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The Bay Area UASI > About Us > UASI Management Team Bios

UASI Management Team Bios

 UASI Staff Bios

uasi staff bios

Bay Area UASI Management Team

 

Craig Dziedzic, Esq.

General Manager

craig.dziedzic@sfgov.org

 

As the general manager, Mr. Dziedzic serves at the pleasure of the Bay Area UASI Approval Authority and is responsible for implementing and managing policy and program decisions of the Approval Authority.  Mr. Dziedzic is responsible for ensuring direct or indirect representation of all jurisdictions comprising of the Urban Area, which includes Marin County, Sonoma County, Napa County, Solano County, Contra Costa County, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, San Mateo County, Monterey County, the City and County of San Francisco, the City of Oakland, and the City of San Jose.   He selects, directs and manages the Management Team to support the Approval Authority to provide region-wide leadership and administration of all grant initiatives in federal homeland security grants, in direct support of the homeland security strategies. Mr. Dziedzic is also responsible for executing regional strategies that align with federal and state policies.

 

For more than twenty years, Mr. Dziedzic participated in federal, state, and local government. He initially began his career as a legal intern for the Hon. Joseph Biden, US Senator.  Thereafter, he moved to San Francisco and became a CA licensed attorney specializing in federal, state, and local tax controversy. He was appointed by the Hon. Willie Brown, Jr., San Francisco Mayor, to serve on the Community Development Advisory Committee, which established policy decisions for the distribution of awards under the federal block grant; and for six years, Mr. Dziedzic served on the advisory committee as the chair of the economic committee and chair of the committee for public facilities. Mr. Dziedzic also served as a member on the San Francisco Business Tax Review Board, the San Francisco Mayor’s Legislative Committee, and property tax ad hoc tax committees for the CA Board of Equalization.

 

Mr. Dziedzic earned a BA from American University, School of Int’l Service. He has also earned a JD from Golden Gate University School of Law and a LL.M (tax) from Boston University School of Law. He has a certificate in accounting from University of CA, Berkeley School of Business and Management. Mr. Dziedzic is licensed by the CA State Bar and the US Tax Court.


Teresa Serata 
Director of Strategy and Grant Compliance
teresa.serata@sfgov.org
           

Teresa Serata is responsible for managing UASI program and project management staff, developing and implementing the regional risk and capabilities-based Bay Area Homeland Security Strategy, identifying strategic goals and objectives; and coordinating the process for developing investments to build regional capabilities and reduce risks.  In addition, Ms. Serata is responsible for reviewing, recommending, and evaluating strategies for the financial and administrative management of grants, including the roles of partnership entities, systems for grants monitoring and reporting, compliance, and performance management.  At the direction of the General Manager and UASI Approval Authority, she is responsible for developing a coordinated strategy for the successful execution of UASI policy and directives and implementation of projects and initiatives funded by multiple grant programs exceeding $197M.  Ms. Serata works collaboratively with regional partners, special districts, private sector partners, non-profit organizations, other urban areas, and state and federal agencies to ensure compliance with grant requirements and guidelines and to maintain open lines of communication between all entities.

 

Ms. Serata has 26 years of strategic planning and financial management experience with the City and County of San Francisco.  Prior to joining the UASI Management Team, she oversaw the Grants Management Unit in the Department of Emergency Management managing both the UASI and Homeland Security Grants Programs.  Teresa was formerly the Chief Financial Officer for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and the Director of Finance for the Mayor of San Francisco.  She began her local government career as a Health Program Planner for the San Francisco Department of Public Health.  Teresa holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley, Goldman School of Public Policy. 

 

Jeff Blau

Project Manager | Interoperable Communications
jeff@bauasi.org

Jeff began his UASI career as the lead Project Manager for the COPS2007 Technology Grant.  Recently Jeff’s responsibilities have expanded to include all of the Interoperability Communications Projects funded by the COPS, UASI, PSIC and IECGP Grants.  Jeff served as the Northern California APCO (NAPCO) Vendor Chairperson for several years during his 28 years in the private sector.  His involvement with NAPCO provided him a unique experience teaming with representatives from several Northern California Public Safety Agencies.  Jeff currently is fulfilling his second term as a Director on the NAPCO Board representing the Bay Area UASI.  Jeff played a key role promoting Interoperability to representatives of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties resulting in the first RCS in the Bay Area, now known as East Bay Regional Communication System Authority (EBRCSA).  Jeff has developed the skills, experience and qualifications required to be a successful UASI Interoperability Project Manager.

