Matthew Mueller
Executive Director
Matthew.Mueller@denvergov.org
Matthew Mueller is responsible for leading the Denver Office of Emergency Management. He works closely with executive leadership within the City and County of Denver, as well as executive leadership at the state and federal level. He serves in leadership roles during Emergency Operation Center activations.
Heather Booth
Business Operations Administrator
Heather.Booth@denvergov.org
Heather Booth is the executive assistant to the executive director. She is responsible for managing the executive directors calendar, staffing for the Emergency Operations Center, and also takes on the role of office manager for the Denver Office of Emergency Management.
David Powell
Deputy Director
David.Powell@denvergov.org
David Powell manages the emergency managers of emergency planning, continuity, training and exercise, operations, and hazard risk and mitigation. He works closely with the executive director on the strategy and leadership of the office while filling leadership role in the Emergency Operations Center during activations.
Caroline Buhse
Finance and Admin Manager
Caroline.Buhse@denvergov.org
Caroline is the Grants and Finance Manager for the Denver Office of Emergency Management. In her role, she oversees all of Denver OEM’s grant programs and financial operations. Caroline oversees the Securing the Cities Program, the Urban Areas Security Initiative, and the Emergency Management Preparedness Grant, in additional to all General Fund budgeting and procurement. She has worked with Denver OEM since June of 2024.
Prior to joining Denver OEM, Caroline spent two years working for the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure as a Fiscal Administrator where she oversaw the department’s General Fund operations budget. Before moving to Denver, she worked for the City and County of San Francisco in the Mayor’s Budget Office, where she worked across various policy areas, including public safety, human services, homelessness, and public health. Prior to working for the Mayor’s Office, Caroline worked for the San Francisco Human Services Agency as part of the COVID-19 response, helping with finance and budgeting around the emergency shelter-in-place hotels for people experiencing homelessness. Caroline started her career in the international human rights space, where she worked for the Washington Office on Latin America conducting research and political advocacy on human rights and policy matters in Latin America.
Loa Esquilin-Garcia
Communications Manager
Loa.Esquilin-Garcia@denvergov.org
Loa A. Esquilín serves as the Communications Manager for the Denver Office of Emergency Management and the Joint Information Center (JIC) Manager for the City and County of Denver. With over 15 years of experience in crisis communications, she has led public information efforts at FEMA, the Red Cross, and currently at Denver OEM.
Throughout her career, Loa has supported national emergency responses as Lead Public Information Officer, coordinating media messaging, managing JIC teams, and ensuring the delivery of clear, timely information. She briefly worked in the private sector with Suncor Energy but was quickly drawn back to her passion—crisis communication and public alert systems.
Originally from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Loa is deeply committed to inclusive emergency preparedness, especially for communities with limited English proficiency. She now proudly calls Denver home.
Savannah Hilderbrand
Communications & Marketing Specialist (PIO)
Savannah.Hilderbrand@denvergov.org
Savannah Hilderbrand manages public information, crisis communications, and marketing efforts for the Denver Office of Emergency Management. She oversees the city’s emergency alert and warning systems, coordinates mass notifications, and ensures public messaging is clear and timely during emergencies. As the Joint Information Center (JIC) Manager, Savannah leads messaging coordination during major incidents. She also develops communication plans, manages digital media accounts, and works closely with city agencies, community partners, and regional public safety teams.
Irving Payan
Communications & Outreach Specialist
irving.payan@denvergov.org
Irving Payan is the Outreach Manager for the Denver Office of Emergency Management, where they lead citywide community engagement efforts focused on building a more prepared and resilient Denver. Born and raised in Denver to Mexican immigrant parents, Irving brings a strong commitment to public service and community connection.
Before joining OEM, Irving spent 10 years with Denver Public Schools, where they oversaw district-wide emergency preparedness efforts, trained thousands of staff, and partnered with over 200 schools to strengthen school safety and crisis response.
In addition to leading outreach initiatives, Irving also serves as a Joint Information Center (JIC) Manager during Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations, helping coordinate clear, accurate, and timely communication during emergencies.
Courtney Bernet
Senior Emergency Management Specialist- Planning
Courtney.Bernet@denvergov.org
Courtney Bernet is responsible for developing and implementing emergency plans and coordinating strategy on how to respond to the diverse hazards that affect Denver. She also serves in an variety of leadership roles in the Emergency Operations Center during emergency activations.
Cali Zimmerman
Emergency Management Specialist- Planning
Cali.Zimmerman@denvergov.org
Cali Zimmerman is responsible for supporting the development of citywide emergency plans and coordinating strategy on how to respond to the diverse hazards that affect Denver. She also serves in a variety of roles in the Emergency Operations Center during emergency activations.
Anisha Borthakur
Emergency Management Specialist- Operations
Anisha.Borthakur@denvergov.org
Anisha Borthakur is responsible for Operations. She coordinates emergency operations and manages any and all upgrades to the Emergency Operations Center. She also serves in leadership roles in the Emergency Operations Center during emergency activations.
Alex Jadrich
Senior Emergency Management Specialist- Continuity
Alex.Jadrich@denvergov.org
Alex Jadrich is responsible for managing the Continuity Program for the City and County of Denver and coordinating continuity efforts for all City agencies. This includes the City's Continuity of Government (COG) Plan and all of the individual agency Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs). He also serves in leadership roles in the Emergency Operations Center during emergency activations.
Vacant
UASI Administrator
Jubal Vafeades
Administrator I
Jubal.Vafeades@denvergov.org
Jubal Vafeades Grants Administrator, Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) is a USAF veteran and seasoned public service professional with 27 years of experience at the City and County of Denver. As the Grants Administrator for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), she supports regional preparedness and response capabilities in designated high-threat, high-density areas. Jubal brings over a decade of expertise in program and project management, specializing in contract administration, procurement, and policy compliance. Her role includes oversight of grant-funded procurement, budget reporting, and alignment with federal, state, and local regulations to ensure strategic impact and operational excellence. Known for her collaborative approach, she fosters interagency coordination and contributes to a cooperative and results-driven work environment. Jubal also supports staffing during Emergency Operations Center activations.
George Evans
Administrator I
George.Evans@denvergov.org
George Evans has served as a UASI grant program since March 2023, bringing a results-driven approach, strategic mindset and strong problem-solving skills to the role. As a 17-year employee with the City and County of Denver, George started his career in the Denver Sheriff Department as an Administrative Support Assistant. He moved into financial processing through numerous years of work with the Department of Finance Tax Payments and Collections unit.
Drawing on his combined experience in public safety and financial operations, George transitioned smoothly into his current role in the Office of Emergency Management, supporting the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), a federal grant program aimed at enhancing regional preparedness and capabilities in designated high-threat, high-density areas. This work includes procurement of assets, inventory, and physical monitoring of assets, as well as collaboration with various first-responder committees throughout the region to ensure a high-level of coordination and readiness initiatives. In addition, George also contributes to Emergency Operations Center activations, providing vital Staffing support during critical incidents.
Kayla Ibarra
Interim STC Administrator
Kayla.Ibarra@denvergov.org
Kayla Ibarra manages the local Securing the Cities (STC) program, a federal grant program designed to reduce the risk of a successful deployment of radiological or nuclear weapons against major metropolitan areas across the United States. She also assists with staffing during Emergency Operations Center activations.
Vacant
Emergency Management Specialist- Mitigation
This position is responsible for Hazard Mitigation, managing the Local Emergency Planning Committee which encompasses various subject matter expertise and external stakeholders. Additionally, this position serves in leadership roles in the Emergency Operations Center during emergency activations.
Vacant
Emergency Management Specialist- Training & Exercise