BOARD INFO

As Commander of Troop C of the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) in Atlanta, Captain Howard is responsible for GSP Operations in Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties. He began employment with the Georgia Department of Public Safety in January 1997, and is a graduate of the 72nd GSP Trooper School. Captain Howard’s background includes numerous leadership roles at the Post, Troop, and department level. He has served as Assistant Post Commander in the ranks of Corporal and Sergeant, as Post Commander in the rank of Sergeant First Class, and as Assistant Troop Commander in the rank of Lieutenant. He has served on the State of Georgia Crisis Negotiation Team as a team member and as the North Team Leader. Captain Howard has also served on the GSP Honor Guard as a team member, as North Commander, and as the Honor Guard Commander. He has gained operational and leadership experience at various levels within the GSP.

Tanya Renaud serves as the Strategic Planning Manager at the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of Georgia’s five-year Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) and oversees the work of the state’s SHSP emphasis area task teams. Prior to this position, Tanya managed Georgia’s Traffic Records Coordinating Committee, guiding initiatives that advanced the quality, integration, and innovation of the state’s traffic data systems.

Matt Needham has been the Assistant Director of Emergency Operations for GDOT for 5 years. Matt is also a Certified Emergency Manager with the state of Georgia as well as The International Association of Emergency Managers. In his current role, Matt has worked over eight federally declared disasters for GDOT. Before that Matt served as an Area Engineer in the Cleveland and Gainesville offices for 10 years where he oversaw all construction and maintenance for 12 counties.

As the Metro Atlanta coordinator for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency Homeland Security (GEMA), Sheri Russo provides all-hazards emergency management consultation services to nine Metro Atlanta counties, helping them create emergency operation plans, develop standard operating procedures, and design innovative training exercises. She also helps coordinate disaster response in Georgia to ensure communities get the resources they need to recover. Sheri joined GEMA in 2001 as school safety coordinator for GEMA’s School Safety Unit, where she provided on-site technical assistance and crisis management planning to schools in metro Atlanta. She has a bachelor’s degree in community health from Georgia Southern University and a master’s degree in public health from Mercer University.

Kimberly Williams, EIT, is the Transportation Management Center (TMC) Manager for GDOT, where she collaborates with multiple teams and agencies for statewide traffic operations, incident response, and real-time mobility strategies. She brings 19 years of experience across private consulting and public sector leadership, with expertise in traffic engineering, signal design, and multimodal transportation planning.  Her work history spans the analysis, design, and operational management of transportation systems, including statewide signal programs, corridor studies, and real-time traffic operations. She specializes in applying data-driven strategies to improve system performance, enhance safety, and maintain reliable mobility across Georgia’s transportation network.

An Atlanta native, she is passionate about improving the traveler experience across Georgia. She focuses on team collaboration, safety, and innovation to support daily travel and emergency operations at scale.

Chad Hendon works for GDOT as the TMC Operations Manager/CHAMP Program Manager. He was originally hired as an ITS Field Coordinator/Project Coordinator and was consistently promoted to positions of increased responsibility including TMC Operations, ITS Projects, and CHAMP. Chad oversees all daily operations for CHAMP including contract oversight, cross-departmental coordination, and emergency management/response. Chad collaborates with cross-functional teams, including the Office of Information Technology, ITS Maintenance, Regional Traffic Operations, and HERO to facilitate efficient operations. Chad is responsible for TIM throughout the state of Georgia to command and control effective multiagency and multidisciplinary emergency response to critical incidents. Chad develops and disseminates communications regarding CHAMP operations aligned with established departmental strategy and narratives. Chad establishes and maintains relationships with vendors, suppliers, key stakeholders, and the public.

A native of the City of Atlanta, Antonio Burden began his career with the United States Marine Corps in 1990 as an Aircraft Firefighter and Rescue Specialist, proudly receiving the national defense medal for Operation Desert Storm, and most notably being certified as a Space Shuttle Orbiter Trainee.  

In April 1994, he joined the DeKalb County Fire Rescue Department. During his tenure, he has held the following positions: Firefighter, Lieutenant, Paramedic, Captain, Fire Rescue Captain, Battalion Chief, Fire Marshal, Assistant Chief, Chief of Staff, and Deputy Chief of Professional Services and Community Risk Reduction. Since 1994, he proudly served as an Honor Guard Member, eventually assuming the role of Honor Guard Commander. 

