Wiinanen named Minnesota Emergency Management Director of the Year

Standing with Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen, Jim Wiinanen (left) displays the plaque he received after the announcement was made that he had been voted Emergency Director of the Year for the state of Minnesota at the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers’ conference held at Breezy Point in Brainerd.

Just days away from retirement, Cook County Emergency Director Jim Wiinanen was awarded the title of Emergency Director of the Year by the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers (AMEM).

Minnesota AMEM Director Joe Kelly presented Wiinanen with the commemorative plaque at the 56th AMEM conference held September 18-21 at Breezy Point Resort in Brainerd.

Also attending the ceremony was Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen and Jim’s wife, Rebecca.

Receiving the award was a nice way to head into retirement, said Wiinanen.

Sheriff Eliasen has worked closely with Wiinanen, and he said Wiinanen was well deserving of the honor.

“Oh boy, where do I start?” said Eliasen when asked about Wiinanen’s contributions to the county.

“Jim was one of the key people in helping to develop the emergency operation plan for the county and in the ongoing revision of that plan,” Eliasen said. “He was also a big part of writing grants that were used to purchase equipment for the Search and Rescue squads in the county.

“As chairman of the Pigeon River Steering Committee Jim developed a strong relationship and collaboration with his Canadian counterparts in our joint efforts to work together on emergencies.

“Jim has worked tirelessly to improve emergency services to the county and he did his best to help people whenever he could,” said Eliasen.

As the primary emergency coordinator for Cook County, Wiinanen worked with law enforcement, volunteer search and rescue crews, firewise committees, townships, the city of Grand Marais, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Lake County, state and federal governments and his counterparts in Ontario on planning for all types of emergencies that might befall Cook County.

Valerie Marusco of Thunder Bay, Ontario was hired to replace Wiinanen as Emergency Management director. She has worked with Wiinanen and other Cook County emergency services personnel in the past and came highly recommended for the job.

Marusco will start the first week of October.