Passion. Experience. Diligence.
Public Advisors Group is a multidisciplinary consulting firm that helps government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community partners design, fund, and manage programs that strengthen community resilience and operational readiness. Our work spans emergency management, grant writing and program development, resilience, and aviation consulting, supporting clients in building sustainable capacity to plan for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and long-term challenges.
Our team combines experience in emergency management, policy design, and grant program administration with a strong understanding of public-sector operations and interagency coordination. We help clients translate complex funding and policy systems into clear, actionable strategies, supporting every stage from project development and competitive grant writing to program implementation and compliance reporting.
Spencer Karel, JD, MBA
Principal Consultant
Spencer Karel is an attorney, a policy strategist, and emergency management leader with extensive experience designing, funding, and implementing statewide resilience and disaster recovery programs. He has managed multimillion dollar grant portfolios, drafted legislation establishing new resilience and environmental health authorities, and directed complex statewide initiatives that strengthened community preparedness and shelter-in-place capacity.
As Policy Chief for Oregon’s Office of Resilience and Emergency Management, Spencer led the creation and administration of Oregon’s $10 million Resilience Hubs and Networks Grant, the $5 million Cleaner Air Centers Grant, and two $2 million Warming and Cooling Center Grant programs. He also directed more than $50 million in FEMA Public Assistance reimbursement grants for mass care operations following the 2020 wildfires and the 2024 winter storm. His leadership advanced Oregon’s capacity to deliver equitable, community-based preparedness infrastructure and improved coordination between FEMA, HUD, EPA, USDA, and state agencies.
Earlier in his career, Spencer managed Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP) awards at the county level and served as a registered lobbyist for the Oregon Emergency Management Association, where he helped shape statewide emergency management legislation.
Spencer integrates legal, operational, and fiscal perspectives to help governments and organizations design practical, compliant, and results-driven resilience programs. He holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence and Master of Business Administration from Willamette University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Oregon.
Paul Manson, PhD
Senior Consultant
Paul is a research and policy specialist with extensive experience managing and evaluating grant-funded projects in resilience, emergency management, and public policy. For more than fifteen years, he has worked with state and local agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen disaster recovery, resilience planning, and adaptive capacity through applied research and program evaluation.
At Portland State University’s Center for Public Service, Paul has directed and supported numerous federal and state-funded research and evaluation projects focused on community resilience, hazard mitigation, and disaster recovery. His work has been supported by competitive grants from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Oregon Sea Grant, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the National Science Foundation. These projects include analyses of local and regional resilience strategies, rural economic recovery, tsunami and coastal hazards preparedness, and organizational readiness for disaster response.
Paul’s research informs practical approaches for public-sector grant management and program design. He has developed and evaluated policy frameworks that guide local governments and nonprofit organizations in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural disasters. Paul also contributed to the development of Oregon’s Resilience Hubs and Networks Grant Program, which expanded community led preparedness and shelter in place capacity statewide.
His work integrates social science, public administration, and land-use planning to improve how agencies manage grant-funded programs that address climate and disaster risks. Paul holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs and Policy, a Master of Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology.
Jamie McLeod-Skinner, JD, AICP
Senior Consultant
Jamie McLeod-Skinner, JD, AICP, is an attorney, certified planner, and nationally respected leader in community resilience, land use, and disaster recovery. As a Senior Advisor with Public Advisors Group and founder of MS Sage Consulting, she brings over 25 years of experience in local government, infrastructure recovery, housing development, and interagency coordination. Jamie previously served as Interim City Manager for Talent, Oregon, where she led post-wildfire reconstruction and secured over $30 million in state and federal recovery funding, and as Strategic Initiatives Manager for Oregon’s Office of Resilience and Emergency Management, where she helped launch the state’s Resilience Hubs and Networks program. Jamie’s background as an environmental planner, who worked on National Environmental Policy Act review and as a Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) member protecting and restoring natural ecosystems throughout Oregon. Her work spans domestic and international recovery operations, including humanitarian engineering in post-conflict regions, and she currently directs New Spirit Village, a wildfire-recovery housing initiative recognized by the Governor as a statewide model. A licensed attorney and American Institute of Certified Planners member, Jamie blends technical, legal, and policy expertise to help communities design equitable, climate resilient systems and long-term recovery solutions.
Steve Pegram, CEM
Senior Consultant
Steve Pegram is a nationally recognized emergency management executive with more than 25 years of leadership in disaster response, resilience planning, and interagency coordination across federal, state, and local systems. As Chief of Mass Care Preparedness for the Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Resilience and Emergency Management, he led statewide initiatives establishing Oregon’s Resilience Hubs program, advanced emergency communications networks, and deployable sheltering capabilities. At Public Advisors Group, Steve brings deep expertise in mass care, operational planning, and multi-agency coordination to support clients in developing sustainable resilience and emergency management programs. His career includes directing Columbia County Emergency Management, serving as Division Chief for Emergency Management Systems with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and supporting FEMA, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and international operations in Afghanistan. A Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), instructor, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Air Crew, Steve has earned multiple national awards for innovation, training excellence, and cross-sector collaboration that strengthened preparedness and resilience worldwide.
