Peter Teahen is a 1971 graduate of LaSalle High School, where he was involved in Student Council, as well as the Speech and Debate Team. He was the recipient of numerous speech and debate awards and was the Iowa Boys State Representative. Peter earned a degree in Business Administration from Coe College, and a degree in Mortuary Science from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Chicago. He has also studied at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and Florida State University Traumatology Institute. Peter and his wife, Barbara, are the parents of Jaime Teahen, Elizabeth Teahen, Laura Teahen, Mary Teahen, Carri Siewert-Quam and Brandon Siewert. PROFESSIONAL PROFILE:Peter Teahen is an author, licensed funeral director, mental health professional, and disaster responder. He has years of professional, community, and volunteer experience. His service contributions include; pioneering community projects, lecturing, developing mental health crisis management intervention programs, and lending his skills to the development of disaster operation protocols, as well as extensive volunteerism in disaster services. EDUCATION:Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA. M.A., Human Services Management. Postgraduate studiesCoe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa B.A. Business Administration. 1985Worsham College of Mortuary Science. Chicago, Illinois, Associate of Science. 1974International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF): Studies in Basic and Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management; Peer Counseling; Trauma and Stress; School Crisis Response; Psychotraumatology for Clinicians. Certificate of RecognitionHIGHLIGHTS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:Author: Mass Fatalities: Managing a Community Response. CRC Press: 2011This book examines multiple complex issues while providing practical guidance to communities and responders as they plan for, respond to, and recover from a mass fatalities incident. "Mass Fatalities: Managing The Community Response"President/Founder: AmericaReady. Since 2005AmericaReady is a non-profit corporation that provides consultation services and training, which integrates desktop drills and assessments in the field of emergency management, public health, and hospital preparedness.President/Founder: International Mass Fatalities Center (IMFC). Since 2000The IMFC is a non-profit corporation that assists governments, communities, firstresponders, community response agencies and non-governmental organizations in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. The program incorporates active learning through lecture, participatory group exercises, case studies, role-play, and focused discussion.National Spokesperson: American Red Cross. Since 1999Conducts media interviews representing the American Red Cross, during domestic disasters, to national and international television, radio, print and Web-based news organizations. Interviews have included Larry King Live, Good Morning America, The Weather Channel, The Oprah Winfrey Show, the British Broadcasting Company and the Aljazeera Broadcasting Company.President and Funeral Director: Teahen Funeral Home, Inc. Since 1972Teahen Funeral Home, established in 1936, provides a full range of funeral and cremation services.Adjunct Lecturer: School of Public Health, University of Minnesota. Since 2007Peter has served as a subject matter expert on three Web-based courses, including; “Overview of a Mass Fatalities Response”, “Dirty Bomb After the Blast-Online Simulation”, and, “Crisis Intervention During Disaster”. Peter teaches a credited on-campus course in mass fatalities. Adjunct Lecturer & Program Advisor: University of Iowa, College of Education, Rehabilitation and Mental Health Education Program. Since 2006Peter is an Adjunct Faculty member and advisor for a program that offers both an M.A. and Ph.D. degree in Rehabilitation Counseling Education and Mental Health. Peter serves as subject matter expert in the development of college accredited courses in disaster response.SPECIAL PROJECTS:Consultant: Project Haiti. Medical Response Haiti Earthquake, 2010Assisted in the implementation and delivery of medical services in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.Consultant: Psychological Trauma Management Training Program:Humanitarian Aid Workers. Sudan-Darfur 2008Designed and implemented a comprehensive three-day psychological trauma management-training program for international and national humanitarian aid workers serving in areas of humanitarian conflict. Funding was from RedR of London and the European Commission (ECHO) of Sudan.Program Manager: Psychological Trauma Management Training Program:Humanitarian Aid Workers. Sudan-Darfur 2007Designed and implemented a pilot psychological trauma management-training program for international humanitarian aid workers serving in areas of conflict. Peter