Panhandle Regional Coordinator

Deborah Yarnell

South Plains Association of Governments

Deborah has served as Director of 9-1-1 Emergency Communications at the South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG) for the past two and half years.  The position is responsible for overseeing 9-1-1 administration and program operations for a 14 county region on the South Plains.  She is currently serving her first term as a member of the TENA Board representing the Panhandle region.   

Prior to going to work for SPAG, Deborah worked as Assistant to the Lubbock County Judge and Commissioners Court.  In that capacity she served as Emergency Management Coordinator and has completed more than 400 hours of training in emergency management, including completion of the FEMA approved State Division of Emergency Management Professional Development series.  Other duties while at the county included overseeing the county’s telecommunications system and a variety of special projects related to administration and budgetary matters.  Prior to working for Lubbock County, Deborah worked for the City of Lubbock as a Budget Analyst and Assistant to the City Attorney and City Secretary.  Deborah has a BA in Journalism and a Master’s of Public Administration degree, both obtained from Texas Tech University.    

Deborah lives in Lubbock where she is a single parent to her 12 year old daughter Taylor. She is a member of a variety of social and civic organizations and in her spare time enjoys travel, reading, writing and spending time on a part-time business selling Mary Kay cosmetics.