PREPAREDNESS CHALLENGE 2021 COMPLETION FORM
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CONOCE A NUESTRO EQUIPO
ANDREW ROSZAK - JD, MPA, EMT-P
Director Ejecutivo del Instituto de Preparación Infantil
Andrew Roszak, JD, MPA, EMT-Paramédico, se desempeña como director ejecutivo del Instituto para la Preparación Infantil, como Jefe de Preparación, Salud y Medio Ambiente para la Asociación Head Start de la Región II y como profesor adjunto en la escuela de comunidad y medio ambiente. salud en Old Dominion University. Durante los últimos seis años, ha trabajado a tiempo completo en temas de preparación, respuesta y recuperación ante emergencias que afectan el sector de la primera infancia: programas de cuidado infantil y cuidado infantil familiar, cuidado después de la escuela, Head Start y Early Head Start. Anteriormente, Roszak fue Director Principal de Preparación para Emergencias en Child Care Aware of America, Asesor Principal de Salud Pública para el Centro de Coordinación de Atención de Emergencia del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los EE. UU. Y Director Principal de Salud Ambiental, Preparación para Pandemias y Respuesta Catastrófica en la Asociación Nacional de funcionarios de salud del condado y la ciudad, donde trabajó todos los días para ayudar a preparar a las comunidades y al sector de la salud para pandemias y desastres. Roszak comenzó su carrera de preparación para emergencias como bombero, paramédico y está certificado como técnico de materiales peligrosos y en operaciones de materiales peligrosos. Roszak también se desempeñó como Miembro de Política de Salud para los Comités de Presupuesto y Salud, Educación, Trabajo y Pensiones del Senado de los Estados Unidos durante el 110º y 111º Congreso. Roszak está admitido para practicar leyes en Illinois, el Distrito de Columbia y ante la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos.
Senior Safety Advisor
Ronald Roszak
Ronald serves as the senior safety advisor for the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. Previously, Ron has served as a subject matter emergency preparedness expert for Child Care Aware® of America, supporting their Emergency Preparedness Team. Ronald has over 20 years of distinguished service as a law enforcement professional, including experience as a patrol officer, tactical unit supervisor, watch commander, detective and community outreach officer. Ronald has a long history of conducting community outreach and training and was one of the first community educators for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program. He has received specialized instructor training from the Los Angeles Police Department, is a graduate of Marquette University, and is certified as an active shooter instructor from the ALICE Training Institute, which specializes in active shooter trainings for civilians.
Ronald’s experience also includes conducting corporate investigations, including fraud detection and prevention and private security for Fortune 500 companies. In recognition for his outstanding service, Ronald has been awarded Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Associate Director of Logistics and Operations
Bradley Fisher, MPA
Bradley Fisher serves as the Associate Director of Logistics and Operations for the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. With over 20 years of experience in public administration, policy development, and quality assurance, Fisher brings a unique combination of expertise in safety, preparedness, and operational leadership to the Institute’s mission of fostering safe environments for children and staff.
Fisher holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Southern Illinois University, where he also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Pre-Law specialization) and a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, with a minor in Administration of Justice. In addition, he has completed specialized training in Homeland Security from the University of Illinois, equipping him with advanced knowledge in emergency management, risk mitigation, and crisis response.
At the Institute, Fisher plays a pivotal role in conducting site assessments, identifying safety vulnerabilities, and delivering training on active shooter preparedness, de-escalation techniques, and situational awareness workshops. His extensive background in quality assurance ensures that site visit assessments are thorough and actionable, enabling organizations to implement effective, evidence-based safety strategies. Fisher’s ability to analyze large data sets and present them in clear, actionable formats supports the Institute’s efforts to design and implement comprehensive safety protocols.
Fisher’s professional experience spans leadership roles in state and private sectors, including positions as Assistant Director of Medical Services and Quality Assurance Specialist. He has led initiatives in policy review, contract negotiation, staff mentoring, and compliance oversight. His work with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and experience as a lobbyist have provided him with a deep understanding of government processes, legislative policy, and organizational improvement.