 

Mark Eastus

Project Manager | Risk Management Program

Santa Clara County Sheriff
mark@bauasi.org


Captain Mark Eastus is a 27-year veteran of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department. He served as the Tactical Commander of the elite Sheriffs Emergency Response Team. His assignments include Field Training Officer, Department of Corrections, Detective/Sergeant for the Criminal Intelligence and Vice Unit, Public Information Officer, 4 years assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (this position requires a Top Secret clearance). He has investigated numerous high profile terrorism cases, worked as the Assistant Division Commander for West Valley Patrol Division and the Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office.


Captain Eastus holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Saint Mary’s College and is a POST certified Instructor with numerous teaching certificates. He has instructed for over 20 years at numerous local colleges as well as both State and Local Academies. He is a graduate of the FBI-SWAT School and has been the primary entry operator for the Sheriffs Emergency Response Team for nine years. In addition he has conducted many high-level VIP/Dignitary protection details for such officials as President Clinton, President Bush and numerous foreign dignitaries.

 

Barry Fraser

Program Manager | Interoperable Communications

barry.fraser@sfgov.org

 

Barry currently serves as Interoperability Project Manager and is assigned to the Bay Area UASI Management Team for the City and County of San Francisco Department of Emergency Services. His primary responsibility is the research, development, planning and deployment of a regional broadband wireless network for public safety.  Barry has been instrumental in the successful petition for a waiver of Federal Communication Commission rules to use 700MHz spectrum for public safety broadband.  He serves as the point person in the development of a regional governance structure, negotiation of a network build, own and operate agreement with a private partner BTOP grant recipient, and in selection of the technical requirements, business models, public safety applications and sustainability strategies for the Bay Area network.  From 2007-2011, Barry served as Telecommunications Policy Analyst for the City and County of San Francisco Department of Technology, where he advised the department on all legal and policy issues related to information technology and communications, including municipal broadband wireless and fiber, open source, open data and social networking policies.  In 2010, Barry developed and implemented a successful ARRA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant award of $7.9 million to the City for sustainable broadband adoption services.

 

From 1998-2006, Barry served as assistant director and cable franchise administrator for the County of San Diego, where he supervised cable television franchise administration and helped manage the County Television Network (CTN). Before joining San Diego County, he served as staff attorney for Utility Consumers’ Action Network (UCAN), where he litigated telecommunications and Internet consumer protection cases.  Barry received a M.A. degree in Radio and Television from San Diego State University in 1991 and a J.D. degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1995. 

 

Elizabeth Holden

UASI Planner

elizabeth.holden@sfgov.org

 

Elizabeth Holden is primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of the Bay Area UASI website.  Prior to joining the UASI team, she wrote an urban policy thesis on the High Line park in NYC and interned at the San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Center (SPUR) where she developed online graphics and outreach material for a successful transportation campaign.  Elizabeth graduated with honors in May 2011 from Wesleyan University.  She was born and raised in the Bay Area and attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory.

 

Dennis Houghtelling

Program Manager | Training and Exercise

Alameda County Sheriff

dhoughtelling@acgov.org

 

Commander Dennis Houghtelling has over 37 years of law enforcement experience.  He first joined the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office in 1976.  Commander Houghtelling later transferred to the Hayward Police Department here he served for 27 years and retired as the Deputy Chief of Police.  In 2003 Commander Houghtelling rejoined the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. 

 

As a member of the Hayward Police Department, Commander Houghtelling served as an officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, deputy chief and was the acting chief of police during his last 6 months of service.   As a member of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Commander Houghtelling has served as a deputy, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and commander.  He has worked in Detention and Corrections, Planning and Research, Law Enforcement Services (Eden Township Substation), served as the Academy Director and commanding officer Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Regional Training Center, and is currently assigned to the San Bay Area UASI serving as the Program Manager for the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Training and Exercise Project.

 

Commander Houghtelling has a total of 18 years of tactical experience having served as an operator, team leader, tactical commander and unit commander.  Commander Houghtelling has been an active participant in the planning process for the Urban Shield exercises since its inception in 2007.   Commander Houghtelling has a Bachelors Degree in Occupational Studies and holds a lifetime limited teaching credential.

 

John Justice

Program Manager | Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Initiative
Training and Exercise Program

Santa Clara County Fire 
john@bauasi.org


Battalion Chief John Justice entered the fire service in 1987 with the Zayante Fire Protection District.  In late 1990, John went to work with the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District to start a hazardous materials program for the City of Scotts Valley.  In 1996 Chief Justice joined the ranks of the Santa Clara County Fire Department as a Hazardous Materials Specialist, assigned to the Fire Protection Bureau.

