Community
Friends and Colleagues –
As we move through another impactful quarter, I would like to take a moment to update you on the progress, priorities, and opportunities that are shaping our association. Your continued engagement and support remain the driving force behind everything we do. Together, we are advancing our mission, strengthening our community, and preparing for the challenges and possibilities that lie ahead.
In this quarter’s address, I’d like to provide you with an update on the following items:
On June 30, 2025, after 40 years of service, 38 as the executive director, IAEM Executive Director Elizabeth B. “Beth” Armstrong announced her plans to retire by the end of the year.
Beth's tenure, spanning four decades, has been defined by a deep commitment to professionalism, the growth of the emergency management discipline, and the building of an association that today stands as the global voice for emergency managers. Her leadership has been nothing short of transformative, as she has guided IAEM through significant growth and global expansion.
While we will deeply miss Beth's steady leadership and commitment to our association, we are also excited to celebrate all that she has accomplished as she embarks on this well-earned next chapter. Under Beth’s leadership, IAEM has evolved from a small, U.S.-focused association into an international organization with thousands of members across six councils. She was instrumental in expanding IAEM’s global reach—overseeing the launch of IAEM-Canada, IAEM-Oceania, and IAEM-Asia—and ensuring the organization was inclusive, representative, and positioned to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.
As someone who has had the honor of serving on the IAEM-USA Board over the past decade, I would like to personally thank Beth for her passion, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to IAEM. Her legacy is evident in every facet of our association's success.
Navigating this chapter for the association may come with uncertainties, but members should be assured that the IAEM-USA Board will work closely with staff as we begin the search for a new executive director. Our priority is to ensure a smooth and thoughtful transition while continuing to deliver the high level of service and support our members expect and deserve.
As Beth Armstrong steps into retirement, IAEM expresses its deepest appreciation for her service and impact. Plans are underway for a formal celebration of her legacy at the 2025 IAEM Annual Conference, and we will keep members informed of upcoming opportunities to share in that celebration. Please join me in congratulating Beth and thanking her for her extraordinary service to the field of emergency management.
Membership
First, I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new members to the IAEM family. Since this time last year, IAEM has seen a 2% increase in its membership. As of June 2025, IAEM had 6,127 members, including 675 international members from our global councils and 451 students worldwide.
Certifications
Mirroring the success of overall membership numbers, we’ve also seen a steady increase in the number of individuals achieving and renewing their Certified Emergency Manager® (CEM®) and Associate Emergency Manager® (AEM®) certifications. The association has 2,521 CEMs and 379 AEMs, representing 55 states and territories, and 28 countries. I would like to thank the Certification Commission for their time and dedication in making this possible.
Financials
In early spring, the IAEM-USA Board reviewed and approved the FY2025-2026 budget at the board retreat in Omaha, Nebraska. This process involved a comprehensive analysis of our expenses and revenue streams at the USA council, regional, and group levels. The Board carefully assessed the potential impact of current economic and federal funding changes on IAEM operations, considered 35 different funding requests, and assessed management efforts and fees. In addition to reviewing the numbers, the Board also considered each budget item in relation to the association’s strategic plan, special initiatives (e.g., recent advocacy events), and planned operational enhancements. For members interested in reviewing our financials, they can be viewed by logging into your IAEM account and navigating to the April Board minutes.
Several key business decisions made by the USA Board of Directors warrant highlighting. First, the Board approved a project proposal to improve the association’s website. Based on member feedback, the Board prioritized this initiative for funding, and we’ve already begun the process of scoping out the new website and engaging with vendors. More details will emerge as the project progresses, but this new operational enhancement promises to improve our members’ experiences when interacting with our website.
Additionally, the Board reviewed and approved a budget request from the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) to execute a 2026 Hill Day. While the details of next year’s Hill Day have yet to be finalized, we anticipate representatives from all ten USA regions being invited to participate. A recap of IAEM’s 2025 Inaugural Hill Day can be found below.
In addition to the website, another major topic examined by the Board was the USA Council’s annual contribution to IAEM Global. For USA members who may be unfamiliar with how our global councils are organized, IAEM-USA is one of three councils and eight global regions under the IAEM-Global umbrella, each of which contribute council-level dues yearly. In previous years, the IAEM-USA Council has contributed $12 per member per year, or approximately $55,000 of the $130,000 Global budget. After careful consideration of the USA Council’s upcoming strategic initiatives and projects, the Board agreed to reduce IAEM-USA’s contribution to Global over three years incrementally. At the end of this phased approach, the IAEM-USA annual contribution to Global (beginning FY2027-2028) will be $25,000 per year, which is the same amount as the next highest-paying council. Additionally, starting in FY2026-2027, member contributions paid to their respective region (currently $10 per year per member, out of the $199 annual dues fee) will increase to $12 per year per member.
A final word on financials. I have taken the time to engage in conversations with dozens of IAEM members about financial transparency. In the last quarter of my term as IAEM-USA president, I am committed to showing all members how their annual dues and conference fees are spent, in an easy-to-understand format. In that vein, I will work with association staff to create graphics and charts, highlighting how our funds are spent, and will aim to share that information in the fall 2025 State of the Association Address, as well as at the 2025 Annual Conference.
At the beginning of my term as IAEM-USA president, I set an association goal to establish or renew partnerships between IAEM and other industry associations. The association actively partners with numerous external stakeholders, as listed on this website. Typically, these partnerships are leveraged for advocacy efforts, media and public information campaigns, member engagement through task forces and collaboration groups, and conference attendance. Additionally, many of these groups will co-sign or endorse national policy or legislation. In all cases, partnerships help us, emergency managers, build our network and tell our story. This year, my goal was to reach across the aisle and double down on establishing new partnerships.
