Executive Director
Don has been a business owner and operator involved in the transportation and towing/recovery industry for 43 years. He has been engaged as an Instructor in the towing/recovery industry for 17 years and is currently the Executive Director and Instructor for the I-TECC training group.

He holds numerous Associates degree and educational certifications. While in business he served the Towing Industry with involvement in his State Towing Association as well as his local community Chamber of Commerce. He has also served several Fraternal organizations on the State and local level with involvement in their Philanthrope’s and Educational Scholarship Programs.

Board Member
A native Oregonian graduating from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and 8 varsity letters in wrestling and football. Go Vikings!  Mike brings a passion and dedication to the towing industry that is exemplified throughout his 35+ years as owner/operator of Santiam Enterprises, a Jerr-Dan towing equipment distributor, and Santiam Towing and Recovery.

 A member of the Oregon Tow Truck Association (OTTA) for 37 years, serving various positions including president, on the board of directors and in charge of training classes since 1996. He is a certified light and medium duty tow operator and Transportation Incident Management instructor.  Mike believes that safety should always be the top priority and is very optimistic that the HERT organization is going to provide additional education opportunities to increase safety for first responders.

 His passion to give back to his community turns many of his “hobbies” into volunteerism. They include serving on the North Santiam School District Board of Directors since 2007, Chairperson on the Oregon Dealers Advisory Committee since 2009, member on the Lyons City Council since 2015 and the Lyons Rural Fire District Budget Committee since 2020.  Through his service Mike believes that he is contributing to the enrichment of his community and beyond, making the world a better place one act a time.

Board Member
Rob has been the Owner/Operator of Denver West Towing since April 1988 and has been involved with the towing industry for about 40 years. He has been a Board Member of the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Colorado since 1998, and he currently holds the position of 1st Vice-President.
He has overseen training for our State Towing Association since 2004. He is WreckMaster Certified Level 6/7, TRAA Level 2 Certified and TIM (Traffic Incident Management) Certified, and currently sits on the Colorado First Responders Committee.

He is a firm believer of any training that first promotes safety and then focuses on bettering the performance in our industry. He recognizes that there is a large need for funding to train First Responders, and he hopes to assist in fulfilling that need now and in the future.

Board Member
Warren is enthusiastic about the new HERT non-profit organization and what it brings to the towing and emergency response community. As 16 year owner and manager of Oakes Truck & Trailer Center, LLC, Warren experiences situations where training and coordination of the emergency response team proves to be critical to safety of those involved and those traveling through the emergency area. As a diesel technician with 40 years of experience, the importance of planning, organizing and attention to detail makes him realize safety is accomplished through education and practice.

Serving for 8 years as director for the ND Towing Association, he has coordinated numerous training events within North Dakota as well as other states. Developing positive working relationships between towing associations in the upper Midwest has enabled Warren to build a network of like minded people to work towards safer roads and working conditions for emergency responders. Part of that goal was accomplished by becoming a certified Federal DOT inspector trainer, ASE certified as Master Technician in 5 areas, several towing and recovery certifications and as a lead certified TIMS instructor for the state of North Dakota.

Professionally, Warren has successfully completed college level courses for Non Profit Management.
Traveling for towing association business and education has allowed Warren to enjoy his hobbies of working, hunting, fishing and motorcycling. Most travels include a planned side trip for at least one of these activities. And yes, work can also be a hobby.

Board Member

Dave Rose, Cheyenne, WY, is a strong supporter of the HERT Foundation’s mission to help with providing funding and emergency roadside training. He firmly believes the key to quality and safe roadside assistance begins and continues with proper training for our responders. Dave grew up in the automotive repair and towing industries. His Dad had an auto salvage and body shop that grew to need towing and recovery services. Dave’s Dad started the towing side of the business in 1968 when Dave was 8 years old, and he could not keep him out of the trucks after that. With his dad’s health failing, he took over the repair shop and towing business in 1992. Dave changed the name to Big Al’s Auto & Exhaust and provided towing as a support business.

In 2006 his daughter and son-in-law partnered with him to open Big Al’s Towing & Recovery, which they then incorporated in 2008. They started their training with Wreckmaster in 2006 and 2007 and continued to attend seminars and first responders’ classes every year since, including TIMS Train the Trainer three times. They have worked with fire and law enforcement for first responder training. Dave was honored to receive the Wreckmaster Top 10 award in 2015. He has worked with and been a member of all the Wyoming Tow Associations. The Colorado, Arizona, South Dakota, and Montana Associations have all been a part of his presence in the first responder field. Big Al’s Towing & Recovery was also involved in the slow-down move-over campaign and was a stop for the Spirit Ride in 2019.

Dave has worked with the legislature in Wyoming on abandoned vehicle and titling laws. He is currently involved as a member of the Wyoming Towing Advisory Board to reform the rules and regulations in Wyoming. This has been an ongoing process since about 2012 and is currently back before the legislature.

Dave has lived in Southeast Wyoming his whole life and has five kids, Kevin, Bobby, Andy, Jeannie, and Michelle, along with 8 grandchildren with whom he enjoys sharing his hobbies with. Those hobbies include drag racing, especially Jr. Dragsters with the grandkids, motorsports fabrication and modification, fishing, and boating.

Board Member

Andy Wicks, Watertown, SD, is a strong supporter of the HERT Foundation’s mission to help with providing funding and emergency roadside training. He firmly believes the key to quality and safe roadside assistance begins and continues with proper training for our responders.