross and will continue to support his ECs in that role. He is a member of the Mankato Amateur Radio Club, the Viking Amateur Radio Society, and the St. Peter Amateur Radio Club. He is also a Metro SKYWARN spotter and is working toward completion of basic training for U.S. Army MARS.


District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (11/24/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following DEC appointment:

Kevin Dirks, KAØWJC, District 4

Kevin is 32-year member of the military and currently serves as sergeant in the Minnesota National Guard serving at Camp Ripley. His military experience includes communications, fire direction control, logistics, and personnel management.

He also has 20 years experience as a volunteer fire fighter. He is the former Morrison County EC. Welcome Kevin.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (11/24/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Thomas Kilian, KDØMOM, Morrison County

Thomas is a member of the Runestone Amateur Radio Club in Alexandria, the Brainerd Amateur Radio Club, and the Digital Amateur Radio Club in Little Falls. Welcome Thomas.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (5/1/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Paul Ritter, KCØSMO, Stearns County

Paul is a member of the St. Cloud Amateur Radio Club and is the Emergency Management Director for the City of St. Stephen. Welcome Paul.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (5/1/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Kevin Dirks, KAØWJC, Morrison County

Kevin is originally from Southwest Minnesota and is a full-time Sergeant for the Minnesota Army National Guard at Camp Ripley, MN. Welcome Kevin


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (5/1/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

John Rohow, NØDZQ, Chisago County

John is a retired police officer and a ham since 1979. Welcome John.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (3/10/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Rick Ailts, KBØSNC, Ramsey County

Rick has been a dispatcher for the Twin Cities Marathon, belongs to the Falcon Heights CERT and the Roseville Citizen Police Academy. He is also a CERT instructor.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (3/1/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Linda Kammerer, KDØQHV, Hennepin County

Linda is a member of the Maple Grove Radio Club. Welcome Linda.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (3/1/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Wayne Hanson, KDØRVY, Isanti County

Wayne has 4 years of SKYWARN experience. Welcome Wayne.


Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator Appointment (2/1/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following ASEC appointment:

Betsy Phillips, KDØNDP, ASEC-Liaison

Betsy has been appointed Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator-Liaison. Her primary duty is to act as Minnesota Section ARES' liaison with the Minnesota Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (MNVOAD), which is arguably our most important relationship. She comes with experience as a previous volunteer for a MNVOAD agency, and has Emergency Management experience with Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

She is also a member of the Maple Grove Amateur Radio Club.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (1/14/2014)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Keith Sykora, WAØJGT, Waseca County

Keith is president of the Viking Amateur Radio Society and has worked several public service events including SKYWARN, the Waseca Triathlon, Mankato Marathon and the MS 150.


Assistant District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (11/12/2013)

We are pleased to announce the following ADEC appointment:

Joe Reinemann, KDØRLL, District 1

Joe will be serving as ADEC with emphasis on the western counties of District 1. He is on the ARES teams in Nicollet, Sibley, Blue Earth, and Washington counties. He is the American Red Cross liaison for the South Central Chapter in Mankato. He is also a member of the Mankato Area Radio Club and the St. Peter Area Radio Club.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (10/10/2013)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Seth Erickson, KDØSBV, Otter Tail County

Seth has been active in SKYWARN since 2007 even before getting his ham license. He has past course work in Fires Responder medical training. As a member, he has helped facilitate with the Lake Region Amateur Radio Club the coordination of SKYWARN training for the members.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (8/18/2013)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Pat Story, WØMCQ, Pine County

Pat is formerly with the Dakota County Emergency ARES/RACES group and has also served as publice safety radio support for Washington County ARES. He is a member of Metro SKYWARN and the Medical Reserve Corps.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (6/10/2013)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

John Ross, WØJAR, Douglas County

John is a member of the Runestone Amateur Radio Club. Welcome John.


Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator Appointment (1/4/2013)

We are pleased to announce the following ASEC appointment:

Michael Ostlund, NØANP, ASEC-Operations

Michael has been appointed to the position of ASEC-Operations, where his primary role will serve as deputy to the SEC. He is currently the Director of the Bloomington Communications Group, an amateur emergency communications group of volunteers which serves the City of Bloomington. He is also past president of the Amateur Radio Association of Bloomington. He was also the 2010-2011 Deputy Director of Medical Communications for the Minneapolis Marathon and has served in leadership roles in various public service events for the city of Bloomington.

