BUCKHANNON – City officials last week recognized one of the top emergency planning experts in the county and state for his unique contributions to helping community organizations develop emergency response skills, trainings and plans.

Mayor David McCauley on Thursday, Dec. 19, presented Dr. Jeffery Harvey with the city’s most prestigious honor, the Buckhannon Ambassador’s Award, which is reserved for residents who have selflessly dedicated their lives to the service, promotion and advancement of Buckhannon, according to the proclamation.

Harvey operates JH Consulting Agency and the mayor said he was particularly grateful for how Harvey’s organized emergency drills including active shooter drills for Upshur County Schools, West Virginia Wesleyan College and WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, as well as the role Harvey’s played – and continues to play – in helping the city’s police and fire departments strive toward achieving accreditation through the CALEA and CFAI.

“Jeff Harvey is recognized statewide, regionally, nationally and internationally for his acumen with emergency planning skills and training exercises, and as he travels about, represents Buckhannon impeccably as a true and positive ambassador of our Buckhannon community,” McCauley said. “With his unique education and extraordinary discipline focus in strategic and executive leadership [which Dr. Harvey used to] earn his master’s and doctoral degrees while serving as planning office for the Upshur County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.”

“Our Buckhannon-Upshur community appreciate and values the efforts, energy and dedication of some of our finest residents and supporters and wishes to honor and commend them in their continued, positive mission particularly supporting the safety of our community … and our city now desires to recognize Dr. Jeff Harvey by bestowing upon him our city’s highest honor with the Ambassador’s Award,” McCauley added.

The mayor declared Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 to be Dr. Jeff Harvey day throughout Buckhannon and directed the installation of a placard bearing Harvey’s name to be placed on the Ambassador’s Bench in front of Stockert Youth & Community Center.

Harvey earned his doctorate in executive leadership from the University of Charleston’s School of Business and Leadership. He’s married to Lori Ulderich Harvey, the executive director of the Upshur County Family Resource Network.