At the time, ASFPM was beginning to develop the Certified Floodplain Manager certification test, and as a new state floodplain manager I was asked to come to FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and participate in some training to take the beta test of the exam. In 1999, I took the first offering of the exam at the conference in Portland, Oregon, receiving Certificate No. US-99-00034 on the first try.

During the last 25 years, I have served as a Regional Director (twice!), Chapter Director, and Arid Regions Policy Committee Co-Chair, during which time I left state government service and moved into the private sector. ASFPM has undergone a lot of changes during this time, growing from a small non-profit organization managed by an Executive Director and a few (very dedicated) staff to a mid-sized professional organization employing numerous professional staff. This required a lot of changes in business processes, as well as organizational and financial management to maintain accountability and transparency. From the growth in the number of State Chapters to expansion of the policy committee roles, this has sometimes been contentious. By adopting established procedures and regular cadence to meetings and Board training, the organization has achieved a well-earned professional status. During my long tenure on the Board and as a Policy Committee Co-Chair I have attempted to act as a calm voice when speaking to these issues and concerns.

While preparing to write this profile, I looked back on all the activities I have been involved in while an ASFPM member. We have come quite a long way: I had some involvement in establishing the Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Program, development of No Adverse Impact policy, expanding State Chapters and establishing Chapter Districts, update of the National Flood Program and Policies Review, establishing guidance regarding discussion papers and white papers, improving the goals and objectives annual review process, updating the 5-Year Strategic Plan, addressing the accredited chapters issue, buying an office building, reacting to Risk Rating 2.0, keeping up with changes in technology, chapter redistricting, establishing the Governance Task Force, creating Climate Change Policy and Task Force, establishing the Social Justice Policy and the Social Justice Task Force, and now reviewing FEMA’s proposed Road to Resilience re-organization of the agency.

Some of the highlights of my time with ASFPM have been working on the Annual Goals and Objectives and incorporating them into the annual workplan for the Arid Regions Policy Committee. I have often said that joining ASFPM is the best way to influence agency policy and legislation on floodplain management and mitigation policy nationally that will assist locals, states and tribes better manage flood risk. We have many dedicated folks on the Arid Regions Committee who attend our monthly calls, and we are working on adding more webinar presentations to discuss essential items in the Arid West, such as guidelines and standards for mapping erosion zones and flood potential following wildfires.

Another highlight was the development of the Riverine Erosion Hazards White Paper, in collaboration with the Natural and Beneficial Functions Committee, published in 2016.

Now 2-D modeling is an up-and-coming topic for the Arid Regions Committee, and we hope to tackle it with the Engineering and Mapping Committee in 2023.

I think a final highlight for me personally has been getting to know so many dedicated floodplain professionals across the country in state, local tribal and federal agencies as well as the private sector. In my role at work, I interact with both floodplain administrators and Cooperating Technical Partners and can bring those insights back to the ASFPM organization to consider when considering what policies to support that will benefit our members. It has been a great privilege to be a part of the ASFPM organization.