ABOUT US

About Us

Valerie Ritterbusch, President

As a WeatherCall co-founder, Valerie began her career in the private weather industry in 1993 working for Weather Services International (WSI) Corporation representing their value added products and services to government and industry markets during the deployment of the modernized National Weather Service (NWS) Doppler weather radar network (NEXRAD). She worked extensively with emergency management and public safety agencies at a local, state, and federal level when NWS dissemination policy changed from free direct end-user access to weather radar data to fee-based NWS-authorized, private company dissemination. Valerie handled the NWS contract for acquiring the NEXRAD-derived value-added weather radar mosaic product (NOWRAD) used in the specialized NWS centers. Read More...

Mike Fannin, Chief Technology Officer

Mike Fannin is the man behind the code and the reason WeatherCall's infrastructure and communication systems work with the timely efficiency it does. His ability to write computer code and manage our complex series of network systems is what makes WeatherCall's success second to none. Mr. Fannin has over 30 years of experience in the computer industry including major experience in voice/fax processing and computer telephony integration, and is named on numerous voice-mail system patents. Prior to co-founding Weathercall, he served as a vice president of @Link Networks, a nationwide DSL company. He has also served as Director of GenuTec Business Solutions, Inc., from September 1998 to August 2004. Read More...

Bob Goldhammer, CEM, CBCP, Enterprise Sales Manager

Mr. Goldhammer’s career in emergency operations began in 1969 when he became a volunteer member of the Ithaca, NY Fire Department while attending Cornell University. Since that time, Bob has spent his career in the emergency medical services and fire community, and is a former emergency management coordinator for Polk County and Des Moines, IA. Mr. Goldhammer is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP). His duties for WeatherCall include working with the WeatherCall commercial clients. He is also currently a member of the FEMA Hurricane Liaison Team and active in the International Association of Emergency Managers. Read More...

Brad Huffines, Chief Meteorologist, National Notification Consultant

Because local broadcast stations are the primary way the public receives its information when dangerous weather is occurring, Mr. Huffines applied his professional meteorology knowledge and passion for helping to save lives in this industry for over 27 years. Brad's final stop was as chief meteorologist at the Huntsville, AL, ABC affiliate where they offered WeatherCall's services to their viewership. He received numerous responses from WeatherCall subscribers who credit the service with saving their lives. He served as Chief Meteorologist in the Plains and Southeast, and was part of the CNN on-camera weather team for over 6 years. He also served as the Director of Meteorology for a company called WeatherPlus, where he helped manage and launch a weather and traffic network in the Netherlands, while partnering with the ANWB in The Hague. Brad is originally from Oklahoma City, the heart of Tornado Alley, graduated with a degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma, and currently resides just north of Huntsville, AL, in the heart of Dixie Alley. Read More...

Gene Norman, Certified Broadcast Meteorologist, National Notification Consultant

Gene is an award-winning meteorologist, having spent the past 20 years delivering impactful forecasts to millions of TV viewers in Houston, Atlanta and Birmingham. He has a passion for public safety and has been credited for providing life-saving information during severe weather episodes. He knows first-hand the value of WeatherCall, having introduced it in Houston at the onset of the arrival of Hurricane Ike. Prior to his TV career, Gene developed software as a member of the Spaceflight Meteorology Group, ensuring high-quality weather data for the Space Shuttle program.

Elizabeth Paynter, Customer Service Manager

One of the many things that place WeatherCall head and shoulders above others in the field of emergency weather notification is our Customer Service, managed by Mrs. Paynter. Whether the user is a technological novice or extremely technologically savvy, Elizabeth's team of customer service representatives handles them all with patience, expertise, and kindness. She also coordinates all webpage content for our media partners nationwide. She graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor's of Science in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Computer Information Systems. A Michigan native she now resides in Franktown, Colorado with her family. Read More...

JohnK John Kashirsky, Regional Notification Consultant

John Kashirsky is a Regional Notification Consultant for WeatherCall Services Enterprise product and manages the development of Social Weather Feeds™. John created the first live audio stream for the National Weather Service (NWS) Springfield SkyWarn weather spotter network, while also creating the Southwest Regional SkyWarn Facebook page, where he and his team of contributors provide real-time notification of NWS issued severe weather warnings. Followers of his page frequently credit the information on that page with saving or affecting their lives in giving them the information to take the proper action during severe weather warning situations. Read More...

Lora Holt, WeatherCall Enterprise Acct Mgr, Colorado