Dean Coward, Treasurer/Secretary

Dean is a native and life-long resident of Western North Carolina.  He has been a CPA over 40 years. While managing his own public practice for 34 years, he has worked with many non-profits.  He is currently the Financial Director for the NC State Firefighters’ Association and has been a volunteer firefighter since 1981, serving as Assistant Fire Chief for 22 years in Jackson County.  He has certifications as a Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, and various Rescue Technician specialties.  A lifetime of outdoor activities in the mountains and participation in several searches and mountain rescues while in the fire service led him to join the Haywood Search & Rescue team in 2017..

Matt Tagliaferri, Advisor

Matt is a life long lover of the outdoors and resident of Western North Carolina. He loves hiking and biking on dirt. Matt often combines these two loves in the form of bikepacking adventures around the globe. One notable example is his 2008 self supported bicycle ride across North America in 65 days. Matt works in global sales in the outdoor industry and has dedicated his time as a member of the Haywood County Search and Rescue Team since 2022. Along with being a search team member, he also caries certifications as a Swiftwater Rescue Technician and as an MSAR ropes operations level rescuer.

Nancy East, Advisor/Educator

Nancy is a retired small animal veterinarian who lives in Waynesville with her husband and three teenagers.  She is a member of the Haywood County Search and Rescue Team and spends much of her free time hiking and backpacking extensively.  Nancy also works closely with regional nonprofits, to help initiate and fund preventative search and rescue programs to keep hikers “safe and found.” 

Visit her site: Hope and Feather Travels.

Justin S. Padgett, Advisor

Justin is the Executive Director of Landmark Learning, a school dedicated to the education of remote medical and rescue skills since 1996. Justin is a paramedic and NCOEMS instructor serving WNC since 1993.  He is also a lead instructor, instructor trainer and curriculum board member for the American Canoe Association, NOLS Wilderness Medicine, and Starfish Aquatics Lifeguarding. Justin has a long history in mountaineering, caving and whitewater paddling.

Kevin Fitzgerald, Advisor

Kevin is a Retired National Park Ranger with 35 years of service in 2013. Duty stations included the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains NP (twice), Everglades National Park, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP, Cape Cod National Seashore, Washington, DC headquarters and the Intermountain Regional Office in Denver, CO.  Extensive experience in land, water and air search and rescue.  Resident of Haywood County since 2014.