EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS
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President's Message - August 2026
Earlier this year, EMAT conducted a statewide Member Satisfaction & Engagement Survey to better understand member needs, priorities, and opportunities for improvement. Thank you to the more than 100 members who took the time to provide thoughtful feedback and help shape the future of our association.
Members also expressed a strong interest in:
Actions Taken Since March Since the survey was conducted, EMAT has taken several important steps to strengthen the association and position it for future success. Leadership Transition After nearly two decades of dedicated service to EMAT, Executive Director Jim Coles announced his intention to retire at the end of June. We are grateful for his leadership, commitment, and many contributions to EMAT and the Texas emergency management community. Following a Board-led selection process, Madeleine Crouch & Co., Inc. (MCC) was selected as EMAT's new association management partner. We look forward to working with MCC as we continue advancing EMAT's mission and enhancing value for our members. Turning Feedback into Action With this transition underway and a strong foundation in place for the future, EMAT remains focused on the priorities identified by our members. In direct response to member feedback, the Executive Committee and Board of Directors have established five strategic priorities to guide EMAT over the next year: Strengthening Member Engagement
Expanding Professional Development
Strengthening Advocacy & Partnerships
Building Trust and Transparency
What's Next The Board and Executive Committee remain committed to ensuring that member feedback translates into meaningful action. Committees & Caucus Kickoff Meeting As a first step, EMAT will host a Committee and Caucus Kickoff Meeting on: September 4 at 12:00 PM This meeting is intended for members who expressed interest in:
Attendees will learn about committee opportunities, leadership pathways, upcoming initiatives, and ways to contribute to the future of the association. Please register even if you're unsure which committee or caucus, you'd like to join. This meeting is designed to help members explore opportunities, ask questions, and find the best fit for their interests and experience. ✅ Register Here:  Looking Ahead to 2027 In 2027, EMAT will launch a statewide EMAT Roadshow designed to bring engagement, collaboration, and leadership opportunities directly to members throughout Texas. The Roadshow will create additional opportunities for networking, professional development, feedback, and regional involvement while strengthening connections across the emergency management community. Thank you again to everyone who participated in the survey and continues to support EMAT. Your feedback is helping us build a stronger, more connected, and more effective association for emergency management professionals across Texas. EMAT Strong = Strong Members • Strong Partnerships • Strong Future All my best, Scott Hudson, CEM®, TEM© President Emergency Management Association of Texas 
President's Message - March 2026Scott Hudson, CEM®, TEM© - PresidentEMAT Strong: A Message from the President Howdy EMAT Members, Board Members, and Committee Chairs,
EMAT represents some of the most dedicated professionals in public service, working every day to help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters across Texas and beyond. Your work strengthens the resilience of our communities and reflects the very best of our profession. During my term, we will focus on an EMAT Strong vision built on three pillars: Strong Members, Strong Partnerships, and a Strong Future.
To support this vision, we will advance several EMAT Strong initiatives, including expanding training opportunities, increasing regional engagement through Regions in Conversation, a series of regional meetings to share ideas and connect members, and strengthening leadership development for the future of emergency management in Texas. Events like the EMAT Leadership Symposium demonstrate the power of collaboration and shared experience among emergency managers across the state. I encourage every member to stay engaged through training, serving on committees, mentoring future leaders, or sharing your expertise. Your involvement is what makes EMAT stronger. Together, we will continue building an association that supports emergency managers across Texas and ensures EMAT remains a strong and respected voice for our profession. I’m excited about what we will accomplish together and grateful for the opportunity to serve. Respectfully, Scott Hudson, CEM®, TEM© #EMATTXStrong #EmergencyManagement #TexasEmergencyManagement President's Message - October 2024Mark Chadwick, CEM, TEM, M-MEMS - President
With 2025 coming to a close, it is time for the 2026 EMAT membership renewal. Looking forward to what 2026 has to offer and the work of the EMAT Board and Committees, I am excited about what I see on the horizon. If you have not done so yet, I hope that you will take a few minutes and renew your EMAT membership. From professional collaboration to the work to continue to advance Emergency Management across the Great State of Texas, EMAT provides opportunities for professional development and professional credentialling. Information on the Certified Texas Emergency Manager (TEM) credentialling process is found on the EMAT website under the TEM tab. This year the EMAT Symposium will be held March 8-11, 2026 in College Station and the Early Bird reservations are already being accepted at the Hilton College Station and Conference Center. The Early Bird registration is available through February 22, however, rooms may fill up fast. The contact info, group code, booking, and the Symposium registration link is active on the EMAT website. Along with the new venue and location this year, the Symposium Committee has been working on planning a tour for Symposium attendees to Disaster City. Additionally, the Symposium Committee has already started accepting proposals for presentations during the Symposium. We have a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience throughout the Emergency Managers in Texas and I want to strongly recommend that you consider submitting a proposal for the Symposium. Part of what makes us stronger is the sharing of experiences and knowledge and this is a perfect chance for you to showcase your talents and to be a mentor to your fellow Emergency Managers. Also, if you have a recommendation for a Keynote speaker, you can submit that to the Symposium Committee as well. The Awards Committee will be releasing the Award Nomination form in the near future. We invite you to look back on the accomplishments of individuals and agencies over the past year and to submit a nomination for worthy recipients. Once the awards nomination period is open, please consider submitting your recommendation. Read over the awards criteria and take the time to write a phenomenal nomination. The awards will be presented during the 2025 EMAT Symposium. I am very excited about where we are as an association and the potential of where we are headed and I am looking forward to seeing you at the Symposium in College Station! Mark Chadwick, CEM, TEM, M-MEMS President's Message - June 2024Mark Chadwick, CEM, TEM, M-MEMS - President
Since the Symposium, the Board of Directors have been diligently working to manage a wide array of business matters. One which I am excited to announce is that the 2025 EMAT Symposium will be held in College Station. Initially, this was driven by the fact that the Embassy Suites in San Marcos will be undergoing renovation and would not be available. The Symposium Planning Committee reached out to several venues across the State and during a Board Meeting on May 2, 2024 the Board considered the proposals received. After careful consideration, the College Station Hilton was selected as the venue to be utilized based upon reasonable room rates, the possibility of offering a tour of Disaster City, and the College Station Convention and Visitor’s Bureau possibly sponsoring the President and Board of Director’s Reception. I sincerely hope that all of our members will contact others and share this exciting information and encourage more people from the Emergency Management field to join us in College Station. Help us get the word out and let’s look forward to a fantastic 2025 EMAT Symposium! Additionally, I was contacted by the Legislative Chair for the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and asked to co-sign letters to elected representatives regarding appropriations for Emergency Management and Homeland Security. The letters address concerns over the reductions of Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG), State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP), National Weather Service (NWS), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Adding our voice to these significant State and National issues is important to improve and sustain our capabilities. I requested our Director, Jim Coles, to review the letters prior to adding my signature to the letters. We can stand proud knowing that we are doing our part to keep the safety of our family, friends, and the citizens of the Great State of Texas foremost in our thoughts and deeds. In a very short period of time, you should see some information coming out on opening the EMAT Awards nominations. We are hopeful to soon be able to have the ability to receive nominations for a longer time period over the year. I hope you will take a look at the awards descriptions and submit a nomination for a well deserved individual or organization. Serving alongside of amazing folks on the EMAT Board of Directors is a true privilege and we are hard at work serving the best interests of the professionals in our field. Please feel free to reach out to us on matters of concern. Mark Chadwick, CEM, TEM, M-MEMS - Click here for Previous President's Message |
Dear EMAT Members,