Meet the Team

The La Plata County Office of Emergency Management team includes all La Plata County employees, volunteers, several public safety entities within the County, the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA.  We maintain partnerships with public and private entities, volunteer groups and government agencies. 

Office of Emergency Management                  

LegarzaShawna A. Legarza, PsyD
Director of Emergency Management 
970.382.6275
OEMECC@co.laplata.co.us

Shawna spent 31 years working in fire and aviation management.  She was raised on a ranch in Northern Nevada.  She spent almost 20 years as a hotshot and was the first superintendent of the San Juan Hotshots. She was the Forest Fire Management Officer on the San Bernardino National Forest and the Regional Fire and Aviation Director for the in California.  She retired as the National Director of Fire and Aviation for the United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service, in Washington, DC.   She traveled internationally to represent USA on fires in Australia, Brazil and Mexico.  Shawna worked at the World Trade Center 9/11 disaster, Hurricane Rita and the Greensburg Tornado.  Shawna has a Doctorate in Psychology, a Master of Science in Kinesiology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Exercise Physiology and Teaching.


    
Rob Farino Pic - Copy                                 
Rob Farino
Emergency Management Coordinator
970.382.7552
OEMECC@co.laplata.co.us

Rob grew up on the central coast of California and served over 27 years in the fire service working for fire departments in Cambria and San Luis Obipso (SLO).   Rob has responded to numerous structure and wildland fires in California.   Rob was also a Fire Academy Instructor, and the Training Coordinator for SLO County’s Hazmat Response Team.  Most recently, Rob worked for the State of Oregon as a Regional Fire Training Coordinator based in Salem, OR.   Rob has a Bachelors’ degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in Forestry with concentration in Watershed, Chaparral and Fire Management, and an Associates’ degree from Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.


Alison
Alison Layman
Wildfire & Watershed Protection Fund  Coordinator
970.382.6291
alison.layman@co.laplata.co.us
Alison is an advocate for forest health and community resilience.  She has a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Education and Interpretation from SUNY Cortland and a Master of Public Administration concentrating in Environmental Law, Policy and Management from CU Denver. Alison's Master's capstone was titled "Colorado's Approach to the Wildland Urban Interface." Alison previously worked on the Wildfire Partners program for Boulder County and for the San Juan National Forest as well as contributing to wildland fire crews.