In July 2021, he became the Fire Chief/EMA Director of the Augusta Fire Department and has made positive and impactful changes to the department. In February 2022, he was appointed to Region VI East Central Georgia Emergency Management Services (EMS) Council and has successfully received millions in federal grant funding augmenting taxpayer dollars while enhancing operational readiness.  

As Senior Director of New Image Towing, ​​Freddie McNabb has dedicated over 21 years to the towing industry.  He runs the entire day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency and excellence across all departments. Freddie maintains the highest professional standards through his commitment to strong leadership.

​Freddie’s career started hands-on, driving light-duty and heavy-duty trucks. He helped start the heavy-haul division at Marietta Wrecker and has managed various companies within Welchel Enterprises. This comprehensive background built the operational expertise necessary for his current leadership role.

​Born and raised in the Atlanta area, Freddie balances his demanding career, supported by his wife, and is a proud father of five. He is committed to continuing to make meaningful contributions to the industry and mentoring the next generation.

Frank Killebrew is the Region 7 Regional Director for the Office of EMS & Trauma. As a Regional Director he is responsible for regulatory oversight of all EMS agencies within Region 7, which is composed of 13 counties located in West Central Georgia. He has over 30 years of experience in EMS including more than 15 years of experience as an EMS educator. Prior to holding his current position, he was the Region 7 Regional Training Coordinator for the Office of EMS & Trauma. As a Regional Training Coordinator, he was responsible for regulatory oversight of all EMS educational programs within Region 7. Frank has also performed peer reviews of many online EMS articles and journals as well as a couple EMS textbooks. He also has experience as a question/item writer for an EMS software company that produces EMS study apps preparing students for the National Registry certification exams. Frank is also a National Registry Exam Representative and administers many National Registry Psychomotor exams across the state. Frank has a diverse background in EMS, including rural, urban, critical care, and even remote medicine as a paramedic aboard oil drilling wells and ships. He has a strong passion for rural EMS and rural health systems.

Deputy Fire Chief Melvin K. Carter is a 25-year veteran of DeKalb County Fire Rescue, currently serving as Deputy Chief of Fiscal and Support Services, where he provides executive oversight of the Fiscal Office, Supply, Fleet, Facilities, procurement functions, and contract administration. He plays a critical role in budget development, resource allocation, policy alignment, and operational support strategies that sustain departmental readiness across a county of more than 750,000 residents.

Chief Carter previously served as Deputy Chief of Training and Professional Services, directing Fire and EMS training, recruiting, health and safety, HR functions, payroll/personnel, and departmental professional development. In this role, he advanced academy operations, strengthened leadership pipelines, modernized personnel management systems, and oversaw curriculum development and certification tracking.

Over a distinguished career, he has served as Captain, Battalion Chief, Support Services Chief, Assistant Chief, and Deputy Chief of Operations. He has led major improvements in operational efficiency and firefighter safety, including the development of the Executive Mentorship Program for Chief and Company Officers, the Frontline Leadership Program, and the introduction of internal incident case studies for the department.

Chief Carter holds an MA in Organizational Leadership and a BAS in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Occupational Safety & Health, along with an AAS in Fire Science Technology. He also maintains professional credentials, including EMS certification, Georgia Firefighter certification, Hazardous Materials Technician, NPQ I and II, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation, and completion of the Fire Service Executive Development Institute (FSEDI) program.

Known for his strategic mindset, collaborative leadership style, and dedication to continuous improvement, he is driven by a belief that progress requires initiative, accountability, and the continual pursuit of excellence, a conviction echoed in one of his guiding quotes:

“’If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ is the slogan of the complacent, the arrogant or the scared. It’s an excuse for inaction, a call to non-arms.” – Colin Powell

Coming Soon.

Jeff Romine boasts over 35 years of extensive expertise spanning consultation, auditing, safety, education, and insurance. As a Certified Safety Professional, Certified Professional Environmental Auditor, and Certified Safety Management Professional, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Murray State University in Murray, KY. Jeff serves on the Georgia TIME Task Force organization as a board member.

Jeff held the position of Senior Corporate EHS Manager-Compliance at Shaw Industries, a prominent flooring manufacturer in the United States with a vast global footprint. At Shaw Industries, he spearheaded the development and management of Business Continuity Plans for 100 facilities and oversaw all Safety Programs, with a keen focus on Fire Protection and Emergency Planning and Notification Programs. With over 40 years of experience, Jeff is well-versed in handling pre- and post-tornado incidents, having served as a trained tornado spotter. 