 

Chief Justice was brought onto the Bay Area UASI Management Team in March 2009 as the sole fire service representative and assigned the CBRNE and Training & Exercise strategies.  During the latter part of 2011, Chief Justice assisted in the transitioning of the T&E program to Commander Dennis Houghtelling and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.  Chief Justice continues to manage the CBRNE initiatives.

 

As the UASI project manager for California’s Golden Guardian 2010, he teamed up with Cal EMA and the U.S. Coast Guard in the production of the largest port-based exercise in the nation.  He also assists with the planning efforts of the region’s annual Urban Shield exercise, considered the largest homeland security training of its kind in the country.  Additionally Chief Justice assisted in the planning and hosting of the 2011 National UASI Conference, which was held in San Francisco.

 

In addition to his UASI assignment, Chief Justice also represents the fire service on Santa Clara County’s Multi-Hazard, Multi-Agency Task Force, working with law enforcement and emergency medical services personnel in process of planning, organizing, equipping, training and evaluating emergency responders.

 

David Kozicki

Project Manager | Interoperable Communications

Alameda County Sheriff

 

David Kozicki is a deputy sheriff with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.  David has been working with the UASI as an Interoperable Communications Manager since July 2011.  His major projects include: the establishment of a regional interoperable communication systems joint power authority, Bay RICS, and the building of a high-speed broadband system to service the Bay Area’s public safety community, BayWEB.

 

Mary Landers 
Regional Grants Manager
mary.landers@sfgov.org 

Mary Landers is responsible for the development of regional policies, plans, and procedures for the Bay Area UASI program Grant Unit and coordinating the legislative and contractual elements of the UASI’s various grant programs totaling in excess of $153 million dollars. Under the direction of the Director of Strategy and Grant Compliance, she acts as a liaison to the cities and counties to ensure compliance and is a point of contact to State and Federal grant representatives.

 

Mary, a San Francisco native, has 10 years of contractual and legislative experience with the City and County of San Francisco. Prior to joining the UASI Management Team, Mary managed Homeland Security Grant funds for the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management and served as a Legislative Aide to a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Before her service to the City and County of San Francisco, Mary had an 18-year career with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC-TV) in the Broadcast Operations Division., receiving an Emmy award for her work on the 1984 Olympic Games. 

 

David Lazar

Project Liaison | Risk Management, Homeland Security Initiatives

david.lazar@sfgov.org

 

Captain David Lazar has been a member of the San Francisco Police Department for 20 years. He has been assigned to eight of the ten district police stations in various capacities including Commanding Officer of Ingleside Police Station. Captain Lazar served in the Investigations Bureau overseeing all of the investigative units, was assigned to the Police Academy as the Director of the Basic Academy Class and as the Department’s Training Manager. Captain Lazar, at the direction of his superior, developed the Operation Outreach Program as the Department’s liaison on homeless related issues. He was assigned to the Special Operations Bureau in May of 2011 as the liaison and project manager to the Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiative. Captain Lazar is also participating on the Event Planning Team for the 2012 and 2013 America’s Cup Events in San Francisco. He is a recent graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from St. Mary’s College.

 

Kathleen McKenna

Program Manager | Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant

Santa Clara County OES

kathleen.mckenna@sfgov.org

 

Kathleen McKenna is a retired Police Captain for the City of Palo Alto with 26 years of law enforcement experience which included management of all aspects of police services.  Ms. McKenna has been involved with the Bay Area UASI since 2006 and has worked on and participated in numerous large exercises in the San Francisco Bay Area including: the Bay Area Regional Coordination Plan Exercise Series, Silver Sentinel and Urban Shield 2008, Golden Guardian 2010, San Jose Urban Area Tactical Interoperable Communications exercise, and the combined Santa Clara County Department of Public Health and School District Pandemic exercise.  In 2007, Ms. McKenna was a team member responsible for the development and implementation of WMD HSEEP compliant exercises on military installations and disaster related exercises for the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).  She has recently been the law enforcement liaison for the Santa Clara County Department of Mental Health and the Interim Director of the Office of Emergency Services for Santa Clara County.  Ms. McKenna has a B.S. in Business from the University of San Francisco; an M.A. in Educational Technology from San Jose State University; and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

 

Nubia Mendoza

Administrative Assistant

nubia.mendoza@sfgov.org

 

Nubia Mendoza is currently responsible for the Administrative Manager’s duties for the Bay Area UASI Management Team.  Prior to joining the UASI team, she worked as a video editor for Comcast Hometown Network’s Upside, a live bi-weekly, half-hour newscast.  Nubia, born and raised in Palo Alto, graduated from San Francisco State with a B.A. in Broadcast Electronics Communications Arts.

