Rich Schnieders, KR4PI,
Emergency Coordinator
Rich has more than 40 years of experience in Public Safety. He started as a volunteer firefighter in High School and obtained EMT certification at 16. As an EMT, he worked for 1.5 years as an Emergency Room Technician in a North Central Indiana small hospital. Rich became a full-time EMT and then Advanced EMT in a brand-new EMS in North Central Indiana as the community built a new Emergency Medical Service. As an Advanced EMT, he performed all the functions of today’s paramedic. Rich served in that role for over seven years in and after college. He also served as a Police Officer for four years in North Central Indiana before returning to Fort Myers, where Rich became a Lee County Deputy Sheriff. Rich rose through the ranks of the LCSO, holding many investigative and supervisory positions.
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Dave Sheppard, W2PAX
Assistant Emergency Coordinator
Operations Section Chief
Dave began his career in public service as a volunteer EMT in New Jersey and spent six years in that position. While serving in his role with EMS, he was also a member of the Gloucester County Ambulance & Rescue Association and an officer with the Gibbstown Ambulance Corps.
After a move to Florida, building a house, and getting married, Dave was granted his amateur radio license in the summer of 2009. Dave followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, who was an amateur radio operator for nearly 70 years.In 2016, Dave became active in the National Traffic System, which is the formal traffic arm of the American Radio Relay League. In 2018, he was appointed manager of the Southwest Florida Traffic Net, the local affiliate of the NTS. Dave serves as the ARRL’s Southern Florida Section Traffic Manager, ensuring all of the section’s NTS nets are staffed and operating as needed to support the section and reporting to ARRL headquarters. Part of his role as an assistant E.C. for Lee County is to see that formal traffic liaisons between the NTS and ARES happen seamlessly and efficiently.
Dave and his wife, Jennifer, live in Golden Gate Estates in eastern Collier County. In their spare time, they enjoy spending time together in the kitchen as “foodies.”
John Wells, W4CMH
Assistant Emergency Coordinator
Logistics Section Chief
John is a licensed Amateur Radio operator and belonged to an Amateur Radio Explorer Post affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America when he was much younger. His interest in radio continued as he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and became a Radio Communications Analyst. This experience allowed him to have exposure to many different modes of communication. After being honorably discharged, he completed a law enforcement career which continued his use of radio communications. During that time, John became a state police instructor and college adjunct instructor. Today, in addition to continuing to be a college instructor, he also is a guest teacher for our local school district. All his instructor positions have allowed him the opportunity to design and develop course material and teach using various methods of instruction.
Jeff Kennedy, NK4AA,
Assistant Emergency Coordinator
Planning Section Chief
Jeff was born in Philadelphia and grew up in South Jersey. After graduating from pharmacy school in 1981, he moved to Cape Coral to begin a long career in hospital pharmacy. Participating in responding with the Code Blue team was one aspect he found most rewarding during his career. Now retired from his role as a pharmacist, Jeff has found that amateur radio is a rewarding way to help others and contribute to the community. Originally licensed over 25 years ago, he upgraded his license to Extra and took on leadership roles in FMARC. He serves as NCS for the Southwest Florida Traffic Net, and participates in ARES and with the VE team. A strong interest in emcomm led Jeff to pursue advanced training in ICS, public information, and AUXCOMM. Jeff enjoys promoting amateur radio and helping others discover all that this great activity has to offer.
Don Domina, KCØDE,
Assistant Emergency Coordinator
Administration Section Chief
Don was born in Washington, DC son of a career Army Officer. His parents were rural MA. natives. Don has lived in Texas, Germany, Massachusetts, New York City, Hawaii, and New Jersey as a military dependent. He was first licensed as a ham (Novice) in Hawaii. Don has three younger brothers who all live in WI, where his dad, a hospital administrator, retired after his Army career.
Following an unsuccessful college attempt, Don did factory work for two years. He always wanted to get into broadcasting and landed his first job in commercial radio as News Director of 1KW AM in Orange, MA. After about 18 months, Don and his wife moved to Vermont for a similar position. She was an elementary school teacher. Don also worked part-time for the Associated Press and Boston Globe, providing stories and copy from northern New England.
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Bill Sowell, W6WHS,
Deputy Assistant Emergency Coordinator
Logistics Section
Bill was born and raised in Los Angeles (CA) and began his more than 50-year career in public safety in 1974, serving as a Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguard/Paramedic, Los Angeles County Firefighter/Paramedic and SCUBA instructor while attending college.
He earned a BA/BS degree in Communication, Advertising & Biology, an MD degree specializing in Emergency, Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine, and two MBAs and PhDs in General Business/Management and International Marketing.
Joe Rickard, NØJAR,
Deputy Assistant Emergency Coordinator
Administration Section
After completing two tours in the US Marine Corps as a Team Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Instructor, Joe became interested in Information Technology while completing his Associate and Bachelor of Arts Degrees and eventually a Master of Science Degree in Telecommunications.
His career spanned 25 years as an Information Technology Contractor to the US Government beginning as a Computer Operator in the Executive Office of the President’s Data Center and finishing as a Network Engineer/Network Security Engineer within the Intelligence Community.
Carmine Vetrano, K1CJV,
Deputy Assistant Emergency Coordinator
Planning Section
Carmine is originally from Massachusetts before he moved to Florida. He has a Bachelors Degree in Biology and a Masters Degree in Health Care Management.
Carmine has a very broad background. He has owned or partnered in several business in the Retail, High Tech Manufacturing and Commercial Insurance sectors.