Dedicated to promoting safety and resilience, Fisher combines his skills in communication, cultural sensitivity, and problem-solving to ensure early childhood facilities are equipped to handle today’s challenges. His commitment to preparedness and operational excellence makes him an integral part of the Institute’s leadership team.
Legal/Policy Intern
Ruth Kvistad
Ruth Kvistad is currently a MD/JD student at Southern Illinois University, Ruth holds a deep passion for issues that sit at the intersection of law and medicine, such as public health and the safety of our nation’s children. Ruth brings a diverse range of experiences and a unique skill set to the Institute. With a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Ruth's academic foundation reflects her inherent curiosity and analytical thinking. During her undergraduate tenure, she also worked in a biochemistry lab doing cancer research and has teaching experience both in the classroom as a supplemental instructor to multiple Biology courses. As a legal intern, Ruth leverages her knowledge in health, law, and philosophy to support the institute's initiatives in safeguarding the well-being and safety of children.
Public Health and Emergency Preparedness Expert
Dr. Betsy Kagey
Dr. Betsy Kagey has worked in public health for over 40 years and emergency preparedness and response for 15 years and she most recently worked with the Georgia Department of Public Health. Her primary focus includes planning and preparing for and with vulnerable populations. Dr. Kagey currently resides in Upstate New York and consults on public health emergency preparedness, planning, and response.
Senior Medical Researcher
Zakary Woods, MD
Zakary Woods is a 2nd year pediatrics resident at the University of Florida and is applying to fellowship in pediatric cardiology. Zak has worked with a multitude of pediatric organizations with patient populations ranging from neonates in the NICU to teenagers in high school. After witnessing the impact emergency situations, natural disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic have on pediatric populations, Woods’ passion for advocacy for one of mankind’s most vulnerable populations led him to join our team.
Chief Operating Officer
Leah Smith
Leah serves as Director of Customer Success for the Institute for Childhood Preparedness. She has over eight years of experience working on project management, process optimization, and client relations in the technology and nonprofit sector. Over the course of Leah's career, she designed and managed the quality assurance programs for two large global customer experience teams, and through data collection and analysis, was able to streamline and implement new processes to improve the efficiency of the teams and their interaction with stakeholders across the company. As Director of Customer Success at the Institute, Leah handles planning, communication, and logistics for all potential and ongoing clients, and helps plan in-person and online events and conferences for up to 1000 attendees. Leah also manages ongoing projects for the Institute, sources and implements tools to improve efficiency of processes, and assists in designing and distribution of marketing materials.
Environmental Health Expert
David Banaszynski
David Banaszynski serves as an environmental health officer, where he works each day to protect his community from illness and disease. He has 20-years of experience. His work includes inspecting food establishments, child care facilities, public pools, and a myriad of other businesses to ensure they are operating in compliance with public health rules and regulations. Mr. Banaszynski also serves as a member of the State Board of Health and as past-president of the Illinois Environmental Health Association. Mr. Banaszynski has years of expertise as an environmental health officer and collaborates extensively with other organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Environmental Health Association and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Dr. L.J. Samuel
Criminologist
Dr. L.J. Samuel is a criminologist with expertise in police-community relations, police misconduct, risk management, community engagement, and interpersonal violence. With over ten years working with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, DC she is a leading expert in Early Identification and Intervention System (EIS). She also served as the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Division. A forward thinker and innovator, Dr. Samuel created and oversaw the MPD Fitness Challenge, a health and wellness initiative designed to better the health of MPD officers. This hard work and dedication earned her the honor of the 2012 MPD Employee of the Year.
Senior Medical Researcher
Demi Woods
She is specializing in Diagnostic Radiology with a keen interest in Breast Imaging/ Mammography. She has been a part of our team since 2018. During this time, she has planned preparedness trainings, assisted with blog posts, and is contributing greatly to our upcoming book. What makes her a great asset to our team is not only her medical knowledge, but her interest in public health. While Woods has always had an interest in public health, from 2015-2017 she attended numerous public health seminars at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee to further explore the public health crises surrounding her local community. Additionally, she traveled to Puerto Rico with our team in 2018 to work with the local public health sector and Head Start programs within that region. She is currently serving as Senior Medical Researcher, and her extreme interest in public health and background in medicine will allow Woods to be an integral part of our team.