 

Jada Winfrey

Administrative Manager

jada.jackson@sfgov.org

 

Jada Winfrey has been a UASI Administrator since March 2008.  She provides a full range of executive level strategic support for the UASI anti-terrorism and emergency management programs.  Ms. Winfrey’s duties include oversight of all administrative, executive planning and strategic program support including daily operations of the San Francisco UASI Executive Office.  She serves as outreach program coordinator for the UASI and as the liaison between the public and other public agencies including local, state, and federal government representatives.  She has a key role in program transparency and serves as a link between the Approval Authority, the UASI Advisory Group and the UASI Management Team.  Ms. Winfrey handles all public communications on behalf of the UASI.  Ms. Winfrey plays a key role in education, coordination and communication between our federal delegation and the UASI program.

 

Ms. Winfrey previously served as the Chief of Staff for the Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.  In this capacity, she supported both emergency and operational activities in direct support of the Division of Emergency Services and the Division of Emergency Communications.  As Chief of Staff in a large City Emergency Management organization, she provided consultation and support to executive management during several declared disasters and major event occurring in San Francisco as well as managing special projects.  Ms. Winfrey has worked for the City and County of San Francisco for 10 years in various departments including the Mayor’s Office on Disability, Administrative Services, and City Hall Building Management.  Ms. Winfrey graduated with honors from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration with an emphasis in Law Enforcement Leadership.

 

Tristan Levardo

Chief Financial Officer

tristan.levardo@sfgov.org

 

Tristan Levardo joins the UASI team as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).  Tristan has 14 years experience in financial and grants management and previously worked for the Controller’s Office and the Department of Public Health.  Tristan is in charge of the Grants Management Unit (GMU).  Tristan is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of California.

 

Jane Mason
Monitoring and Audits Manager
jane.mason@sfgov.org

Jane Mason joined the Bay Area UASI management team as a grants manager in 2009. Her primary responsibilities are to manage and administer the fiscal and financial requirements of UASI, IECGP, 07PSIC and COPS Tech grants with focuses on monitoring and ensuring grant programs and expenditures follow and are in compliance within grants guidelines.  Prior to entering the UASI management team, Jane had 10 years of services with the City and County of San Francisco serving in the areas of fiscal operation management, budget and financial analysis, audits and grants administration at the Controller’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department and the Fire Department. 

 

Susie Choy

Grants Accounting Manager

susie.choy@sfgov.org

 

Susie joined the Bay Area UASI management team as a grants manager in 2010. Her primary responsibilities are to manage and administer the fiscal and financial requirements of UASI and RCPGP grants with focuses on accounting and ensuring expenditures are in compliance within grants guidelines.  Susie has worked for CCSF for 10 years in the Department of the Treasurer and Tax Collector, Department of Technology and Information Services and the Department of Public Health before joining the UASI team.  Susie holds a BA from San Francisco State University in accounting and has passed the four parts of the CPA Examination.


Mikyung Kim-Molina

Grants Management Analyst

mikyung.kim-molina@sfgov.org

 

Mikyung Kim-Molina was recently hired as the Grants Management Analyst.  She is responsible for developing MOUs and Letters of Agreement between the City and County of San Francisco (fiscal agent) and the UASI subrecipients.  Mikyung has over 17 years of City government experience.  Prior to joining the UASI team, Mikyung spent 10 years as the federal HUD Grants Manager for the San Francisco Human Services Agency. While at the San Francisco Human Services Agency, she also served as a Contracts Manager and a Program Manager for a federally subsidized housing program.  Mikyung has also worked for various other City Departments including the Department of Public Health, the Board of Supervisors Budget Analyst’s Office, and the Adult Probation Department.  She holds a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from SFSU and a BA degree in Legal Studies with a minor in American Literature from U.C. Berkeley.  Mikyung was educated and raised in the Bay Area.

  

Susan Salvador

Grants Accounting Analyst

susan.salvador@sfgov.org

 

Susan Salvador recently joined the UASI Management team as a Grants Accounting Analyst.  Her primary responsibilities are to administer the FY09 UASI grant.  She started her career with the City and County of San Francisco as Accountant III for the San Francisco General Hospital.  She was responsible for project, leases and grants administration.  Prior to that, she was with UCSF Department of Radiology.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Golden Gate University, San Francisco.

 

Yuri Hardin

Grants Accounting Analyst

yuri.hardin@sfgov.org

 

Yuri Hardin recently became a member of the Bay Area UASI management team as a Grant Accounting Analyst. Her primary responsibilities include administering FY10 UASI grant. Prior to joining the Bay Area UASI team, Yuri worked for the Budget and Analysis Division at the Controller’s Office. Yuri is a licensed Certified Public Accountant for the state of California with experiences in the Big 4 accounting firms.

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