About Our Team

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Shawn Thomas- Founder and CEO

Jeff Thomas- Executive Director

Shawn and Jeff are deputies for the King County Sheriff's Office in Seattle, WA. Shawn has been a deputy for 23 years and Jeff has been a deputy for 31 years. 

In September 2016, Shawn's peer support captain suggested she organize a health and wellness conference for first responders and their families.  The conference was a huge success and first responders reached out for assistance. That is when Shawn realized how important the conference was and other department's and organizations asked for her to organize a conference for them. In the first year they organized five conferences in Seattle, North Carolina, Florida, Texas and Arizona. Now they have had twenty conferences and have many more planned in the coming year.  Shawn and Jeff are passionate about helping first responders because they have experienced their own difficult times and want to help guide others so they can maintain an enjoyable career and live a healthy life. 

Please feel free to contact us if you are in need of confidential assistance. We are here to help refer you to any resources you may need.

shawnt@1stresponderconferences.org

jeff@1stresponderconferences.org

Amanda Brumbaugh- Donations Coordinator

Amanda is a State of Idaho Elevator and Building Safety Inspector, Wife of a Garden City Police Detective, Mother of two wonderful daughters and a Navy Veteran.  Her family is a very proud Navy family with five generations including her oldest daughter who currently serves. 

Amanda constantly volunteers throughout her community by serving on a variety of non-profit boards, giving her time to organizations that serve our local and national Law Enforcement, Military and Veteran communities, Birds of Prey and Dog Rescues. She also serves her church community in a variety of leadership roles.

In 2018, Amanda was presented the Lt Governor’s Award for Idaho’s Brightest Stars which is awarded “for exemplary volunteer service in the State of Idaho and fostering an ethic of service in others”.

Besides volunteering and helping others, Amanda is a longtime quilter and currently most of her quilts are donated to various organizations including Quilts for Cops, Treasure Valley Blue Star Mothers, and the local International Rescue Mission through her church quilt group.

Amanda states, “I truly believe I get back way more than I give, when I volunteer my time and talents!”

Amanda@1stresponderconferences.org

Volunteer Coordinator

Laura Price currently serves as the Detective Sergeant with the Island County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state. Her career began in 1999 as a Reserve Deputy. Laura has focused her law enforcement career on community involvement where she was honored as Hometown Hero in 2008, Citizen of the Year in 2016 and the Grand Marshal of the Max Welton Parade in 2016.  She currently serves as Board President of Whidbey Island Farm Animal Assistance Program, whose mission is to work directly with the county Animal Control Deputy.

Laura owns Life by Design and is a Transformational Coach and Speaker, working with clients around the globe as an accountability partner for making personal and professional changes through thought-provoking and creative processes.  

Laura lives with her husband Tony Hartman on Whidbey Island, WA. They have 5 grandchildren who keep them up to date on the important things in life, such as their favorite flavors of ice cream and discussions on where rainbows live.

laura@1stresponderconferences.org

Communications Coordinator

Kelly brings perspective from outside the first responder immediate circle.  As a former city councilwoman from Nampa, Idaho, her passion for first responders and her hometown heroes was sparked.  A community connector by heart and by trade, Kelly became involved as a volunteer for the 1st Responder Conferences after her engagement with city police departments and their CISM groups.  Kelly is certified as a Mental Health First Aid trainer as well as in Emotional First Aid and ASIST.  Most recently she became a certified Community Health Worker as well.

Her passion for community service is evidenced in her work with the Idaho Resilience Project, the Canyon County Kindness Day events, Healthy Nampa Initiative and 2C Kids Care project. She is also heavily involved with the suicide prevention efforts in the school district where her youngest son attends.

A bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s in organizational communications have given Kelly tools and opportunities to hone her craft as an effective messenger. She is a published author and writes several blogs on various subjects including emotional and mental wellbeing and living intentionally.  Currently she is an independent contractor as a communications specialist and coach in her business, Soul Intention.

Kelly has four children each with two legs and one with four legs.  Her grandchildren all have four legs and tails as well.  She is an avid golfer, loves to hike, lives to write and spends her leisure time reading many books.  Kelly is a big NFL fan rooting for the Minnesota Vikings FOREVER.

kelly@1stresponderconferences.org

Social Media Coordinator

Matt started his career in public safety in January of 2009. He started working in the Gooding County Jail where he was a certified Detention Deputy with the State of Idaho. Matt worked with Gooding County for five years. During that time he was promoted to Corporal and also was a Patrol Reserve Officer for the Shoshone City Police Department. Matt then left the Gooding County Sheriff's office and started his career in emergency communications. He started working with the Southern Idaho Regional Communications Center as a emergency 911 dispatcher. During his time with SIRCOMM, Matt was also a patrol reserve officer for Wendell City Police Department and a patrol reserve for the Jerome County Sheriff's Office.  About a year later Matt went to work for the City of Twin Falls as a emergency dispatcher. During his time with the City of Twin Falls Communication Center he implemented their Tactical Dispatch team and became one of the only few Tactical Dispatchers in the Magic Valley. Matt has worked numerous SWAT call-outs and was utilized in many high stress incidents. After working for the City of Twin Falls, Matt went on to become the Deputy Director of SIRCOMM in May of 2018. After working in the role for close to a year Matt separated from SIRCOMM and has turned his focus to help raise his two daughters. Matt has been married to his wife Shilah for the last 7 years and they have two beautiful daughters Harleigh and Abigail. They are expecting their third daughter as well. Matt now spends his time to help market and spread awareness in the seriousness of PTSD in first responders and veterans. 

matt@1stresponderconferences.org

Accountant

Sue Gottbreht is a retired accounting manager from a transportation company in Seattle. Although Sue does not have a 1st responder working background, she is not unfamiliar with police work. She has several friends who are retired police officers and her daughter and son-in-law are police officers. Sue became involved as a volunteer for the 1st Responder Conferences from its inception. Sue just happens to be the mother of Shawn Thomas the founder of 1st Responder Conferences.  Sue also enjoys other volunteer work as well.  She is a member of Soroptimist International which is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. She also is an advocate for ovarian cancer research and is a part of Survivors Teaching Students at Gonzaga University. 

Sue has one child and two grandsons.  She currently lives in the Spokane, WA area.

Sue@1stresponderconferences.org

Executive Assistant

Nicole Stevenson is an LPN at St. Luke’s Health System in Twin Falls, Idaho.  Prior to nursing, she was an administrative assistant for a railroad company.  Nicole is also a volunteer for her local police department helping with community events and keeping the equipment/supply room organized.  She attended her first conference in Twin Falls in 2019 and joined the team as a volunteer shortly after attending. Her current position with first responder conferences allows her to help with all aspects of the conferences.

Nicole@1stresponderconferences.org