Three More Salvationists Earn Professional Emergency Management Certification

Photo: Major Terry Israel, the Community Relations & Development Secretary of The Salvation Army Southern Territory congratulates Ms. Bobbi Gerry (Southern THQ), Mr. Steven Hartsook (AOK Division) and Ms. Terry Lightheart (ALM Division) on earning their professional emergency management certifications at the 2016 IAEM Conference.

Savannah, GA (October 19, 2016) - In a ceremony at the 64th Annual International Emergency Management Association (IAEM) Conference in Savannah, GA, three more Salvation Army disaster personnel earned their professional credentials in emergency management.  Ms. Bobbi Geery of Southern Territorial Headquarters and Ms. Terry Lightheart of the Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi Division were both designated as Certified Emergency Managers® (CEM).  Mr. Steven Hartsook of The Salvation Army’s Arkansas and Oklahoma Division earned the Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) designation. 

Major Terry Israel, Community Relations & Development Secretary for The Salvation Army’s Southern Territory, attended the conference and was on hand to congratulate the newly minted professionals.  “I couldn’t be prouder of Bobbi, Steven and Terry,” he said. “Gone are the days of disaster service as a hobby.  It’s a profession and we need people with professional credentials that understand the industry and that continue to train and contribute to the field as the leaders of our program.”

The CEM® designation is the highest honor of professional achievement available from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), which has in its membership more than 5,000 emergency managers representing local, state, and federal government; private industry; and military emergency managers.  To earn certification, applicants must complete an extensive credentials package, a management essay, and a written examination. The credential requirements include experience, references, education, training, and contributions to the profession. To maintain certification, recipients must submit additional training and contributions to the profession every five years.

Also at the conference, former Salvation Army employee Ms. Lanita Lloyd assumed the President’s chair of IAEM for 2017.  “It’s quite a privilege to have someone with a such a strong Salvation Army connection assume leadership of such a prestigious organization,” said Southern Territorial Disaster Coordinator Jeff Jellets.  Jellets was appointed to a three-year term as a commissioner on the CEM certification board and will help review future applications for the CEM/AEM designation.  Ms. Terry Lightheart was appointed as the chair of the IAEM Community Service & Faith-Based Caucus.

For more information on becoming a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) or an Associate Emergency Manager (AEM), visit iaem.com