He has spent the last 35 years in radio and television broadcasting, is a Certified Broadcast Technologist, as well as a Certified Broadcast Networking Technician by the Society of Broadcast Engineers.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (11/12/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Douglas Nelson, AAØAW, St. Louis County-South

Douglas belongs to the Spirit Valley Amateurs as well as the Arrowhead Radio Amateurs Club. He has been involved with the Arrowhead SKYWARN Response Team for 19 years, served in Lake County ARES/RACES for 5 years, St. Louis County RACES/ARES for 21 years, Carlton County ARES/RACES for 14 years, and Douglas County (WI) RACES/ARES for 20 years. He is an ARRL VEC coordinator/liaison with over 150 sessions. He coordinates health and welfare communications for Grandma's Marathon, the North Shore Inline Marathon, and helps with many other local races and events.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (10/16/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

John Cavanaugh, KCØAFE, Carlton County

John has extensive experience, working the MnDOT desk for Red River flooding, the Republican National Convention, and nuclear generating plant Incident Response exercises. He is a Minnesota Certified Emergency Manager. He is also a member of the Arrowhead Amateur Radio Club.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (10/11/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Marvin L. Myers Jr., KCØCLC, Dodge County

Marvin was a member of the Olmsted County ARES group for several years and also served in Linn County, IA, ARES.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (10/11/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Adam Bjorklund, KCØOUZ, Rice County

Adam volunteers for Rice County Emergency Management and Skywarn, and has been since 2000.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (10/1/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Marty Cody, NØNKC, Koochiching County

Marty is a member of the Northland Amateur Radio Association and was the Koochiching County Assessor for many years. He has had an extensive emergency responder training while in that position.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/9/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Don Snorek, KDØEJK, Wadena County

Don is active in the Civil Air Patrol, and has been the Emergency Radio Manager for Tri-County Health Care for 21 years.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/1/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Mark Jones, KDØQPW, Carver County

Mark is active in CERT, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), is an Adult Leader and Scout Master for Boy Scouts of America, a Neighborhood Watch Group Leader, and Skywarn trained.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (4/3/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Tom Polzin, KCØUYB, Dakota County

Tom is a member of the South East Metro Amateur Radio Club and is the Dakota County Emergency Communications Group, in which he was director for four years. He is also a member of the Metro's Public Safety Incident Dispatch Team and is trained as a FEMA Type III Communications Technician (COMT) .


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (3/25/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Paul Thompson, KMØPT, Fillmore County

Paul is a member of the Rochester Amateur Radio Club and the Winona Amateur Radio Club.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (1/18/2012)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Dave Seither, KCØOYY, Sibley County

Welcome Dave.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (11/23/2011)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Desirae Weinrebe, KDØDWB, Murray County

Des is the former Assistant EC for Murray County, taking over for Kevin Haney, and is the daughter of District 5 EC Arl Weinrebe. She is active in several public service events and SKYWARN, serving as net control. She is also the secretary/treasurer of the Murray County Amateur Radio Club.


Assistant District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/15/2011)

We are pleased to announce the following ADEC appointment:

Paul Oby, KCØESE, District 6

Paul is a member of the Ramsey Amateur Radio Association, and has worked dilligently at promoting ARES to groups and individuals around the Metro. He has 37 years of communications experience and his emphasis will be Special Projects.


Assistant District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/1/2011)

We are pleased to announce the following ADEC appointment:

Gordon Hanson, NØZRD, District 6

Gordy is past president of MNYARC, Communications Supervisor for the MN MS Society bike tours, and treasurer of the Robbinsdale Amateur Radio Club. His emphasis will be Special Projects.


Assistant District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/1/2011)

We are pleased to announce the following ADEC appointment:

David Johnson, NØKBD, District 6

Dave has been a trainer for Metro SKYWARN for 20 years, and is the current net control operator for Metro SKYWARN. He is also the current Chief of Communications for the Minneapolis Marathon. He will be the Public Information Officer for District 6.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (11/3/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Jim Hammock Sr., KIØDN, Hennepin County

Jim is a member of the Robbinsdale Anateur Radio Club as well as the North Emergency Communications Team for North Memorial Hospital. He's a former firefighter and EMT for 10 years, former special deputy for the Hennepin County MARC team for five years, and is retired after 20 years from the Marine Corps, having worked primarily in communications.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (10/23/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Dennis Welu, KCØPMF, Pipestone County

