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WHO WE ARE

The Safeguard Iowa Partnership is a voluntary coalition of the state's business and government leaders, who share a commitment to strengthen the capacity of the state to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters through public-private collaboration. Created in 2007 by the Iowa Business Council and representatives from key state agencies, the Partnership empowers businesses to integrate business resources, expertise, and plans with those of government during all stages of disaster management. The government cannot and should not be the only responders in a disaster situation, as the private sector has a wealth of knowledge and assets that may be needed during an emergency. 

Public-private partnerships help to establish relationships prior to incidents, when familiarity with each other's capabilities and response procedures are paramount. These partnerships enable the public and private sector to develop all-hazard plans to pool resources and information, coordinate response and recovery efforts and share training and exercise opportunities. 

Safeguard Iowa Partnership became an Iowa nonprofit corporation on July 25, 2008 and granted 501(c)(3) tax status from the Internal Revenue Service.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Safeguard Iowa Partnership organizational structure includes Board of Directors and a full-time Executive Director. 


2023 Board of Directors 

Executive Committee - The Executive Committee Consists of the Past Chair, Chair, Vice Chair, the Secretary/Treasurer and the Executive Director.

Curt Sullivan  | 2023 Past-Chair

BHE Renewables, LLC

Curt Sullivan is the Director of Compliance and Security Operations at BHE Renewables, LLC, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy business. He was formerly the business continuity and security investigations manager for MidAmerican Energy Company where he coordinated the implementation of business continuity and security investigation programs across MidAmerican Energy in Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota.  Some of his responsibilities included conducting threat and vulnerability assessments; developing business continuity plans; designing and instructing exercises for company leadership to enhance preparedness efforts and serving as a liaison with various government, emergency management, and federal, state and local law enforcement officials.        

Prior to joining MidAmerican Energy Company in 2014, Curt worked at Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management as a regional planner and asset protection specialist. His activities included regional emergency planning efforts, Capitol Complex planning, continuity of government planning and supporting state emergency operations response coordination during natural disasters. Curt served as a liaison in the Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center where he coordinated with public and private sector partners to foster asset protection programs.

Curt earned his Bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in Community and Regional Planning. 


A.J. Mumm   I  2023

Chair

Polk County Emergency Management Agency

In September 2004, the Polk County Emergency Management Commission appointed A.J. Mumm to lead the countywide agency responsible for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural and man-made disasters.  He originally began his service with the Polk County Emergency Management Agency in January 1999 as a disaster mitigation planner and went on to join the State of Iowa’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division in July 2001 where he was eventually promoted to the position of Chief Planner.  He had also served as a Firefighter and EMT with the Ankeny (Iowa) Fire Department for more than 12 years.

Mumm, a graduate of Drake University (BA – Biology and Geography) and Iowa State University (Master of Community and Regional Planning), is also an alumnus of the 2005 Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute’s Transformational Leadership Program.  He has taught as an Adjunct Instructor at Drake University, Des Moines Area Community College, and currently teaches with the Texas A&M University’s Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). He has been published and regularly speaks on the topics of hazard analysis and risk assessment, critical asset protection, and comprehensive emergency planning. 

A.J. is a recipient of the 2008 Iowa State Association of Counties’ Individual Excellence Awards for Polk County’s response to the severe weather and flooding of 2008.  Mumm is a Past-President of the Iowa Emergency Management Association and serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Safeguard Iowa Partnership; a public-private partnership focused on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. He currently serves on the Iowa State Association of Counties Board of Directors.

Mumm has worked internationally as an advisor to the Republic of Kosovo.  This included several trips to the Balkans as part of the Iowa National Guard’s State Partnership Program.  He is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers.  A native of Westside, Iowa, A.J. and his wife Sabetha live in Ankeny, Iowa.  They have two children and two dogs.