I am pleased to share that IAEM has established new partnerships with the Emergency Management External Affairs Association (EMEAA), the Incident Management Team Association (IMTA), and the Private-Sector Emergency Management Association (PSEMA). Additionally, we have re-engaged with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).
By now, I am hopeful all members have seen the announcements and begun planning their own National Emergency Management Awareness Month activities. We have just three weeks to go!
During August, emergency managers will conduct a coordinated, industry-wide awareness and advocacy campaign to promote the capabilities of emergency management and the role of emergency managers, led by IAEM-USA.
Emergency management professionals are encouraged to reach out and meet with:
Outreach can be more than an introductory email, letter, or conversation. Here are some creative ways to bring awareness to the emergency manager’s role and their programs.
The Community and Member Engagement Committee (CMEC) and the GAC have developed toolkits and proclamation templates, recorded instructional webinars, and shared a list of legislative priorities to help emergency managers as they advocate. Those resources, along with others, can be found here. During National Emergency Management Awareness Month, share how you joined the profession and how it impacts those you serve.
In May, IAEM-USA submitted a list of recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security, focused on the FEMA Review Council. The letter outlines three significant opportunities for reform: 1) eliminating FEMA’s mission creep, 2) standardizing training and education, and 3) supporting state, local, tribal, and territorial preparedness. In total, IAEM put forth nine recommendations to the Council. I’d like to thank the leadership and members of the GAC for their time and effort in developing this letter and for their contribution towards influencing reform and national resilience.
We continue to monitor activity at the federal level and, through the GAC, share critical information with our members that may impact their work. If you would like to join GAC, please email IAEM’s Government Affairs Director, Thad Huguley, at thad@iaem.com.
While 2025 has been the year of advocacy, IAEM continues to do what it does best – advance the practice and profession of emergency management. Did you know IAEM has five committees, two commissions, and 22 caucuses? Standing Committees are bodies with an ongoing operational function. Caucuses are groups with a special focus or function within the practice of emergency management. This year, our groups have been actively engaging in collaborative sessions, hosting educational brown-bag meetings, co-creating and sharing guidance documents, best practices, lessons learned, and other resources.
Starting this year, IAEM-USA began a mid-year group showcase intended to highlight all of our group’s activities. Throughout June, group spotlights were shared across IAEM’s social media accounts, showing the tremendous amount of work accomplished throughout the organization. I encourage members to check out these posts, read about the projects, and consider joining and participating in a new group. It is only through member engagement and participation that our organization continues to evolve and influence the profession.
In addition to their duties leading the groups, I’d like to thank the leadership of our committees and caucuses, who helped to create each group’s mid-year showcase.
On May 9, IAEM-USA hosted its fifth virtual conference, featuring 14 distinct sessions. IAEM-USA was pleased to offer registration at no cost to federal emergency managers whose employment status has changed since January 2025, knowing that continuing education, training, and networking are essential to all emergency managers. 375 people registered for this year’s virtual conference, representing a significant increase over the number of attendees in previous years. If you registered but haven’t had the opportunity to watch the sessions, the recordings will remain available until the end of the calendar year. Registration is still open for on-demand access and is free for student members.
The countdown to the annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, has officially begun! We are four and a half months away from the conference, and registration remains open. This year’s conference is sure to be a hit. Whether you are new to IAEM or have decades of experience, the annual conference provides numerous opportunities to expand your knowledge and network.
The Conference Committee is still finalizing the agenda. Still, sessions will include a reflection on the 20 years of collaboration between emergency management and meteorologists, as well as critical infrastructure, safeguarding our communities, assisting those who are struggling in society, and transitioning employment for those moving between sectors, as well as new emergency managers coming out of higher education. To view the full agenda, check out this page.
To view registration rates and register, please visit this link. Note that early bird registration ends on October 10, 2025.
In early June 2025, 18 IAEM members from all around the country traveled to Washington, D.C., for IAEM’s Inaugural Hill Day. The event was a huge success as we met with 54 Representatives and Senators to advocate for emergency management. That’s right, in one day, we spoke to approximately 10% of Congress!
Member visits included those on Committees like House Transportation and Infrastructure, Senate and House Homeland Security, and Appropriations. We focused on ranking members, vocal allies of emergency management, states and districts who have experienced recent disasters, and those with significant influence where it matters most.
Our message was clear:
We educated as many people as we could on the importance of the emergency management mission at all levels of government, all sectors and specialties, and the private industry. Our conversations were meaningful, and we all were pleasantly surprised at how many of these leaders and their staff, expressed an understanding and appreciation for our industry. These are relationships we will continue to nurture.
Our 2025 Hill Day would not have been a success if weren’t for teamwork. In recognition of their time and effort, I would like to thank the following people who participated in the 2025 Hill Day: Todd De Voe, Erik Gaull, David Muse, Mike Prasad, Sara Ruch, Drew Pearson, Ryan Wilkinson, Joe Leonard, Mary Jo Flynn-Nevins, Mick Fleming, Christian Cunnie, Billy Anderson, Maribel Street, Nick Crossley, Tracy Hameau, Tonya Ngotel, Brian Walker, and our Government Affairs Director, Thad Huguley.
I hope everyone enjoys the remaining days of summer. As always, if you have any feedback you’d like to share, please don’t hesitate to contact me at USAPresident@iaem.com.
In Service,
Carrie Speranza, CEM