A Pre-conference Message from the IAEM-USA President

We are just over TWO weeks away from the IAEM annual conference in Colorado Springs. For everyone who will be in attendance, I am so excited to spend time with you. Truly. This conference fills my bucket every year, and I always leave feeling motivated and inspired as an emergency manager.

Between the pre-conference training and workshops, plenaries, keynotes, breakout sessions, and group meetings, the agenda is packed. I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to learn something new and to network with colleagues, every chance you get.

On a more personal level, this year’s conference will be a unique experience as IAEM-USA President, because, for the first time, the President will start the conference at the opening ceremony and then close the conference at the President’s Reception on Wednesday.

Yep – sorry. There’s just no escaping me, this year.

Putting jokes aside, please know that I don’t take this challenge lightly. In fact, I have seized the opportunity to build momentum and start key initiatives well ahead of a traditional 12-month term. Taking nothing for granted, it’s safe to say we’re off to a running start, and I’m eager to share all of this with you.

If you attended the Annual Business Meeting this week, you heard me talk about my 90-day plan. When I started as President in July, I set a 90-day goal for myself to set a path forward for the association on a few key issues. To meet that goal, I’ve shared our progress in a State of the Association Address (SOAA), which can be found on the IAEM website under the new President’s Corner . I invite you to read the SOAA ahead of the conference, and I welcome any opportunity for feedback, or a conversation, while in Colorado Springs.

Much of what I’ve written in the SOAA, as well as my Message of Leader’s Intent, found here , serves as the basis for how we will move forward over the next year. Additionally, I’ve adopted several key themes as guiding principles, and in keeping with tradition, will be sharing those details at the President’s Reception. Knowing not everyone will be able to join us at the conference, the themes I’ll be touching on encompass the ideals of transparency, communications, strategic relationships, and servant leadership.

As emergency managers, I believe we stand at a pivotal moment in time. As we look to the future, I am focused on the continued evolution of both IAEM, as well as the industry. We have much to reflect on, and?much work to do, and I’m excited to share my message with you. I have high expectations that this will be the year of Transformation for IAEM.

I will be sure to share my entire message with all of our members after the conference.

See you in a couple?of weeks!

In service,

Carrie Speranza