Jake Heflin is an enrolled member of the Osage Nation. He is from the Wa-Xa-Ko-Li District and Tzi-Zho Wah-Shtah-Keh clan. His Osage name is Tah-Wah Gka-Keh (Town Maker). Jake is the current President and CEO for the Tribal Emergency Management Association – “iTEMA”.
Jake is a Firefighter/Paramedic for the City of Long Beach Fire Department. Currently, Jake is assigned to the Community Services Division as serves as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Manager for the Fire Department. Jake has been involved in emergency services for over 22 years. He lives in Long Beach, California.
Jake started with the fire service in 1991 as a Paid Call Firefighter for the Orange County Fire Department. In 1994, Jake graduated from Paramedic School at Saddleback College in 1994. In 2000, Jake was hired by the Long Beach Fire Department. Jake is a member of California Urban Search and Rescue Regional Task Force #3. He is a member of the Long Beach Fire Department Honor Guard and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) team. Previously, he has served as the LBFD Paramedic Committee Chair, the California State Firefighters Association (CSFA) EMS Committee Chair and a member on the CSFA Tribal Committee. He also sat as a member of the California State Emergency Medical Services Authority Directors Advisory Group. Currently, Jake serves as a Director for the Long Beach Fireman’s Mutual Benefit Association.
Jake is a Paramedic Preceptor for Los Angeles County and has served as a skills and peer instructor for fire and EMS related training. Jake has a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Studies – Vocational Arts from California State University, Long Beach, Ca., Associate of Science in Fire Administration from Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, Ca., Associate of Science in Fire Technology, Medical Services Officer, Santa Ana College, an Associate of Science in Public Fire Service from Santa Ana College, and an Associate of Science in Paramedicine from Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, Ca. Jake holds a California State Teaching Credential and is certified by the California State Fire Marshal’s office as a Firefighter I, Firefighter II, and Fire Officer.
In 2005, Jake was hired as a Consultant for the Osage Nation to design and develop an all-encompassing emergency healthcare system for Osage County, Oklahoma and the Osage Nation. Since then, Jake’s involvement with emergency services in “Indian Country” has increased significantly. Jake sits as a Tribal Representative for a multi-agency federal government task force known as the Tribal Assistance Coordination Group (TAC-G). The TAC-G’s primary focus relates to emergency management in Indian Country. Jake served as a member of the National Tribal All-Hazards Incident Management Team Focus Group sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and is a past Vice President of the National Native American Emergency Medical Services Association (NNAEMSA). Jake is the National Director of Tribal Affairs for the California State Firefighters’ Association. Jake is an adjunct instructor for FEMA/EMI where he teaches tribal emergency management, CERT Train-the-Trainer and CERT Program Manager throughout the country. In addition, Jake also serves as a CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor for California Volunteers.
Jake has served in both the public and private sector throughout his tenure in emergency services. During 9 years with the Orange County Fire Authority, Jake served in various capacities including a Paid Call Firefighter, Paid Call Fire Apparatus Engineer and Paid Call Fire Captain. He was also an instructor at multiple Paid Call Fire Academies. From 1994-2000, Jake was employed by Adams Ambulance/American Medical Response. During that time, Jake worked as a Paramedic, Field Training Officer, and Operations Supervisor.
Jake has also worked in the technology industry where he worked as the Director of Operations for a small start-up company that was doing research and development for a pre-hospital product that was designed to assist medical providers in obtaining a printed patient history via a small dime-sized micro-chip information button. Currently, Jake is providing direction to a new start-up company that is bringing enhanced technology to Personal Emergency Response Systems.
Jake sits on the Board of Directors for Global Peace Partners, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit. Organization with the stated goal to transport teams of emergency responders with needed supplies and equipment, anywhere in the world within hours of a global catastrophe.
Dore Bietz (Northern and Southern Me-Wuk) resides on the Tuolumne Rancheria in Central California. After receiving a degree in Landscape Architecture, Ms. Bietz has worked for tribes specializing in realty and land use. As a former council woman, Dore understands the complexities of tribal governments and the need to foster better communication between tribes and outside agencies. An expert in California Indian land issues, Ms. Bietz has testified in front of Congress, worked with the administration on land regulations and served as a technical consultant to Tribes throughout the country.
Ms. Bietz currently works as a Planner for the Tuolumne MeWuk Tribal Council where she is involved in every aspect of community development. Ms. Bietz also serves as the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal CERT as the Program Manager and is a CERT Instructor working with the Tribal Community in developing their emergency management system. Outside of her daily work routine, Dore is a member of the National Ski Patrol and serves as a first responder to both the Dodge Ridge and Kirkwood Ski Resorts.
© Tribal Emergency Management Association
PROUD MEMBER OF CWA L-9003
Receive updates on events, news, important information, and more!
Sign Up