Ray Wolf, MPP
Consultant
Ray Wolf is a public policy researcher with expertise in community resilience, disaster preparedness, and equitable grant implementation. Originally from Spain, he brings a multicultural and bilingual perspective to his work, emphasizing inclusive approaches to resilience and public policy. His work bridges academic research and on-the-ground practice, focusing on how public institutions can partner with local communities to strengthen readiness and recovery capacity. Ray has supported programs that advance the Whole Community Approach, improve accessibility of emergency management grants, and enhance collaboration between state agencies, local governments, and community-based organizations. His background includes policy analysis, field engagement with wildfire-affected communities, and research on the structural and political barriers to equitable resilience funding. Ray holds a Master of Public Policy with a specialization in emergency management from Oregon State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Liberal Studies.
Jonathan P. Baker, CBCP, FEMA MCP II
Lead Consultant
Jonathan Baker is a senior business continuity and emergency management specialist with extensive experience designing and implementing Business Continuity and Continuity of Operations Planning, and crisis management programs in both the public and private sectors. He has led business impact analyses, risk assessments, and continuity planning efforts for complex organizations, helping leadership teams understand risk, safeguard critical functions, and strengthen operational resilience.
Jonathan’s background includes supporting global technology companies, local governments, and health systems in building and exercising continuity plans that align with incident management, mass care, and recovery operations. He has developed and managed enterprise continuity programs, created and delivered training and exercises, and supported emergency operations centers during high-consequence events. His work includes ESF-6 mass care leadership, evacuation and shelter planning, continuity program governance, and after-action improvement processes.
He also has experience supporting grant-funded emergency preparedness and continuity projects, including coordinating documentation, compliance reporting, and project tracking for federally funded initiatives. Jonathan has assisted agencies and partner organizations in aligning continuity and emergency management deliverables with grant requirements, ensuring work plans, timelines, and resource allocations meet state and federal expectations.
A skilled practitioner in the practical use of technology, Jonathan integrates platforms such as Microsoft 365, Jira, and AI tools like Copilot to streamline continuity planning, documentation, and decision support. He leverages these tools to improve situational awareness, strengthen governance frameworks, and make COOP and COG programs more accessible and actionable for busy teams.
Jonathan brings a collaborative, coaching-oriented approach to working with executives, continuity coordinators, and emergency management partners, helping organizations translate complex continuity requirements into clear plans, tested procedures, and sustainable resilience programs.
Erick Holsey
Senior Advisor
Erick Holsey is a senior fire service leader with three decades of progressive public service experience across operations, administration, emergency medical services, and community safety. He currently serves as Fire Chief for the La Pine Rural Fire Protection District, where he oversees district wide operations, strategic planning, capital projects, budgeting, personnel management, regulatory compliance, and community engagement. His leadership focuses on delivering high quality emergency response while building resilient organizational systems that are prepared for long term community needs.
Before joining La Pine, Erick served as Division Chief of Emergency Medical and Special Operations at Columbia River Fire and Rescue. There he managed the district’s EMS programs, special operations functions, state and federal compliance, ambulance service area advisory responsibilities, external partnerships, complaint resolution, and multiple operational budgets.
Erick previously spent more than two decades with the Clatskanie Rural Fire Protection District, rising from volunteer and intern to Firefighter Paramedic, Lieutenant, Division Chief, and Division Officer. His responsibilities included operational leadership, investigation, prevention, equipment management, grant writing, and development of district standards of cover.
A former United States Army Airborne Infantry service member, Erick brings a disciplined, mission centered approach to leadership and decision making. His academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Fire Administration with a minor in chemistry from Western Oregon University and multiple associate degrees in fire suppression, paramedic technology, and Oregon transfer studies. He holds extensive professional certifications including NFPA Fire Officer 3, Type 3 Incident Commander, NFPA Fire Investigator, and Paramedic.
Erick is also an engaged civic leader, having served on credit union boards, school district committees, regional public safety partnerships, and veterans’ organizations. He is widely recognized for strong work ethic, operational knowledge, and a collaborative leadership style that strengthens public safety systems and community readiness.
Dan Porter
Senior Consultant
Dan Porter is a nationally trained firearms, active threat, and defensive tactics instructor with extensive experience in public safety instruction, emergency preparedness, and threat-interdiction strategies. With more than 25 years of experience across law-enforcement training environments, private-sector safety programs, and emergency management operations, Dan brings a deep capability to jurisdictions seeking to strengthen Active Shooter and Hostile Event Response programs under NFPA 3000.