delivered the pilot program in Khartoum, Nyala/South Darfur, and El Geneina/West Darfur. Funding was from RedR of London and the Department for International Development of United Kingdom.Consultant in Sri Lanka: South Asia Tsunami 2004Developed a long-term comprehensive psycho-social recovery plan for the Consortium of Humanitarian Aid Agency and the government of Sri Lanka.Green Cross Program Manager: Multi-national mental health team response to Sri Lanka. South Asia Tsunami 2004Designed and implemented a master plan to provide crisis intervention services to 600,000 individuals who survived the tsunami and were residing in 300 displaced person camps. Peter’s mental health team members were from the United States, Great Britain, Turkey, Canada, and Mexico. Founder: Iowa National Guard Operation Enduring Families. Since 2003Spearheaded the conception and delivery of a comprehensive multi-phase program, providing emotional support to soldiers of the Iowa National Guard and their families during pre-deployment, deployment and post deployment operations.. Enduring Families has served more than 7,000 soldiers as well as to their spouses, dependents, and parents. The program:Trains soldiers as crisis respondersProvides crisis management briefings to families of an affected unit following the death or injury of a soldierIncludes a one-day workshop for soldiers and their families to help them cope with the psychological and everyday challenges of family reunification.Memorial Coordinator: One-year anniversary, Alaska Air Flight 261.Ventura County, CA. 2001Conceptualized and conducted an extraordinary four-day event that raised the standard for aviation memorial services. Receiving media coverage across the nation, the program was created for 750 family members from eight countries in commemoration of the 88 lives lost in the Alaska Air Flight 261 crash off the California Coast on January 31, 2000. At long last, the memorial services brought a sense of closure. Responsibilities included:Burial of unidentified remainsA memorial concert by the Los Angeles Mormon ChoirThe Wall of RemembranceThe largest memorial motorcade managed by the California Highway PatrolDeveloping memorial videos, books and keepsakesIdentifying family members to attend the service, arranging travel, lodging, and mealsEvent coordination including: security, staffing, media coverage, budget, and coordination at the local, county, state, federal, and international levels.Founder: Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival. PresentConceptualized, created and designed the Cedar Rapids Celebration of Freedom and the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival in 1984 and 1987 respectfully. This Festival is ranked one of the top 25 4th of July celebrations in the country. The festival provides residents an opportunity to celebrate the quality of life in Eastern Iowa by providing safe, affordable, and fun events that embody the spirit of patriotism and a sense of community and family. In 2005, more than 377,000 residents and visitors attended the Freedom Festival, which has an annual economic impact on the community of $12.3 million. The Festival continues to attract similar crowds to the area annually.DISASTER SERVICE:Presenter: International, National and State conferences on disaster service, mass fatalities response, Critical Incident Stress Management, media relations, and the psycho-social impact of disasters. Since 1989 Government Liaison Officer: American Red Cross Crisis Response Team (CRT). Since 1997 National Media Spokesperson: American Red Cross Rapid Response Team (RRT). Since 1999 Deputy Medical Examiner: Oklahoma City Bombing. April 1995 Funeral Director: Hardin, Missouri, Cemetery Catastrophe. 1993 Funeral Director: Mortuary Affairs, Operation Desert Storm. 1990 Coordinator, Mortuary Operations: United Flight 232. 1989 Memorial Coordinator: American Red Cross:Alaska Air Flt 261, San Francisco 2000Egypt Air Flt 990. Rhode Island 1999Administration Manager: American Red CrossHurricane Georges, Puerto Rico, 1998Cedar Rapids IA Flood, 2008Mass Care: American Red CrossHurricane Fran, West Virginia. 1996Family Service: American Red CrossHurricane Hortense, Puerto Rico. 1996Cincinnati Ohio Floods. 1997Government Liaison: American Red CrossHurricane Charley. 2004Super Typhoon Pongsonia, Guam. 2002World Trade Center, New York City, NY. 2001North Dakota Floods. 2001Southern Puerto Rico Floods. 2000American Airlines Flt 1420. Arkansas. 1999Iowa Floods. May 1999Hurricane Georges, Puerto Rico, 1998SE Iowa Tornados. 1998SW Iowa Floods. 1998Iowa Tornados. May 1998Super Typhoon Paka, Guam. 1997North Dakota/Minnesota Floods. 1997RRT: National Spokesperson: American Red Cross.Oklahoma Tornados. 1999Hurricane Dennis 1999Hurricane Brent.1999Iowa Floods. 2001One-year Anniversary, World Trade Center. 2002Hurricane Frances. 2004Hurricane Charley. 2004Hurricane Ivan. 2004Hurricane Emily. 2005Hurricane Katrina. 