Shiawassee County Health Department Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Jodi DeFrenn, has been named 2014 Public Health Preparedness Coordinator of the year by the Michigan Emergency Management Association.

She was recently presented with the award by Scott Corbin, Michigan Emergency Management Association President, during the group’s annual conference in Traverse City.

“This is an honor and I am very humbled to be selected. The job that I do is a small piece to a much larger puzzle, it’s in the partnerships that have been formed in which a collaborative effort brings the pieces together to assist in preparing this community before, during and after a disaster. It’s a privilege and an honor to have worked with so many within this community and it makes me proud to work and live in Shiawassee County” said DeFrenn.

DeFrenn, who has worked at the Shiawassee County Health Department since August of 2006 was selected for the position of Emergency Preparedness Coordinator in July of 2011. She was recently recognized by the Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners with a proclamation for her outstanding service to the county. She has been an instrumental member in the success of Emergency Preparedness Programs, both locally and regionally and is a mentor for Emergency Preparedness Coordinators from other jurisdictions within Region One.

During her time as Emergency Preparedness Coordinator she has worked tirelessly side by side with the County’s Emergency Management Coordinator and that exhausting dedication was noticed during the December, 2013 ice storm that crippled Shiawassee County.
She embraces community partnerships and this was recognized when she hosted a Volunteer Reception Center Exercise in Shiawassee County for all local and regional public and private organizations, the first of its kind in the District with support from Shiawassee County Emergency Management and District One Regional Medical Response Coalition.

“Her accomplishments are a result of her dedication and motivation and this sets her apart from others in her field” said Larry Johnson, Director of the Health Department.

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