A distinguished Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), Jeff has held significant roles within the organization, including serving on the ASSP Region VII Executive Committee and as the Chattanooga Area Chapter President. He is a sought-after speaker at local, state, and national safety, environmental, and emergency management conferences. 

Prior to his current role, Jeff held various leadership positions, including Director of Transportation of the TIME Task Force, Chairman of the Whitfield County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and Chairman of the Catoosa County Juvenile Court Review Panel, among others. He has also been actively involved in community initiatives, such as serving on the Executive Committees of the North Georgia Healthcare Coalition and the Whitfield County Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD). 

Furthermore, Jeff contributes his expertise to various committees and panels, including serving on the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Standards Technical Panel for Flammable Liquid Storage Cabinets and the Georgia 120-3-24 Rules and Regulations for Loss Prevention due to Combustible Dust Explosions and Fire Standards Committee with the Georgia State Fire Marshal and Georgia Insurance Commissioner. 

Nita Birmingham is an Army brat who, until the age of 10, bounced around various military bases in the US and Germany. When her father retired, they settled in middle Georgia. Nita has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and about 20 years of experience as a newspaper reporter in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina. Her assigned beats included police, courts and prisons. She began working for the Georgia Department of Transportation in December 2013 as a district communications officer for the 31-county southwest district and is based in Tifton. Nita is responsible for maintaining district social media, dealing with media, writing press releases, writing articles for our magazine, Milepost, and shooting photos and video.

As the Assistant TMC Manager for the Georgia Department of Transportation, Cherisa Lawson’s professional journey is defined by 20 years of dedicated service in law enforcement and 18 years of specialized experience at the GDOT Transportation Management Center (TMC), providing her with a unique perspective on safety, incident response, and large-scale operations.

Cherisa excels in tactical administration within high-volume environments, ensuring operational excellence where precision and timing are paramount. As a Certified Associate in Project Management and a licensed Realtor, she applies a sophisticated, multi-disciplinary approach to organizational logistics and project oversight.

Cherisa is a confident leader who thrives on the challenge of prioritizing mission-critical responsibilities in fast-paced, high-pressure settings.

Brian Purvis works with AECOM Technical Services where he is a national leader and subject matter expert in TIM, Safety Service Patrol Operations/Response, and Innovative Solutions to Traffic Operations. With over two decades of traffic operations experience, Brian’s career includes roadway design, traffic signal, ITS operations, TMC operations, safety service patrol development, implementation, funding, operations, and advancements along with response to multiple natural and man-made disasters.

As an FHWA Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) TIM master trainer, Brian has taught both trainers and emergency responders across the country and created state, urban, rural, TMC, and toll-specific TIM courses in multiple states and regions. He has been involved in this training since its beginning and was involved in FHWA’s Focus States Initiative that created the National Unified Goals for TIM video training for North Carolina DOT and the International Association of Chiefs of Police that has been seen by thousands of responders. Brian was instrumental in securing funding to train over 33,000 firefighters along with providing traffic cones on all fire trucks in the state of North Carolina in a single year.

Brian now manages a statewide service patrol program on interstates outside of Metro Atlanta for GDOT, called CHAMP (Coordinated Highway Assistance and Maintenance Program). This program provides motorist assistance, roadway clearance, and temporary traffic control. These efforts help maintain roadway functions on a 24/7/365 response basis to minimize roadway maintenance response time and increase roadway efficiency and safety.

Brian is currently serving as the Member-at-Large for the Georgia TIME Task Force and formerly chaired the TIME Operations Subcommittee.

Requel Williams brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role at AECOM, where she currently serves as the Deputy Program Manager for the GDOT Statewide Traffic Operations Program. With an impressive tenure spanning 24 years at the GDOT Traffic Management Center (TMC), Requel has held various key positions, each contributing to her extensive knowledge and expertise in traffic incident management (TIM). Her passion for her work is evident in her commitment and enthusiasm.

Requel has been an integral member of the TIME Task Force since 2002, playing a particularly active role over the last decade. Her leadership and dedication were recognized in November 2018 when she was elected as the TIME Task Force Programs Committee Chairperson, a position she was re-elected to in 2023. Additionally, she served as the Director-at-Large for the TIME Task Force Board of Directors in 2023, further showcasing her leadership capabilities and commitment to the mission of the Task Force.

Beyond her professional achievements, Requel is a devoted mother to her beautiful daughter. In her personal time, she enjoys singing, shopping, and cherishing moments with her family, especially her beloved 96-year-old grandmother. Requel’s multifaceted life and dedication to both her career and family make her an inspiring figure in the field of traffic incident management.