2005Hurricane Rita. 2005Hurricane Wilma. 2005Eastern Iowa Tornados. 2006Hurricane Ernesto. 2006Kentucky Tornados. 2006Iowa Winter Storms. 2007Greensburg KS Tornados. 2007Hurricane Humberto. 2007California Firestorm. 2007Hurricane Gustav. 2008Hurricane Ike 2008 CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:Certified Traumatologist, University of FloridaLicensed Iowa Funeral DirectorLicensed Iowa Life Insurance AgentCertified Eye Enucleator, University of IowaTrain the Trainer Certification, FEMA: Mass Fatalities Incident CourseTrain the Trainer Certification, ICISF: CISM: Group Crisis InterventionTrain the Trainer Certification, ICISF: CISM: Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer SupportCommercial and Instrument Rated Pilot, Single Engine. Federal Aviation Administration PUBLICATIONS:Mass Fatalities: Managing a Community Response. CRC Press: 2011 This book examines multiple complex issues while providing practical guidance to communities and responders as they plan for, respond to, and recover from a mass fatalities incident. "Mass Fatalities: Managing The Community Response"Article: “A Tragedy and a Miracle” United Flight 232. 1989Article: “The Cemetery... A Healing Ground” Hardin Cemetery Disaster. 1993Article: “Faces in the Rubble” Oklahoma City Bombing. 1995Article: “All I Want To Do Is Say Goodbye” Egypt Air Flt. 990. 1999Manual: “Mass Fatalities Incident Response Manual” 1999. Revised 2008.The Mass Fatalities Incident Response Manual is a comprehensive, 800-page, operations manual written to provide step-by-step procedures, job descriptions, organization design, and management of a disaster resulting in significant loss of life. The manual details responsibilities at Disaster Site, Morgue Site, Command Center, Staff Processing Center and Family Assistance Center. Manual: “Direct Distribution” 2001The Direct Distribution Manual is a comprehensive document that details a system developed by the American Red Cross that purchases bulk quantities of specific products and distributes these directly to clients based upon Family Service casework. Direct distribution occurs primarily at distribution centers geographically located and specifically designed to enhance the distribution of products to clients. The manual details step-by-step procedures, job descriptions, organization design, and management of the distribution program and required documentation. NATIONAL AWARDS OF DISTINCTION:National Public Spirit Award. American Legion AuxiliaryPrevious recipients include Ronald Reagan, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Ann Landers, and Dr. Robert SchullerJefferson Awards for Public Service. American Institute for Public ServiceMedal of Honor. National Society of the Daughters of the American RevolutionDistinguished Citizen Award. United States Marine Corps LeagueCertificate of Recognition. International Emergency Management Agency AssociationNational Samaritan Award. VITA, Cellular Telecommunications Industry AssociationNational Disaster Services Volunteer Award. North Central Region, American Red CrossSpecial Recognition: International Volunteer of the Year. International Red Cross, GenevaFour Avenues of Service Citation. Rotary International STATE AND REGIONAL AWARDS OF DISTINCTION:Iowa Award for Volunteer Service. Iowa Governor, Terry E. BranstadGolden Rule Award for Volunteer Service. JC Penney Co., Inc.Service to Others. Salvation Army.Paul Harris Fellow. Cedar Rapids Downtown RotaryCedar Rapids Freedom Festival. First Recipient and Namesake of Peter Teahen Award. “Presented Annually to an Individual Who Embodies the Spirit of Patriotism and Who Exemplifies the Sense of Community and Family.”Tribute to Excellence. Eastern Iowa Arthritis Foundation PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:Member: National Funeral Directors AssociationMember: Iowa Funeral Directors AssociationMember: International Critical Incident Stress FoundationMember: Iowa Critical Incident Stress Management NetworkMember: National Center for Crisis ManagementCOMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:Founder and President: Memorial Salute of FlagsFounder and Past Chairman: Cedar Rapids July 4th Celebration of FreedomFounder and Past Chairman: Cedar Rapids Freedom FestivalPast Member: Cedar Rapids Symphony BoardBoard Member: American Red Cross. Grant Wood Area ChapterChair: Emergency Services. American Red Cross. Grant Wood Area Chapter.Disaster Services Human Resource member: American Red CrossPast Member: Linn County Department of Human Resources Management BoardMember: Linn County Local Homeless Coordinating BoardPast Member: Eastern Iowa Homicide Survivors Support Group Advisory BoardPast Governor Appointee: Iowa Board of Mortuary Science Examiners Member: Cedar Rapids West RotaryMember and Past Board Member: Lifeline PilotsMember: Cedar Rapids Critical Incident Stress Management TeamCandidate: Primary: United States Congress. 2008