He holds advanced instructional credentials from the National Fire Protection Association, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, Safariland Training Group, the Massad Ayoob Group, ALICE Training Institute, ALERRT, the NRA Law Enforcement Division, and Rangemaster Firearms Training Services. A longstanding member of IALEFI and ILEETA, Dan has completed more than 1,600 hours of documented coursework covering complex coordinated attack response, armed-intruder training for civilians and law enforcement, deadly-force instruction, defensive-handgun instruction, and structure-based force-on-force engagements.
Dan’s instructional background is complemented by his service as Training Coordinator for Columbia County (Oregon) Emergency Management, where he supported community preparedness, multi-agency coordination, and the delivery of training programs across a diverse operational landscape. He also founded Intrepid Firearms, a federally licensed firearms dealership and training organization, where he designed individualized programs emphasizing safe, stress-inoculated skill development for civilian concealed carriers and organizational clients.
His leadership experience includes firearms and tactics instruction for public safety agencies and private organizations, production and compliance leadership roles in the outdoor products industry, and earlier executive-level work in information technology. This breadth enables Dan to integrate operational, instructional, and organizational perspectives into large-scale preparedness and response planning.
Dan is a member of IALEFI, ILEETA, the and National Tactical Officers Association. He has held a U.S. Coast Guard 100-Ton Master license and completed executive leadership studies at Harvard University. Based in College Station, Texas, he supports clients nationwide.
Chad Machiela, MS, PMP
Senior Consultant
During a career spanning more than three decades with the U.S. Army Special Forces, CW5 Chad Machiela (USA, Retired) worked with indigenous leaders and communities to identify hazards, assess risks, and develop and implement mitigation strategies to respond to emergencies ranging from floods and fires to invading forces and criminal gangs. Chad assisted Laos’s government in training a civilian corps of explosive ordnance reduction and emergency medical teams to mitigate the threat of unexploded munitions remaining after the U.S. Vietnam War. He built wells and schools in Mali to make Tuareg communities more resistant to the recruitment efforts of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat. In 2024, Chad worked with the Incident Management Team responding to the Oregon governor’s declared state of emergency in Portland, caused by the fentanyl epidemic, using advanced methods to visualize and model the interconnected network of stakeholders affected by the crisis and vested in the response. More recently, Chad supported Oregon’s Office of Resilience and Emergency Management’s effort to build pre-disaster resilience networks in remote areas of Oregon in preparation for crises resulting from a shift in the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
At Public Advisors Group, Chad brings experience in operational planning, interagency coordination, and a community development approach informed by social network and geospatial analyses. Chad holds a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, as well as graduate certificates in Security and Governance from the
University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Project Management from Fayetteville State University.
Ben Cohen
Senior Consultant
Ben Cohen was born in Seattle, Washington, and attended high school in Redmond, Washington. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2005, initially serving as a machine gunner with 1st Battalion, 4th Marines before being selected for the Marine Reconnaissance community in 2006. He went on to serve five years with Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, where he gained extensive experience operating in high-risk, complex environments and leading small teams in high-consequence situations.
In 2011, Ben was assigned to Special Operations Training Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, where he served as the lead instructor for the Maritime Interdiction Operations program. In this role, he was responsible for training design, safety oversight, and mission-critical operational planning under stress, experience that directly informs his work supporting Public Advisors Group clients operating in disaster, emergency management, and complex operational environments.
Selected for a commissioning program in 2013, Mr. Cohen attended The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, graduating in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management. His academic and operational focus strengthened his foundation in logistics, systems thinking, and large-scale operational coordination, skills that align closely with Public Advisors Group’s work in resilience planning, continuity of operations, and multi-stakeholder program delivery.
Following graduation, he served as a logistics officer with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, integrating supply chain, mobility, and sustainment planning in support of expeditionary operations. In 2020, he was selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned dual master’s degrees in Defense Systems Analysis and Applied Design for Innovation, graduating in June 2022. His graduate work emphasized data-driven decision-making, end-user-centric design, and innovation in resource-constrained, high-stress environments, directly supporting Public Advisors Group’s applied approach to policy, planning, and operational problem-solving.
Ben’s final assignment with the U.S. Marine Corps was with Marine Corps Installations Command – West, where he served as Director of Emerging Technologies. In this role, he focused on the evaluation, integration, and operationalization of new capabilities across complex, multi-stakeholder environments, experience that complements Public Advisors Group’s work supporting public agencies navigating emerging risks, new technologies, and evolving operational requirements.