Dennis of the Murray County Amateur Radio Club and the Worthington Amateur Radio Club as well as the Sioux Empire Amateur Radio Club and Clear Lake Amateur Radio Club in South Dakota.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (9/14/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Roger Wise, KIØF, Wabasha County

Roger is a member of the Rochester Amateur Radio Club, is active in SKYWARN and has been active in the past with Navy MARS. He enjoys DX and contest HF.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (8/15/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

John Campbell, WØJNO, Ramsey County

John is a member of the Ramsey County Amateur Radio Club.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (8/11/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Rob Richter, KCØFOW, Olmsted County

Rob is a member of the Rochester Amateur Radio Club, the ham radio liaison for the Olmsted County EOC, and has been involved in SKYWARN for 10 years.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/16/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Paul Spevacek, KDØKRK, Nicollet County

Paul is a member of the Mankato Amateur Radio Club.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/15/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following DEC appointment:

BJ Watts, KCØNPF, Dodge County

BJ is a member of the Rochester Amateur Radio Club, graduated from Northwestern College in 2009, and has been a ham since 2002.


Assistant District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/15/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following ADEC appointment:

Bob Wiles ABØBW, District 1

Bob is formerly the Olmsted County EC and a member of the Rochester Amateur Radio Club. His emphasis in District 1 will to take on specific technology projects Districtwide.


District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (4/24/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following DEC appointment:

Bill Osler, KØRGR, District 1

Bill has more than 45 years experience in ARES, RACES, and Red Cross, and has served during the 2007 Southeast Minnesota flooding disaster providing amateur radio communications to the town of Rushford. He is also active in the Rochester Amateur Radio Club, the Minnesota Wireless Association, and the Quarter Century Wireless Association, and has helped dozens of hams get their Technician license over several years in Rochester. We feel very fortunate to have Bill on board.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (3/6/2010)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Rich Gill, KEØNW, Norman County

Rich is the former Norman County EC and we're happy to have him back. He is also a Skywarn Spotter.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (11/8/2009)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Jeff Matson, KDØBTT, Polk County

Jeff is a member of the Forx Amateur Radio Club in Grand Forks, ND, and is currently net control/information relay for the National Weather Service in Grand Forks.


Emergency Coordinator Appointment (11/7/2009)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Francis “Russ” Fenlason, ACØGF, Wilkin County

Russ is an EMS educator in both Minnesota and North Dakota and is employed as a dispatcher. He also belongs to the Three Rivers Amateur Radio Club and the Red River Amateur Radio Club.

Emergency Coordinator Appointment (9/12/2009)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

Bob Gilbertson, KAØQ, Clay County

Bob replaces Mike Heiler, who moved up to District 3 Emergency Coordinator. Bob has been active in SKYWARN for several years and is currently taking Emergency Management classes at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND.

Emergency Coordinator Appointment (8/28/2009)

We are pleased to announce the following EC appointment:

John Regan, KAØHYR, Washington County

John is a member of the Stillwater Amateur Radio Association and the Southeast Metro Amateur Radio Club. He is retired from the South Washington County School District and helped supervise preparation of, and partially wrote the Emergency Response Plan for the district. He also participated in the 2009 Red River flooding response as an amateur operator, and served in the U.S. Navy as a communications officer.


District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (8/13/2009)

We are pleased to announce the following DEC appointment:

Mike Heiler, KAØZLG, District 3 EC

Mike has been and is currently serving as Clay County EC. He was instrumental in Minnesota ARES’ response to the 2009 Red River flooding in Moorhead. He is an Amateur Extra from Dilworth and belongs to the Red River Radio Amateurs Club in Fargo, ND. In between floods he and the club help out with the MS Bike Ride, MS Walk, ADA Bike Ride, and Boy Scout Food Drive.


District Emergency Coordinator Appointment (7/14/2009)

We are pleased to announce the following DEC appointment:

Arl Weinrebe KDØBJW, District 5 EC

Arl was Assistant DEC for less than a week before getting the call to take over for Dan Anderson, KD0ASX, who moved to SEC. Arl was Murray County Assistant EC for more than a year, working on several projects that placed radios and antennas in hospitals. He has practical deployment experience, having served on a search and rescue and in Clay County during the Red River flooding. He also lead a team for a search and rescue earlier this year. He is also president of the Worthington Area Radio Club.