Standing Committees

If you would like to be serve on a committee, please reach out to that committee's chair.

Audit:  The Audit Committee monitors and audits the financial performance of the Association.

Awards & Citations: Recommends to the Board of Directors appropriate recognition to individuals, agencies and organizations for outstanding or significant contributions in the area of Emergency Management based on the criteria established by the Board of Directors. Upon approval of the board, makes known the promotion of achievements, accomplishments, purposes and goals of the Association to the public, the media, and other organizations.
  • Tanya Hockett, Chair
  • Courtney Arroyo
  • Heather Brown
  • Stephen Davis (ex officio)
  • Tamara DelRosario
  • Robert Gelormine
  • Suzanne Helbert
  • Peter McCann
  • Rachel Metz
  • Katie Moody
  • Teresa Scott Hoggard
  • Trevor Shannon
  • Jonathan Simmons
  • Matt Tatum
  • Neal Turner
Certification (Professional Development): Oversees the implementation of the VEMA certification program, including: maintaining a set of requirements, knowledge, skills, and abilities, that warrants certification and reviewing applications for emergency management certification levels and selecting those that meet the certification requirements.
  • Carrie Gonzalez, Chair
  • Mark Bender
  • Leslie Comer (ex officio)
  • Amy Cornell-Titcomb
  • Danita Darnell
  • Walter English
  • Kristen Fagan
  • Robert Foresman
  • Stephanie Harris
  • Andy John
  • Daniel Murray
  • Kelly Myers
  • Lauren Opett
  • Jeff Powell
  • Bill Russell
  • Jason Stone
  • Michael Whiteaker
  • Mark Young
Constitution & By-Laws: The Constitution & By-Laws Committee ensures the Association Constitution and By-Laws are maintained, current and accurately reflect the vision, structure, purpose and policies of the Association.
  • Jeff Fletcher, Chair
  • Craig Bryant
  • Sam Burnette
  • William Drewery (ex officio)
  • Alex Fitch
  • Paul Helmuth
  • Mary Morton
Legislative: Recommends to the Board of Directors appropriate and legislative needs, issues, and activities for the Association to be involved in. Recommendations must be within the realm of Emergency Management and consistent with the goals and philosophy of the Association.
  • Bill Lawson, Co-Chair
  • Brian Misner, Co-Chair
  • Caitlin Barbieri
  • Craig Bryant
  • Craig Camidge
  • Amy Cornell-Titcomb
  • Grady DeVilbiss
  • Timothy Duffer
  • Jenna Dunn
  • Walter English
  • Leigh Ann Erdman
  • William Flagler
  • Robert Foresman
  • Bobby Gelormine
  • Jared Hoernig
  • Amy Hoffman
  • Danielle Holmstrom (ex officio)
  • David Long
  • Matthew Majid
  • Melissa Meador
  • Mary Morton
  • Steven Nelson
  • Michael Potter
  • Wesley Rogers
  • Rob Rowley
  • Christopher Shay
  • Sara Snowden
  • Maribel Street
  • Erin Sutton
  • Dillon Taylor
  • Hui-Shan Walker
  • Shannon Walters
  • Alex Weston
  • Michael Whiteaker
  • Stephen Willoughby
  • Gregory Zebrowski
VEMA Lobby Day Platform 2024.pdf

Membership & Marketing: The Membership and Marketing Committee provides and oversees marketing strategies for the Association in order to increase membership and to provide knowledge of the Association to other agencies, associations, businesses, and individuals.

  • Rebecca Arrington
  • Heather Brown
  • Ryan Burkholder
  • Candice Crockett
  • Stephen Davis (ex officio)
  • Tamara DelRosario
  • Leigh Deskins
  • Tanya Hockett
  • Cara Howard
  • Franklin McMillian
  • Katie Moody
  • Daniel Murray
  • Kelly Myers
  • Trevor Shannon
  • Danielle Spach
  • Maribel Street
  • Matt Tatum
  • Tammy Waldroup Sommer
  • Jane Wenner

Social Media Sub-Committee:

  • Rebecca Arrington
  • Tamara DelRosario
  • Cara Howard
  • Franklin McMillian
  • Kelly Myers
  • Maribel Street
  • Jane Wenner
Nominations Committee: Responsible for soliciting nominees from the membership, confirming interest and qualifications of candidates, and making recommendations to the membership for nominees to serve as officers of the Association.
Scholarship: The Scholarship Committee administers the Slayton E. Addison Jr. College Scholarship, the Grace Tressler Symposium Scholarship, and the Gordon Barwell PEM Certification Scholarship Programs.
  • Katie Moody, Chair
  • Andrea Beale
  • Leslie Comer
  • William Drewery (ex officio)
  • William Flagler
  • Bobby Gelormine
  • Andy John
  • Matthew Marquis
  • Katie Moody
  • James Ninnis
  • John Northon
  • Darshan Parikh
  • Benjamin Ruppert
  • Bill Russell
  • Trevor Shannon
  • Matt Tatum
  • Alex Tran
  • Robert Williams
Symposium: Responsible for the planning, development, coordination, promotion, administration and oversight of the Annual Conference / Symposium.
  • Danielle Holmstrom, Co-Chair (VEMA)
  • Stephanie Harris, Co-Chair (VDEM)
  • Courtney Arroyo
  • Andrea Beale
  • Harrison Bresee
  • Heather Brown
  • Craig Bryant
  • Christina Clark
  • Leslie Comer
  • Danita Darnell
  • Leigh Deskins
  • Nicholas Drauschak
  • Stephanie Duffy
  • Robyn Ewing
  • Carrie Gonzalez
  • Matt Good
  • Mike Guzo
  • Paul Helmuth
  • Cara Howard
  • Sherri Laffoon
  • Patrick Lam
  • Matthew Marquis
  • Sydney McKenna
  • Kelly Myers
  • Lauren Opett
  • Darshan Parikh
  • Jessica Robison
  • Kambre Scott
  • Teresa Scott Hoggard
  • Kasey Seay
  • Jeff Senter
  • Christopher Shay
  • Jonathan Simmons
  • Ken Smith
  • Lucy Carter Smith
  • Maribel Street
  • Shannon Sullivan
  • Michael Teener
  • Alex Tran
  • Neal Turner
  • Jenn Welch
  • Jane Wenner
  • Justin Weston
  • Michael Whiteaker
  • Stephen Willoughby
  • Mark Young

Ad Hoc, Appointments, and Caucuses

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (Ad Hoc Committee):

  • Amy Cornell-Titcomb
  • Franklin McMillian
  • Darshan Parikh, Chair
  • Wesley Rogers
  • Bill Russell
  • Christopher Shay
  • Michael Teener
  • Jane Wenner

Professional Development (Ad Hoc Committee):

  • Maribel Street, Chair
  • Mark Bender
  • Stephen Davis
  • Nicholas Drauschak
  • Allen Evans
  • Tracie Giles
  • Stephanie Harris
  • Steven Herring
  • Kim Hobert
  • Timothy Kimble
  • Matthew Majid
  • Rachel Metz
  • Ken Smith
  • Shannon Sullivan
  • Alex Tran
  • Mark Young

VEMA Rep. Appointment for National Weather Service’s StormReady board:

  • Robert Foresman, Henrico County

Faith Based Caucus

  • Michael Whiteaker, Chair
  • Shannon Walker

Healthcare Caucus

  • Craig Bryant, Chair

Institutes of Higher Education Caucus

  • Peter McCann, Chair
  • Jared Hoernig, Vice-Chair
  • Tracie Giles, Secretary
  • Andrew Marinik, Elected Board Representative