Ben is also the Founder of Leviathan Collective, a multi-venture platform focused on specialized maritime, aviation, and resilience-oriented services. Through his work with Public Advisors Group, he applies more than two decades of leadership experience spanning program design and implementation, risk assessment and mitigation, and operational management in crisis conditions to help government and nonprofit clients strengthen disaster preparedness, operational continuity, and real-world resilience.
Seth Gray, MS, MA
Senior Consultant
Seth Gray, MS, MA, is a researcher specializing in the application of advanced analytics to national security challenges, including disaster preparedness, crisis response, and emergency management. He has 12 years of experience in the intelligence community, serving in both operational and analytic roles that require integrating complex data to support decision-making in dynamic environments. Seth is currently earning a PhD in Information Science.
His research focuses on the use of advanced data science, network analysis, agentic workflows, and autonomous systems to analyze complex social and organizational systems. Seth’s work explores how computational modeling and data-driven methods can improve situational awareness and support more effective coordination during crises.
In 2024, Seth worked with the Incident Management Team responding to the Oregon governor’s declared state of emergency in Portland related to the fentanyl epidemic. In collaboration with researchers and emergency managers, he applied advanced network modeling methods to map and analyze the interconnected network of organizations and stakeholders involved in the response effort. This work supported efforts to identify coordination gaps, improve information flow, and strengthen community response networks.
John Shanley, MSN, RN
Senior Consultant
John Shanley, MSN, RN, is a senior healthcare and medical operations leader with more than 25 years of experience supporting complex clinical systems, disaster response environments, and high-risk international operations. His career spans hospital-based critical care leadership, U.S. government overseas missions, and large-scale operational management, bringing a rare combination of clinical expertise and field-tested operational discipline.
John has extensive experience delivering care and leading medical operations in austere and high-threat environments, including service supporting U.S. diplomatic personnel in Iraq and medical operations across multiple facilities in Afghanistan. In these roles, he led infectious disease preparedness initiatives, co-developed Ebola response protocols, and established isolation capabilities under demanding conditions. His work has consistently focused on maintaining continuity of operations, protecting personnel, and ensuring clinical readiness in crisis settings.
Domestically, John serves as a senior critical care nurse and clinical educator, providing leadership across ICU, neuro ICU, and emergency response environments. He has played a key role in surge staffing, workforce stabilization, and training during periods of high demand, including multi-state deployments supporting healthcare system continuity. His background in burn, trauma, and neurocritical care positions him as a subject matter expert in high-acuity and disaster-related medical response.
Prior to his healthcare career, John served in the U.S. Army Special Forces as an 18B Weapons Non-Commissioned Officer. His Special Forces experience included overseas deployments, military free fall qualification, and instructional roles, providing a foundation in leadership, adaptability, and operations in austere environments that continues to inform his work in emergency and disaster response.
John holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and has completed coursework through the FEMA Emergency Management Institute. He brings to Public Advisors Group a disciplined, mission-focused approach to disaster response, healthcare operations, and resilience planning.
Diana Key, MHA, MBA, PA-C, MPAS, DBH
Senior Consultant
Diana Key is a healthcare and behavioral health professional with more than two decades of experience in clinical care, child welfare systems, and program leadership. She brings a unique combination of frontline medical expertise, advanced academic training, and public sector experience supporting vulnerable and underserved populations.
Diana currently serves with the Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare Health and Wellness Unit, where she conducts Level of Care and CANS assessments for foster youth across Oregon and surrounding states. In this role, she evaluates complex behavioral health needs, reviews psychotropic medication profiles, and develops individualized recommendations for wraparound services. She also contributes to system improvement by onboarding clinical staff and refining assessment methodologies to better address the needs of developmentally delayed youth.
Her clinical background includes ten years as an Oncology Physician Assistant with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where she supported adult bone marrow transplant patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her work included comprehensive patient assessments, coordination of complex diagnostic and treatment protocols, and participation in intensive care and emergency response teams. She also served as adjunct faculty with University of Washington Physicians, training physician assistants and international oncology professionals.
In addition to her clinical career, Diana is a founding partner and former Program Director of Multimedia Seattle: Children First, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing violence against women and children and improving outcomes for at-risk populations. Her leadership included program development, stakeholder engagement, public relations, and strategic planning at both domestic and international levels.
Diana holds a Doctor of Clinical Behavioral Health Management from Arizona State University, where she graduated summa cum laude, as well as an MBA and Master of Healthcare Business Administration. She also earned a Master of Physician Assistant Studies with a focus in clinical oncology.
Her combined experience across healthcare delivery, behavioral health systems, child welfare, and nonprofit program leadership positions her to contribute meaningful, multidisciplinary insight to complex public sector initiatives, particularly those involving vulnerable populations, health systems integration, and community resilience.