Chapter Education and Networking

Is your organization prepared for the unexpected? Join us for a free, three-hour roundtable with the City of Appleton and Outagamie County Emergency Management. This interactive session is designed for small and large event organizers. Together, we'll explore how to build a practical emergency preparedness plan that protects your attendees, staff, and volunteers, no matter what challenges arise.

Through a hands-on scenario-based workshop, participants will work in small teams to walk through real-life emergency situations and practice decision-making under pressure. Facilitators from emergency management will guide the conversation, offering expert insights and actionable strategies to strengthen your organization's readiness. Whether you're planning a meeting, fundraiser, or community gathering, this roundtable will equip you with the tools to lead with confidence and keep your events safe.

Practice navigating real-life emergency scenarios in a safe, collaborative setting

Outagamie County Emergency Management Presentation Team

Paula Van De Leygraaf is the Emergency Management Director for Outagamie County, focused on strengthening community preparedness and improving countywide readiness through planning, training, and exercises. With emergency management experience dating back to 2010, she works closely with municipal partners, public safety agencies, and community organizations to coordinate capabilities for prevention, response, recovery, and mitigation—ensuring plans are practical, exercised, and aligned with local needs. Paula earned her Wisconsin Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certification in 2016.

She also serves as Program Coordinator for the Outagamie County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), supporting a 55-member volunteer team that assists emergency responders during emergencies and disasters. As a FEMA-certified CERT instructor, she helps build and sustain a trained volunteer force that expands community resilience and supports safe, organized operations when incidents occur.

Cassidy Walsh, Outagamie County Emergency Management, WICEM

Cassidy Walsh is the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Appleton, a role she has held since 2019 within the City’s Department of Public Health. In this capacity, she combines emergency management responsibilities with public health preparedness, while also leading the Northeast Wisconsin Public Health Preparedness Partnership Consortium. Throughout her career with Appleton, Cassidy has strengthened training standards and played a pivotal role in responding to and coordinating several emergency declarations. Before joining Appleton, Cassidy served as the Public Health Preparedness Coordinator, Health Educator, and part-time Environmental Health Specialist for Sauk County. With over a decade of experience in government collaboration across diverse communities, she has been instrumental in managing emergency operations centers, overseeing donation management, coordinating volunteers, and navigating resources during multiple disaster declarations. Cassidy is an advocate for the power of training, exercises, and collaborative partnerships in building stronger, more resilient communities. Her work reflects her commitment to continuous improvement and her ability to facilitate effective community efforts, bridging the gap between government agencies and the private sector to enhance disaster preparedness and response.

Chrissi Lowery, Outagamie County Emergency Management, WICEM

In her current role, Chrissi partners with community stakeholders to strengthen preparedness and build resilience, while leading the planning, facilitation, and evaluation of exercises and public safety events. She is a strong advocate for proactive readiness—believing the phrase “it’ll never happen here” has no place in emergency management—and that meaningful connections and early conversations are essential to success.

Carson Landin, Outagamie County Emergency Management, WICEM

Carson Landin is an Emergency Management Specialist with Outagamie County, Wisconsin. She supports countywide preparedness and response efforts, including planning, training and exercises, and community outreach. Carson focuses on practical, partner-driven readiness that strengthens day-to-day capability and large-scale incident coordination. She is committed to improving community resilience and supporting responders and residents across Outagamie County.

Daniel Mueller, Outagamie County Emergency Management

Daniel Mueller is an Emergency Management Specialist for Outagamie County, Wisconsin, supporting countywide preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts in coordination with local, state, and federal partners. He brings extensive operational and leadership experience from a 25 year U.S. Air Force career that informs his approach to public safety planning, interagency coordination, and incident support.