Lauren Collins has been an integral part of Maryland ERS for 7 years, currently serving as the Director overseeing both Finance and Administration and the Operational Support Directorates.

Lauren comes to Maryland ERS with expertise in the field of Emergency Management, boasting extensive knowledge in Project Management, Grants Management, Emergency Planning, Exercise and Training, and Incident Command System (ICS). She is particularly adept at working with stakeholders to build response capabilities, ensuring effective coordination and collaboration.

Prior to joining the ERS team, Lauren's career path included impactful roles in Local Government. She served first with the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, followed by the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management. Lauren also contributed her expertise to a federal client, providing consultative services in exercise and training as well as emergency preparedness planning.

With over 12 years of experience in the field of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Lauren has excelled in Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Operations, conducting and evaluating HSEEP compliant exercises, and operating within an Incident Management Team.

Lauren holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Investigations from West Virginia University, along with a Master’s Degree in Integrated Homeland Security Management and a Post Baccalaureate certificate in Security Assessment from Towson University.

Hannah Thomas comes to Maryland ERS with experience in the field of Emergency Management and Public Health Emergency Response. Before joining the ERS team she worked in State Government with the Maryland Department of Health in their Office of Preparedness and Response. There she served as the acting State Coordinator for the Web-based Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) where she oversaw 24 local Maryland Responds Units comprising over 4,100 medical and public health Responder profiles. Most recently, Hannah worked for the City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management. There she gained experience in Emergency Planning, Exercise and Training, Emergency Response, UAS Operations, and Community Outreach. Hannah has real world experience in Active Shooter Response, Emergency Operations Center Activations, the implementation of the recovery process of a large scale public health emergency, and operating within an Incident Management Team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor concentration in Leadership and Social Change from Virginia Tech.

Joe Coyne joined the Finance & Logistics Team at Maryland ERS in November 2016. His prior experience includes 20 years of financial and grants management with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service in Maryland. He guided their grant administration efforts from the application stage to project closeout and successfully led the department through detailed audits of grants totaling many millions of dollars. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature with a minor concentration in Economics from the University of Maryland. He also completed an Accounting Certificate program at Montgomery College in Maryland.

Peter McCullough comes to Maryland ERS with experience in the field of Emergency Management from a legal perspective. Before joining the ERS team he worked at the Center for Health and Homeland Security (CHHS). In that position he was assigned to the District of Columbia Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency (DCHSEMA) to aid in the city’s preparation for the 2021 Presidential Inauguration. Additionally, he worked with the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management to support their COVID-19 response efforts. Before working with CHHS he attended and graduated from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law with a concentration in Cybersecurity and Crisis Management Law. During his time at law school, he worked at the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, Baltimore City Circuit Court, United States District Court Greenbelt Division, Maryland Law Pretrial Release and Parole Advocacy Clinic, and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General Organized Crime Unit. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Media Studies.

Katie Weber comes to Maryland ERS with experience in Emergency Management, Public Health Emergency Response, and Fire & Rescue service. Since 2014, she has volunteered as an EMT with the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Montgomery County, MD. She serves as an EMS Lieutenant overseeing a duty crew and as a Montgomery County Fire Rescue Peer Support Critical Incident Stress Management (PS-CISM) team member. Professionally, Katie has worked for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as a COVID-19 Testing Program Manager and interned with the preparedness division of Hagerty Consulting. Most recently, she worked as an Emergency Management Specialist for the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management. In this role, she gained experience with planning, operations, training and exercise, and community outreach. She led the rewrite of the Anne Arundel County Evacuation Plan, co-chaired the Baltimore UASI Evacuation Working Group, and overhauled the Anne Arundel Mass Care Shelter Supply cache. Katie holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a graduate certificate in Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness and Response from George Washington University.

Elizabeth Adams joins MDERS with experience in Emergency Management from an exercise and training level. Before joining the MDERS team, Elizabeth worked for the City of Bowie government Emergency Management Department as an Emergency Management Specialist. There she coordinated, facilitated, and supported training and exercise for City Staff, including Adult and Pediatric CPR/AED and First Aid Training and drills for City facilities. Elizabeth also created training materials for the Emergency Operations Center in the City, a WebEOC training guide for future staff, and Position Task Books for EOC Representatives. Before that, Elizabeth worked for Prince George’s County Government, Homeland Security in their Public Safety Communications Center as a cross-trained Police and Fire/EMS Dispatcher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Master’s degree in Emergency Management with a focus on Homeland Security from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Matthew “Matt” Panagos joins the Maryland National Capital Region Emergency Response System with experience in financial and business management, emergency response, and Fire/Rescue experience. Matt is an active volunteer within the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and has been a Firefighter/EMT within the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department since 2017. He is currently a volunteer shift supervisor, Vice President of the Department and assists with recruitment efforts. He has previously served as the Department Secretary and an at-large member of the Board of Directors focusing on public safety education efforts. Professionally, Matt spent a decade in higher education administration in several financial and business management roles at Georgetown University. He primarily worked with procured equipment to ensure grant and audit compliance. Matt holds a Masters in Professional Studies in Emergency and Disaster Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Theological & Religious Studies from the Catholic University of America.

John Finnerin brings a wealth of law enforcement experience spanning over three decades to his role at Maryland ERS. During his tenure at the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD), John dedicated 22 years to a range of assignments that showcased his versatility and dedication. Fifteen of those years were spent in the esteemed Special Operations Division. Within this division, he held pivotal roles, including being a member of the Tactical Section and the Emergency Services Team. Rising through the ranks to Sergeant, his leadership extended to supervising the Canine Unit and Emergency Services Team. Throughout his time within the Special Operations Division, John played an integral role in managing and leading numerous critical incidents, showcasing his adeptness in handling complex situations. Following his retirement from PGPD, he embarked on fulfilling a nine-year tenure with MNCPPC Park Police. There he was a valued member of the Mounted Unit. His last assignment there was as a member of the Mounted Unit. John graduated from Frostburg State University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. In joining the Maryland ERS team, John brings an unparalleled wealth of experience, leadership, and expertise that undoubtedly enhances the agency's mission and objectives. His extensive background in law enforcement, coupled with his unwavering commitment to public safety, positions him as a pivotal asset within the organization. John's journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication to serving and protecting the community, making him a remarkable and respected figure in the field of law enforcement.

Melinda Lacek joins us at Maryland ERS with experience in the field of Public Safety Emergency Management. Before joining the MDERS team, Melinda worked for Prince George’s County Government, Department of Homeland Security in their Public Safety Communications Center as a Police Dispatcher. There she managed several high-priority tasks in emergency response as well as managing between 15-50 Police Officers with a variety of active emergency 911 calls for service in real-time. In this role, Melinda was responsible for being the lead point of contact between First Responders on the scene of emergency incidents and surrounding agencies, ensuring all information was accurately relayed. While actively processing emergency responses, she helped determine the appropriate course of action, including gathering specialty units such as K9 Officers, aviation units, and detectives ranging from station-level to major crimes. Melinda possesses knowledge from the first responder level point of view and how emergency incidents are coordinated. Melinda also has a background in Business Administration, holding a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Penn Foster in Scottsdale, Arizona.